ei: Politics of fear
Founded in 2003, the ATFP's website states that it is "a not-for-profit organization that advocates to the American people the national security interests of the United States in establishing a Palestinian state." [3] Hoping to replicate the success of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Iraqi National Congress in aligning their policy goals with US national interests, the ATFP believes this can be achieved through a program that reflects the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) strategy adopted in 1988 of a peaceful solution based on existing UN resolutions, international law and human rights. That this approach suffers from an inherent and fundamental contradiction appears to have been lost on the ATFP. Namely, that while an independent Palestinian state may be in America's national interest, it has demonstrated absolutely no inclination to support the creation of a Palestinian state based on UN resolutions, international law and human rights, or even the Palestinian's declared aspirations. For over sixty years American policy makers have recognized that a resolution to the Palestine "question" and conflict was vital to US national security interests and the basic outline of that solution has been known for forty years. Yet, it is only recently and begrudgingly, that Washington has declared support for a Palestinian state. Even then, that support has been limited to Bush's "vision" of a state, while his administration's policies have ensured that it will never be actualized. Moreover, in the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United States, and the Bush Administration in particular, has perverted UN resolutions, international law and human rights to conform to it and Israel's agenda. Most disturbing of all, through the Oslo Accords, the US and Israel found willing allies in subverting UN resolutions related to the conflict in the actions and decisions of Yasser Arafat, Abbas, and their coterie of sycophantic advisers. This is not a policy program or strategy -- it is folly.
Founded in 2003, the ATFP's website states that it is "a not-for-profit organization that advocates to the American people the national security interests of the United States in establishing a Palestinian state." [3] Hoping to replicate the success of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Iraqi National Congress in aligning their policy goals with US national interests, the ATFP believes this can be achieved through a program that reflects the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) strategy adopted in 1988 of a peaceful solution based on existing UN resolutions, international law and human rights. That this approach suffers from an inherent and fundamental contradiction appears to have been lost on the ATFP. Namely, that while an independent Palestinian state may be in America's national interest, it has demonstrated absolutely no inclination to support the creation of a Palestinian state based on UN resolutions, international law and human rights, or even the Palestinian's declared aspirations. For over sixty years American policy makers have recognized that a resolution to the Palestine "question" and conflict was vital to US national security interests and the basic outline of that solution has been known for forty years. Yet, it is only recently and begrudgingly, that Washington has declared support for a Palestinian state. Even then, that support has been limited to Bush's "vision" of a state, while his administration's policies have ensured that it will never be actualized. Moreover, in the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United States, and the Bush Administration in particular, has perverted UN resolutions, international law and human rights to conform to it and Israel's agenda. Most disturbing of all, through the Oslo Accords, the US and Israel found willing allies in subverting UN resolutions related to the conflict in the actions and decisions of Yasser Arafat, Abbas, and their coterie of sycophantic advisers. This is not a policy program or strategy -- it is folly.
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