Guestblogger Piz
Today the Minister of Things offers up guestblogger "Piz". Be gentle:
Roger Cohen has an interesting piece on the implications of the current situation with Yasir Arafat and how it may impact other relations in the Middle East - particularly the current debacle in Iraq.
With Yasir Arafat scouting out a permanent site at the great campground beyond the sun, several new questions arise in the desert. What will Mahmoud Abbas do as interim leader of the Palestinian Authority, and how will Arafat's hope of being buried in Jerusalem impact Israeli politics? Will Ariel Sharon and the Israeli Hawks force him to his birthland of Egypt? It's an opportunity for a monumental act of statesmanship and diplomacy on the part of Israel. Will the Palestinians opt for a less totalitarian leader with the wisdom to forge a compromise with the western Infidels or will generations of Palestinian and Israeli children continue to play in the same sandbox of blood and explosions?
Arafat's death is an incredible opportunity in the quest for a functional Arab-American diplomacy. I just hope the next few weeks bring a pragmatic, Gandhi-inspired leader. It's a window of opportunity gift wrapped for the Bush administration in it's critical first hundred days to set the diplomatic agenda for the next four years, or perhaps for the length of the life of Arafat's successor.
I'm really confused on which way it'll go...
posted by The Minister of Things @ 8:58 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
The Israelis and the Palestinians are locked so tightly together in a death grip it will be very hard for either to make the first overture of peace. Unless someone of the caliber of Gandhi does emerge, or unless the Bush Administration offers real leadership for peace, in The Minister's opinion not much will change. Therefore, in The Minister's opinion, not much will change. But we can, and we do, hope.
Rumors are flying here in Poland that the French doctors are trying to clone Arafat, and that his mysterious "disease" is related to sex with farm animals. Personally, I'm convinced that his real ailment is dementia, however it was induced, and even the Palestinians understand that it's not good to have the National Symbol communicating with bird calls while losing control of body functions on tv.
What a circus. I've always found it funny that this make-believe nation has herds of officials with dignified titles like "Prime Minister" and "Commissioner of Education" and "Foreign Minister" and "Ambassador". My favorite is Saed Erekat, who has been the "Chief Negotiator" for decades during which almost no actual negotiations ever occurred. They wear expensive suits and hurtle around in big limousines, spending most of their time and aid money in Paris and New York while banging on endlessly about the plight of their constituents, for which they are largely responsible. All of this is up for grabs if Arafat dies. I understand that taxidermists are standing by.
Bob
Yes, Bob. If the Palestinians would just peacefully give up their land to the Israelis, all the violence would stop. Why don't they just do that? Clearly the choice is theirs.
The Minister of Things thinks Bob might be onto something. The AP reports an Arafat aide claims he is "asleep" and not in a coma. Also, he is in "a very complex state".
Is this complex state one of being partially stuffed? Or perhaps his brain is in the process of being placed into a donor body? Clearly it’s all very "complicated".
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