Bush Condemns Palestinian Violence as 'Outrageous'

Reuters ^ | June 21, 2002

[Cinnamon Girl]

President George W. Bush had no plans to deliver his long-awaited Middle East speech June 21, 2002, White House aides said. Bush speaks at the 3rd Biennial Leon H. Sullivan Summit Dinner in Washington on June 20. Photo by William Philpott/Reuters

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - President Bush on Friday condemned a series of Palestinian attacks against Israel this week as "outrageous" and said he fully respects Israel's right to defend itself.

"I strongly condemn (this) series of attacks," Bush told reporters as he toured a seniors center in Orlando, Florida. "I fully recognize that Israel's got the right to defend herself."

Bush gave no hint of when he will give a long-expected speech on his Middle East policy, which aides said would not be until next week at the earliest, saying "I'll give the speech when I'm ready."

"All parties who are interested in getting on the path to peace must do everything they can to reject this terror. It is outrageous and ... it has got to be stopped," he added.

"Obviously some in the Middle East want to use violence to destroy any hope for peace and the world must do everything in its power to prevent the few from creating misery for the many," he said.

Asked about his wife's suggestion that Israel's beginning work on an electrified fence around some Palestinian areas may not be helpful to the peace process, Bush replied, "Israel has got the right to defend herself."

[Cinnamon Girl]

See, President Bush knows what's going on.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Good for him. He's doing the right thing.

I bet they're mad enough to spit nails over at State.

[crosdaddy]

yada yada yada, broken record

[HELLRAISER II]

Sharon needs to take this hint and take care of bidness. AraFart is a threat as is the Palestinian people, enough is enough. Sick'em Sharon!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting!

Looks like Israel has been given the green light to do whatever necessary to defend themselves!

[white trash redneck]

While I see Bush's comments as positive, I can't help wondering what took him so long?

[Cinnamon Girl]

That's exactly it. It's up to Sharon to start bombing and ignore the EU and the UN. Bush supports this.

[Mo1]

Looks like a green light to me

[Sir Gawain]

President Bush: "Islam is a religion of peace."

"Islam is a religion of peace, that's what the president believes," Fleischer said.

[HELLRAISER II]

The hell with the U.N. or E.U. tell'em F.U.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Islam is a religion of peace, that's what the president believes," Fleischer said.

Labeling the Violence as "outrageous" and the Purveyors of Terror as "Evil" does not contradict with calling Islam a "religion of peace," my FRiend. We attack those promulgating the Terror with a vengeance, then continue to reach out to those who are peacefully practicing their religion. To do otherwise would be wrong, both morally and strategically.

FReegards...MUD

[My2Cents]

Land for peace....Reduce Arafat to a greasy spot on the land, and the chances increase for peace.

[LibertineR]

He didnt say anything he hasnt said before.

Talk is cheap, and Bush has lost any credibility on this issue. Only Netanyahu will solve this mess, by blasting Arafat into oblivion.

[Sir Gawain]

Anyone that believes Islam is a religion of peace is sadly mistaken.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Look, either we calm down the Muslims with our rhetoric so we can fight selectively, or we take on a billion of them in an uprising. Which sounds better?

Besides which, if you've ever seen Ari go off on Helen about the vermin suicide bombers, you'd know that "islam is a religion of peace" is not in his heart.

[1bigdictator]

Wait till the Pali's push some of the more militant Jews, mostly Zionists, to retaliate w/ their own homocide bombers. Tit for Tat. only then will the Pali public pressure Hammas and Islamic Jihad to stop the violence.

Pali civilians must fear for thier lives-- fear that an Israeli tank may run over thier donkey cart is not motivation enough. Grow some balls Israel....Let's Roll!

[kayak]

Netanyahu has said all along that Israel has no greater friend than President George W. Bush.

[thoughtomator]

Jews will never use suicide bombing as a tactic. The value of life is an ingrained quality in Hebrew culture, a basic tenet. To kill another person is only acceptable in the context of self defense. To kill oneself is unthinkable.

[hchutch]

Precisely. We are dealing with a perverted form of Islam that has deeply infected the rulers of several nations (Sudan, Iraq, Iran, and elements of Saudi Arabia for starters).

We must keep that in mind, or we will make enemies we need not make.