Clayton Swisher, based in Doha, has covered the 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
He is author of "The Truth About Camp David" (New York: Nation Books, 2004) and is a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations.
<P>Is America itself is a party to the Arab-Israeli conflict?</P>
<p>Democrat Charles Schumer takes on the Obama administration's Middle east policy, throwing his support behind ISrael in the row over settlements.</p>
<p>After decades of one policy misstep after another, the US still doesn't seem to get the region at large.</p>
<div>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. </div>
<p>Our correspondent says a mixture of economic problems reminiscent of the 1990's, along with a racist hatred of Barack Obama and his policies, has helped fuel the rise of Michigan's militias.</p>
