Editor’s Note: Jay Nordlinger attended the World Economic Forum on the Middle East last week. It took place by the Dead Sea in Jordan. Below is the fourth installment of his journal. For the first three, go here, here, and here.
On the stage of Plenary Hall is a Bahraini official: the sheikh in charge of economic development. Like the other Bahrainis, he speaks perfect American English, even including modern barbarisms such as “impact” as a verb. He says that we have to be careful, in these straitened economic times: careful not to “turn our backs” on trade, the lowering of tariffs, and — “dare I say it?” — globalization.
You get a far more robust defense of classical-liberal economics from the Bahraini government than you do from the American government — any branch now.
There is also Danilo Türk, an impressive guy: He is president of Slovenia. (Remember when it was all Yugoslavia to us — to us Americans?) What is not so impressive is that, in praising the Obama administration, he praises America’s decision to rejoin the U.N. human-rights council.
This is the council on which the world’s beauties have sat: Sudan, China, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria — you know, all the beauties. They spend their time trying to make a pariah of Israel. They do a very good job of it.
Under the Bush administration, we Americans said, “How about, at a minimum, we don’t have genocidal governments on the council? Would that be okay?” The U.N. said no. So the Bushies said, “All right: We will no longer participate and pay.” The new folks have said, “Yes, we will.” So we are.
Pity.
John Kerry is present — and he is passing the global test, as always. He gives a list of current “challenges.” And on his list are “a strong Hamas,” “a strong Hezbollah,” and the election of a new Israeli prime minister, which “some people think presents more difficulties than opportunities.”
Gee, that’s nice: The newly elected democrat in Israel is linked as a “challenge” to two Iran-backed terror groups. Congratulations, Bibi!
Kerry notes that Arabs have come to recognize Iran as more of a threat than Israel. True. But why should Israel be seen as a threat at all? Whose country do they threaten?
The senator puts in a plug for the Arab Peace Initiative, saying that it is at last being “recognized” by the administration in Washington. To recap from earlier: The Arab Peace Initiative demands that Israel retreat to the original, 1948 borders, accept Palestinian refugees, and accept also a Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. That’s all! If Israel does that — and manages to stay intact — Arab nations will in turn recognize it.
Could work. Might not. Not easy, being Israel, as I have said too many times.
Kerry says, “There is a clarity in most minds about what the final s-” — you could hear the hiss of his ess. He was going to say “solution”: “final solution.” But, in the nick of time, he switches to “agreement”: “. . . final agreement looks like.” I sympathize with him: I’m always having to avoid “final solution,” too. Sometimes you slip.
He salutes “my friend Amr Moussa,” the forever secretary-general of the Arab League, the perfect representative of the Old Guard, a walking fossil — more potent than a fossil, I’m sorry to say. When the likes of Kerry salute the likes of Moussa, this tends to discourage Arab liberals and reformers.
Old Western pols such as Kerry always embrace Old Guard Arabs such as Moussa. They’re used to dealing with them. They’ve known them for decades. They meet at the same hotels, at the same conferences. This is part of the “stability” you hear about. And many Westerners would rather deal with autocratic types than with democrats. For one thing, there is no rotation in office. Year after year, the same guy is in the same position.
When’s Mubarak up for reelection again? How about King Abdullah (either one)? When will Moussa retire to some veranda?
Of course, John Kerry has been in the same seat — the same U.S. Senate seat — since 1985. But at least he faces reelection: genuine, democratic elections. In any case, I hope that he seeks out Arabs beyond the Old Guard: the critics of Amr Moussa, who want a new approach to Israel, and who are pledged to solving Arab problems, rather than blaming them on others.
As he continues his remarks, Kerry cites something new from the U.S.: “an absence of arrogance.” I’m not so sure about that. You?
And then he says something portentous. He says that, with all his experience, he has earned the right to speak “candidly.” You think he will talk turkey to this Arab audience. Instead, he talks about his recent speech before AIPAC, the American pro-Israel lobby. He and Vice President Biden have both spoken, one after the other. “We’re unflinchingly supportive of Israel, and will be,” Kerry says.
Funny, but, if I were an Israeli, I’d get a little nervous on hearing those words. Reminds me of an old line (which I first heard from Thomas Sowell, by the way): “I’m right behind you, pal —
waaay behind you.”
Anyway, Kerry goes on to say that both he and Biden told AIPAC, “We know that the facts on the ground must change.” And “we were both very clear that the settlements must stop, settlements must freeze, and I am absolutely confident that President Obama is going to be strong and fair-minded in pressing that as part of the policy.”
So, that’s the big, daring, candid thing he has to tell this Arab audience. Israel must stop settling! The president will apply the appropriate pressure! A profile in courage, this JFK. Moussa must be loving it.
Alluding to the Bush administration, he says, “We lost eight years. We can’t afford to lose eight weeks, let alone eight months.” (I think he means to say “years” again. Not sure.)
Lost eight years, huh? Did we lose eight years under Clinton? Does Kerry not realize that the Bush administration peace-processed its rear off, especially in the second term? He can talk to Arab leaders, and Israeli ones, about Condoleezza Rice. Does he realize that Bush was the first president to call for an independent Palestinian state? Did he read the newspapers during the Annapolis gabs?
The Obama people, and Democrats at large, are always spouting this Year Zero stuff. Everything in the world starts now. All was dark and void, pre-O. And when will they stop campaigning against Bush? Ever?
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