(International Herald Tribune) Aaron David Miller - Abbas's victory masks deep divisions and contradictions in Palestinian politics that threaten his viability as an effective leader. The greatest challenge Abbas now faces is how to impose control on the warlords who have become rife in Palestine and to recreate a single security force. No state can be credible when rival groups using guns and terror proliferate, whether they are loosely organized, as in the case of the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, or disciplined, as in the case of Hamas. There are steps that the PA can and must take: going after "ticking bombs"; countering smuggling; rooting out Kassam rocket production; and cooperating on security matters with the Israelis. But Americans and Israelis must empower Abbas with the capabilities and the political cover to take the tough decisions that lie ahead. The writer served as an adviser on Arab-Israeli affairs to six U.S. secretaries of state.
2005-01-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive