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Israel Should Withdraw 'Without Delay' - Powell
Reuters ^

Posted on 04/05/2002 2:34:31 PM PST by RCW2001

Israel should withdraw 'without delay'  -  Powell  
 (Adds details, background from paragraph 5) 
    By Carol Giacomo 
    WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State 
Colin Powell urged Israel on Friday to withdraw military forces 
from Palestinian areas "without delay" and not use the days 
before his trip to the region this weekend as a reason to 
continue incursions that have fed an explosion of violence. 
    Against a relentless Israeli army onslaught, Powell told 
reporters President George W. Bush's "expectation is that the 
incursions will stop and a withdrawal process will begin as 
soon as possible or without delay -- whichever formulation you 
would choose." 
    "It's not related to my trip (which begins Sunday, but 
should happen) as soon as possible, without delay and that's 
the president's expectation," Powell said after a meeting with 
Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan al-Muasher. 
    But the White House struck a more conciliatory tone with 
spokesman Ari Fleischer telling reporters at the presidential 
ranch in Crawford, Tex: "The president recognizes that in a 
region that's been marred by violence for decades, major events 
don't necessarily happen overnight." 
    Powell was dispatched to the Middle East to revive 
cease-fire talks after Bush on Thursday announced a dramatic 
change of course in U.S. policy, after widespread criticism he 
was doing too little to curb an escalating regional conflict. 
    But Fleischer said on Friday Powell may not meet 
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the trip. 
    When asked about this, Powell said: "Well, (U.S. envoy) 
General Zinni met with Chairman Arafat today, and so obviously 
we can get to Chairman Arafat.  
    "Just that my itinerary is still being worked at by my 
staff and the places that I'm going to visit, and so I think 
what Ari meant to say, and I'm quite sure what he had said, 
because he said it yesterday as well, no plans at this time, 
simply because there are no plans at this time, not that there 
won't be plans in due course."     
    NEW PRESSURE ON ARAFAT 
    Although he put new pressure on Arafat to end suicide 
bombings against Israel, Bush in his speech called on Israel to 
end its weeklong military offensive into Palestinian territory 
and halt expansion of settlements. 
    Under pressure from European and Arab allies and fears of a 
wider war, Bush used the speech to put his administration at 
the center of Mideast policymaking for the first time since it 
took office in January 2001. 
    But the Jewish state showed no signs of complying with this 
directive and it was widely expected that Sharon's government 
would pursue its military offensive for a few days more. 
    Muasher said his meeting with Powell was "extremely 
productive" and both men stressed the importance of achieving a 
political settlement to the conflict not just arranging a 
cease-fire. 
    Powell praised Jordan's King Abdullah for his hard work on 
behalf of peace. 
    Until Thursday, the Bush administration had sided with 
Israel in demanding an end to Palestinian violence before peace 
talks on a political settlement could begin. 
    A workplan for a cease-fire drawn up by CIA director George 
Tenet and a blueprint for peace created under former U.S. 
Senator George Mitchell "are all for one purpose and that's 
getting to negotiations," Powell said. 
    "The political dimension is key and we have to bring it as 
far forward and as early into the process as is possible," he 
said, adding that Bush's speech constituted a firm U.S. 
recommitment to a political process. 
    The process is supposed to lead to a Palestinian state, 
which Bush has endorsed. Critics have faulted the 
administration for believing a truce was possible without 
offering the Palestinians the prospect of a quick end to 35 
years of Israeli occupation. 
    Muasher welcomed Bush's speech and Powell's upcoming visit 
and expressed hope it would launch a process that would lead 
the region out of the cycle of bloodshed. 
 ((Washington newsroom, fax 202 898 8383, email 
Washington.bureau.newsroom@reuters.com)) 

05 APR 2002 22:39:34 UPDATE 1-Israel should withdraw 'without delay' - Powell


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 04/05/2002 2:34:31 PM PST by RCW2001
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To: RCW2001
Powell phone home. Your boss says Israel needs more time. :)
2 posted on 04/05/2002 2:35:44 PM PST by veronica
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To: veronica
I am of the opinion that Powell should withdrawal without delay.
3 posted on 04/05/2002 2:38:57 PM PST by Pamlico
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To: RCW2001
yeah Israel withdraw now just like you did before Zinnio arrived and then have more terrorist attacks make you have to go right back. What a waste of gas.

SHUT UP POWELL!

