Zinni Gives Up On Arafat

IsraelNationalNews.com ^ | 12/11/01 | Staff Writer

[veronica]

American mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni, who met with Yasser Arafat yesterday, said about him, "I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life."

He said it was a "waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat," and will concentrate on talking with other top figures in the PA - probably a reference to Muhammad Dahlan, Jibril Rajoub, and others.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon breakfasted today with the European Union's Javier Solana, expressing his satisfaction with the EU's call for the dismantling of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The EU's statement of yesterday also called upon Israel to freeze settlement activity in Judea and Samaria. Sharon said that Israel is anxious to fulfill another EU request by easing some restrictions upon the Palestinian population, but "the unceasing terrorism makes this difficult."

[veronica]

Is this the Jewish version of Debka?

No, Debka is the Jewish version of Debka.

[d4now]

I have read all of your posts on this thread.

By posting what you did you it seems you are guilty of what you're accusing others of. Perhaps even more so.

[dirtboy]

It wouldn't be reported by anyone if it was not for attribution. I don't know whether he said it to someone. It has been publicly reported and not denied. Until it is at least denied, the presumption rests with the story.

Wrong. Any such statement by a lead United States diplomat working in the powder keg of the Middle East would be serious, serious news. And it is the job of the journalist to provide confirmation, not the job of the subject of the story to deny every allegation levelled at them.

I simply haven't seen any other mention of it. It's like the Sherlock Holmes tale, of the dog that didn't bark. That fact that the pro-Palestian segments of the press aren't baying for Zinni's head speaks volumes here...

[Sabramerican]

By the way, you know what the difference is here? If he said it, it is presumed he may not be the world's greatest diplomat. Which some would claim disparages him.

I think if he said it, it would make him a great American, a smart Marine, and an intelligent man, even if not the greatest diplomat. A compliment to him.

[jnarcus]

You are a very strange person...What proof do you offer that anyone is in the service of a foreign country NONE

Perhaps you spent too much time with the penguins while in elementary school

I always choose America but not the likes of Pat and Bay Buchannan

you still need to take a breath and relax

[dirtboy]

By the way, you know what the difference is here? If he said it, it is presumed he may not be the world's greatest diplomat. Which some would claim disparages him. I think if he said it, it would make him a great American, a smart Marine, and an intelligent man, even if not the greatest diplomat. A compliment to him.

Personally, I think Arafat is a turd. But that doesn't alter my opinion of the veracity of the Zinni quote.

[veronica]

3)And finally, Veronica has a long record of Israel-First, anti-American dishonesty and disinformation activity (a la representing the FDNY as admirers of the grandstanding, illegal immigration-abetting Mayor Rudy.)

Yawn. Shoot the messenger, eh?

Boy this one really got you all revved up.

Take a pill or something and calm down.

And you should be ashamed of yourself, sliming Rudy- A&E's Man of the Year, most likely Time's Man of the Year. Tsk tsk!

[Sabramerican]

That fact that the pro-Palestian

Not really. If he said it, again, not for attribution, maybe at breakfast overheard by a waiter. If the Arabs made anything of this it would be news. They wouldn't want it to become news that an American comes neutral and immediately gets disgusted with Arafat.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Really? I've never gone to the site becuase every article I've seen posted from there is absurd. I had assumed it was a Saudi site or some such.

[Trident/Delta]

Ah, dirtboy, there is no "requirement" for a poster to provide continuous substantiation of a referenced post. Case in point... the post made by jmswope about the Taliban killing 3 Marines and routing a force of 17 with light arms. While I don't believe it happened, It was a posted news story. And, until refuted by responsible authority ( and there is no FREEPER that qualifies as a responsible authority, not even the "Bold Fenian" or whoever) then the story has to stand on its merits. The discussion should reflec tht story and not the predelictions of the poster (you listening Fenian??). Or, should I return the thread that won't die about the chinese hoardes invading from Panama??

Semper Disgusted

[dirtboy]

Not really. If he said it, again, not for attribution, maybe at breakfast overheard by a waiter. If the Arabs made anything of this it would be news. They wouldn't want it to become news that an American comes neutral and immediately gets disgusted with Arafat.

Look, I've studied the antics of the press here at FR for over three years. A quote this explosive would be EVERYWHERE - and the pro-Palestian journalists would be baying for Zinni's head on a platter. The fact that they are not barking is a clue in itself. Bold Fenian, for whatever his motives are, is correct to call into question the veracity of this story. That is the problem with false stories - it gives your opponents ammo - and, considering how poorly most of America and the world view Arafat, why bother with false stories? The truth by itself should be sufficient right now...

[veronica]

You are a very strange person...What proof do you offer that anyone is in the service of a foreign country NONE Perhaps you spent too much time with the penguins while in elementary school I always choose America but not the likes of Pat and Bay Buchanan.

That's the schtick of the Islam Firsters. They love to rant and rave and call other people's loyalties into question. All the while yapping 'America First', thereby hijacking the pro-Nazi slogan that was spewed before WWII by the isolationists.

[Sabramerican]

It's really meaningless but I'm curious myself. I've never done so before, but I just e-mailed the site editor. If they respond, I'll let you know.

[dirtboy]

Please do. I agree with you to the degree that I would not blame Zinni for making such a quote, but I don't think he did...

[veronica]

And here's an oldie but a goodie::

Powell: Arafat Has Lost Touch With Reality

[d4now]

It is not reported by any other news source.

Nor will it likely be.

Don't you think they would use it for a headliner if it were true? That headline would certainly proclaim America's Israeli bias and ruin all prospects for the US to act as an honest broker.

Broker what, with whom? Peace with Arafat? Wake up and smell the coffee.