This story isn’t about Israel
Syrian nuke affair is about domestic US politics; Israel only a supporting actor
WASHINGTON – In this play, Israel
finds itself in a role it is not accustomed to: The supporting actor. This story is not about Israel. Rather, it touches on the roots of American foreign policy and a domestic political struggle that Israel has nothing to gain from.
On Thursday, several hours before the briefing that revealed the circumstances of the Syrian reactor’s bombing, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a discussion on the Syria question. Committee members were aware of what they were about to heart behind close doors.
The order of priority for Israel in this affair is first of all Syria, followed by North Korea. The Americans are first of all concerned about North Korea, and then, far behind it, Syria.
Pyongyang Link
Associated Press
White House breaks long silence regarding alleged nuclear facility in Syria, says US convinced Damascus attempted cover-up of reactor, built with N. Korea's aid, after its destruction by Israel
Both the Democrats and the Republicans issued scathing criticism against the Administration. The Democrats did so because they were given a golden opportunity during the elections campaign. The Republican Right did so because the agreement signed between the Bush Administration and North Korea drives it crazy.
The miserable character in this affair is US Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice.
The agreement with North Korea was Rice’s only tangible achievement in her more than three years at the State Department. She clung to this agreement even when Administration officials realized that the North Koreans were violating it.
Thursday’s revelations presented Rice as a sucker, and worse than that, as someone who betrayed her duty. If she fails to secure an Israeli-Arab agreement in the seven months she has left in the post, she will be leaving the Administration with an empty bag – just like the pervious Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.
To paraphrase a senior official in the Foreign Affairs Committee, Israel is discovering in this affair that it a small vessel sailing in rough seas. It should be careful.
