US asks Palestinians to support future Iraqi government

Jerusalem Post ^ | Nov. 23, 2003 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has asked Palestinian leaders to show support for a transitional Iraqi government that is to be installed by June, the Palestinian foreign minister said.

Palestinian backing could boost the legitimacy of such a government in the eyes of the Arab world, at a time when U.S. policy in Iraq is under sharp attack. Palestinian-Iraqi ties have traditionally been close, and former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had styled himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.

The request, made in a letter from Powell to Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, marks the first time the Americans have attempted to include the Palestinians in broader regional diplomacy, Shaath said Saturday evening.

It could signal a warming of U.S.-Palestinian ties after a frosty period of disagreements over the role of Yasser Arafat and the approach toward militants.

"This is progress in American-Palestinian relations, because usually they (the Americans) discuss with us issues that are related to the Palestinian-Israeli track," he said. "Now they are discussing with us issues on the regional level, and this is very interesting."

Chuck Hunter, a spokesman for the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, said he could not confirm that the letter was sent.

William Burns, a U.S. envoy to the Mideast, is due to arrive in the region at the end of the month to discuss the situation in Iraq, said a Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In a related development, the United States has scaled back demands for action against Palestinian militants, one of the requirements of the U.S.-led "road map" peace plan, Palestinian officials said.

Last week, U.S. officials sent Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei a list of steps that would satisfy the United States, but fall short of a crackdown. The steps include shutting weapons smuggling tunnels, getting armed militants off the streets and cracking down on the production and firing of rockets at Israeli towns.

Hunter could not confirm the new requirements, saying only that, "We have an ongoing dialogue with them on steps that need to be taken on the security front."

Shaath said that after the formation of the Qurei government earlier this month, he received a congratulatory phone call from Powell who offered "to work together as counterparts."

Powell "told me that he is ready to help and that they will judge the government, not according to its composition, but according to its work," Shaath said.

The Qurei government has been criticized for being too closely associated with Arafat, whom Israel and the United States want to sideline.

[yonif]

Why do we seek backing from a terrorist regime which has murdered Americans and sings and dances whenever US Soldiers are killed in Iraq?

[yonif]

[Argus]

Palestinian-Iraqi ties have traditionally been close, and former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had styled himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.

Which is why the liberated Iraqis immediately vented their hatred of Saddam's pampered Palestinians the first instant they could. Is Colin Powell as dumb as he seems to be, or is there something more sinister going on here? Kissing the asses of Arafat's fellow terrorists so they'll confer "legitimacy" on a democratic Iraqi government? The bilge that comes out of our State Dept. is enough to make you scream.

[onedoug]

Powell is, has been and apparently always will be deranged.