The Forward Newspaper Online: Bush Administration Vows To Boycott Hamas Militants Elected in Territories

The Forward Newspaper Online: Bush Administration Vows To Boycott Hamas Militants Elected in Territories: "David Satterfield, the second-ranking official at the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, said that the Bush administration is not attempting to block the groups from participating in Palestinian or Lebanese elections. But, he added, the Bush administration would only recognize armed militant groups 'if they lay down their arms.'
Satterfield's comments, which appeared to overturn several earlier remarks from the American brass, come as Hamas and Hezbollah officials are vowing to hold on to their weapons.
With Hamas expected to win a significant share of the vote in July's Palestinian legislative elections, the policy outlined by Satterfield could leave the White House in the position of boycotting top officials in the Palestinian Authority at a time when the Bush administration is trying to advance the peace process. The issue also could drive a deeper wedge between Washington and Europe, where some governments have indicated a willingness to deal with militants who take part in democratic elections.
Critics argue that the Bush administration has failed to wrestle with the possibility that a push by the United States for elections in the Middle East could produce victories for radical Islamic groups that refuse to give up their weapons.
The 'Bush administration rarely focuses on that,' said Martin Indyk, who served as President Clinton's chief Middle East adviser. Indyk, now the head of the Washington-based Saban Center for Middle East Policy, added that the White House 'has the tendency to put these kind of issues in the 'too-hard' basket.'"