Posted on 04/14/2005 12:25:18 PM PDT by SJackson
WASHINGTON - It is difficult to describe a pair more different from one another than George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon. The physical differences are obvious. One is from a tiny village in mandate-era Palestine, the other the son of patrician Americans. One is an eternal opposition figure who barely made it to the top, and the other is a president son of a president. One is a warrior and general and the other a rear guard pilot whose national service is a matter of controversy. At least their farms are about the same size.
The invitation to Sharon to visit Bush's estate was meant to appear to be the peak of their closeness and intimacy, the grand prize won by the prime minister for his readiness to evacuate settlements: a trip beside the president in the pickup truck, the visit to the flower beds so carefully tended by Laura Bush, crossing the creek on the way to lunch; and most important, the world seeing Sharon as a partner in the shaping of Bush's new, democratic and peace-seeking Middle East. But despite the good intentions, the results only emphasized and highlighted the basic difference between the two leaders. Bush is from Mars and Sharon is from Venus.
Their worldviews are different. Bush is interested in building the ruling institutions of the Palestinian Authority, so it can serve as the functioning core of an independent state. He regards the Palestinians as peace-loving people who want to live normally beside Israel. Sharon explains to him that the main problem is Arab refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own in "the cradle of their birth." Bush speaks about the road map and Sharon responds it hasn't even begun, that we are in a pre-map stage.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
The PA is from Uranus
He's just about as spherical these days.
Hatred, stupidity and igorance are wonderful things huh?
I don't see any of those things here.
Interestingly there seems to have been no point to this "visit" at all. Makes me wonder what the farmer and rancher discussed out of the glare of the lights. My guess we'll only find out as events evolve.
Yeah, I guess I keyed in on the remarks about the warrior and general and the rear guard pilot. Sounded snide and totally un called for.
Haaretz is the Israeli version of the NY Times. They don't have anything good to say about Sharon, Bush or their relationship. I have always sensed genuine warmth between the two leaders, and suspect they agree far more than disagree.
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