Posted on 10/16/2004 6:41:15 PM PDT by TopQuark
Scowcroft: Sharon has "mesmerized" Bush "wrapped around his little finger" By israelinsider staff October 16, 2004
Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush, slammed the current president's handling of foreign policy in an interview published this week in The Financial Times, saying that the current President Bush is "mesmerized" by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
"Sharon just has him wrapped around his little finger," Scowcroft said. "I think the president is mesmerized." He added: "When there is a suicide attack, Sharon calls the president and says, 'I'm on the front line of terrorism,' and the president says, 'Yes, you are ...' He [Sharon] has been nothing but trouble."
Although Bush has been supportive of Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Scowcroft said he warned U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice that this is a ruse to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, an interpretation validated by the recent interview with Sharon's key adviser Dov Weissglas, who bragged of his close relationship with the woman he calls "Condi."
"When I first heard Sharon was getting out of Gaza," Scowcroft said, "I was having dinner with Condi and she said: 'At least that's good news,' " Scowcroft recounted. "And I said: 'That's terrible news.... Sharon will say: 'I want to get out of Gaza, finish the wall [the Israeli security barrier] and say I'm done.'"
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, asked about Scowcroft's remarks on Fox TV's "Your World," said that "I have the greatest respect for Brent Scowcroft" but that Bush had gotten Sharon to attend a summit in 2003 with the Palestinian prime minister, and that Sharon has said he is committed to the U.S.-backed peace plan known as the road map.
"Whatever reluctance Mr. Sharon had, he was there," Powell said. "And ever since, he has reaffirmed his commitment, notwithstanding statements by others," an apparent reference to the remarks of Weissglas.
I'm only intent on clarifying that he was criticizing Bush's relationship with Sharon, saying nothing about any other Jew individually or as a people.
It seems apparent to me that his criticism is fueled by concern of this relationship alone, to even merely suggest that one need consider anti-Semitism is nearly as potent as outright claiming it.
If Scowcroft's only interest, as you posit, is an attempt to get favorable press coverage, do you really believe that he concluded the best way to do so would be to make a comment that guarentees him being called anti-Semitic? Wouldn't pointing out shortcomings of the "liberation," etc. suffice?
People love to try to spin criticism of Sharon as anti-Semitism, either by outright accusations or suggestions that it be "considered."
More important is the consideration that he sees something that is potentially damaging to the United States of America, something we are all theoretically concerned about...
Another attack on both the Bush administration and Jews:
You're kidding right?
I'll Scowcroft's advice on foreign policy over bush's and rice's, any day of the week.
A relevant post for your amusement: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1249291/posts
Scowcroft has a great friend in you. I'm amazed that you have so little cynicism for comments of this nature being made in an election year.
Um, relevant isn't really the word I'd use to describe the link you posted. I have more faith in the intentions of George Bush Sr.'s National Security Advisor than I do some French news editor.
And I truly do believe that a better response to his comment would be to demonstrate how what he says is false, not play the race card.
And, believe me, after watching these "debates" my cynicism is redlining....
Scowcroft: Sharon has "mesmerized" Bush "wrapped around his little finger" By israelinsider staff October 16, 2004
Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush, slammed the current president's handling of foreign policy in an interview published this week in The Financial Times, saying that the current President Bush is "mesmerized" by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Right...
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