Posted on 01/10/2005 8:29:14 AM PST by IAF ThunderPilot
I wouldn't get all warm and fuzzy about this, Barnier. There is no such "proof." I would not be surprised if Abbas showed up at the White House. Most Americans would very much like to see the Palis stop blowing up Israelis and if this helps, fine. My major concern right now is that the murders will continue and everyone will say we need to give Abbas a chance to try and control his people and this will go on for a while until it becomes clear that we have another Arafat on our hands. I wonder what we'll do then.
"keep your friends close, and your enemies closer"
Been there, done that. This is his second visit as Prime Minister.
His answer to your question was that he’ll talk to the terrorists, but he won’t confront them with force. And that Israel must immediately return to the 49 borders and allow 4,000,000 Muslim Arabs to move in. Same as his electoral platform.
Maybe he can make his case more forcefully to GWB this time.
He's already met with GWB. If that were true, he would have lost the election.
"Feh! Bush doesn't speak for many Americans. I wouldn't invite Abbas to a sewer-cleaning contest. I expect Bush and Company will start putting real pressure on Israel. This looks too much like Munich in 1938."
Bush will not pressure Israel, especially when he is fighting a war on terror.
Bush is going to be his usual grownup self and let Abbas know that the Palis have about as good a chance of pushing Israel into the sea as Hillary has of winning in 08. If Abbas cracks down, the financial floodgates will open. If not, the Palis will not receive US support.
And I don't think anyone will go against Bush on this.
I only wish that Bush had waited for Abbas to do something to earn a visit to the Whitehouse. At this point Abbas is just an Arafat Clone. He has given us some 'assurances' but conferring to him this legitimacy is a repeat of the clinton mistake.
If Abbas stops the suicide/homicide bombers, the rocket attacks, etc., then maybe you can deal with him. Otherwise, it's the sos, just a different day.
5.56mm
Another career arab muslim terrorist is invited to the White House.
The only outcome will be pleasing arab terrorists and muslim terrorists around the planet.
Good call.
I wouldn't go quite that far...
"No incident, a strong turnout: It's a proof of responsibility and maturity that the Palestinians have given," Barnier was quoted as telling French daily newspaper Le Parisien.
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No.... it reflects the 20 million dollar cash bribe Bush gave Abbas right after arabrat's death and the promise of hundreds of millions more. Every year.
That's right, President Bush gave $20 million in CASH to the head of the infamous arab muslim terror group the PLO, killers of Americans and Jews.
But it's for PEACE, so it's okay.
I agree that there is probably not much difference in these men. However I do think it is agood idea to have a dialog with the man, I thought that Bush should have also at least met with Arafat. Devil though he may have been he was the leader of his people, and they were/are in conflict with Israel. I don't see how shutting him out completly did anyone any good
He should invite him down to Texas and introduce him to some rattlesnakes - up close.
This could be referred to as a pre emptive strike on his critics who will be quick to whine he didn't 'properly acknowledge' this hopeful? sign. Bush is simply reaching out. Not a bad thing since it puts the onus on Abbas and he must react. The world is watching.
President Bush is leading us in WW IV against global terrorism and he is doing a magnificent job.
My opinion is I don't like it at all, but I can see why he did it---
He met with him before when he and Abbas and Sharon were discussing the original "Road to Peace" road map. He should at least "feel him out" privately to see how interested he is in cooperating in a "two state" solution.
I saw the thread today where Abbas has said "we just had a small jihad, now it is time for the big Jihad!" That doesn't bode well, and I believe he is an Arafat protoge, but it wouldn't so Bush any good at this point to treat him like Arafat----
For me, the first indication of Bush's appeasement or capitulation to Abbas is whether he will stand up for Israel's right to have the fence stay up---it HAS TO STAY UP and if Bush doesn't emphasize that, I will lose total faith in his policy.
I despise Abbas, but I'm willing to see what happens during the visit before making a judgement. It's not necessarily a bad idea on a number of fronts.
1) Bush will have a chance to directly explain what he expects.
2) It will blunt criticism that Bush has been neglectful of the Paleotinian Arabs.
This could be referred to as a pre emptive strike on his critics who will be quick to whine he didn't 'properly acknowledge' this hopeful? sign. Bush is simply reaching out. Not a bad thing since it puts the onus on Abbas and he must react. The world is watching.
I Hope You're Right
With Arafat too, everyone was glad to meet with him in the 1990s.
There was a window of opportunity.
There was a partner.
We were told not to listen to what he said, as he was doing that to please Hamas.
That there was a political solution to terrorists.
Now all this begins with Abu Mazen. As they say in Israel - there is nothing new under the sun.
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