If a report in the Guardian today is true, the Obama camp is planning for talks with a U.S. designated terrorist group, Hamas. It's not only disturbing but totally contradicts Obama's previous assurances to Americans during the campaign that he would not engage with these brutal terrorist thugs.
However, we did get a first clue of this possibility on November 11th when I wrote: HAMAS: Barack Obama advisers asked HAMAS to keep pre-election meeting secret!
Obama's deception on Hamas could be real but we need clarification directly from Obama but that's not likely since it is also reported these talks may be onducted in secret. Somewhere along the line someone from Hamas will talk.
From the Guardian dated Jan. 9th, 2009:
"...The incoming Obama administration is prepared to abandon George Bush's doctrine of isolating Hamas by establishing a channel to the Islamist organisation, sources close to the transition team say.
The move to open contacts with Hamas, which could be initiated through the US intelligence services, would represent a definitive break with the Bush presidency's ostracising of the group. The state department has designated Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in 2006 Congress passed a law banning US financial aid to the group.
The Guardian has spoken to three people with knowledge of the discussions in the Obama camp.There is no talk of Obama approving direct diplomatic negotiations with Hamas early on, but he is being urged by advisers to initiate low-level or clandestine approaches, and there is growing recognition in Washington that the policy of ostracising Hamas is counter-productive.A tested course would be to start contacts through Hamas and the US intelligence services, similar to the secret process through which the US engaged with the PLO in the 1970s. Israel did not become aware of the contacts until much later.
...Richard Haass, a diplomat under both Bush presidents who was named by a number of news organisations this week as Obama's choice for Middle East envoy, supports low-level contacts with Hamas provided there is a ceasefire in place and a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation emerges.
From a Reuters report in April 2008 Barack Obama assured Americans:
"That's why I have a fundamental difference with President Carter and disagree with his decision to meet with Hamas," Obama said. "We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel's destruction. Weshould only sit down with Hamas if they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist and abide by past agreements."
"Hamas is not a state. Hamas is a terrorist organization," he said.
I'll be filing this under my "bamboozled" category unless we here directly from Obama the Guardian report is inaccurate.
Until then, bamboozled!
Update 12:25 PM: Obama's transition team denies the report. But as I said this denial has to come directly from Obama.
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See also:
1/9/08: Obama To Open Back-Channel With Hamas? CBS
Obama goes to Shul: Calming American Democrats in Israel?
Jerusalem Post - Jun 2, 2008
To his credit, Obama has so far rejected meeting with Hamas; ... The Hamas "endorsement" of Obama: Now, we don't for a minute believe that Obama has ...
Caught meeting repeatedly with Hamas, Obama Mideast adviser Malley...
Israel Insider - May 10, 2008
By Israel Insider staff May 10, 2008. A principal Mideast adviser to US presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama resigned Friday after reports surfaced that ...
Obama: McCain lost his bearings with Hamas comment
USA Today - May 8, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican rival John McCain tried to smear him and was "losing his ...
McCain picks up Hamas-Obama linkage
Jewish Telegraphic Agency - Apr 25, 2008
John McCain said voters should draw judgments from a report that Hamasfavors Barack Obama. "I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next ...
I would not meet with Hamas: Obama
alarabiya.net - Apr 12, 2008
Barack Obama said Friday he would not meet with representatives of Hamas but declined to criticize former US president Jimmy Carter's reported planned ...
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