YASSER ARAFAT'S POLITICAL EPITAPH

New York Post ^ | 4/05/02 | JOHN PODHORETZ

[kattracks]

April 5, 2002 -- NOBODY seems to have noticed it in the insta-coverage of George W. Bush's landmark speech yesterday on the Israel-Palestinian crisis, but the president just wrote Yasser Arafat's political epitaph.

"As Israel steps back, responsible Palestinian leaders and Israel's Arab neighbors must step forward and show the world that they are truly on the side of peace," he said toward the speech's conclusion.

[anniegetyourgun]

Dear John: "responsible Palestinian leaders" is probably an oxymoron. Recognizing that you are then suggesting a puppet, why not provide names?

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

this is a wishfully thinking analysis. a simple rebuttal: if arafat is dead politically, why is zinni meeting with him? of course arafat is awful. but he's still the place where the u.s. gov't direct calls.

[Galtoid]

Patience, people. I agree with Podhoretz' analysis. It wasn't what Bush said yesterday, it's what he didn't say. He tacitly announced that Arafat is a useless old murderous fool. Zinni is meeting with him only to appease certain circles of idiots in Europe and elsewhere. Zinni has no intention of actually "negotiating" with this scumbag. Powell doesn't even get over there until next week, and we don't even know if it will be at the first of the week, or much later. Wink and a nod to Sharon to continue doing whatever he needs to do to protect Israel. Not so subtle message, however, to Yasser: you are finished, and it's only a matter of time that you become irrelevant. Arafat's departure will create a vacuum, and one that Powell and Bush will be able to use to their advantage.

[randita]

Some of Sharon's associates claimed Bush's speech took them by surprise, but I don't believe this. I think Bush's speech was carefully coordinated with Sharon. Podhoretz's analysis confirms this.

If we are to continue our war on terrorism with the next logical step of taking on Iraq, it does us no good at all to have a war break out over there where all the Arab nations gang up against us and Israel. So the U.S. will tolerate Israel finishing off this sweep and rounding up as many suspects as possible (as of this AM, 900 had been arrested). For the U.S. to put a stop to this would be profoundly hypocritical, because that's exactly what we did in Afghanistan.

I believe Bush has hung Arafat out to dry and I think that Zinni told him so in the 90 minute meeting. There is too much proof there that Arafat is nothing more than a Bin Laden with a fantastic penchant for creating favorable PR for himself. Strip away the PR victim routine and Arafat is a cold blooded terrorist bent on the annihilation of Israel.

Arafat has had more lives than a cat. It's time for him to go. A new leader for the PLO might not be any better, but it's a certainty he couldn't be any worse.

[Hillary's Folly]

[goldstategop]

Bump! Nice article by John Podhoretz. I have a feeling that by the time Anthony Zinni is through today and reports to his boss Colin Powell, a decision will be taken to signal to Israel it can write that one way ticket for Arafat. After that, when Powell arrives in the Middle East, he will talk with every one on both sides, except Arafat who conveniently for all concerned, will no longer be on the stage. At least that's the way the situation appears to be progressing. President Bush did say he wanted an Israeli withdrawal, but he set no deadline as to when it should happen. The fact Powell is not coming immediately sends a signal to the Palestinians, one they weren't expecting to hear. Whether the liberal media, the Eurotrash, and the Arab world like to admit it or not, one fact is indisbutably clear: Oslo is over and so is the Arafat Era it produced. The only thing left to say about the PLO Reichlet Fuhrer is:

IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO!!!

[Kermit]

After the speech, Bush may not have said the name Arafat, but he did send his Special Envoy Gen. Zinni and his Sec State Colonel Colon Powell to SEE Arafat. Arafat is there and he's going to stay there and it will just be a matter of time for Arafat to rebuild his terrorist infrastructure and launch attacks on Israel and the US.

[AFreeBird]

he did send his Special Envoy Gen. Zinni and his Sec State Colonel Colon Powell to SEE Arafat

Of course... to make sure that Arafat read not only the lines, but the ones between them as well.

Siezed Arms shipments, counterfit money and plates, weapons, documents showing Arafats complicity in all the terror and probably more we haven't heard about.....yet. The case is being built - solidly - for Arafat's complicity in terror and removal from authority because of his growing irrelevence to the peace process.

[scottiewottie]

In the spirit of political epitaphs, I found this little gem!!

The Day Yasser Arafat Stole My Gas

[kjam22]

This is a silly article. To begin with .. Arafat is the most moderate of the whole bunch. Who would we have in mind to take his place that we think we can deal with any better???? And if we have one in mind... why did we send Zinni to meet with Arafat??? Why not meet with these mystery people???

[kjam22]

Couldn't be any worse??? How about some of those Hamas or Islamic Jihad guy? Or how about some that capture and kill reporters? I agree that it is time for Arafat to go. But I haven't heard anybody suggest a replacement for him that is going to give the middle east a better shot at peace.

[randog]

But I haven't heard anybody suggest a replacement for him that is going to give the middle east a better shot at peace.

They're there, waiting in the wings. I don't have a source, but there have been several articles here on FR about moderate Palestinian 'heir-apparents' waiting to rise in the post-Arafat Palestine.

[randita]

How about some of those Hamas or Islamic Jihad guy?

You think Arafat is any better than those savages? He's one in the same. Bush said and I agree, "If you aid and abet terrorists, you are a terrorist."

[small voice in the wilderness]

I'm sure Arafat's busy creating his own opus at this very moment.

Dear Palestine Comrades and Infidels every other where:
I can no longer believe the destruction taking place in our wonderful homeland and my official headquarters. This place sucks and the infidels will live to regret with the sorrow of a thousand vestile virgins the humiliation of this day. I am going to another site where I am regarded with deep admiration and the lights work. Regard me as out of here.
Yass. Go Pat Go.

[copycat]

"Since Sept. 11 I've delivered this message: Everyone must choose. You're either with the civilized world or you're with the terrorists."

Well, I'll be dipped. From reading FR, I could have sworn W went back on his word to pursue terrorists...

That's what I get for listening to the igno-rant.

[Kermit]

Or to bend over and take it. I don't see why Bush can't maintain his anti-terrorism stance in public and you say in private. If after 9/11, Bush had laid down the law to Arafat and say no more terrorism or we will back Israel on a Palestinian regime change and change until we find someone to oppose terror, instead of coming out for Palestinian State and apparently rewarding terror, since that was NOT our position BEFORE 9/11, would Arafat have re-started the terror after a week's pause.

I don't believe that Bush is doing the right thing in private or has some plan to do the right thing later, after doing the wrong thing in public. It doesn't work that way.