Gingrich and Invented Provocation

There are many reasons to believe that Newt Gingrich is not a suitable candidate for President. One of which is this. During the last few days Newt Gingrich has repeatedly referred to the Palistinians as an "invented people."once in an interview and again during the final debate before the Florida Primary. It is instructive to ask, what is to be gained by calling a group of people that undeniably exist as a people today "invented?" The President of the United States will presumably be called upon to mediate between the Palestinians and the state of Israel in the event of peace negotiations. Calling one side at the negotiating table invented is hardly a way to secure ones position as a credible mediator. So why did Mr. Gingrich choose to use such provocative language? There does happen to be an influential group of fiercely pro-Israel Republican voters in Florida that may reward such language. There is also at least one particularly hawkish billionaire that is willing to give $10,000,000 to get Gingrich elected because of his views about Israel and Palestine. It is beside the point wether what he said was true. I'll leave that debate for others. What is hardly debatable is that it is not in the interests of the United States or Israel for a future US president to state in public that he believes that the Palestinians are an invented people. All it does is erode America's future role as mediator. The fact that Mr. Gingrich is making such statements proves only that he is willing to put his electoral success above the interests of his country. I can't think of a better reason to deny him that success.