Bush: No PA effort to fight terror

US President George W. Bush said he does not see a concerted effort by the Palestinian leadership to fight terror, and therefore it will be difficult for the peace process to move forward.

But Bush also indicated he will not deal with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat the same way the US has dealt with leaders such as Saddam Hussein.

"There are terrorists in the Middle East willing to kill to make sure that a Palestinian state doesn't emerge," Bush told reporters in a Rose Garden press conference at the White House Tuesday. "It's essential that there be a focused effort to fight off terror."

He said he does not see the same commitment to fight terror from the "old guard" Palestinian leadership that has re-emerged since the resignation of former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

But he said in regard to a question about equating action Arafat and other leaders who use terror, that "not every action requires military action," and the US is "very reluctant" to use military force.

"We try to enforce doctrine peacefully," Bush said, "or through alliances or multinational forums. And we will continue to do so."

Bush said the security fence is a problem "to the extent that the fence is a opportunity to make it difficult for a Palestinian state to emerge."

But the US president said he made a distinction between security and land acquisition.

"We have expressed concern about settlement activities because we want the conditions for a Palestinian state on the ground to be positive, that when the Palestinians finally get people that are willing to fight off terror, the ground must be right so that a state can emerge; a peaceful state," Bush said.

Below is the section of the press conference that dealt with Israel and the Palestinians. The transcript is from the White House web site.

Mr. President, your policies on the Middle East seem, so far, to have produced pretty meager results as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

As the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues. And as you heard last week from Muslim leaders in Indonesia, your policies are seen as biased towards Israel, and I'd like to ask you about that. The government of Israel continues to build settlements in occupied territories. And it continues to build the security fence, which Palestinians see as stealing their land. You've criticized these moves mildly a couple of times, but you've never taken any concrete action to back up your words on that. Will you?

THE PRESIDENT: My policy in the Middle East is pretty clear. We are for a two-state solution. We want there to be a Palestinians state living side-by-side with Israel. Now, in order to achieve a two-state solution there needs to be a focused effort by all concerned parties to fight off terror. There are terrorists in the Middle East willing to kill to make sure that a Palestinian state doesn't emerge. It's essential that there be a focused effort to fight off terror.

Abu Mazen came here at the White House -- you were here, you witnessed the press conference. He pledged a focused and concerted effort to fight terror, so that we could have a Palestinian state emerge. And he asked for help, which we were willing to provide. Unfortunately, he is no longer in power. He was eased out of power. And I do not see the same commitment to fight terror from the old guard. And, therefore, it's going to be very hard to move a peace process forward until there's a focused effort by all parties to assume their responsibilities.

You asked about the fence. I have said the fence is a problem to the extent that the fence is a opportunity to make it difficult for a Palestinian state to emerge. There is a difference between security and land acquisition. And we have made our views clear on that issue.

I've also spoken to Prime Minister Sharon in the past about settlement activities. And the reason why that we have expressed concern about settlement activities is because we want the conditions for a Palestinian state on the ground to be positive, that when the Palestinians finally get people that are willing to fight off terror, the ground must be right so that a state can emerge; a peaceful state.

This administration is prepared to help the Palestinians develop an economy. We're prepared to help the long-suffering Palestinian people. But the long-suffering Palestinian people need leadership that is willing to do what is necessary to enable a Palestinian state to come forth.

Thank you, sir. Perhaps the clearest, strongest message you have ever sent from any podium has been what you like to call the Bush doctrine -- that is to say, if you feed a terrorist, if you clothe a terrorist, if you harbor a terrorist, you are a terrorist. And I'd like to follow up on the Middle East. You have noted that Yasser Arafat is compromised by terror; Condi Rice has said he cavorts with terror. You've both noted that he is an obstacle to peace. He has, in political terms, choked off your last two Palestinian interlocutors. What is it that prevents you from concluding that he is, in fact, under your own definition of what a terrorist is, a terrorist, and should be dealt with in the same way that you've dealt with Saddam Hussein and Charles Taylor?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, not every action requires military action, Jim. As you noticed, for example in North Korea, we've chosen to put together a multinational strategy to deal with Mr. Kim Jong-Il. Not every action requires military action. As a matter of fact, military action is the very last resort for us. And a reminder: When you mentioned Saddam Hussein, I just wanted to remind you that the Saddam Hussein military action took place after innumerable United Nations Security Council resolutions were passed -- not one, two or three, but a lot. And so this nation is very reluctant to use military force. We try to enforce doctrine peacefully, or through alliances or multinational forums. And we will continue to do so.

