Using PR for Peace (4/3/02)
by Dean Hartwell
Increasing violence in
the Middle East serves to remind us that there will never be peace in that part
of the world as long as the Israelis and the Palestinians live next door to one
another. The Bush Administration strategy should thus focus upon separating the
two instead of bringing them together.
A few weeks ago, I presented the only plan that will end the war in the Middle
East: the United States should sell one of its territories, Puerto Rico, to
Israel and use the proceeds to relocate the Puerto Ricans. I have named this
plan "PR for Peace."
Some may say that PR for Peace is too radical to be tried. Similar comments
were made about the United States purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.
Critics called the deal "Seward's Ice Box" or "Seward's
Folly" after then-Secretary of State William Seward, who pushed for it. As
our 49th state, Alaska has given us plenty of oil and other natural resources
as well as tourism.
Others may say that Israel would never relinquish land that it considers holy.
Yet Israel did not exist until 1948, when the United States and others helped
place it right in the middle of unfriendly nations. This time, they will be
more at home next to the United States.
Still others could say that we should stay out of the Middle East and let the
warring nations fight it out. Even if we had no concern for the lives of those
who live there, this idea would not work. The destruction that terrorists
brought on September 11 likely fed on the perception that the United States
supports Israel. It is a perception we will never overcome given the powerful pro-Israeli
lobby.
Now is the time to work for peace instead of stopping a war. The roots of this
conflict run too deep to go away. The Bush Administration should give PR for
Peace a chance!