This is from Ramallah and the second time I tried to post...so lets see if it goes thru. The following is an article that was in Vanity Fair that everyone...offical or citizen seems to have read! So I will try to post it again!!
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
From Ramallah
It only took 2&1/2 hours to get over the border...not too bad I hear...anyway walls are higher and colonies keep increasing. Everyone in the Arab world has read this article:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3208984
They know about everything our gov't is doing....how to get it out to the citizens of U.S....again great hope in Obama election....but say he must take care of his country and try to be honest to restore confidence in USA.
love to all,
m/z/s
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3208984
They know about everything our gov't is doing....how to get it out to the citizens of U.S....again great hope in Obama election....but say he must take care of his country and try to be honest to restore confidence in USA.
love to all,
m/z/s
Thursday, November 13, 2008
From Jordan
So this is my second writing and I am having trouble knowing what to say so I thought I may just give you quotes from various officials that are indicative of this trip. We have met with people from various government positions and also the opposition. We have also been fortunate to meet with many opposition leaders…actually I call them opposition because our government has chosen not to talk to them. Which after having the opportunity to hear from seems a most unfortunate stance. It is hard to work out issues when you refuse to listen.
One thing that was really clear….the status of the US has grown so much with the election of Obama. It is interesting how “proud” so many are of the US for showing democracy can and does work. That was a universal we heard from so many in the ME.
Which gets me to something everyone has said, both our government and the various gov’t officials we have spoken to and the leaders of the opposition. Although they are universally so happy there will be a change in the administration in Washington, they try to keep their expectations down since they realize the financial problems and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are priorities for the U.S. It is without exception though that they say the Palestine and Israeli is a priority for any stability in this region.
So when asked what they would like to see as far as changes in U.S. policy…comments like:
“We are disappointed toward the US policy of the Middle East (ME). We refuse to see this as a religious problem between the US and ME, they are political problems.”
“The problem is double standards between US policy. Your unlimited support of Israel and no implementation of the UN resolutions by force as you have in Iraq and Iran but never toward Israel. (Which someone mentioned has had many resolutions that have been passed they have not
followed and have not been made to follow).
Does Obama want to implement international resolutions without discrimination?
So the visit to Lebanon show so much growth…but over and over we heard people comment, yes we will build with the knowledge that it may be gone in 6 hours….there is no guarantee it will be allowed to last.
In Syria, the country is raw from our recent attacks. Meeting the US embassy staff in Syria was
very interesting. Seem very committed and actually liked the country.
In Jordan, we met the 2nd in command and he seemed pretty uninterested in the country or the real problems we heard about from Jordanians….but the political counselor had only been there 5 weeks and she seemed quite committed to creating a good co-operative working environment between US and Jordan.
Jordan itself is very new….very clean and very well organized.
I am going to try to add a picture….but that may not happen!
Hope you are all doing well…we have some financial people on the trip who are following the stock market and groaning a lot!! By the way the headline on the Egyptian paper re: the election was: A dream come true!! With a big picture of Obama!
The group is sending its first press release with the title: Citizen diplomats seize the mantle of Obama’s to meet with anyone. American citizens meet with Hamas and Hezbollah. Let me know if it actually is printed!!
Love you,
b/z/m/s
One thing that was really clear….the status of the US has grown so much with the election of Obama. It is interesting how “proud” so many are of the US for showing democracy can and does work. That was a universal we heard from so many in the ME.
Which gets me to something everyone has said, both our government and the various gov’t officials we have spoken to and the leaders of the opposition. Although they are universally so happy there will be a change in the administration in Washington, they try to keep their expectations down since they realize the financial problems and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are priorities for the U.S. It is without exception though that they say the Palestine and Israeli is a priority for any stability in this region.
So when asked what they would like to see as far as changes in U.S. policy…comments like:
“We are disappointed toward the US policy of the Middle East (ME). We refuse to see this as a religious problem between the US and ME, they are political problems.”
“The problem is double standards between US policy. Your unlimited support of Israel and no implementation of the UN resolutions by force as you have in Iraq and Iran but never toward Israel. (Which someone mentioned has had many resolutions that have been passed they have not
followed and have not been made to follow).
Does Obama want to implement international resolutions without discrimination?
So the visit to Lebanon show so much growth…but over and over we heard people comment, yes we will build with the knowledge that it may be gone in 6 hours….there is no guarantee it will be allowed to last.
In Syria, the country is raw from our recent attacks. Meeting the US embassy staff in Syria was
very interesting. Seem very committed and actually liked the country.
In Jordan, we met the 2nd in command and he seemed pretty uninterested in the country or the real problems we heard about from Jordanians….but the political counselor had only been there 5 weeks and she seemed quite committed to creating a good co-operative working environment between US and Jordan.
Jordan itself is very new….very clean and very well organized.
I am going to try to add a picture….but that may not happen!
Hope you are all doing well…we have some financial people on the trip who are following the stock market and groaning a lot!! By the way the headline on the Egyptian paper re: the election was: A dream come true!! With a big picture of Obama!
The group is sending its first press release with the title: Citizen diplomats seize the mantle of Obama’s to meet with anyone. American citizens meet with Hamas and Hezbollah. Let me know if it actually is printed!!
Love you,
b/z/m/s
Monday, November 3, 2008
Itinerary for the trip
November 6 – 9:00am Briefing at the DACOR Bacon House
November 7 – Arrive in Beirut
November 8 – Meetings in Beirut
November 9 – Meetings in Beirut
November 10 – Appointments in Beirut
4:00PM Departure for Damascus
November 11 – Appointments in Damascus
November 12 – Meetings in Damascus
4:00PM Departure for Amman
November 13 – Appointments in Amman
November 14 – Appointments in Amman
November 15 – Travel to Jerusalem via Allenby Bridge
November 16 – Appointments in Jerusalem
November 17 – Appointments in Tel Aviv
November 18 – Tour of Bethlehem, Hebron and/or Nablus
November 19 – Appointments in Ramallah, PA Government
November 20 – Appointments in Tel Aviv, journalists
Flight to Cairo
November 21 – Travel to Gaza in early morning
November 22 – Travel back to Cairo in afternoon
November 23 – Flight to DC
November 7 – Arrive in Beirut
November 8 – Meetings in Beirut
November 9 – Meetings in Beirut
November 10 – Appointments in Beirut
4:00PM Departure for Damascus
November 11 – Appointments in Damascus
November 12 – Meetings in Damascus
4:00PM Departure for Amman
November 13 – Appointments in Amman
November 14 – Appointments in Amman
November 15 – Travel to Jerusalem via Allenby Bridge
November 16 – Appointments in Jerusalem
November 17 – Appointments in Tel Aviv
November 18 – Tour of Bethlehem, Hebron and/or Nablus
November 19 – Appointments in Ramallah, PA Government
November 20 – Appointments in Tel Aviv, journalists
Flight to Cairo
November 21 – Travel to Gaza in early morning
November 22 – Travel back to Cairo in afternoon
November 23 – Flight to DC
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