Text of the President's speech on the Middle East today

White House website ^ | 6/24/02 | Office of the President of the United States

[Wolfstar]

The closing paragraph of what may well be the most momentous speech in our lifetimes:

"This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace; a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death; therefore, choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace, and hope, and life."

The President has thrown down the gauntlet. Now we shall see...

[Wolfstar]

God bless and keep our remarkable President, and grant that he be resoundingly re-elected. God give widsom and vision to those here at home, both within the President's party and without, to see how vital it is that we rise above mundane politics as usual. There was a time when we could afford "protest votes" for shallow sideshows such as Perot, Buchanan, Ventura, and their ilk. Like a quarrelsome family, we could allow ourselves to be distracted and entertained by quibbles over the most arcane political points, or the latest sensationalized story the media chose to focus on with all its white heat of non-stop reporting. And we could allow ourselves to be bribed by the siren-cong of the Left. But like a family coming together to face a mortal external danger, God grant that the American family recognizes the dire threat we all face. Rather than continued splintering into various factions, it is time for us to renew our common bonds and act accordingly.

[hawaiian]

Can we post the text of the President's speech 10 more times in breaking news, PLEASE!!!!

[irishlass]

I find it fascinating that the President ended his speech with a quote from the (HEBREW) Old Testament. IMHO, except for the coddling of Islam, the speech was brilliant. A Palestinian State will never exist given these guidelines, therfore, it falls under the "When pigs fly" category.

[Reagan Man]

"This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace; a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death; therefore, choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace, and hope, and life."

>>>The President has thrown down the gauntlet. Now we shall see...

I don't know if the Palestinians can step up to the plate and deliver. I know the Israeli's will do what they can to advance the peace process. President Bush has laid down the law and as you said, "Now we shall see".

[Reagan Man]

>>>Can we post the text of the President's speech 10 more times in breaking news, PLEASE!!!!

Sure can.

[kellynla]

Maybe I missed it but would someone please post the link to the transcript of the speech. Thanks in advance.

[Willie Green]

Can we post the text of the President's speech 10 more times in breaking news, PLEASE!!!!

Hey, why not?

It's no more discourteous than only posting a tiny excerpt.

I clicked on this thread expecting to see the entire transcript.
Instead, it looks as though the White House (as a source) is in the same category as the LaLa Times & Washington Post.

Bleecccccchhhhh!

[thucydides]

Palestinians have no interest in a "Palestinian State:" their desire is the destruction of Israel, whose existence is a constant painful reminder of their deep inferiority and impotence. Liberals, with their false view of human nature, imagine that everyone is basically amenable to reason, and it is only a question of finding some concession to bring about peace. In reality, the Palestinians will never give up their envy and rage. It is bolstered by their religion, by third world colonial victimisation ideology, and serves as their only spiritual consolation. Only complete defeat and replacement of their leadership can ever bring about a change.

[Wolfstar]

The link is at the top of the page. Click on the words "White House website" under the title of the page.

[Rome2000]

W talked about a democratic state for the PLO and the other terrorists.

No such animal will ever exist in an Islamic society.

The concept of democracy is a western one, and the maniac Jihadists and 90% of the Palestinian population have no interest or desire to participate in a democracy.

Allah calls the shots in the muslim world, and he married a 9 year old and wants infidels to die, plain and simple.

Another ridiculous aspect is the idea that a state would be conditional upon the election of a new democratic PLO leadership.

Arafat is Palestine, he would never relinquish power through the electoral process, though he need not fear an election, because his subhuman folllowers would never vote against him, unless Osama was his opposition.

This speech was for domestic consumption only, the Jihadists look upon W's call for new leadership(Arafats ouster) and a "provisional" state with derision, and I frankly can't blame them.

The purpose of this speech is in fact to give Israel a green light to take Arafat out, and this will probably happen before the end of the week.

Who knows what will be the result, but it surely can't be worse than the situation on the ground in the middle east today.

[Wolfstar]

With apologies to your sensibilities, at the time I posted this link I saw several discussion threads, but no thread that had the complete text. I am at work, was on my way to a meeting, had less than five minutes to post. I believe this is a momentous speech. Thought the full text would be worth reading. Wanted to share it with others who had the same interest. 'Nuff said.

[Wolfstar]

I agree with you fully. However, what is momentous about this speech is the President's blunt talk. Holding out the promise of a nation of their own, the President has essentially told those who identify themselves as "Palestinians" to put up or shut up. He has also said as much to the other Arab nations. As I said, now we shall see...

[Sender]

Actually, the concept of a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state living in harmony beside Israel would fall in the "when monkeys fly out of my butt" category.

[Kermit]

Hey, I posted it a half-hour after AP had it and I did a search. It didn't show up. It's now deleted. Oh, well.

[ThePythonicCow]

The full text is also available on this FR thread: President Bush Discussed Middle East in Rose Garden Address - FULL TEXT.