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Go Home Jim Jones vs. Dennis Ross on Linkage

THE PLANK NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Jim Jones vs. Dennis Ross on Linkage

BY MICHAEL CROWLEY

Ben Smith notes that national security advisor Jim Jones, speaking at the J Street conference last week, called the Middle East conflict "the epicenter" of U.S. foreign policy problems around the world.

It's worth noting that one of Obama's senior advisors on Jones' NSC, Iran point man Dennis Ross, completely disagrees with the notion of "linkage." Ross thinks it's more important to deal with Iran first. Which may be an illustration of why Obama's foreign policy in the region feels a little muddled.

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Since Dennis Ross is Israel's man in the Obama Administration we should not be surprised he sees things Israel's way.

- ndmackenzie

November 6, 2009 at 1:13pm

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Since the antisemitic ndmackenzie is Hamas' man on these threads, we should not be surprised that he sees Dennis Ross as "Israel's man."

- jacksondyer

November 6, 2009 at 2:42pm

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ndmackenzie, have you read any of Ross's books? Give it a try. I strongly encourage everyone here to read Ross and Makovsky's new book "Myths, Illusions and Peace." It's not just a fantastic look at the linkage myth, it also explains so much of why Obama's current Middle East policy is failing horribly. Setting arbitrary demands on the Israelis does not advance peace; it artificially raises expectations and minimizes actual concessions Israel makes but that do not satisfy the arbitrary demands. American policy is the only thing keeping the sides from talking to each other right now. This is why the Obama folks are recalibrating their strategy.

- rozenson

November 6, 2009 at 3:13pm

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Does ndmackenzie a friend of Hamas and Jihadists care about this: "Saudi Kills Muslims in Yemen" David T, November 6th 2009, 6:00 pm "Saudi Arabia has been killing Yemeni Muslims." http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/11/06/saudi-kills-muslims-in-yemen/

- jacksondyer

November 6, 2009 at 3:30pm

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Sorry, roz, I see absolutely no indication that the Obama administration has any strategy at all. But you're right about its policies failing horribly. Gonna be a long 4 years, friends of Israel.

- butchie b

November 6, 2009 at 4:19pm

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butchie b, the reason why it doesn't look like there's a strategy is because it failed so early on. Obama tried to get the Arab states to give flyover rights to Israeli commercial planes. The Saudis gave him the finger and the rest of the Arabs followed. Basically his strategy was DOA. Do you recall Robert Satloff's piece on this site a few weeks ago after Obama's address to the UN? The administration realizes they're flailing here. That's why Clinton has rather unsuccessfully been trying to lower Palestinian and Arab expectations about a 110% freeze on new settlement construction.

- rozenson

November 6, 2009 at 4:52pm

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