Let's do it properly George

George Mitchell

George Mitchell is winging his way to the Middle East today to try and sort out the mess in the Gaza Strip but if the Press releases are true then he has no chance of success.

Apparently the plan is to NOT talk to Hamas.

If this is the case then it comes straight out of the play book of the childish Dubya Bush.

The idea that you can only speak to one side in the war is so simplistic it beggars belief but I suspect the back channels will be running hot. It's just that an American public is so locked in to the silly "I'm not talking to you" attitude that they have to present the trip this way.

A worrying aspect of this is if the US truly believes it can force a result only talking to one side then their ambition is to force Hamas from the area. This isn't possible but that doesn't mean a heck of a lot more folk wont die while they relearn the bleeding obvious.

It took a long time for the US to learn they had to negotiate with their enemies in Vietnam which led to more senseless deaths while political egos struggled to come to terms with the embaressment. I hope we aren't heading down the same path here.

George appears to be an honorable chap. I just hope he has sensible riding instructions that have a chance to improve the lives of the poor civilians living under ambitious pollies on all sides of the war.