[SJackson]

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

[bobo1]

W has testicles, something severly lacking in rats.

I heard on "Bohanan" (probably the wrong spelling, forgive) this morning on the radio that Bush could not support Sharon's position. The shill commentators should now tuck their tails between their legs and admit that they have no clue.

The rats can only focus on what is going on today. They have absolutely no inkling of the future. They are still in the mindset of Chamberlain declaring "Peace in our time".

Chamberlain had the courage to admit that he was wrong. I can respect him for that

Rats will never admit that they are wrong. I have no respect for them, Zell excluded.

Blessings, Bobo

[adam_az]

Wow.

[M 91 u2 K]

Sharon's Surrender Suicide plan will not be approved by the Likud Party. Israel cannot afford to scarafice crucial areas, that are vital to her survival. A Palestinian state cannot exist until Radical Islam has been defeated. Retreating from the West Bank and Gaza is the equivalent of the US retreating from Iraq. Hama,Islamic Jihad,Hizobollah and all Radical Muslims will see this as a victory, and continue their assault against Israel and the United States.

[vanmorrison]

...So now what we need to hear from President Bush is that the Kurds deserve an independent Kurdistan, due to "new realities on the ground".

Then, with Israel secure and ready to go after the Palestinians, and with a newly secured Kurdistan in what is now northern Iraq, and with bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, the US can begin to really get serious about the war on terror with the primary perpetrators of all the killing and murder, the Syrians and Iranians, and their enablers, the Saudis and Egyptians.

[onedoug]

I will never believe that in addition to 22 or so already extant Arab states, yet another should be erected in Israel.

[mitchbert]

This has obviously been in the works for sometime and I would suspect that Egypt and Jordan have privately agreed to the approach. Neither of them have any love for Arafat or the Pali entity as it now exists. This is about as major a kick in the groin to Arafat as one could imagine...they have completely boxed him in. Unfortunately, we can expect some ramp up of Pali terror in the short term.

I was thinking the other night, maybe there's a bigger plan afoot. Egypt and Israel seem to have essential agreeement on how the Gaza pullback will work, and Egypt seems to have a security role working with Israel. This isolates the West Bank. Should it veer to anarchy (not a long trip as things are now) is it inconceivable that Jordan will play a role in subduing Arafat's thugs? I don't think it's beyond consideration as Israel and Jordan have for some time had very quiet cooperation on security matters. This may be just the first shot in the Palestinian end game...one that removes Arafat and the terror organizations once and for all. Just a thought.

[hchutch]

FYI ping.

Pat Buchanan must be beside himself.

[11th_VA]

It seems clear that an agreed, just, fair and realistic framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any final status agreement will need to be found through the establishment of a Palestinian state and the settling of Palestinian refugees there rather than Israel.

This is the crux of the speech, all the rest is boilerplate. This is the ONE point Arafat would never conceed.

Ping me when John Kerry responds to this one ...

[af_vet_1981]

I wish to end with a personal note. I, myself have been fighting terror for many years, and understand the threats and cost of terrorism. In all these years, I have never met a leader as committed as you are, Mr. President, to the struggle for freedom and the need to confront terrorism wherever it exists.

I want to express my appreciation to you for your courageous leadership in the war against global terror, and your commitment and vision to bring peace to the Middle East.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank G-d for President Bush.

[Kryptonite]

In all these years, I have never met a leader as committed as you are, Mr. President, to the struggle for freedom and the need to confront terrorism wherever it exists.

I want to express my appreciation to you for your courageous leadership in the war against global terror, and your commitment and vision to bring peace to the Middle East.

Thank you, Mr. President.

---

Literally brought a tear to my eye today.