Prezident Bush has nominated James Cunningham as ambassador to Israel.James Cunningham is a career diplomat and he's been around. For the past three years, he's served as the U.S. consul general in Hong Kong. In 2001, his job was acting ambassador to the United Nations. He was also the deputy envoy to the UN from 1999 to 2004.
There's no scandal associated with Mr. Cunningham and he may be a perfect choice. One item is a bit troubling, though: During his service at the UN, Cunningham thought it necessary to criticize an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) action in Gaza. Fourteen members of the UN Security Council condemned Israel for this action. The US abstained.
Right after this vote by the Security Council, "Cunningham told reporters that the Israeli operation in Gaza had led to a deterioration in the humanitarian situation, ended with a conflict between Israeli and Palestinian forces and failed to improve Israel's security situation."
What's more worrisome, though, is that while Cunningham is a career diplomat, he's had no direct Middle East experience!
Do we not have any seasoned diplomats with experience and knowledge of the the peoples, lands, religions, cultures, as well as the massive problems current in the Middle East? Do we have to appoint someone without that experience and/or knowledge? There isn't much time for on-the-job-training!
Maybe experience wasn't considered because this appointment is another example of Bushite cronyism? Remember Michael Brown?
1 comment:
I think the job must go to someone trusted to be knowledgeable and hopefully accepted by all sides. Some people think this area of the world will start WW3. An amateur is not the best person to oversee the area. What would happen if Israel declines to accept him? Can they even do that or must they accept anyone sent by the US? I think many people I correspond with would be more qualified than this gentleman. Even I am. I, at least, know the history of Israel and the surrounding nations; have traveled parts of the Arab world and Israel, and I know people in Israel and from the neighboring states and am not prejudiced although I probably am biased. I even know people that speak the various languages and dialects. I do not want the job but know others that might take it. How come non one asked my opinion?
Bob Poris
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