Palestine Papers: Admiral Michael Mullen Embraces "linkage" Concept
Admiral Michael Mullen appears to concur with General David Petraeus’ and the administration’s views on “linkage” in a document released in the “Palestine Papers” (h/t Alex Kane at Mondoweiss).
Notes from a June 16, 2009 meeting show the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, quoting what Mullen told Mahmoud Abbas:
I have 230,000 troops in Iraq & Afghanistan and I am bringing back 10 each week draped in American flags or in wheelchairs. This is painful for America. Because I want to bring them back home, a Palestinian state is a cardinal interest of the USA. Washington today is different from Washington yesterday.
The implication from that statement is crystal clear: Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a vital national security interest of the U.S. While “reverse linkage” pushers will always deny this argument, the military, the realist establishment, and the administration increasingly appear to be of one mind on this issue.
En Español
The Latest
From IPS News
- UN Live’s CEO Katja Iversen Talks About the Power of Popular Culture and ‘Sounds Right’
- Afghan Women’s Voices Stifled as Taliban Tightens Media Controls
- ‘Toasting the World’s Most Natural Talent’: UN Museum Campaign Recognizes NATURE’s Contributions to Music
- Urgent Global Action Is Essential To Stop Wave of Plastic Pollution
- Making the Global Financial Architecture Work for Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDEs)
- Who Should be the Next UN Leader?PART 6
- The Summit of the Future Is a Rare Chance to Fix a Broken System: Civil Society Must Be Included
- Fine, Sanctions, or Waiver: Iranian Gas Will Come at a Price for Pakistan
- Portable Ginnery Could Revive Kenya’s Ailing Cotton Industry
- Who Should be the Next UN Leader?PART 5
- Online fundraising for IPS Inter Press Service at Razoo