Kerry fears Hamas cooties

Posted By Blake Hounshell Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 5:32 PM Share

I see that American officials in Israel are outraged that U.N. staffers had the temerity to hand John Kerry, who was touring Gaza recently, a letter purportedly from Hamas to U.S. President Barack Obama. And the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman himself has now caught the vapors:

Kerry turned the letter over to the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem on Friday and his spokesman told FOX News that the Democratic senator was not aware that the letter was from Hamas when he accepted it from an official with the U.N. relief agency.
Kerry told FOX News that he never read the letter because it was sandwich among other promotional papers the U.N. gave him. A State Department official confirmed to FOX News that it was from Hamas and is now under review.
A potential concern was whether such a letter would violate the United States' policy toward Hamas. Obama has said his administration will not engage in diplomatic talks with Hamas unless the group renounces terrorism and affirms Israel's right to exist.

This is all rather silly. What's the harm in accepting a letter? There's no obligation to do anything with the information. And shouldn't U.S. officials at least be interested to see what Hamas, or those claiming to be its representatives, have to say? Even if its clear that Hamas has no intention of recognizing Israel anytime soon, this policy of pretending that the group doesn't exist -- even as it steadly takes over the Palestinian territories -- is completely baffling to me.

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images

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MODERATEWINGER

11:40 PM ET

February 22, 2009

Talking to Hamas

The US is ready to talk to Hamas, and always stands ready to put a peace plan into action, but Hamas must do some things before we can even discuss a peace plan.

1, It must stop the firing of rockets into Israel. All this has done is to provoke Israel into a disproportionate response that kills Palestinian civilians, and makes Hamas into more of a pariah then before.

2, It must give up the notion of wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Even though it will never happen, it has been Hamas' stated goal to do just that. Why should Israel or the United States talk with Hamas when they are hell bent on destroying Israel??

3, Hamas must stop receiving weapons from Iran. If this doesn't happen, then peace talks are a non starter.

4, Hamas must renounce terrorism. This also must happen, or their can be no peace.

Hamas knows what it must do. If they don't, then Israel has every right to defend itself, and will.

PAPICEK

6:47 AM ET

February 23, 2009

Well there's your problem right there...

You're getting this story from FauxNews. I read the piece. Note well the anonymous sourcing, both from the US side as well as (reputedly) from Hamas.

FauxNews policy is to pick a talking point, then create some front page "news" by grabbing a quote from someone.

You were right. It is silly.

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