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Elections vindicated

Reader comment on item: Thoughts on Hamas' Ascendance

Submitted by Kurt (Japan), Jan 29, 2006 at 20:13

Dr. Pipes says that the difference between Hamas and Fatah is illusory, which makes sense to me. Both are basically terrorist organizations, and as others have pointed out, at least now it will be more difficult for Fatah and Hamas to play "good cop/bad cop" as they did before when Fatah claimed inability to control terrorist attacks on Israel. There can be no excuses now. With Hamas in power, the PA will be unable to deny its culpability.

This will also force voters to take responsibility for the actions of the government. With elections (the PA can hardly be characterized as a democracy which can be expected to behave responsibly based on a single election, but I digress) the voters truly get the government they deserve, and sufffer the consequences of their votes. It seems to me that the only way for Hamas to lose its popularity among the Palestinians is for it to take power and, with our help, fail in it aims. In the future, if the opportunity arises, they may vote in a more rational manner.

To this end, it is essential, as Dr. Pipes says, that the U.S. and other countries refuse to support this government with aid and cooperation. The Palestinians must bear the fruits of their decision. My worry is that, starting with the Europeans, governments will rush to rationalize cooperation with Hamas because it was elected and is therefore "legitimate", or accept at face value any conciliatory noises made by Hamas in English, thus undermining the positive aspects of the election.

Perhaps the reason Dr. Pipes opposes a rush to "democracy" is that he fears a lack of resolve on the part of the West? If so, recent events indicate that he may be right, but I think resolve is equally necessary for the other responses he has outlined to the Islamist threat, and it seems to me that the "stability" we have experienced in the Middle East to date will prove useless in the long run, and possibly counter-productive.

Certainly this seems to be the case up to now: has the situation regarding Islamsm in "stable" Egypt, Saudi, etc. become better or worse over the years? The longer we put off surgery, the worse the underlying ailment becomes. The Bush Administration seems to be on the right track as long as our courage can be maintained and we keep our eyes focused on our enemies. Helping to hasten the inevitable fall of the foremost Islamist government, Iran, would seem another essential element.
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Reader comments (32) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Welcome to Hamastan [1083 words]Fern SidmanMar 5, 2006 23:2639014
Hamas Recognising Israel [52 words]Sidi MansurFeb 21, 2006 05:2736670
Back at you Sidi [84 words]RavDavMar 2, 2006 00:3236670
Hamas Recognizing Israel [73 words]Sidi MansurApr 23, 2006 06:1036670
Sidi rides again! [120 words]RavDavMay 22, 2006 13:3336670
1The Truth will set us free RavDav! [177 words]Sidi MansurJul 3, 2006 00:1036670
Life on Planet Sidi [195 words]RavDavSep 4, 2006 01:1136670
Agree [19 words]Zak MazurJan 31, 2006 10:1733248
1The track record of Hamas [1324 words]Fern SidmanJan 31, 2006 00:3933208
Whither Democracy [368 words]Taha Abdulla BaharoonJan 31, 2006 00:3633206
An answer to the question - "But what about Palestinian rights. . ." [55 words]SullyJan 31, 2006 09:0933206
Political Immaturity [197 words]Taha Abdulla BaharoonFeb 1, 2006 02:4233206
I don't blame Palestinians for the 9/11 attack [54 words]SullyFeb 2, 2006 21:5133206
Whither Democracy? Palestinian Rights? [173 words]Proud "Cowboy"Feb 4, 2006 11:4733206
Political immaturity? [196 words]Proud CowboyFeb 4, 2006 15:1533206
Elections vindicated [418 words]KurtJan 29, 2006 20:1333051
The Pope and Islam and the ascendance of Hamas [156 words]Steven lJan 29, 2006 20:0733050
Islam and it's power [282 words]F. ShakkiJan 29, 2006 17:3233035
Hamas Victory by far the best outcome for Israel [182 words]TedJan 29, 2006 08:5933000
No one else understands either! [234 words]Kenneth S. BesigJan 29, 2006 07:3732991
Calling a Spade a Spade [69 words]Helen Rauch-ElonekaveJan 29, 2006 06:3832987
Calling a Spade a ...shovel [177 words]Taha Abdulla BaharoonJan 31, 2006 02:1332987
What a load of rubbish [380 words]Proud "Cowboy"Feb 4, 2006 11:3932987
West Bank story :Hamas & Fatah rumble in 'The mother of all turf wars' ' [45 words]Ben van de PolderJan 27, 2006 14:5932768
better that the palestinian has now shed all of his clothes [139 words]SullyJan 29, 2006 15:4032768
Hamas History and Liberal Excuses [109 words]Dalia LauerJan 27, 2006 03:3332643
O Please, let's get real, shall we? [355 words]J.S.Jan 26, 2006 15:1332549
Eyes Wide Shut [85 words]KeithJan 26, 2006 14:1932542
Some Sanity, But Not Nearly Enough [93 words]Dan FriedmanJan 25, 2006 16:4332459
fatah-hamas power sharing [109 words]R.MitelmanJan 25, 2006 14:5832450
No Change [42 words]James BigaJan 25, 2006 12:5632438
A Clear Enemy? [62 words]AlexJan 25, 2006 01:2732390

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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