Disagree. Arafat is now completely exposed as a liar. His unwillingness to release even these criminals gives Bush a perfect opportunity to exclude him from any further dealings.
I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I think it was Yasser's last chance and he blew it.
I have to admit that I was upset with Bush also, until I came to understand what I believe he is doing. To appease the moderate Arab nations (and I think Bush is only going to appease so far), he had to deal with Arafat at least once. He was going to have to see if Arafat was "honest" in regards to him. If Bush had never talked to Arafat that would have been used against the Administration. Can you imagine Arafat on t.v. saying "but he never talked to me?" And that could be a rallying cry throughout the Muslim world. "The poor Palestians... the Americans didn't even talk to them." There would be truth to that. Well, now Arafat is playing the same game with Bush. And Bush won't stand for it.
Personally, I don't think Sharon is disobeying Bush. I don't think he would. Sharon has been given the green light.
This war on terror, to be done right, will an an all encompassing war. There is only reason why the Arabs would not join the coalition -- that is for the greater cause of pan-Arabism. To fight Iraq, Iran, and all the other nations that sponsor terrorists will have to be done in a way so that Saddam or other leaders can't play the pan-Arab card or the Palestian card. Israel is a weapon for such a campaign. Saddam tried to use Israel in the Gulf War. He sent scud missles into Israel to provoke a response. If he had succeeded, then the Arabs might have forgotten about Kuwait and formed together to through the western invaders from their land. Saladin all over again.
Benjamin Netanyahu on Meet the Press said the following about the Arabs. Tim Russert asked him: What would be the reaction of the Arab world if the United States invaded Iraq?
Netanyahu: Is it important? Suppose the reaction is negative. OK, so what? Can the Arab world stop you? Are they indispensible in material terms, in physical terms, in getting the job done? Probably not. You can do it. The imperative is more important, the mission is more important than the coalition, whether you have one or don't. But I think something else will happen. There is tremendous respect for American principle and American power that backs American principle. I would say even more than respect. There is admiration, bordering on worship. It doesn't make any difference what calmdeen, what vilification will be heaped on you. Not that much, in my opinion. They'll all line up, just as - you know it was said that tens of thousands would rush into Afghanistan if you attacked, and if you attacked during Ramadan, it would hundreds of thousands. Well, in fact, hundreds of thousands did stream, but out of Afghanistan in flight of American wrath.
Not at all. President GWB is one smart man....He gave Arafat the rope....Now Arafat hangs himself...