By Dawn's Early Light

The Red & White Revolution

Lebanese are taking to the streets to demand Syria withdraw its troops from Lebanon, who have been there since 1975.  Chants of "Syria Out" and "We don't want a parliament that acts as a doorkeeper for the Syrians" are reported by the AP (HT: Instapundit).  I still appreciate the "Remove Your Dogs from Beirut" chant myself.

They Lebanese protesters are wearing red and white scarves, the colors of the flag as they protest.  Can this not be a show of solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians with their orange scarves in the streets of Kiev? 

Democracy is contagious.  The old paradigms will not work.  Once the yoke of oppression begins to lift in a region, it is impossible for neighbors not to want the same freedoms. 

The catalyst for this has to be the Iraqi elections and the potential Syrian overreach if they are, in fact, responsible (directly or indirectly) for the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon.  Even the Baathists of Iraq are reportedly at the bargaining table to move into the political process (see The Adventures of Chester and the Belmont Club with great takes). 

We should show solidarity and support to the Lebanese.  Let us hope and, better yet, apply maximum pressure for Syria to quit Lebanon.  The signs are here.  The people of the Middle East want liberty.

Blog Pool - Starting Fresh with Pres. Abbas

Secretary Rice met, on February 6th, after her visit first with Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian people.  For the first time since the early 1990s, there is the possibility and hope for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. 

Everything has meaning in diplomacy, and Sec. Rice's visit and President Abbas' comments are no exception:

President Abbas: "I would like to tell her, you are in the right place."

President Abbas is signaling to the Bush Administration that he would like the US to be more engaged in the process and to invest personal and political capital to bring about a Palestinian state sooner than later.  I think it also signals that President Abbas believes he can be the partner that Arafat proved, tragically for his countrymen, not to be with the Americans.  He continues:

"I would also like to take this opportunity to ask for the continuation of assistance in issues related to the issue of settlements, the wall, as well as those issues related to Jerusalem. We thank the American administration for its involvement in the issue of the Absentee Property Law. For our part, we have said and still say, and have worked and still work toward fulfilling our obligations concerning the Road Map, and we hope that the Israeli side will likewise fulfill its obligation, because this is the only way to realize President Bush’s two-state vision of establishing an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian state next to the State of Israel, as well as peace and tranquility. Also, we have started the reform process, including financial, economic, legal and other reforms, and we are continuing on this path in order to lay a steady foundation for building the Palestinian state."

I love that President Abbas opened with this thought.  He opens with what he wants of Israel, their issues with respect to: 1) Israeli settlements 2) the security wall and 3) the partition of Jerusalem.  These are all important and complex issues.  But look where he goes next.  He spends more time talking about where he has moved his government and where he wants to lead it.  He speaks of the Road Map with a desire to meet, from a Palestinian perspective, his obligations in order to receive a state in return for his people.  He speaks of a Palestinian state and Israel at a state of "peace and tranquility".  Can you imagine Arafat making this claim in sincerity or even at all?

Secretary Rice responded the following day at a press conference, saying of both sides:

"We are very encouraged by the initial steps that the Palestinian leadership has taken on security, toward the restoration of law and order, and in establishing the basis for a cease-fire. We have also been assured by President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority’s intention to bring justice to those who murdered three American personnel in the Gaza in 2003. We are encouraged, too, by the Israeli reaction to the Palestinian steps on security. Working together, the parties have created a very positive atmosphere for tomorrow’s important summit."

There are many other very important elements in the Q & A session between the two that are worth exploring further, including Hamas winning local elections, Egypt, negotiating a cease-fire, the US pledge of $40 million extra in assistance and an American General (Lt. Gen. William Ward) as special envoy to the Palestinians. 

I am glad to see Secretary Rice directly involved, and I think the trip will produce a new opportunity for peace, affirmation of democratic ideals, and a reminder of US leadership in the Middle East.

Blog Pool - Trying to Keep up with Condi

(Note to readers: I am about a day and a half behind filing my "stories" for Blog Pool.  I am working hard to catch up on Condi's important visits to Europe and the Middle East). 

Secretary of State Rice's comments with Prime Minster Sharon were brief prior to their February 6 meeting.  However there are two items from both individuals:

Prime Minister Sharon: "Welcome Madam Secretary, you are among friends here."

Secretary Rice: "I bring greetings to you from President Bush, and I just want to say that of course the relationship between the United States and Israel is based on such a firm foundation because we share not just interests but values.  I look forward to working with you to try to advance the cause of peace and to overcome the scourge of terrorism."

PM Sharon is subtle with the "you are among friends here" line, but it is true isn't it?  Is there another country in the Middle East that is as pro-America as Israel? 

Because of the Judeo-Christian values shared by both countries, the strong traditions of democracy and mutual support, Dr. Rice returns a subtle comment to PM Sharon, speaking about a deeper relationship that has not only mutual interests but rooted values.

Blog Pool - Remembering the Children

Following Secretary Rice's visit to Turkey, she left for Israel, America's closest ally and friend in the Middle East.  An important stop in her trip was to the Yad Yashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.  Upon signing the guest book at the Children's portion of the museum, she remarked:

I want to say to those who have put together this remarkable memorial at Yad Vashem, that it does indeed call us to remember the six million who perished, each individually and collectively, to honor those who survived and those who lived to build the Jewish state of Israel. And also it obligates us to be certain that good men and women never again fail to act and to say: We shall never forget and never again.

It is important for the US to identify and remember the holocaust, its horror upon millions of Jews and other victims of the Nazis, especially as Europe's sense of responsibility is apparently dimming.  Secretary Rice, from her own personal experiences growing up in the segregated South, realizes the problems of hate and bigotry.  She was additionally the friend of one of the 4 girls who were murdered in a Birmingham church fire because of their skin color.  Secretary Rice's identification with the children, the most innocent of innocents, in the holocaust is moving. 

Her call to remember both individually and collectively is powerful as well.  Through individual stories of the holocaust we can begin to grasp the evil that totalitarianism inflicted on a massive scale upon its own citizens.  While fascism and communism are defeated, Islamic fanaticism taps into the same hate.  Western nations that forget the past and pretend that good and evil are only naive religious ideas are in danger of allowing another holocaust if terrorism goes unchecked.

UPDATE: PowerPundit has a good link, "Condi Ignores Arafat's Grave".  Speaks volumes doesn't it?

UPDATE 2: Thanks to Roger for the link.