McCain's Nonsense About Hamas: Consider the Bush Record

According to a recent interview, John McCain believes that Hamas wants Barack Obama to be president. In McCain's words:

All I can tell you Jennifer is that I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare...

The full story can be found here.

Judging by past performance, I think Hamas would profit from another conservative Republican.

Everything involving the Middle East is unbelievably complicated, but the following summary is all too right. When George Bush took office, Hamas held little political power. It was a pariah--not only in the eyes of the U.S. government, but in the eyes of western Europeans, Arab governments, and many others who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause but rejected Hamas's terrorism and religious extremism. No less a Palestinian nationalist than Edward Said noted that suicide bombings "have so disfigured and debased the Palestinian struggle. All liberation movements in history have affirmed that their struggle is about life, not about death. Why should ours be an exception?"

In many ways, George W. Bush has empowered these very suicide bombers. Let me be clear. I am a secular Jewish supporter of Israel. I am as disgusted by Hamas as they probably are by me. I am disgusted by the deliberate attacks on ordinary Israelis pursued by many Palestinian militant groups.

In my opinion, the bellicose policies pursued by President Bush, and echoed by John McCain in the mistaken belief that this is the key to Jewish support, are fundamentally counterproductive for both Israel and the United States. These strengthen the very people we are trying to marginalize in our efforts there.

Despite his fourth-quarter efforts, President Bush has mismanaged the peace process. In many ways large and small, he has stoked Palestinian and Arab anger, even aside from the Iraq war. He failed to address or even acknowledge the poor humanitarian conditions and government failures under the Palestinian Authority. Essentially since his first days in office, he showed disdain for reasonable Palestinian grievances and aspirations acknowledged by many Israelis.

Against the advice of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, President Bush pushed hard for elections while utterly failing to lay the political groundwork for an attractive Palestinian alternative to Hamas extremism. He then disowned the results of these elections when--to his surprise--Hamas won a large victory. Overall, this is a pathetic performance. Israelis, Palestinians, and our own nation are very much the worse for it.

President Bush will leave office with Hamas a well-entrenched presence in Gaza. It enjoys considerable popularity across the Middle East. The coalition of players across the world who had pledged not to work with Hamas is showing real signs that it is fraying. President Bush leaves office having similarly strengthened Hezbollah and Iran.

Based on this record, I believe Hamas will profit from the election of another strident Republican. America, Israel, and pretty much everyone else would benefit from a different approach.

Comments

[wolfi101]

I think, Hamas may just be taking a cue from the Republican playbook --- They are probably endorsing the candidate, that they do NOT want in office. ( Like Operation Chaos endorses Clinton, thnking she's the weaker candidate to race against. )

I would gather, that Hamas wants McCain in office. They want the fight to continue. They gather more sympathizers with us over there screwing up those countries.

'Sides, it'd be a lot tougher to recruit new members, when you can't portray American as the "old, white christian imperialist" country, but must contend with a multi-racial, well-traveled, more liberal, peaceful Obama.

[bgregs]

This is almost the same as back in 2004 when bin Laden released a video JUST before the election, which, along with the similar videos that bushco(tm) was releasing all throughout the election pushed him over the top.......

Those who fight using terror want their victims to be terrified. Since the only groups to have been terrified by the terrorists are bushco(tm) and McBush, I'd say it's pretty obvious who the extremists in Islam want in power next January...­...

[ResidentChimp]

Spin all you want. The fact remains that Hamas endorsed Obama. So did Farc, Ortega, Farrakhan, Ayers and Wright. He's the terrorists' first choice.

[RabidRightRebel]

Remember El Qeada the terrorists that attacked America their first choice is Bush/McCain as they say it helps them to recruit more terrorists.

Oh I forgot your one of those rabid right fanatics that is incapable of thinking for yourself and can only spew propoganda. Such a shame you know thinking is not that hard, I am sure if you really,really try you too could come up with an orginal idea.

[bgregs]

I find it amusing that you are adding in many people who NOBODY would consider terrorists­.... Nice spin there, equating Rev Wright with Hamas, and by default, al Qaeda!

