[dirtboy]

Until then it is you, and you alone, who are engaging in wholesale defamation.

I will back up Bold Fenian in this case. I searched CNN, MSNBC and the Washington Post and could find NO CONFIRMATION of this quote. IMO it is the responsibility of the poster of the article, when challenged, to provide confirmation of such a quote - this should be Front Page News if Zinni actually said this, and I have seen no such presence of this quote. Plus, I consider it HIGHLY unlikely that Zinni would plan to circumvent Arafat and negotiate with other Palestinan figures.

[Sabramerican]

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.

[monkeyshine]

you guys need to chill out. It is not the responsibility of the poster to reconfirm a news article from another source. If it were, nothing from Drudge, Debka, and countless local papers could be posted here. The post and the link speak for themselves. Your objections/cynicisms and/or rebuttals/denials are duly noted and reasonable. No need to get into a flame war over it.

[Doc On The Bay]

If "Zinni" elected to "negotiate Directly with Other Palestinian Leaders," his "Exasperation" with Arafat may be "showing!" Clearly, Arafat cannot--or Will Not---control Palestinian Psychopaths! General Zinni is NOT "the problem!"

Doc