Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
We decided to punish Israel in the same sense that the sanctions against Iraq were punishing that whole country. IIRC, Hank has explained this concept here, so I'll let him analogize to Gaza. Our policy promoted a deterioration in conditions in the West Bank and Gaza, in the hopes that it would turn Palestinians against Hamas.
I think you have a problem thinking rationally about Carter, NTTAWWT.
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And it worked just as well as the 48 years of embargo have against Cuba - an impoverished nation bitterly pro-Castro and anti-America. We seem to never learn that our "unintended consequences" or "backlash" seems the more likely event to occur.
That said, they had an election and they picked Hamas, but that doesn't mean Israel or the U.S. has to play footsie with them. Iran has elections too.
Just as we have to take responsibility for the joke that is our President, so do other nations. I, in fact, do hold the Palistinians responsible and have no problem "punishing" them, just as I had no problem with "punishing" Libyans, Iraqis, or Cubans. Populaces are responsible for their leaders, even militant despots - they couldn't exist without tacit support and acceptance.
Our "punishments" rarely work as a tool for reform, but that is a practical matter not to be confused with the principle of not rewarding violent or repressive regimes.
