WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST: PART THREE
IT'S TIME FOR PRESIDENT BUSH TO APPLY "EISENHOWER'S RULES"

(WASHINGTON, DC) (July 17, 2006) Six years ago, July 27, 2000, I proposed the Andy Martin Peace Plan for the Middle East. The full release is still available for purchase at PRNewswire.com (look for "Andy Martin" and "Peace Plan").

I advocated using U.S. forces (1) to separate Palestinians and Israelis and (2) to impose a peace based on withdrawal by all parties to 1967 lines. Although my columns are often unfairly smeared as "anti-Israel," in reality I am totally impartial and committed to a just solution for all parties.

The parameters of a final resolution have long been known. Both sides, Palestinians and Israelis, would have to give. The United States would sweeten the peace pot with some goodies to bring agreement. Unfortunately, nothing has happened since 2000. Or since 1948. Politicians demand "restraint" and seek to prolong the conflict for their individual political profit.

Now Israel has invaded an Arab country, again. It's not the first time. I suggest we go back to 1956, and the Israeli/British/French invasion of Egypt. What did President Eisenhower do? He told the Israelis to "get out." And they did.

President Eisenhower may never be regarded as a great president, but he will come to be seen as one of our greater ones, because he kept us out of war during a very dangerous era, the Cold War. And he stayed neutral in the Arab/Israeli conflict. It is time for Americans to demand that President Bush apply "Eisenhower's Rules" and order the Israelis to stop their aggression, under penalty of suspension of U. S. aid and diplomatic recognition.

Israelis never cared for Republicans, because the GOP was thought to be influenced by oil and business. At least not until George W. Bush.

Bush has tilted U. S. policy so far in favor of Israel that he has made a joke of America's history in the Middle East. The result is the chaos we see today in Lebanon. And the Israeli destruction of Bush's own policies.

Monday's New York Times reports that Bush has given the green light for Israel to "cripple Hezbollah." Well. He may end up crippling Israel, and will most certainly cripple his own foreign policy. Sorry, Mr. President. You keep getting it wrong.

Israel provoked a confrontation with Palestinians in Gaza, thinking they could treat Gazans as human refuge and lay siege to the region. Much to the surprise of Israelis, Gazans fought back. When Israel unleashed terrorism against the civilian population, Hezbollah began a sympathy attack on the Lebanese front. No surprise there.

Now Israel is feeling the wrath of the "Party of God" (Hezbollah). And Israelis don’t like it one bit. What bully ever does?

Israel has unleashed a new round of civilian terror, seeking to destroy Lebanon. Uri Avnery in Tel Aviv writes that Israelis and Americans really want to establish a puppet regime in Beirut. Unfortunately, for Bush and Israelis, Israeli leaders are destroying the State of Israel.

Israel won’t collapse before November, so what are the political implications of what the Israelis are doing today? How will aggression in Lebanon "play in Peoria?" There is no easy answer.

For the past five years the Bush administration has sought to profit politically from terror. And because the Democratic Party has lacked for any alternative, let alone a credible alternative, Bush has prevailed with his mendacious policies. Unfortunately for Americans, while Bush has profited politically America's standing in the world has collapsed and is on the way even lower.

You have to wonder how Condoleezza Rice and others can keep

a straight face when they talk about "crippling" movements that spring from the people, and which will continue to rebel unless and until there is a peaceful solution to the conflict. The New York Times says Rice believes there is a "new day in the Middle East,..and a remarkable turn of events" because of Arab criticism of Hezbollah." Well. If she believes that there is no hope for us. At all. No one could be that naïve.

     Bush, Rove and others probably think they can exploit Israel's aggression for Republican votes. This strategy was on display in Russia over the weekend, where Bush sought to link local organizations in Palestine and Lebanon with Al Qaeda. Bush is playing the Osama card. Will voters say "enough" this time? It's hard to tell.

     Indeed, if there was a recruiting poster for Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, it would have to be president Bush saying "Americans are ready to die to support the State of Israel." But are they? I don't see the Bush twins, or Governor Jeb Bush's son Jorge lining up to enlist. Indeed, have any Bushes enlisted recently? I doubt it.

     So we are left with a situation where President Bush has a policy contrary to American interests, which the American people would not support if it comes to fighting for Israel, and which is steadily endangering our economy and security. And still it might work in November. It may bring in just enough Republican votes.

     Bush loyalists are probably polling furiously, to see if they can link Israeli aggression to the "Global War Against Terror," to pander for pro-Jewish voters (which includes both Jews and non-Jews). My guess is that Republicans will continue to believe that Arab blood buys Republican votes.

     The sad reality is that even while Bush may eke out a few more votes in November, he is going to leave the Middle East in a shambles, and contribute to the death and destruction of America's interests. How we came to be in this mess will long be debated. That Arabs will be dying to deliver Republican voters for Bush is no longer in doubt.

     Ironically, Bush may win the first round early next month in Connecticut, where U. S. Senator Joe Lieberman is embattled because of his support for Bush. Jewish Democrats may rally behind Lieberman if they contemplate the consequences: a loss of Lieberman will dilute Jewish influence in the Senate.

     And so where are we today? The innocents perish so that the powerful may manipulate the world stage for their own personal aggrandizement and advancement. I'm not about to support Hezbollah, but I sure wish we had a real "party of God," that would put the fear of God in us for the evil we are visiting on helpless civilians. As a Christian and a Republican, I am ashamed of American policy in the Middle East.