Brzezinski Says to Joe Scarborough: Read up on TABA, You Might Learn Something...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski spent some time educating the nation -- and Joe Scarborough -- about the way to frame the current Gaza tragedy and what needs to be done to move forward.

Brzezinski laments the tragedy and loss of life in the Israeli attack on Gaza -- but he properly diagnoses this as yet another stage in the predictable cycle of violence that neither the Israelis nor Palestinians seem able to pull them self away from. In other words, Brzezinski is saying that the Gaza mess is old news, old politics, and a predictable manifestation of strategic and moral immaturity on all sides.

Brzezinski's exchange with Joe Scarborough is sweeping the internet now because of his statement to Morning Joe's namesake:

You know, you have such a stunningly superficial knowledge of what went on that it's almost embarrassing to listen to you.

Ouch. . .yes. But as Mika Brzezinski said about her father and growing up in her household, that sort of statement by Zbig almost reflects 'affection.'

But that exchange, while entertaining, is not important.

What is significant is that Brzezinski essentially issued a challenge to Obama and his team to re-engage seriously -- to go back to what was achieved at the Taba negotiations just before the Bush administration aborted the entire project.

The most important thing that Brzezinski said to Scarborough was (paraphrased from memory...but watch the video above):

Taba. It's spelled T. . .A. . .B. . .A. Go look it up. You might learn something.

And Zbigniew Brzezinski is right.

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[Brillig]

Previous post copied directly from Wikipedia-

[Brillig]

The breakdown is often attributed to the political circumstances posed by Israeli elections and changeover in leadership in the United States:[9] They had run out of political time. They couldn't conclude an agreement with Clinton now out of office and Barak standing for reelection in two weeks. "We made progress, substantial progress. We are closer than ever to the possibility of striking a final deal," said Shlomo Ben-Ami, Israel's negotiator. Saeb Erekat, Palestinian chief negotiator, said, "My heart aches because I know we were so close. We need six more weeks to conclude the drafting of the agreement."

Evidence to support this view is provided by David Matz in the Palestine - Israel Journal of Politics, Economics and Culture[10] concerning a joint statement.[7] He notes that, "The Taba negotiation began on Sunday evening, January 21, and ended on Saturday afternoon, January 27 [2001]. At the closing press conference, the parties issued this joint statement: 'The sides declare that they have never been closer to reaching an agreement and it is thus our shared belief that the remaining gaps could be bridged with the resumption of negotiations following the Israeli election'."

Uri Avnery of the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom attributed the failure to Barak, claiming that[11]: "It was not Arafat who broke off the talks at this critical moment, when the light at the end of the tunnel was clearly visible to the negotiators, but Barak. He ordered his men to break off and return home."

[drolleen]

Dr. B.'s main omission is glaring: After Arafat rejected the Camp David 2000 accord he started the bloody uprising in Sep2000, that included the lynching in Ramallah (Oct 2000) THEN cam Taba. Arafat rejected Camp David BECAUSE THE SAUDIS DID NOT SUPPORT HIM AT THAT TIME. THE PALESTINIAN WERE ALWAYS TOO EAGER TO PLEASE ARAB GOVERNMENTS THAT SCREWED THEM UP. He started the Intifada, because he did not see other options without Arab support.

Dr. B. is right that we should be engaged, but we should not just press the Israelis. We should press our dictator friends in the Middle East to do the right thing. Bring "our S.O.B's" (FDR's Trujillo's comment from the 40's). We should bring the plight of the refugees - AND I AM NOT TALKING OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEES ONLY (1 million, 1948). THERE WERE 1 MILLION JEWISH REFUGEES FROM ARAB LANDS (1949-1960), MANY OF THEM SETTLED IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL IN THE TOWNS NOW ROCKETED. 75% of the people in Beer Sheba, Ashkelon, Sderot, etc. are refugees from Arab lands. 75% of Gaza is refugees.

[bascombe]

so the Israeli genocide of palestinians is ok?

[Brillig]

Not true...Elhud Barak of Israel called the talks off. See Wikipedia post on TABA.

The Palestinians are always lobbing missiles over the boundaries..what else is new?

[mjtaylor22]

what was important to me was that he called Joe out, that guy is so full of himself, and Mika is his whipping dogg, he shuts he down all the time, and completley negates her opinion, she come off as a weak woman, with no back bone.
thanks for hitting Joe all int he head, cause he deserves no show for that long inthe morning

[Boboday555]

The saddest part is that Joe's audience hasn't a clue about how out of touch Joe really is!
Whenever Joe finds himself backed into a corner with facts, he uses that tired old Lee Atwater, Filthy Confederate Southern Politics strategy of simply changin' the subject!

