One of Barack Obama's Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas - prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him. Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama's Middle East advisory council. "I've never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people," he added. Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr Obama, responded swiftly: "Rob Malley has, like hundreds of other experts, provided informal advice to the campaign in the past. He has no formal role in the campaign and he will not play any role in the future." The rapid departure of Mr Malley followed 48 hours of heated clashes between John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect, and Mr Obama over Middle East policy.
One of Barack Obama's Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas - prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.
Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama's Middle East advisory council.
"I've never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people," he added.
Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr Obama, responded swiftly: "Rob Malley has, like hundreds of other experts, provided informal advice to the campaign in the past. He has no formal role in the campaign and he will not play any role in the future." The rapid departure of Mr Malley followed 48 hours of heated clashes between John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect, and Mr Obama over Middle East policy.
IOKIYAR is the flip side of this, of course. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
He is constrained by the idot discourse.
Once he's in, he will have more flexibility. Our problem here is that we doubt his progressive credentials and fear this will be emblemetic of his Presidency. But I'd accept right now he couldn't even if he wanted to. keep to the Fen Causeway
The guy was the head of an international crisis group, so he probably could've gotten away with it. Plus, Carter gives him some cover, even though Carter gets treated like shit by the press. (He's not a greatly loved ex-president, but he's universally respected as being one of the few people with a sense of decency to ever hold the office.) But I say that knowing I'm probably a bit too bold on hitting back.
This is one point on which I'm not terribly concerned, because I think this is one issue on which we know where he's at. I think the "secret liberal" tag applies on this one.
Still, it'd be nice to mount an assault on the idea that speaking with these groups is unacceptable. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
The McCain campaign, I assure you, is scared shitless of that, and you can bet your bottom dollar Howard Dean's running an endless series of ads in front of the focus groups on it right now somewhere deep inside DNC Headquarters, trying to decide which one works best. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
