President War says Peace!

 lol Norn’ Iron’ headline parody lol

This is something I though I’d never say, but…

George Bush has the right idea. He has the right idea in the Middle East. Well, that may be overstating the matter, as we can’t really overlook Warq, and that whole kerfuffle, but what he has done so far in his visit to Israel/Palestine.

President Bush has visited the area for the first time in his presidency, and has called for the Israeli occupation of Palestine to end, and for a viable Palestinian state to be created. This is certainly a step in the right direction!

Palestine has been frequently criticised for the terrorist violence related to it, as has Israel for it’s overzealous military policy, but neither is completely at fault. The Palestinians were, of course, natives to this area, and were therefore not too happy about another state, one that has nothing to do with the majority of the indigenous population, being created on top of them, and in the early years were given very little forum to make themselves heard. And so they did in the only way they could. Israel has, since it’s conception, been surrounded by antagonistic states, and has had to go to great lengths to ensure it’s survival. I’m not saying that either is ‘right’ to act like general assholes, but they’re not acting like this without reason.

So why should Mr. Bush, of all people, be the man to sort this (quite large) problem out?

Because, for various reasons, America is the country best placed to get results by pressurising the Middle Eastern democracy, and the president is the man best placed to apply this pressure.

Whichever side you’re on, you have to admit that this is a step in the right direction, firstly as were America to support the creation of a ‘proper’ Palestinian state, it may help alleviate tensions between it’s neighbouring countries and the west, as America isn’t really too popular in the area (Israel itself may be one of the reasons for this), and secondly because it may alleviate tensions between Israel and their neighbouring nations, which I needn’t tell you, is very bad, and has been since it’s creation 60 years or so ago.
I’m not being over-optimistic, tensions may not improve greatly, but any headway that can be made in this sensitive area really should be made.

Now much still needs to be sorted out, but if we can come to an agreement that neither sides completely hates (hey, it may be possible) then perhaps progress can be made for the first time in… Well, it’s been a while.
No matter how great war may seem in the short term, no one can deny that peace is a better option for the long term, no matter where they’re from, what background etc., barring only the war profiteers (or what I normally call them, which I won’t post here in a vain attempt to keep it civil).

The ‘I’m Not Political, But I Don’t Like George ‘Dubbya’ Bush’ brigade will of course be rather cynical at this attempt at peace by a well-known warmonger, but hey, look at what Tony ‘Bliar’ has done for Northern Ireland (Dr. No says Yes!, et. al.).

I will be watching the remainder of Bush’s tour of the area with great interest, and will probably post a follow up to this post upon it’s completion (now there’s something I’ve never done. Hell, I never even made another series review. I still may, though…)