George Mitchell, special envoy to the middle east.. good idea? not?

[SoCalDem]

I know he's been around a long time, BUT, is it a good idea to recycle the same people over and over.. especially when they have failed so many times to achieve the peace they are supposed to be trying to broker now..

Things have gotten even thornier over the years, and I think a NEW approach with fresh eyes and ideas might be better..

The leaders in the middle east are shrewd characters, and by giving them the same old adversaries, I don't see a solution any closer than before..

These "old warriors" are crucial to have as advisors, but to put them into the pivotal out-front positions seems counter-productive to me..

[The Magistrate]

1. The Gentleman Would Probably Do A Decent Job, Ma'am

[spanone]

2. i think there are very few choices...

[babylonsister]

3. He's supremely qualified and well-liked. You can't have a rube

in that position imo. Check this out-he's too even-handed for this guy.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/21/mitchell-foxman-env... /


Foxman: George Mitchell is too ‘fair’ and ‘even-handed’ to serve as Middle East envoy.»

The media is reporting that former Sen. George Mitchell, who handled the Northern Ireland peace process, is being eyed by the Obama administration to be a top diplomatic envoy to the Middle East. In 2001, Mitchell produced a report on the Middle East which recommended that Israel freeze all its settlement activities. Without a freeze, a cessation of violence would be “particularly hard to sustain,” he argued. While Mitchell’s impending appointment is earning a great deal of praise, the Anti-Defamation League’s Abe Foxman complains the diplomat is too fair and balanced for the post:

“Sen. Mitchell is fair. He’s been meticulously even-handed,” said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “But the fact is, American policy in the Middle East hasn’t been ‘even handed’ — it has been supportive of Israel when it felt Israel needed critical U.S. support.”

“So I’m concerned,” Foxman continued. “I’m not sure the situation requires that kind of approach in the Middle East.”

[applegrove]

18. It is certainly worth a try.

[anonymous171]

4. Diplomacy is all about trust.

Old faces are good. But I do agree that we need to introduce some new blood.

[cali]

5. It's a very good idea.

Mitchell has a good track record.

What would you suggest? Appointing someone with no experience negotiating?

[EFerrari]

6. Is this the George MItchell who was on the Disney Board? n/t

[BeFree]

7. Mebbe

Mitchell has proven to be a pretty damn good politician and diplomat.

If, in the between times he was in office he spent raking in some dough, well, that's not illegal.
We are a capitalist country, ya know. And Disney is one of the better, imo.

[EFerrari]

10. I was just trying to figure out if I was looking up the right guy.

[SoCalDem]

8. I don;t know.. All I know is that he's been involved for a very long time

and sometimes a fresh approach works better than the same thing over and over : Time will tell

[cali]

11. First of all, the approach will be dictated by Obama.

Secondly, someone without the kind of experience that Mitchell has in negotiating, is just an absurd idea.

[EFerrari]

12. I like him a lot more than the other name floated, Dennis Ross,

who is joined at the hip to AIPAC.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dennis_B._Ro...

[cali]

9. This is former Senator George Mitchell of Maine

who was instrumental in the peace in Northern Ireland. And yes, he served on the Disney board. What does that have to do with being ME envoy?

[EFerrari]

14. Calm down, cali. I don't know him and the name is common.

I wanted to read about the right George Mitchell.

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. I think former Sen. Mitchell would be the best choice of those who would actually

hold the most credibility on all sides.

When I read the May 20, 2001 Mitchell Commission Report which examined the causes of the second intifada in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I cannot say that I am in complete agreement.

http://www.mideastweb.org/mitchell_report.htm

However, I do see a sincere effort to act in a balanced manner and to pursue honest fact finding and to establish findings and make recommendations dispassionately and reasonably.

There may be someone who would be better at this than former Sen. Mitchell. But I cannot think of anyone who would hold more credibility on all sides and who would act in a more balanced manner.

[EFerrari]

16. I just watched a short vid where he talks about NAFTA.

And got the same impression. He seems to be an honest actor.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. The guy helped do the impossible on Northern Ireland.

I think he is a very good fit for this position. Mitchell is nothing BUT shrewd himself.

[KG]

17. since there's been no indication of a shift of US policy in regards to isreal, does it really matter

who is appointed envoy?

[TexasObserver]

19. He was a superior senator.

Very talented man.