Reluctant U.S. shows signs of shift on Hamas

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5846259&cKey=1118005512000

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The Bush administration is showing signs of easing its hard-line approach toward Hamas, in response to the militant group's rising political clout in the Palestinian territories and appeals for flexibility from European allies, officials and diplomats said.

The White House acceded to Hamas running candidates in Palestinian elections, even though the group has refused to disarm and Washington lists it as a major terrorist organization.

Senior administration officials said they may be open to contacts with some of Hamas' political affiliates, and would not rule out dealings with the group if it gave up its weapons and ended violence.

U.S. officials and diplomats cast any shift as pragmatic: Hamas-funded social services are popular with many Palestinians; it is winning local races and was expected to make a strong showing in newly postponed parliamentary elections, and some Hamas-backed politicians and affiliates are seen as moderates.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Not surprised

Wouldn't be the first time this administration was worked with terrorists and malcontents.

[applegrove]

2. Remember that Israel funded Hamas to begin with. You know - get

rid of the Syrian/Lebanese led terrorists and let Palestine have some of their own to compete with PLO. Well now they have some of their own. And just like with the IRA you gotta deal with them if you want democracy and peace.

[Alex146]

3. Hamas may be a terrorist orginization

but it is also a soical and political network. In many cases it is the only group meeting the social and political needs of the Palestinians.

[bemildred]

4. I dunno why, this makes me think of that CNN story I put up

about how al Sadr was suddenly not a "radical firebrand
militant anti-American" guy now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1523686

[applegrove]

5. Yup. Peace is complicated. More complicated than war. But so much

more worth it in the end. I just keep thinking of the ANC and the South Africans. Boy oh boy - if they could forgive - after so many years. And all the neighboring countries who had leaders blown out of the sky and new democracies destabilized.

Man oh man - if the SA can do it. And struggle to rebuild and share so slowly - we should all be able to understand half as much.