Posted on 05/06/2002 4:06:17 PM PDT by kattracks
NEW YORK – An international military force including Americans should be sent to the Middle East to end the conflict in the region, former president Bill Clinton told 2,000 students, faculty, and alumni at Hunter College in New York yesterday.
“If there is going to be anything like a lasting settlement,” Clinton said, “I believe it will require international forces – Americans, Europeans, Russians, and others, and I think we should show up and do it.”
Clinton urged the students to support his stance. He said Israel would reject an international force that did not include Americans, explaining, “The Israelis believe that America is the only great country that cares whether they live or die.” “You should be for it. We have to do it,” he said.
Clinton, addressed the college as part of its Presidential Public Leadership Program. He discussed the failed Camp David negotiations during the summer of 2000. Blaming Palestinian Authority Chairman Arafat for the failure of the talks, he attributed Arafat’s refusal to sign a peace deal to “short-term political considerations,” rather than a lack of desire to make peace, as Israeli and American negotiators, including former US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross, believe.
“We had a pretty good deal,” said Clinton of the Camp David offer. “It was mostly short-term political considerations that kept [Arafat] from doing that,” he said.
Clinton was more complimentary of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, whose peace plan he praised. “The Crown Prince has a reputation of being uncorrupt, deeply religious in a broader sense, and reasonably new to the national political scene. I have high regard for him and I think he’s absolutely sincere” in his peace efforts, he said.
Any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, he said, could not include the right of return for the millions of refugees Arab countries demand be admitted to Israel.
Clinton took Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to task for heightening tensions in the region. “To have a lasting peace, we will have to have a significant change in [Sharon’s] position,” he said.
Clinton cited former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin as the one leader who was capable of bringing peace to Israelis and Palestinians.“If he hadn’t been murdered, there would be peace today in the Middle East, and the guy who killed him knew exactly what he was doing,” he said.
Interesting comment. Who killed Yitzhak Rabin?
He sounds a bit like a nike spokesman.
In all seriousness I think it is awfully egotistical of him to assume that Israel will accept an international force if and only if it contains American troops. I also think he's talking like he still has enough authority to create this task force. When has he ever done anything good for the military?
Nope. They aren't giving up Jerusalem!
Shut up!
Though Clinton certainly never passes on an opportunity to demonstrate that he's an ass.
I cannot have more contempt for this piece of wasted human flesh than I do at this moment.
Go away. You've done enough damage.
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