A few months ago, a Washington Post editorial commented on the embrace of the Sudan’s leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir. In particular the editorial observed:
“We must also take a decisive stance of solidarity alongside fraternal Sudan and President Omar al-Bashir,” said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas is hoping that the Obama administration will pressure Israel to stop building “illegal” settlements in the West Bank; the next time he utters the phrase “double standard” in the presence of a U.S. diplomat, we suggest a query about Mr. Bashir.
To be sure, some human rights groups have alleged crimes by Israeli forces in Gaza. But, according to Palestinian accounts, 1,409 people were killed during the offensive, of whom a substantial number were armed Hamas fighters. In contrast, the United Nations has reported more than 300,000 civilian deaths in Darfur as a result of the genocidal campaign sponsored by Mr. Bashir.
In case you thought that this display was simply opportunistic, that’s not the case. Abbas has made a trip to the Sudan to meet with his genocidal counterpart. Apparently the purpose of the embrace is to get Hamas to cut Fatah some slack. (Though it appears that Hamas has some of its own problems now. But who gets the virgins?)
Even as President Obama looks for moderation in the Arab world, it demonstrates its extremism again and again. When will he stop looking for what’s not there?
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
