After the War

Haaretz reports on a communique from the American government received in Jerusalem this week. The communique:
“says the United States is operating with strong resolution to neutralize the Iraqi threat to Israel. After the war, the United States will deal with other radical regimes in the region – not necessarily by military means – to moderate their activities and fight terrorism.
“These current and future U.S. operations will also serve Israel, the American administration says, but have caused tensions between the United States and the Arab world. Israel, the American message says, must play its part to help ease these tensions by taking action with regard to settlements in the territories.
“The message from Washington adds that the current U.S. administration has no illusions about peace and a return to the political process, merely a realistic view of how to manage the conflict.”
The Trunk and I have gone back and forth on this for some time. The Trunk worries that the Administration will sell out Israel; I am confident they won’t. I think President Bush sees the “peace process” for what it has always been, i.e., an attempted genocide process.
Meanwhile, to the extent the Administration carries on with unfinished business in the Middle East after the Iraq war is complete, the American people appear to be willing. A Los Angeles Times poll, just released, says that 77% of those surveyed back the war in Iraq. Fifty percent said the United States should take military action against Iran if it continues to move toward nuclear-weapon development; 36 percent disagreed. And 42% favored military action against Syria if Syria continues to provide aid to Iraq, while 46 % said no. So far, at least, the public is willing to follow where President Bush leads in the war on terror.