4 posted on 04/05/2002 2:39:17 PM PST by Mixer
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To: Pamlico
withdrawal=withdraw
5 posted on 04/05/2002 2:39:52 PM PST by Pamlico
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To: RCW2001
Well, that all depends on the meaning of 'without' and 'delay'...
6 posted on 04/05/2002 2:49:53 PM PST by randog
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To: RCW2001
And they will -- when they are finished -- and they will leave Ahmed Delay behind.
7 posted on 04/05/2002 2:59:28 PM PST by Woodkirk
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To: RCW2001
What's that you say Sec. Powell? (snap...pop...crackle)...We can't quite hear you (pop...snap...crackle) over the static...better hang up the cell phone (crackle...pop...snap) and come over in person with your message.
8 posted on 04/05/2002 3:00:31 PM PST by E=MC<sup>2</sup>
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To: RCW2001
I thought I heard Rush say today that Powell wasn't going to the middle east until later next week. Oh well, too much to hope for.
9 posted on 04/05/2002 3:01:13 PM PST by RamsNo1
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To: RCW2001
Colon Bowell's movements stink, I tell ya!
10 posted on 04/05/2002 3:02:33 PM PST by Revolting cat!
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To: RCW2001
I bet if it were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Powell, instead of 'top diplomat' Secretary of State Powell, the TONE dictated by position would be different.

The top U.S. military guy, in charge of stopping terrorists and those who aid them, wouldn't be in any position to tell the top Israeli military guy, in charge of stopping terrorists and those who aid them, what should or should not be done to protect its citizens.

11 posted on 04/05/2002 3:10:04 PM PST by d14truth
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To: Revolting cat!
ROTFLMAOWPIMP!!!! "...without delay." That's a shame. I kinda like Tom. BTW, Mr. Sec., HOW IS IT YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND ERECT WITHOUT A SPINE? HUH?
12 posted on 04/05/2002 3:11:08 PM PST by whadizit
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To: RCW2001

Good.

I swear, it's like magic.

Whenever I think Dubya and the Administration are doing good, they reverse course.

There have been countless attempts at a negotiated peace and finally Isreal is doing what needs to be done. They are making a sweep and rounding up criminals, siezing arms and explosives that would have otherwise been used against them.

Lettem go! This needs to be done and frankly, I am suprised by Sharon's timid strategy in the face of everything that's happened.

Powell and Bush should warn others to STAY OUT of the conflict and then go play golf. Let this thing play itself out.

It's necessary, it's morally upright and it's long overdue. Let it go and leave it alone for heavens sake.

13 posted on 04/05/2002 3:14:18 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: RamsNo1
That's what I heard, too. Looks like Bush and Powell are sending mixed messages.

I would listen to Bush.

14 posted on 04/05/2002 3:26:24 PM PST by DJ88
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To: RCW2001
How much safer would our world be if Colin Powell had chosen a career in produce management instead of global affairs?

Colin Powell...in 1991 and again today...is an impediment to a true and lasting peace.

IMO.

15 posted on 04/05/2002 3:43:49 PM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: RCW2001
At this point, if Arial Sharon called for the US to withdraw from Afghanistan, what could we say?
16 posted on 04/05/2002 3:45:45 PM PST by Grut
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To: RCW2001
You folks don't think this is an orchestrated pronouncement? Bush says Israel needs more time; Powell says "pull out without delay"...It's all a dance. It's "good cop/bad cop." Israel will ignore Powell, because they've been given the green light by the The Boss to take their time. Powell's comments are for Arab and Eurotrash consumption, but Bush is setting the tone.

Don't panic. Unfortunately, too many on FR see the name "Colin Powell" and they lose their heads.

17 posted on 04/05/2002 3:46:14 PM PST by My2Cents
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To: RCW2001
Against a relentless Israeli army onslaught...

Reuters. What a piece of work.

18 posted on 04/05/2002 3:46:52 PM PST by My2Cents
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To: Jhoffa_
I swear, it's like magic. Whenever I think Dubya and the Administration are doing good, they reverse course.
The true definition of a Centrist Republican. Which is all we have right now. Can we hope for better, sometime in the future? I don't know. Maybe the demographics just aren't there anymore. Maybe a strongly pro-US military centrist Republican --- with all the flaws that come with "centrist" --- is the best we can hope for, the most we can vote for, given our voting strength in the new, diverse America.
19 posted on 04/05/2002 3:52:02 PM PST by samtheman
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To: RCW2001
Colin Powell speaks for himself. The President his boss and Ari Fleischer have said its OK Israel can take out the trash. And since Powell probably won't meet with Arafat, what's the whole point of him going to the Middle East in the first place? Right now I suspect everything Powell says is to placate the enraged Eurotrash and the Arabs while buying time for Israel to kick out Arafat. I suspect Powell already knows that for His Ugliness:

IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO!!!

20 posted on 04/05/2002 3:56:35 PM PST by goldstategop
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