Posted on 08/18/2005 6:04:21 AM PDT by Sabramerican
Rice: Israel's evacuation of the Gaza Strip is only a first step
By Haaretz Service
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday said that while she feels for evacuated settlers Israel will be expected to make further concessions that would ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state.
"Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing," Rice said, but added "It cannot be Gaza only."
In an interview published by the New York Times, Rice said that the Palestinian Authority must move quickly to disarm Palestinian factions intent on breaking the current cease-fire with Israel.
Advertisement
The Secretary of State offered sympathy for the settlers who are being evacuated from their homes in Gaza but also made it clear that she expected Israel and the Palestinians to take further steps in short order toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
Such steps would include loosening travel restrictions in the West Bank and withdrawing from more Palestinian cities.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretzdaily.com ...
"Pray for GW Bush and his clueless foreign policy consultants."
I would add the following:
Pray for GW Bush and his clueless DOMESTIC policy consultants.
Pray for GW Bush and his clueless IMMIGRATION policy consultants.
Pray for GW Bush and his clueless CFR policy consultants.
Pray for GW Bush and his clueless Council Foreign Relations policy consultants.
Pray for GW Bush and his clueless Medicare policy consultants.
I wonder if Israel realizes how it looks for their people to be carried out and put on buses hanging out the windows crying.
That is a cold calculation, Chris. I like it.
I still can't fathom why advertise it though. They can be working to isolate the Palis in their own playpen as a policy in Israel, but why should the US be front and center the mouthpiece to the Arab world? Does Dr. Rice really believe her statements will achieve some consideration from the Arabs that would be more beneficial than the perceived betrayal of the Israelis?
Mother Condi sure has changed her tune. She makes Colin Powell look good.Not neccesarily. During Term 1, the Administration needed to use the good cop/bad cop approach with both Israel and the Arabs. She was the good cop with the Israelis, Powell the bad cop. They switched roles with the Arabs.
Now she has the primary role all to herself, and needs to promote the Administration's policy.
-Eric
I don't look to politicians to uphold anything biblical just by their very nature.
No it's not. Don't you realize Republicans know more than God? < /extreme sarcasm>
They've supported giving part of Israel away as part of the 'road map'. And still the party faithful will support them no matter what.
We are at a stage- and Rice is further proof- where your type explanation (and others) moves from ignorant wishful thinking to just plain idiocy.
Forget Biblical
Is it OK to murder a tiny Democratic ally surrounded by a sea of enemy barbarism?
Wasn't the Gaza Strip a part of Egypt before they commited an acyt of war againstIsrael by blockaiding Israel's main seaport.
Why is Gaza going to a population of people with no nation?
You can't forget biblical. Jews and Arabs would not have existed without the Bible. They're been fighting with eachother from day one.
Good question.
You are right, but it still hurts.It's like surgery. It can be painful, it can be unpleasant to watch, and one can only hope that complications are kept to a minimum.
But it's absolutely essential to the long term survival of the patient.
-Eric
Blah blah blah. Terrorists are rewarded, and that will backfire on the US. Mother Condi is a huge disappointment. Even Powell had more tact and heart. And that's saying something!
Condi isn't president. This is a Bush policy. Who do you think is president Bush or Condi?
That's funny. I thought we were at a stage where nasty, belligerent people on internet forums stoop to insults for absolutely no reason.
I couldn't agree more with your post. Israel is not the bad guy here. It's time for the Palestinians to step up and show something tangible like controlling the border and arresting terrorists and stop calling them martyrs. I read stories of how they still want to eliminate Israel. Pathetic.
You make a good point, Chris. I was dead set against a Palestinian state for a long time. Now it is probably inevitable, and does offer some advantages.
1. Palestine will be a nation-state and will be expected to behave like one. Legitimate governments do not sponsor terror. They can be put on the state sponsors of terror list and we can refuse to give them any aid or trade with them.
2. Once they are a country they can be invaded if clear provocation is shown.
3. It will take away a major gripe that the Arab world has against us. (In my opinion most of the leaders of Arab nations could not care less about the "Palenstinians", however they use it as an excuse to spurn us.) Al Qaeda claims to care, more or less, though I don't read about Al Qaeda activity in Palestine. SO politically it might be a good move.
I am still not comfortable with taking Israeli land, but everyone will answer to god someday.
We don't need lectures on surgery from Dr. Death, thank you. Once upon a time Mother Condi had an unswerving anti-terror stance.
Since the Palistinians will see these consessions as the fruits of their terrorism, why in would should we expect them to give up those tactics? Once the dust settles they will just ramp up another round of Jihad seeking more concessions including all of Jerusalem.
That's true, but the State Dept. frames the policy for the public. To come out now, at this moment, and put the onus on Israel in this manner, is bizarre. But Mother Condi has had a tin ear since she took the job as Sec. of State.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.