[Marxism] State Dept. tells ex-Pres. Carter not to meet with Hamas

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This will be a measure of how far Carter is willing to go in opposing the
course of US imperialism. On the whole, I think he is the best US
EX-president since John Quincy Adams (pres. 1825-29) whose term of office
was also pretty much a mess.
Fred


www.Aljazeera.net
US tells Carter not to meet Hamas 
Hamas said Carter requested a meeting 
with Meshaal [EPA]
 
The US state department has urged Jimmy Carter, the former president, not to
violate foreign policy by meeting Hamas's political leader during a tour of
the Middle East next week. 
 
The "advice" follows plans by Carter to meet Khaled Meshaal in Syria on a
nine-day trip that is to include Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and Jordan.

On Thursday Hamas officials said Carter had requested a meeting with
Meshaal, the Palestinian group's political leader in exile in Syria. 
 
"There is an agreement to hold the meeting and arrangements are under way,"
Ayman Taha told Reuters, adding that the meeting had been fixed for April
18. 
 
The US-based Carter Centre did not confirm the meeting or "any specifics" in
Carter's undisclosed itinerary.

But Sean McCormack, the state department spokesman, said the former US
leader was "counselled" against meeting any Hamas representatives because it
went against US foreign policy of isolating the group.

"US government policy is that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and we don't
believe it is in the interests of our policy or in the interests of peace to
have such a meeting," he said on Thursday.

The former president had earlier discussed with David Welch, the assistant
secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, plans to meet Meshaal.

'Study mission'
The centre said Carter, a Nobel Peace laureate, was leading a study mission
as part of his efforts to "support peace, democracy and human rights" in the
Middle East.

This is a study mission and our purpose is not to negotiate but to support
and provide momentum for current efforts to secure peace in the Middle
East," it said in a statement. 

"Our delegation has considerable experience in the region, and we go there
with an open mind and heart to listen and learn from all parties."

Israel, which also calls Hamas a terrorist organisation, expressed concern
over the meeting, which would be the first public contact between a US
leader and Hamas officials in two years. 

"The unintended consequences of such a meeting would be to embolden
terrorists and undermine the cause of peace," Sallai Meridor, Israel's
ambassador to the US, told Reuters.


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