And I wondered if you could tell us your reaction when you encountered Muslim leaders in Indonesia. Were you surprised at the hostility they expressed towards the United States and towards your policies, both in the Middle East? And also, I understand that some of them brought up specific comments made by General Boykin.

And I wondered if you would address those comments and whether you think that General Boykin ought to be disciplined or resign.

THE PRESIDENT: Sure, I appreciate that. First, the characterization of hostility, that just wasn't the case. It was not a hostile meeting, nor did I sense hostility. Quite the contrary. I think the five leaders I met with were appreciative for a chance to express their views. But it was a very positive meeting, very hopeful.

Two things that came out of there that I think will interest you, one was that -- the question was, why do Americans think Muslims are terrorists? That was the universal question from the three Muslim leaders. And my answer was, it's not what Americans think. Americans think terrorists are evil people who have hijacked a great religion. That's why Mr. Boykin's comments were -- General Boykin's comments don't reflect the administration's comments. And by the way, there's an IG investigation going on inside the Defense Department now about that. He doesn't reflect my point of view, or the view of this administration.

Our war is not against the Muslim faith. As a matter of fact, as you mentioned, tonight we're celebrating the Iftaar dinner with Muslim leaders. We welcome Muslims in our country. In America, we love the fact that we are a society in which people can pray openly -- or not pray at all, for that matter. And I made that point to the Muslim leaders.

Secondly, the question was about the Middle Eastern policy. Why is your policy so slanted toward Israel, was the question. And I informed them I was the first President ever to have advocated a Palestinian state. I did so at the United Nations. I also informed them that in order for a Palestinian state to go forward, as I told Terry, there must be a focused, concerted effort to destroy the terrorist networks who are trying to prevent a Palestinian state from emerging, which requires good, strong, capable leadership, is what it requires.

And so those were the two main points that were brought up. There was concern about General Boykin. It seemed like to me that we've got a challenge to make sure that people in countries like Indonesia understand the nature of the American people, that how we think is going to be an important part of good diplomacy in the long run. That we've got to fight off the imagery of a society which condemns entire swaths of people because of the acts of a few -- which is not the way we are.

And I was pleased to get the opportunity to make that case to the leaders. It was a very cordial and good discussion, and I -- I'm going to drop them a note, thanking them for showing up and giving me a chance to talk about the America I know and love.

I read the President's remarks and there are several problems. First nobody expects the USA to take out Arafat just to not stop the Israelis from doing so. Arafat is a worse terrorist and supporter of terror than Saddam. The only reasonable conclusion to draw is that he expects the Israelis to live with terror which we (rightfully) would not. Also he should stop sucking on that sour grape Abu Mazen. He did less than jack to stop the terror other than begging the terrorists to stop. I could do that with the same results.

The settlements should not pose a threat to a future peaceful Palestinian State. Bush knows that the future Palestinian State will be much less than peaceful. After all if they were peaceful why would they mind a few hundred thousand Jews living amongst them. Israel allows many more Arabs to live in Israel with full rights. The Palestinians are just adhering to the old failed Arab line that if a single sovereign Jew lives among them they cannot handle it.

US President George W. Bush said he does not see a concerted effort by the Palestinian leadership to fight terror, and therefore it will be difficult for the peace process to move forward.

I consider this to be a "HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO............MCFLYYYYYYYY!" moment.

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

...the Bush doctrine -- that is to say, if you feed a terrorist, if you clothe a terrorist, if you harbor a terrorist, you are a terrorist.

Well, not every action requires military action, Jim

Well, how about

Your Taxes for PLO Propaganda

A Palestinian declaration of war--Bush should order PLO offices in America shut down.

Bush delays embassy move to Jerusalem [Hmm...Israel should move its embassy to New York City]

In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act by overwhelming and bipartisan margins.

Lot’s of things can be done. Close down the PLO in the US, move the Embassy, speed up the fence, maybe someone will get the idea.

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