Al-Qaeda More Interested in President's Middle East Mission Than Americans

Hours before American President George W. Bush touched down in Israel today, militants in the Gaza strip sent rockets across southern Israel, hitting a few minor civilian targets. This act, retribution for retribution ad infinitum is not the least uncommon for the conflict ravaged region, but because the president was scheduled to visit today, these attacks launched a firestorm of alarm among American citizens.

Oh, wait... no it didn't. In fact, most Americans don't even realize their president is in the Middle East today. Most of us are more interested in Hillary Clinton's 'moment' on the news before the New Hampshire primaries.

How is it possible that George Bush's itinerary could provoke so little interest in his own country? The threat issued by spokesperson Adam Gadahn of al-Qaeda earlier this week to 'meet the president with bombs' should have at least spiked some concern among presidential supporters. But the video's release only caused the merest stir, the barest ripple among citizens of this country. Americans either can not or will not care what George Bush is up to this week. We have turned our attention to the election of a new leader. America has moved on.

There is certainly a valid, underlying reason for apathy in this case. No matter how splendid and constructive the notion of peace talks in Israel may sound, many of us have spent the last eight years observing the conflict between Israel and Palestine elevate. No effort to bring the two together has ever culminated in a lasting peace. But there are additional reasons to see the present effort as futile: For one, the weakened leverage of an outgoing and unpopular president is unlikely to provide the steam necessary to effect change. But mainly, the leaders who are approaching the table do not include the militant extremist group Hamas who currently controls the Gaza strip. Peace talks that do not address one of the main proponents of violence appear superfluous, to say the least.

It is no longer simply a matter of Palestinians in conflict with Israelis. Now there are two separate Palestinian leaderships: One, the extremist militant group Hamas who have been identified as a terrorist group by the United States, and the more moderate Palestinian National Authority, lead by Mahmoud Abbas. Though included in negotiations, Abbas is also critical of Bush and U.S. leadership.

While America has chosen to support and validate the Palestinian National Authority, talks and negotiations ignore Hamas outright. Since the militant group have been labeled 'Terror Organization' by our nation, entering into talks would be seen as negotiating with terrorists. This certainly limits the peace process. The problem with hot-words like
'terrorist' is that the emotional impact of the word obscures critical thinking to some extent. Terrorism is a rather subjective term, and some of the harsher actions of Israel in the last few years could easily be seen as terrorist actions from the perspective of a Palestinian person living in the Gaza strip.

Whatever one's personal feelings toward the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, ignoring the pivotal cause of violence in a region makes the concept of 'peace talks' ludicrous.

Not to mention the cost. The security measures and support personnel necessary to allow the President to make this visit are comparable to the resources that were necessary for Pope John Paul II's visit to Israel in 2000. The U.K. Telegraph is reporting an overwhelming traffic strain in the main regions of the Holy Land. The list of security needs for this visit include 25 armored vehicles, eight truck loads of specially encrypted computers and communication technology, a squadron of helicopters, and the deployment of 10,500 police and security personnel. Jerusalem's main road has been closed for the duration of the president's entourage, with citizens only allowed to travel on foot after an interview with local intelligence agencies.

If I lived in Israel today, I would be mighty irritated by the American president's need to seem to be doing something. But I am an American citizen, so I don't much care.