[RabidRightRebel]

Hamas which won the election pushed on the Palestinians by Bush and says it would be willing to negotiate with Israel for peace would prefer to have Obama as an American President.

El Qaeda which attacked America on 9/11 and is waging a terrorist holy war against the west would prefer to have a continuation of the Bush Presidency under McCain.

I wonder which one of these has the more significant negative connotation?

[ResidentChimp]

Let's see. One is a real quote and one you made up. Which one is which?

[SadButWiser]

You are very right. I know the region too well to confirm that the likes of McCain would be just what Al-Qaeda wants. To them, there is absolutely no other proof to the Muslim world that America is wrong and determine to kill Muslims other than electing a man like McCain. For every one American cynic, there are ten Muslim cynic, electing McCain would make it 100.

[ResidentChimp]

Another Surrender Monkey for Obama.

[bgregs]

Another war chicken for McBush!

[UnbiasView]

How can you say it's nonsense that a Hamas leader said they want Obama to be President? IMO, that is a bit troubling that Hamas would endorse him and I think this could be another issue for Obama.

Bottom line: It's not an endorsement Obama wants, it sucks but what are you going to do about it, meet with them like Jimmy Carter?

[HAP]

I can't read their minds. As Andrew Sullivan points out, Hamas clearly understands that their endorsement is not a positive in American politics.

[Rog49Thomas]

Precisely.

And so one would have to ask if a foreign group wanted to do damage to the USA and knew that their endorsement would hurt a candidate, who would they logically endorse.
The candidate they "wanted" or the one they didn't want.

Also Pan's profound damage to our national security (USA's that is) is multifaceted.

It's a bone headed foreign policy.

Repeated redeployments of our armed forces which are breaking their effectiveness and eroding morale and the middle management cadre (just look at the numbers voting with their feet when they can).

Irresponsbile fiscal policy (including the massive expenditures on the war of choice in Iraq we need not have chosen).

And policies which have eroded as well our moral standing.

Brother Osama is not doubt chuckling somewhere over his great fortune to have just the "right" guy in the "right" place at the "right" time.

[mbaty]

John McCain's statement was clearly propaganda--and he may have even gotten paid and/or coached by the Pentagon to say it.

[UnbiasView]

Or maybe he just heard the interview on WABC when their leader endorsed him.

[ihavenobias]

Good article Harold! Fellow HuffPo blogger and host of The Young Turks Cenk Uygur had a good take as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcxK3YH3Mjk

I'm glad some in the media are actually covering this the right way.

[HAP]

Thanks!

[Imhotep]

The way things are going their gonna crucify him. Peace

[JediForce]

Funny thing is that I don't really check with Hamas to see who I should vote for US president.
Obama - 2008. Yes we can.

[UnbiasView]

When there is an ad in October that has the audio of the Hamas leader endorsing Obama with the video of Hamas with their masks and getting people ready to be blown up . . .

I'm sure pleanty of people that will say am I voting for the guy they want to win?

[WAstateliberal]

You seem to have missed the point: Hamas made this "endorsement" because they knew it was radioactive and they want McCain to be president. Conservative Republican control of our government is cash in the bank for terrorist organizations. It is the best argument they have for recruitment and donations. Hamas came to power BECAUSE of George Bush. Palestinians said at the time it was the only way they could express their disdain for US policy, even though they knew a vote for Hamas would damage their financial and political interests. You are certainly correct that it will mislead voters who will then vote for McCain. Nothing we can do about that. But it is important to recognize that in the unlikely event Hillary becomes the Democratic nominee, Hamas will "endorse" her too. The objective is the same. Bin Laden will also endorse, I suspect. His organization critically needs a McCain victory. $$$$$$$.

[PigLipstick]

Have faith, all is not lost !

http://www.vfdaily.com/modules/countdown/index.html

[Phaedrus21]

It would be terrible to have a President who is liked and respected by our enemies.

[Daly]

Phaedrus21 you are correct, it our allies too would be more at ease with a President that is not singing boom boom boom or threating to blow up the middle east.

[SadButWiser]

As it is now, every your allies do not like or respect your president, which I think it is even much worse.