On February 23rd a US foreign service officer named Rachel Schneller appeared on a panel with Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan, right here in Doha, at a Forum I attended that was hosted by the Al Jazeera Cente for Strategic Studies.
According to today's Wall Street Journal, she acknowledged sitting with Hamdan afterwards for a friendly cup of tea, in a meeting that had the blessing of her superiors back at the US state department.
Now that is news.
Below is what I submitted that night from Dubai (I had to travel from Doha that afternoon on business and could not finish the discussion).
But first, a quick explanation on why I asked our web editors not to run it that night.
A good friend, rich in contacts and very helpful to me in the past, was also in Doha to participate with Rachel in the Forum. When I called him to fact check something he very strongly urged me by phone to kill the story, even though Schneller's panel with Hamdan was televised live on Al Jazeera Arabic Mubashar (the CSPAN equivalent). I did so in the interests of preserving both my friendship and contact, and also to avoid upsetting the good offices and hospitality of the Jazeera Centre and their gutsy guest. That's just the way it goes sometimes.
Here is what I originally submitted, which I cautiously titled with a question mark. (The WSJ confirmed that Foggy Bottom formally approved the meet, so no grammatical caveats needed).
February 23rd:
A US diplomat sits with Hamas?
I could not believe my eyes this morning at the Al Jazeera Centre for Strategic Studies conference on Political Islam. Perusing the programme I noticed a panel that included Hamas politburo member and spokesman Osama Hamdan alongside my friend and fellow blogger Steve Clemons.
I had to travel and did not make their debate but heard from colleagues that it was quite impressive.
Rachel is on loan to CFR but maintains her US government affiliation while on secondment to America's premier foreign policy NGO. US diplomats frequently go on loan to such quirky posts like the Multinational Force Observers (MFO) Sinai, to universities, or for 1-year assignments at other institutions like the United Nations. While foreign service officers sometimes are required to technicaly "resign," these programmes are typically seen as career enhancing, with the understanding by all parties that your desk (and security clearances) await you upon return.
I can't imagine she would have attended this conference without thinking through all of these things. Hamdan was not a surprise guest.
The optic of a quasi-active US diplomat sharing a most public platform with a Hamas official was striking.
I can only imagine the buzz back at CFR's watercooler when she returns. Former Bush administration hardliner and fellow CFR scholar Elliot Abrams may want to sit when he learns the news. Es tu Brute?
Rachel must be worrying about the stigma. Therepy is close at hand. Steve Clemons and Robert Malley are both in Doha to participate in the Al Jazeera Centre's 3-day forum. Clemons did a fantastic interview with Hamas Leader Khalid Mishaal recently, and did not seem to suffer as his access to Washington's political establishment remains legendary.
Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/5/22/201252212352677734_16.jpg "Click here for our coverage")
