Strange Bedfellows

A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. How odd it is when we see the leaders of arch-enemies talking in perfect calm and mutual comprehension. Why do the American neocons reject any contact, any talk, with a potential enemy. Just as Bush/Rice went to Israel, stating that the USA could not talk with HAMAS in Gaza, Israeli PM Olmert links up with Abu Mazin in Ramallah, Ishmail Haniye in Gaza, and the young Asad in Syria. What are they saying to each other? What would happen if they made progress, defusing the region, throwing the extremists out. The extremists, who are very well placed, would launch assassinations, car bombs, suicide bombers and rockets, trying to trick the Israelis into targetting Fatah positions.

Lebanon is the hallowed crucible for a gentlemanly mutual respect, based on the use of force.

Human foes have common interests. In each case, the politics of symbolic appeal gave way to a practicable contact, even a modus vivendi. Peoples' interests are basically the same. So it is natural that the squads, the 'teams', get to meet, know and respect each other. Live and let live.

Inside Iraq you can just imagine the intrigue and machinations. Two hundred armed 'rebel' groups vy for influence, money and weapons. Some are committed 'full time' to avenging deaths of family. Iran has been training hundreds of Iraqi Shi'a, mostly in technical courses, and then sending them back to Iraq to target Sunni teams and the Americans.

How curious and peculiar it would be to read the transcripts of some of those secret conversations between arch-enemies. The two enemies need privacy as they are technically committing treason. Each takes up the other's arguments.That's why it is so important to know the enemy, not just to survive, but to add his power to your own.

The Chinese and the Japanese suddenly declared (June 14 2008) that they've resolved competition in the South China Seas, agreeing to share what oil there might be.

The world saw the Iraqi army punching through Basra, Amara, eastern Baghdad. The Americans too are at it - in Iraq US soldiers hobnob with the leaders of the resistence, and learn that there is a whole 'bouquet' of rebel groups.

Even Sudan had solved the war between north and south, and how the oil was to be divided. Good things happen when enemies talk: South Africa, India, Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Lebanon are examples where enemies talked to great affect and effect.

Use your own imagination to stage little meetings between Mid East leaders. Remember, these secret conversations must be at some point "treasonouis." That is, you must recognize, even take up and carry forward, the interests of your enemy. So weird things can be said. Like this fictional dialoque" ASAD to Olmert: "We want the Golan heights back." OLMERT to Asad: "Are you ready to join us in cutting off the hand of Iran?"

Feel free to post your own imaginative comments.

'A wise friend is better than a foolish enemy' , the official motto for the Middle East Speculum since 1988.