Comments on: The Arafat Problem http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_arafat_problem/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:03:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: dw http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_arafat_problem/comment-page-1/#comment-20880 dw Fri, 23 Jul 2004 22:55:19 +0000 /?p=6993#comment-20880 What would those groups be like? Read up on the Real IRA and the Provisional IRA and compare them to the actual IRA. Small, radical splinter groups floating outside the mainstream of the movement. What would those groups be like? Read up on the Real IRA and the Provisional IRA and compare them to the actual IRA. Small, radical splinter groups floating outside the mainstream of the movement.

]]> By: pennywit http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_arafat_problem/comment-page-1/#comment-20862 pennywit Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:46:13 +0000 /?p=6993#comment-20862 Strictly speaking from a hypothetical level, seeing Hamas in charge would be very interesting. If I remember my dimestore Machiavelli correctly, Hamas would likely splinter into several subgroups once it comes to power. What would those groups be like? Strictly speaking from a hypothetical level, seeing Hamas in charge would be very interesting. If I remember my dimestore Machiavelli correctly, Hamas would likely splinter into several subgroups once it comes to power. What would those groups be like?

]]> By: dw http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/the_arafat_problem/comment-page-1/#comment-20860 dw Fri, 23 Jul 2004 18:27:52 +0000 /?p=6993#comment-20860 I came to the conclusion that Israel wants Arafat out, since he's the only thing left that acts as a safety valve on all-out war, no matter flimsy that valve is. Arafat goes, Hamas steps into the void, and all pretense of peace goes with it. Israel can send in the army and obliterate Gaza. OTOH, Hamas may be the best group to reason with. They're smart people who are functioning as community builders and organizers. They're running the schools since Sharon shut them down. (Of course, the core curriculum is "Death to Israel.") They have a lot of grassroots support, and they lack Arafat's political entrenchment. I came to the conclusion that Israel wants Arafat out, since he's the only thing left that acts as a safety valve on all-out war, no matter flimsy that valve is. Arafat goes, Hamas steps into the void, and all pretense of peace goes with it. Israel can send in the army and obliterate Gaza.

OTOH, Hamas may be the best group to reason with. They're smart people who are functioning as community builders and organizers. They're running the schools since Sharon shut them down. (Of course, the core curriculum is "Death to Israel.") They have a lot of grassroots support, and they lack Arafat's political entrenchment.

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