Posted on 08/22/2005 4:48:57 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
US President George W Bush said overnight Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was "a courageous and painful step" that may help revive the so-called roadmap to Middle East peace.
"Both Israelis and Palestinians have elected governments committed to peace and progress, and the way forward is clear: We're working for a return to the road map," he said in a speech to about 15,000 veterans. "Palestinian President (Mahmoud) Abbas has rejected violence and taken steps toward democratic reform. This past week, Prime Minister Sharon and the Israeli people took a courageous and painful step by beginning to remove settlements in Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank," Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush said the US would work with Abbas's government to smother extremist groups - something Israel has made a precondition for progress on the internationally drafted peace plan.
Mr Bush also said the US remained "fully committed to defending the security and well-being of our ally, Israel", and called for an end to all forms of terrorism in the region.
"We'll continue working for the day when the map of the Middle East shows two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security," the president said.
The Mideast peace road map, which has seen next to no progress since its launch two years ago, is a phased plan that aims to end nearly five years of violence in the region by creating an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.
Israel insists the two sides are in a 'pre-road map phase', and has repeatedly said there will be no return to the peace blueprint unless the Palestinians destroy extremist groups that target Israel.
There will be peace, now that the Rhineland is returned....
You must be joking.
Bush is wrong on this. He's also alienating his evangelical base pretty thoroughly.
Yup. The President may think he has a roadmap to peace, but the leaders of the Palestinians have a roadmap to hell. And now they are behind the wheel.
Read 'Memory Lane' 1 and 2.
I share it only as "interesting"; I don't necessarily agree or not with it.
Sorry, Mr. President, but on this we disagree.
I voted for Bush twice. Anybody who believes that the Paestinians have any interest in peace is a tee total idjit. We should be lining up solidly alongside the Israelis to show the muslim world that we will effin' DESTROY every last one of them if they dare try to attack Israel. It would also cut down on a lot of this "jihad" crap elsewhere. Let's get 'em all planted in Gaza and Jordan and Syria and kill 'em all.
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Pres. Bush is just not getting it! Perhaps, a good BIBLE study would enlighten him. The "Palestinians" have no intention of "peace in our time", nor did they ever intend this to be a "road map" to peace.
Terrorists were rewarded.
If I were king, this would be the last straw. This will be the final chance for the Palestinians to act like humans. You got the land now grow up. I would give Israel the thumbs up to drive the Muslim horde into the sea if they blow off one fire cracker.
Another POTUS lost on his personal quest for a "legacy" in the middle east.......
(SPIT!!)
"There's little more we can do but destroy their cities in a nuclear holocaust"
Damascus, reduced to a heap of rubble, features prominently in prophecy, both ancient and modern, Christian and secular.
Qur’an 33:26 “Allah made the Jews leave their homes by terrorizing them so that you killed some and made many captive. And He made you inherit their lands, their homes, and their wealth. He gave you a country you had not traversed before."
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