WH spokesman: President Bush has no problem with Colin Powell meeting Geneva Accord authors

Haaretz News Ticker ^ | 12/3/2003 | Reuters

[yonif]

White House spokesman: President Bush has no problem with Colin Powell meeting Geneva Accord authors (Reuters)

[yonif]

Ping.

[Coop]

I don't have any problem with the SecState meeting with them either. As long as we continue to support Israel.

[Coop]

What surrender might that be?

[fiscally_right]

Um... My problem is that, unless i'm getting it wrong, these "representatives" from the Palestinians and Israel are self-appointed. As in.. they have no real power or influence. Usurpers. If I went and negotiated a treaty with some country and I wasn't appointed to do it, I could be charged with treason. Am I getting this wrong?

[HarleyD]

How's this for a scenario...Bush could use EU support for Iraq especially prior to the election. EU liberals would like to push this unofficial peace accord down Israel's throat. It's just a thought but I think there is more to it than meets the eye.

[ejdrapes]

Since when does the American SOS have to get approval from the Israeli government to meet someone? Last time I checked Colin Powell worked for George W Bush not Ariel Sharon. If Bush asked Powell not to meet with these people he wouldn't do it, plain and simple.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Powell meeting with them is a direct slap at Israel's democracy."

And having the Israeli government [and its amen corner] tell the American Secretary of State with whom he should meet is a direct slap at our [supposedly] independent country.

[Coop]

What else do you need to know?

Oh, I don't know. How about this one? Did the SecState sign the USA up for said plan?

[witnesstothefall]

Wrong. Bush is obviously not throwing Colin any significant support on his latest adventure into terrorist appeasement. In Beltway-speak, a President saying, through a spokesperson, he has "no problem" with a SecState's new initiative is the same as saying "he's on his own on this thing and I can't stop the crazy sunofabitch."

Bush is giving Powell all the rope he needs to hang himself, but at the same time leaving himself in a position to say he gave peace every chance.

Personally, I'm sick of Powell's efforts to undermine the Bush Doctrine, which he never accepted in the first place. I'm ready to see him no more forever.

[joesnuffy]

well duh....as if the State Dept acts against the will of the CnC

[Coop]

Because he's the SecState trying to implement some type of peace plan in the Middle East, and he's trying to appear open to alternatives since nothing has really worked so far. Makes complete sense to me.

[richardtavor]

No, you are right. In this country, you would be guilty of sedition under the Logan Act, which was passed in the late 1700's for just such events such as these.

[af_vet_1981]

Since when does the American SOS have to get approval from the Israeli government to meet someone? Last time I checked Colin Powell worked for George W Bush not Ariel Sharon. If Bush asked Powell not to meet with these people he wouldn't do it, plain and simple.

I assume then you have no problem if Jack Straw or Tony Blair bypass the Bush Administration and go straight to the Clintons to discuss matters of policy.

[ravingnutter]

Oh puhhhleeeze...I meet with salesmen all the time in my line of work...doesn't mean I'm buying, just allowing them a chance to show me that what they've got may somehow be better than the other company. Powell was just listening to what the other side had to say. Cut the Chicken Little routine, Bush is not going to sell out Israel.