Thursday, January 26, 2006 America's Hamas Pickle(link)
Looks like Hamas smashed Fatah in Palestinian parliamentary elections 76 to 43, although Abbas is still president. Does this mean it will be impossible for the U.S. to continue providing aid the Palestinian government without having to arrest itself for "funding terrorists"? By U.S. law, you can be put in jail for providing funds to Hamas. Now the question is whether the same will apply to a Hamas led government.
This event dovetails with the "trends" in South America Nathan has been pointing out. Sometimes I wonder whom U.S. policy has isolated more, Bush, or Bin Laden.
I was going to title this America and Israel's Hamas pickle, but I'm afraid Israel's hard right government is probably delighted with this opportunity to escalate the conflict, and return to a policy of Israeli expansionism and landgrabbing. It's kind of scary and absurd that the sidelined Sharon just may be the only hope for peace, considering his genocidal history.
