Reply #11: This is indeed the area I believe Dean needs to work on

[Malikshah]

I'm a Dean supporter 90% of the way--the only reason it's not 100 is this issue.

I am hoping that he will listen to folks and educate himself regarding the issue. More importantly, I hope that all of us on the boards do the same. Does this mean to take one side or the other completely? NO.

As someone who has studied the region and its peoples as a career (education) I've had the difficult task of having to teach the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In the end, supporters of both sides view me with suspicion as I don't take sides in the classroom.

My mantra is: No one people has a monopoly on victimhood, or on morality.

It should not end with "there are no white hats" or "it's a centuries old conflict"-- we need to educate ourselves on exactly what took place from the end of the 19th century until today--using the words of those involved. We need to educate our politicians who have done a lousy job of handling the situation.

My major fault with Clinton was his handling of the crisis. He was too one-sided and thus doomed the process to failure.

The Taba issues were mere talks, later repudiated by Barak as he was about to lose in the election. The myths of Camp David II still abound, and in the end, are detrimental to both parties.

Dean's statement concerning the treatment of Arabs and Muslims in the US will not result in anything if he does not deal more equitably with the issues involved. His statement about the wall is quite scary as are his links to AIPAC. Why? The US leadership must be perceived as an honest broker, this is untenable with such close links.

I know this should be in the FA thread--but as it's concerning Dean's campaign--it needs to be said--if he truly wants to be the President to bring change, he must include a change in our Foreign Policy to a more even-handed one. Call both sides on it when they break their promises equally!