These guys put Jimmy Carter to shame......
A former senior US diplomat on Tuesday described senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya as a "thoughtful politician," saying the US administration should drop its refusal to engage with the Palestinian movement.
Richard Viets, who was US ambassador to Jordan in the early 1980s, recounted his meeting with Haniya in Gaza earlier this month as part of a private US group's fact-finding mission to the region.
"Haniya is a very smart, articulate, sophisticated, thoughtful politician. You have to be impressed sitting in the room with him," Viets told a news conference.
"On the whole his comments regarding Israel I thought were remarkably balanced and non-polemical," Viets said.
US media coverage had failed to convey an accurate picture of Hamas or Haniya's stance, which was more pragmatic than often portrayed, he said.
"He's a man we ought to know better. He's a man we ought to be talking with."
Viets and another former US diplomat said Hamas was open to a negotiated compromise to solve the Middle East conflict.
"They're not out to destroy Israel," ex-diplomat Benjamin Tua told AFP, referring to Hamas.
Hamas was ready to stop cross-border rocket attacks, accept Israel within its pre-1967 borders and would honor past agreements if Israel did the same, said Tua, a former member of the US foreign service who served throughout the Middle East.
"Palestinians do not view Israelis or the Jews as enemies," according to a written account of the CNI team's meeting with Haniya a week before Hamas agreed a cease fire with Israel.
"The problem is the occupation," it said, describing Haniya's stance.
ZIP
""They're not out to destroy Israel," ex-diplomat Benjamin Tua told AFP, referring to Hamas."
...Hames leaders say otherwise...as do most other Muslim entities, terror groups, and Muslim nation states..
Posted by: pulsar182 | June 25, 2008 at 12:42 AM
I notice in the photo, Veits is not wearing a clean suit and not wearing a tie and his shirt is unbuttoned...just like the Muslims....whenever you see photos of Ahmadenijad and all his entourage you will notice they all dress alike, ugly sports jackets, no tie, and unbuttoned shirt...the same for most other Muslim leaders...something about dressing like westerners is evil...In Islam you could be killed for dressing the wrong way...
Posted by: pulsar182 | June 25, 2008 at 12:48 AM
"US credibility among Palestinians and Arab governments had been undermined because President George W. Bush's approach was seen as biased towards Israel, the team said."
So? Everyone else is biased towards the savage Palis.
Posted by: Elric66 | June 25, 2008 at 05:38 AM
"They're not out to destroy Israel," ex-diplomat Benjamin Tua told AFP, referring to Hamas."
Read their charter Chuckles, watch Hamas TV.
Posted by: Elric66 | June 25, 2008 at 05:47 AM