Road Map To Hell

Lincoln Chafee wrote a very serious letter to Condoleezza Rice about John Bolton's nomination.

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September 7, 2006

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice

Secretary of State

US Department of State

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice:

I write to you with regard to the nomination of John Bolton to be US Representative to the United Nations. Today, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was scheduled to have a vote on Mr. Bolton's nomination. The decision on whether to hold that vote is in the Chairman of the Committee's hands. Chairman Lugar decided to hold the vote over to a later date, and I support that decision.

It is no secret that I have serious questions about this Administration's policies in the Middle East. As we tackle enormous problems in the region, most notably with Iran and Iraq, I believe we need to be successful in forging alliances. A critical part of that work is accomplished by our Ambassador to the UN.

One of the key issues with many of our allies is the situation with the Palestinians. I support the creation of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with its neighbor Israel. I believe progress on this front would be beneficial for the Palestinians, and futher America's, and Israel's security. The President, and you, frequently have spoken in favor of establishing a Palestinian state. On February 26, 2003, President Bush said "Success in Iraq could also begin a new state for Middle Eastern peace, and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic state." On February 22, 2005, the President said "Israel must freeze settlement activity." And on April 14, 2004, the President wrote to then-Prime Minister Sharon, "The United States supports the establishment of a Palestinian state this is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent, so that the Palestinian people can build their own future in accordance with the vision I set forth in June 2002 and with the path set forth in the roadmap."

Phase one of that Road Map states clearly that Israel will freeze all settlement activity. Yet, just this week, it is reported that 690 homes will be built in the West Bank settlements of Maale Adumim and Betar Illit. While the official US policy hs been against settlement activity, no credible observer could think that the US could not do more to stop these new actions.

While I am a strong supporter of Israel, and believer her security is non-negotiable, we should have a more balanced approach -- so that both sides can see that we are an honest broker for peace. I have been a long-time critic of the disparity between the rhetoric and the actions of the Administration on the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. However, now I fear that even the rhetoric is going to stop. Is this expansion of settlement activity a signal that holding both sides to their commitments under the Road Map is no longer official US policy?

It is my hope that answers will be forthcoming about our policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Committee can reconvene to debate Ambassador Bolton's confirmation.

Sincerely,

Lincoln Chafee

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The White House is hardly interested in the road map. Flash back to when Tony Blair offered to go to the region and negotiate for peace. Bush's microphone was accidently on at the G-8 Summit.

Blair: I don’t know what you guys have talked about, but as I say I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is, but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral.

Bush: I think Condi is going to go pretty soon.

Blair: But that’s, that’s, that’s all that matters. But if you... you see it will take some time to get that together.

Blair stammers and Bush dismisses him with a "yeah, yeah." That was even worse that Bush's formal greeting of "Yo, Blair." Rice went over to the Middle East and outraged may with her comment that the Israel/Hezbollah conflict was the "birth pangs" of democracy forming. Long after Rice's speech, Bush refused to press for a cease fire. Backed by the pro-Iraq war think tank the Heritage Foundation and (you guessed it) Tony Blair.

Israel did not achieve their strategic goals of eliminating Hezbollah and lost their image as the invinsible military power. Blair was humiliated and will resign within a year. America is more hated in the Middle East. And Hezbollah is more politically powerful than ever. Bush's road map leads straight to hell.

Can anyone blame Chafee for stalling a vote for Bolton before the Rhode Island primary? People seen how Bush has treated allies like Tony Blair. Falling on the sword for Bush is the political kiss of death. Just ask Katherine Harris.