<html> There is always such a gap in even the most well-laid plans.  Even more so with such slap-dash, conjuncture-driven plans.  I wouldn't assume that the Iraq timetable is only months, it may be another year, which, like the Normandy invasion, is still a timetable. Indications are that Sharon has the green light from Washington to wage a low to medium level war of attrition, one that flies under the political radar of the US Arab client states - as it has done so far.  I mean, has the Palestine issue really heated up and destabilized these states as much as the reaction of the US itself after 9/11? The two conjoined are certainly a complicating factor, especially as they tend to reinforce one another in what Edward Said just recently called "the Israelization of US foriegn policy".  But the Palestinians undoubtedly are aware that Washington has placed upper limits on Israeli violence for the reasons you mentioned and therefore seek (correctly) to breach that limit and provoke the problem you suggest.  The US, on the other hand, wouldn't mind seeing the Palestinians beaten into a bloody pulp before it gets behind the Saudi proposal. -Brad At 04:53 PM 3/6/02 -0800, David Friedman wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I don't follow you. The timetable for a war against Iraq is a matter of months.  Anything longer than that wouldn't be a timetable. So what scenario will allow Sharon to beat the Palestinians into complete submission in a matter of months without heating up the politics of the Arab world so much as to create a serious problem for the Saudis? There seems to be a gap between wishes and realities. At 03:23 PM 3/6/02 -0800, Brad Mayer wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I don't think Sharon & Co. are blindly blocking the Saudi proposal.  They know what the U.S. wants.  Sharon himself made it most brutally clear recently, when he said the _first_ the Palestinians must be beaten into a bloody pulp, _then_ there'll be talk of peace. Well, at least they spare us the usual twisted rationalizations and apologetics. But it is most important to underline that Washington fully supports Sharons' policy, without a qualm (heard any lately?).    The only possible "difference" that could emerge is over how quickly the Palestinians can be "beaten".  Washington wants Sharon to hurry up with the dirty job, so the way will be clear - and the Saudis onboard - the projected war of aggression against Iraq.   War of aggression, that is what it is and will be.  Stalin was an even beastlier tyrant than Saddam Hussein, but there was no doubt as to who the aggressor was after June 22nd, 1941. -Brad At 01:48 PM 3/6/02 -0800, David Friedman wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>This is in the context of the Saudi peace proposal. What it suggests to me is a desire to escalate the level of hate and violence as a way to torpedo any peace process just in case the U.S. might decide to put pressure on the Israelis, as part of clearing the way for an Iraqi campaign. If the Sharon government ups the ante, they might force the Saudis and other Arab governments to denounce them, and that in turn becomes an excuse to reject any peace initiative. All aimed at manipulating the American public, of course. Still, it seems to be just a trial balloon right now.  Maybe Schiff and his friends want to see if there's much reaction against it among the Israeli people.  There'll be plenty of right-wingers talking it up. At 12:28 PM 3/6/02 -0800, joanna bujes wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Following sent to me from GUSH SHALOM. FYI. Joanna _________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Killing ("physically harming") of families of suicide bombers discussed by circles close to the army high command. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> Dave Friedman (510) 986-3614 david.friedman@sun.com Sun Microsystems Forte Tools 1800 Harrison Street, Oakland, CA 94612 </blockquote></html>