12:28AM
A wasting asset: Western-trained police in Palestine
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 12:28AM WORLD NEWS: "Palestinian Support Wanes For American-Trained Forces," by Charles Levinson, Wall Street Journal, 14 October 2009.
We've trained something like 25k forces, with the EU helping out significantly. They've done a world of good in the West Bank, to include battling Hamas.
Problem: the police were supposed to be the anchor of a future Palestinian state, and since that's not forthcoming, local public support for their good efforts is waning. They are seen as yet another unfulfilled Western promise.
Key quote from EU training leader: "They won the battle for public order, but I am concerned they may not have won the battle of public opinion, and were seen as protecting the Israeli army."
Reader Comments