And Joe's silly, Dukes of Hazard watchin' base thinks he's the best thing since sex with 'yer' kin!

[Kache]

Wow Steve, ever get the idea you're talking in a echo chamber???

161 posts and almost all are about Scarborough's superficial knowledge, hardly a mention of TABA.

Perhaps Ms. Clinton will be able to pick up where Mr. Clinton left off. Or, perhaps, Obama will name Mr. Clinton as special envoy. That of course depends on the Israeli election results, but.......

[janfin]

One more thing. I didn't know about all of Dr. B's credentials. Reading about them now, how dare Joe think he can hold a candle to Dr. B's experience and knowledge. Joe makes me sick to my stomach and my mornings have been much more pleasant since I stopped watching him.

[SimplyBkuz]

I agree.. I feel the same way about the way Joe degrades and demeans Paul Krugman whenever his name comes up. Krugman is a nobel prize winning economist... Joe is just another failed politician turned TV blowhard.

[GwenElle]

I am on page with you janfin. No-Joe in the Morning is a wonderful thing. Also, I love Dr Z (as I refer to him). I find his blunt honesty and no-bull manner endearing (and also a charmingly scary). If his daughter had inherited some of her father's steely nerve, Morning Joe might actually be worth watching.

[OnTheOtherBeach]

I still watch because it's such a train wreck. Mika and Barnicle eat Joe's lunch most days. And let's face it, Courtney Hazlett is HOT.

[Citizen4Justice]

Yes, Joe Scarborough is superficial, but so are most republican talking heads on tv. Finding an honest republican describing history articulately and accurately is about as rare as finding an honest republican politician. They exist, but are a rarity.

[waynesmyer]

"Hey there, what are you doing walking around with a lighted lantern in the day-time?"
Why, I'm looking for an honest Republican!

[jaydeeuno]

Finally, someone stands up to Joe and shows him to be a narrow minded ideologue. Thank you Dr. B. I am no longer a regular viewer of this show due to Joe's bullying arrogance. Thank you for this clip. Joe puts down his sidekick as well as his regulars. Trying to make oneself look good by trying to make someone else look bad really makes Joe look bad and turns off viewers who want to hear truth, not a slanted, biased uninformed, purely partisan view.

Hopefully, MSNBC will wake up and realize just how bad Joe is.

[janfin]

Great comment and I totally agree, except for one thing--I am no longer a viewer, period. I'd like to be able to watch for the guests, but I cannot stomach Joe. Good for Dr. B! It's about time someone called Joe on his ignorance, and as you said arrogance.

[JDWPS]

I gave up trying to watch it also.
The format has the potential to be a good program,but the hosts make it unwatchable. It is hard to believe that any real decision makers watch because if they did, how could they let it remain on the schedule? Three hours of Scarborough's ignorance and arrogance and Mika's fake personality should make anyone at a senior level cringe.

[TruBlu4USA]

Superficial, certainly. But, add Adolescent and Arrogant to that!

[bascombe]

ZBig was being kinder than Joe deserved.

[StevenBolstad]

Joe Scarborough superficial? Mildly stated.

[theone718]

At Obama's core beliefs of foreign policy diplomacy is his main power. If he really wants to show that Diplomacy is the way to enhance America's power and safety then peace between Israel and Palestine MUST be his main goal and the main goal of SecState Clinton. If they can do this, it would not only keep america safe, it's a pretty good star on his legacy :-)

[Mixpixlix]

Our media has become a disgrace, not because it's controlled by the government as is true in many countries BUT because it is controlled by business interests. Profits rule. I'm embarrased by the half-butt reporting that passes for news and all the ego-inflating comments by people who should be neutral.

They fill the airwaves, which I believe are still owned by US, with hour after of "lipstick on a pig", will he won't he, can she' should she nonsense.

24/7 Cable News has done more to discredit journalism than any other industry event.

[PhilipTaylor]

Brzezinski is Absolutely right about Joe!

Stunning in "NOT a good way" on many subjects!

Joe does not like FACTS!

[lynettema]

Joe checks the RW talking points before his show and makes it a point never to miss Rush.

[PhilipTaylor]

I listened to Obama's "Race Speech" in Philadelphia and realized that the plight of the Blacks in America is not unlike the plight of the Pals.

At least in the USA we have a constitution that set a GOAL for EQUAL1Y, what comparable GOAL does IS offer the Pals to give them HOPE?