GATES, BAHRAIN & DOUBLE-STANDARDS

Our blithe acceptance of a nuclear armed Israel does nothing to help our image in the Arab world. A more diplomatic reply could've been made, such as stating that we wish to see a nuclear-free Middle East in the future. We could also have re-affirmed our support for a Palestinian state. Gates refusal to even have talks with Iran indicates a lack of respect, especially considering that we did hold talks with a REAL mortal enemy, the former Soviet Union.

Gulf countries challenge US on Iran, Israel, at Bahrain security conference
The Associated Press
Published: December 9, 2007

Several delegates at the regional security conference in Bahrain on Saturday said the U.S. was hypocritical for supporting Israeli nuclear weapons, and questioned Washington's refusal to meet with Iran to discuss the Islamic state's nuclear activities.

"Not considering Israel a threat to security in the region is considered a biased policy that is based on a double standard," said Abdul-Rahman al-Attiyah, the secretary general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

Soon after Gates' speech, the defense secretary was challenged by Bahraini Minister of Labor Majeed al-Alawi, who wanted to know whether Gates thought "the Zionist (Israeli) nuclear weapon is a threat to the region."

Gates paused, and answered tersely: "No, I do not."

Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani countered Gates' comparison of Iran and Israel.

"We can't really compare Iran with Israel. Iran is our neighbor, and we shouldn't really look at it as an enemy," said Sheik Hamad. "I think Israel through 50 years has taken land, kicking out the Palestinians, and interferes under the excuse of security, blaming the other party."

Sheik Hamad also called on the U.S. to hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear activities. After major Arab countries recently attended the Israeli-Palestinian peace conference in Annapolis, the U.S. should show the same initiative with Iran, he said.

"As an Arab (country), we went to the United States ... to make a dialogue with the Israelis, so why doesn't the United States do a dialogue with Iran?" said Sheik Hamad. "I think that is the only way ... they can understand each other in the matter."

This report on NPR's Weekend Edition - Saturday highlights the clumsiness of our approach to Iran:

In the Mideast, Gates Tries to Back Administration

by Guy Raz
December 8, 2007

But his speech in Bahrain may have punctured Gates' image. He noted that during the 1970s, the United States kept the lines of communication open with the Soviet Union.

"It turned out that maintaining that dialogue helped each side better understand the other's intentions," Gates said, "and laid the groundwork for gains that ultimately brought the Cold War to a close."

But during a brief question session, when an audience member pointed out that it might be wise to replicate the Cold War approach with Iran, Gates simply said, it wouldn't be useful.

"I think that Iran has to take some steps to show that a dialogue would be meaningful instead of just sitting and shouting at each other across the table," Gates said.

That picture, by the way, is how historians have characterized some of the U.S.-Soviet talks during the 1970s.