Jim, Robster,

This personal jousting is not that interesting. It feeds on itself and reduces interesting threads to boring ones. Please desist.

The reason I participate on the Middle East forum is to provide some balance to what is in reality an anti-Israel outlet. On those few occasions that the poster doesn't display anti-semitism and refrains from fabrications, I respond rather politely, I believe.

Along with the scrapping of the old "The Edge" software there came an obvious drop-off in the most virulent racist postings here. I know some miss them; I don't.

I believe my comments on Robster's posts are appropriate, given his racist anti-Zionist rhetoric and tendency to fib. I will continue to point out what I believe are deliberate attempts to denigrate Israelis and their supporters (i.e. Zionists) in an unfair manner, and offer my contrary opinions on other Middle Eastern matters. That 'ster won't be pleased is a known, but what the hey.

Jim, we welcome your opinion on Middle East matters, however contrary they may be: that's what this forum is for, and ATol is about giving all sides a say.

But your opinion about Robster and his opinions, and Robster's about you and your opinions, is of little interest to anyone except the two of you. Besides, your opinions about each other's opinions are by now well known to us all.

Please give us your opinion of issues, rather than of fellow posters.

Perhaps we should create a new category: Sledge on the Edge - Jim vs the 'ster, and let you two have at each other there to your hearts' content. I'm serious: what say you and other members?

Having said this, I am enormously grateful to both of you for being the life and soul of the party when you're not taking potshots at each other.

aquicke

On this thread about two weeks ago Michael made an observation that pretty much nailed the story as far as I am concerned. And in regarding it the option is clearly a choice between taking a higher road or remaining in the swamp.

Personally, I am sick to death of trading ad-hominem attacks and stooping to personalization of argument. I know these tactics have only one purpose, which is to prevent genuine dialog and argument regarding hot button topics some individuals resent being discussed at all. I have made no bones about being anti-Zionist, which is the epicenter from which all further hostilities arise or are enabled. Being anti-Zionist no more makes me a racist or anti-Jew than it makes similarly minded Jews self-hating Jews, no matter how some individuals attempt portraying because they are so viscerally enraged by contrary attitudes. Actually, damn near all my postings concerning Israel and Zionism come from Jews or Jewish sites. I will not be shut down.

However, I'm not making excuses for myself. I'm not guiltless in these admittedly silly affairs, but I have made the effort for at least the past month by desisting from commenting on 'Camera' guys threads, besides putting up with the endless provocations and ludicrous nonsense 'It' posted on mine. I made a mistake. I responded. I'm done with it. And if you should create a "Sledge on the Edge," I won't be on it.

"For Ross, diplomacy is not just about realized goals, but about what you prevent, what you limit, what you contain, what you diffuse" (from the original post on this topic). Case in point:

www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132931

President Obama says September. Plenty of time for Ahmadinejad to respond positively to the Obama/Ross carrots. But will he?

"the President's fixation on process" works.

www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=3cec0...27-9e03-ad8d3a07f52f

Insight into Obama's foreign policy apparatus. This, coupled with the previously-linked article by Cohen

www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/magazine/02Ir...1&ref=middleeast

provide a good overview of the subject.

Dennis Ross, Bill Burns, and Howard Berman, Obama Zionists all, appear to be signaling the "stick" phase of the Obama/Ross "big carrots/big sticks" Obama/Ross diplomatic approach to Iran.

www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0909/D...ers_conference_.html

Sadly for our resident Zionist-haters, it seems that the President is following through on his campaign promises to continue America's unequivocal support for Israel.

The Democrat Congress, as one would expect, is continuing its support of President Obama's foreign policy initiatives. In this case, House leadership is throwing its weight behind the Obama/Ross policies towards Iran.

www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=648

"tightening the screws on Tehran"

President Obama continues to conduct foreign policy in a manner consistent with his campaign pledges. Among those policies was the "carrot/stick" approach to Iran as espoused by his top advisor on West Asian affairs, Dennis Ross, and Obama's stated intention to talk with anyone on policy issues. Consistent with that, we have

www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251...t/JPArticle/ShowFull

The Israelis are watching all of this closely, and will act in accordance with whatever they believe is best for Israel. The same can be said for the Obama administration. I believe we can be confident that the President will adhere to the policy goals he has clearly put forth on Iranian matters.

Now that the President and his foreign policy team are doing what they have all along said they would do (talk with anyone), we have folks rushing in pretending that they were the only ones who thought Obama was not a liar. It's always silly season as, one by one, these folks see their dreams of US abandonment of its ally Israel in favor of disreputable Islamic entities fall by the wayside.