tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963508092996469398.post2351213657712661641..comments2024-03-11T08:42:35.330+01:00Comments on Nasir Khan blog: Clinton Faces Pakistani Anger At Predator Drone AttacksNasir Khanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981781828241865509noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6963508092996469398.post-59790135942568634792009-11-02T02:17:59.117+01:002009-11-02T02:17:59.117+01:00During Secretary of State Clinton’s recent trip – ...During Secretary of State Clinton’s recent trip – her three day sojourn in Pakistan, she encountered something she does not generally encounter in her foreign travels: an angry group of young, literate and articulate Muslims who could express their opinions clearly in English. She was so shocked at their pointed questions about America’s policy regarding Pakistan that she was clearly at a loss for words. To their specific and provocative questions she gave evasive answers such as “There is a war going on.” And she said that she couldn’t answer some questions because the information was classified. <br />You did not mention what happened to her after she left Pakistan. She flew to Abu Dhabi to meet Mahmoud Abbas and to invite him to rejoin the stalled negotiation for peace. To his credit, Abbas turned down her invitation. He has refused to participate in the negotiation unless Israel froze all construction in the settlements. Mrs. Clinton was extremely shocked. From Abu Dhabi she went to Israel to meet Netanyahu. After a closed door meeting with Netanyahu, she held a joint press conference with him, and told the reporters that Israel was putting significant limits on settlement activity, and added this befuddled statement: “What the prime minister has offered... a restraint on the policy of settlements, which he has just described, no new starts, for example, is unprecedented in the context of prior to negotiations.” In other words, Netanyahu would build the recently approved (with Obama’s blessings) 3000 new housing units on land already confiscated from Palestinians, but at a slower pace. He will not start new settlements, but will only extend existing illegal settlements. <br />Does it mean that President Obama has finally decided to not press Israel to stop construction activities in the settlements? Will Palestinians be left with any contiguous land to establish their state? <br />Yesh Prabhu, Plainsboro, NJYesh Prabhuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866646595781316034noreply@blogger.com