Posted on 12/14/2004 9:24:54 AM PST by NormsRevenge
DUBAI (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton (news - web sites) said he believed his successor George W. Bush would work more actively to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and gave him a "50-50" chance of success.
"The United States should be more active in the search for Middle East peace. It think it (the Bush administration) will be," Clinton told the opening of a three-day Arab Strategy Forum.
"I think there is a 50-50 chance of success," said Clinton, one of a host of world figures taking part in the gathering entitled "The Arab World in 2020" in Dubai, one of the seven members of the United Arab Emirates.
Clinton, who almost pulled off a peace agreement at the presidential retreat of Camp David in July 2000, said he believed his failure largely explained Bush's reluctance to get involved during his first term in office.
But Clinton said he believed Bush would now pursue a peace settlement during his second term in the White House.
"I really believe that they will try. I don't want to criticize them before they get a chance," Clinton said.
"We should do our duty to be an honest broker. At a minimum, when we are involved fewer people die" in the conflict, he said.
Noting that Bush had "problems" with the late Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), Clinton said the Palestinian leader's death last month removed any pretext for Washington not to get involved in the peace process.
"They had problems with chairman Arafat. That's no longer an excuse not to be engaged," the former president said.
Mahmud Abbas, who succeeded Arafat as PLO chairman, is the front-runner to also succeed him as Palestinian president in elections scheduled for January 9.
The new Palestinian leaders are "beginning a long journey and they need our support," Clinton said.
Former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri (L), former US President Bill Clinton (news - web sites) (C) and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum. Clinton told the Arab Strategy Forum he believed his successor George W. Bush would work more actively to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and gave him a '50-50' chance of success(AFP/Nasser Younes)
LOL! I think that's actually pretty good odds, given the history of the region.
Ya got a good point there.. ;-)
I have to give Klintoon some credit when he actually talks sense for a change. :)
Too bad he didn't do it on American soil, but not surprising.
How Carteresque of him, but they are both members of the 'Red Wing Party' occupants of the WH club. ;-)
Zinga! LOL
Clinton well forever hate Arafat for ruining his Nobel Peace Prize.
Problems because Clinton gave Arafat a world stage to set forth his agenda. Clinton negotiated with a known terrorist and succeeded in enabling Arafat to present a fantasy persona which portrayed him as man of peace, a leader looking out for the welfare of his people. As Arafat is rightly deposited in the ash heap of history...the 'sins', the omissions, negligence of Clinton can be brought into the light of day.
"Clinton told the opening of a three-day Arab Strategy Forum..."
what he should have told them was that Arafat turned down the best deal he'd ever seen and returned to his violent roots. I've read that Clinton dreamed of getting the Nobel Peace Prize by bringing about an end and a settlement.
Barak, the Israel PM at the time, made the very good offer to Arafat, was thrown out of office in favor of Sharon, and advocated the construction of the Fence along the eastern border, which is in fact now being built under his opponent and successor.
Say if Bubba insists on yaking to the press-can someone please ask him about Mark Rich and his continuing apparent corruption. Clinton seems to want to talk about anything and everything except the biggest crimes and fraud ever commited aginast the US.
The road to peace was through Baghdad. Are we there yet - are we there yet - are we there yet.
Never mind Clinton, I don't care what ANYBODY says about "Middle East peace". Until they close the madrassas and stop teaching Nazi-esque hatred of Jews and the West, there is ZERO HOPE for peace.
As long as you teach your children that the people on the other side of the bargaining table want to kill your children and drink their blood and are therefore worthy only of extermination, any negotiations or treaties will be undermined by a desire for war and another "Final Solution".
Well, we can be sure that Bush will spend more time trying to achieve a solution than Clinton. He won't be spending time getting Lewinskis while Yasser Arafat waits in the Rose Garden.
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