Israel Raids Arafat HQ Ahead Of Sharon-Bush Meeting

Reuters/Yahoo ^ | 6-9-2002 | Mohammed Assadi

[Bobby777]

the modus operandi of Hamas, Hizbollah, PFLP, PLO, Arafat's random thugs, etc. is to cause a major terrorist attack before Sharon can meet with Bush for any length of time, necessitating a hasty return to Israel by Sharon ... this pattern has been repeated at least a half a dozen times and I doubt this will be any different ...

Israel beware ...

[rabbitdog]

I just think they are at Arafats headquarters to make sure another attack doesn't happen while Sharon is gone and to let Arafat know he will be held accountable this time if he does attack.

[The Mayor]

Arafat was in the compound but was safe.

"Arafat is inside the compound and he is unhurt,"

who cares, do they think we really care?

The next headline i wanna see is Arafat found dead from apparent "heart attack" he was scared to death..
thanks for the post blam

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I agree, this is pre-emptive. The troops and tanks necessary to destroy the compound and capture/kill Arafat will be in place before the Sharon/Bush meeting. The idea is to give the impression that orders have already been given to deal with a terror attack while Sharon is in Washington this time. There will be no need to fly back to Israel, because contingency orders are already in place. That's the message that they're trying to make clear to Arafat.

Will Arafat listen?

And if he doesn't, will Israel really move, or just put him in isolation again?

[Bobby777]

of course ... you are correct ... however, there are no doubt pre-planned, or "off-the-shelf" attacks that require no communique from Arafat if he is incommunicado ... look for PFLP or PLO to go for a restaurant, hotel or bar mitzvah ... remember Arafat's "big eruption" warning? ... he's telegraphed they've green-lighted another big attack against Israeli citizens ... the IDF is trying to head it off, but I'd be surprised if they kill Arafat regardless of the attack ... it'll be total war once they do ... and that's a shame ... because we'd shed no tears for Arafat, that's for sure ...

[umgud]

They may arrest or isolate him again. If they isolate him, this time they need to really cut him off from the oiutside world. No phones, no visitors, no radio, no TV, NO CNN!

[terilyn]

I think you're exactly right.

[Light Speed]

Colin Powell: "Wuddya mean....you've solved the Palestinian issue"?

Ariel Sharon: "Don't look at me like that....I did'nt do anything"!

[Rockitz]

IDF wants more info on Arafat's terror links. This is the best way to get the info so they can surgically strike the various terror groups. Arafat is the paymaster using American and Euro dollars.

[monkeyshine]

"Is that the message from Washington, that Israel should abort the reform campaign and the new government before it even starts it?"

No you twit. The message is that Israel doesn't give a rats ass what you say or do, until you stop attacking her citizens. Do you honestly think Israel will stop working to tear up the terror infrastructure so you guys can get your ducks in a row? As long as the war goes on, the war will go on. Get it?

[Demidog]

a major terrorist attack before Sharon can meet with Bush for any length of time, necessitating a hasty return to Israel by Sharon ... this pattern has been repeated at least a half a dozen times and I doubt this will be any different ...

Nothing like a little bit of hyperbole. I believe this is only the second meeting between Sharon and Bush in Washington. "Half a dozen" seems like quite the exageration.

[Bobby777]

hardly ... this has happened several times over the past year ...

[Tree of Liberty]

No, it's indeed been six times. A FNC talking head made note of it yesterday.

[sofaman]

Get your facts straight...this is the 6th time that Sharon has met with Bush.

[Bobby777]

way to go sofaman!!! ... I was just getting ready to post a reply that said "bzzzzzzzt! WRONG ANSWER! thanks for playing!" .... hee-hee ...

from today's MSNBC.Com article ...

"The meeting between Sharon and Bush, to take place on Monday, will be the sixth since the right-wing Israeli leader took office in March 2001."

http://www.msnbc.com/news/677951.asp

I might also note that these types of attacks occur also when General Zinni or others head for Israel ... a recent incident occurred as Colon Pow (that's on purpose) was on his way there too ...

[Bobby777]

"Half a dozen" seems like quite the exageration.

on the contrary, half-a-dozen was pretty dang close to accurate ...

[cgk]

It all depends on what your definition of six is.

[Bobby777]

I'm assuming you're joking ... if you include all the incidents surrounding U.S. discussions on "peace" I'd say this has happened approaching 9-10 times ... that's nearly a dozen, depending upon one's definition of "12" ... hehe ...

however, Israel has hurt the terrorist operations ... the number has reduced dramatically, though it's not zero, and probably, sadly, will not stay that way ...

[Brad C.]

The IDF should take the time to plant a large, tamper proof explosive device in the middle of the compound. Tell arafat that the device will be used at the discretion of Sharon should one more terrorist bomb be detonated. Then sometime in the future after more innocents are killed as we all know they will be, when arafat least expects it; Sharon should take out the entire compound.

The IDF is one of the best military forces in the world, why one of their snipers hasn't dropped this guy is beyond me.