TITLE: U.S. DOES NOT REGARD ARAFAT AS TERRORIST (Kyodo News)

Kyodo News Service, Japan (In English) ^ | 2 April 2002 (Japan Time) | Kyodo News Service

[AmericanInTokyo]

Title: "U.S. Does Not Regard Arafat as Terrorist"

Text:

WASHINGTON, April 1 Kyodo - U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday the United States does not regard Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, as a terrorist and continues to treat him as a negotiating partner for Middle East peace. (04:46 Japan Time)

[AmericanInTokyo]

From earlier FR thread. Head and short article have now been translated by Kyodo News Service into English.

[montag813]

Yes, Bush sais Arafag is "an exception" because he pursued "peace" in the past. Never mind that he gave up absolutely nothing in the Oslo Accords. He just got lucky enough to deal with two Jews who wanted to destroy their country.

[Dane]

Wow, you are really having a temper tantrum aren't you.

For all lurkers here is AmericaninTokyo's "original" thread,

Bush "War On Terrorism" Now a Big Joke: "Arafat Is Not A Terrorist" (Japanese News Report Breaking)

Sheesh it must be getting towards 6:30 AM in Tokyo, looks like you had a long night.

[Icthus]

Will somebody....anybody...please explain to me why the "world" has made this guy and the Pali's into a sacred cow!?

I feel like I'm stuck in an old episode of the Twilight Zone.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you, Dane. Sorry, forgot to link the original post of the translation when just the Japanese version was on the web. The English version on Kyodo just went up on the site; so it's linked here. Thanks for pointing that out.

I suspect they will have the article in more detail later re: the statement by the Bush Administration today that they do not regard Yasser Arafat of the PLO as a terrorist.

[mv1]

Bush impresses me as a real man's man and a real American.

[RCW2001]

bttt...

[Sclerus]

Arafat is considered to be a good man by some because he is leading a repressed people. However some of a liberal mind, though certainly not all, believe in those fighting for a repressed people, no matter how they fight for it. Some will gladly toss away one set of ideals for another. As long as there changed view fits the with in the boarders of their beliefs they can ignore suicide bombers and proof that he is atleast indirectly the cause of this blood shed.

[america-rules]

"Will somebody....anybody...please explain to me why the "world" has made this guy and the Pali's into a sacred cow!?"

Simple !

Killing Yassar will signal hundreds of sleeper terror cells that will bring the attacks worldwide and not just against Israel. Jews and Americans all over will be under attack !

[mv1]

bttt

[rintense]

Why would you post the same article twice, unless to prove your point?

[Conservative_Rob]

From the White House web site . . . . http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020401-4.html

Q Mr. President, what specifically would you like for Chairman Arafat to do, what specific action you'd like him to take in the Middle East?  And, in light of the current situation in Israel, does the Bush doctrine on terrorism not apply in this case?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, there will never be peace so long as there's terror.  And all of us must fight off  --  fight terror.  And you asked about Chairman Arafat.  I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place, the constant attacks.

We've got a plan that will lead to peace, the security plan called Tenet, there's a political plan called Mitchell.  Both sides have agreed to this plan.  And we urge the parties to accept the Tenet plan so that we can bring some  --  a peaceful resolution to an issue that's affecting the lives of Palestinians and Israelis alike.  There's a lot of innocent people who hurt in the region because of the senseless violence and senseless murder.

Q Mr. President, I'd like to follow up on Sonya's  question.  Under your doctrine, a terrorist or someone who aids a terrorist is the equivalent of a terrorist.  So what's keeping Chairman Arafat  --  what's keeping you from labeling Chairman Arafat a terrorist?

THE PRESIDENT:  Chairman Arafat has agreed to a peace process.  He's agreed to the Tenet plan.  He's agreed to the Mitchell plan.  He has negotiated with parties as to how to achieve peace.  And, of course, our hope is that he accepts the Tenet plan.  That's what General Zinni is in the Middle East doing, working to get this Tenet agreement in place, which is a series of concrete steps to reduce the violence in the Middle East.

[Conservative_Rob]

Forgot to add my $0.02 to the White House quote . . .

I can't believe that I supported a two faced President - you mean that if Osama or any of his henchmen simply "talked" peace with us we wouldn't consider them terrorists????

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sure. Why not? There were questions as to; did the article exist? was it really written that way?; were time and translations correct?; is Japanese press trustworthy because of the Nanjing Massacre?'. All kinds of things. Some legitimate, some odd.

You will note I refered to 'another previous thread'. Once the article was available on the web based on Kyodo's internal JtoE translation, (not mine) I provided it straightaway. I verified all that I wrote earlier. I provided a link to the English since the first article was linked only to the Japanese and many cannot read that. Also, note there are two articles in question as well. Glad I could clear this up for you, rt.

[Icthus]

"...Killing Yassar will signal hundreds of sleeper terror cells that will bring the attacks worldwide and not just against Israel. Jews and Americans all over will be under attack!..."

I truly expect to see more suicide bombers within other countries. By doing so, the idiot media will show how Israel is somehow at fault.

[Registered]

Bush is an *IDIOT* if he does not consider Arafat a terrorist.

[mv1]

FYI

[El Gato]

please explain to me why the "world" has made this guy and the Pali's into a sacred cow!?

It's not quite as simple as "because their victims are Jews", but darn near.

[veronica]

Bush impresses me as a real man's man and a real American...

Me too....

US ignores international mood and lays blame on Palestinians

[Kana Dian]

RE: It's not quite as simple as "because their victims are Jews", but darn near... Just travel there, and you'd see yourself who's victim of whom... Not paying any taxes (when Jews pay up to 70%), having free education (when Jews having not), living in the country where each word is checked not to offence its 'poor Palis'... And, move to either Lebanon, Jordan, or Egypt... And, check the living standards there. 100s of 1000s of "brothers" are not accepted socially (for what reason it's done...) So, the darn reason is they - Palis - are strong enough to hate, only. As their brothers in countries around. As for fighting - here are only metally sick bombers... Not those strong guys with M16 (Palis...) - they rather give up (undreds did it already - just look at even CNN...)