Posted on 06/25/2002 3:28:51 PM PDT by Pokey78
George Bush was facing his first serious rift with Tony Blair last night after Britain joined the European Union and the United Nations in rejecting American calls for Yasser Arafat to be ousted as leader of the Palestinian authority. In a sharp rebuff to President Bush, Downing Street and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said it was up to the Palestinian people to decide their leader.
President Bush's speech delighted the Israeli government, but was greeted with anger and despair in the Arab world, bringing protests that the US is trying to dictate to the Palestinians who should be their leader.
Buoyed by the presidential message, Israeli troops raided the Palestinian Authority's security headquarters in Hebron and killed four policemen, including a senior intelligence officer, in an exchange of gunfire.
Mr Bush's call for a new Palestinian leadership was rejected not only by the Palestinian Authority but by a wide range of world leaders. Kofi Annan, secretary general of the UN, warned last night that President Bush's call for the removal of Mr Arafat could backfire if a more hardline leader was elected. The former US senator George Mitchell, who tried last year to broker a Middle East peace deal, expressed similar worries that Islamic Jihad or Hamas could take over from the PLO leader.
The British Government's stance echoed that of the EU and foreshadowed similar conflict with the US over Third World debt and trade tariffs that could dominate the G8 summit that begins today in Canada. Mr Blair tried to play down differences with the Americans, welcoming the broad thrust of President Bush's strategy, setting out a timetable for Palestinian statehood within three years. But the refusal of both Downing Street and the Foreign Office to endorse the removal of Mr Arafat made it clear that this was the biggest foreign policy clash between America and Britain since 11 September. Mr Blair's official spokesman said that although the Prime Minister believed Mr Arafat should do much more to bear down on suicide bombers, Palestinians had the final say. "In terms of Chairman Arafat, we have always said that it is for the Palestinian people to choose their own leader," the spokesman said. "The British Government uses its words. The American administration uses its words," he added.
In the Commons, Mr Straw went further. "Our view has never been in doubt. We deal with the leaders who are elected as we find them. If President Arafat were re-elected by the Palestinian authority, we will deal with him." Mr Straw's aides pointed out that the Foreign Secretary made plain last month he was "relaxed about differences" between the UK and US on the Middle East, the Kyoto protocol on climate change and steel tariffs precisely because the two countries agreed on many other issues.
Mr Bush has always refused to meet the Palestinian leader but Mr Blair has received him in Downing Street as well as meeting him in Gaza. On the flight to Canada, Mr Blair tried to smooth over the differences, but he also acknowledged that the Palestinians would "elect who they want to elect", while emphasising the importance of finding a leadership "prepared to make a deal".
Sick "editorializing."
The spineless twits have to presume it is incorrect for the USA to identify an oppressive tyrant bent on mass murder as an obstacle to peace.
The "palistinean" people can choose any leader they want. If they install another regime of terrorists, they will continue to live in squalor and violence.
One would think the Brits could find the voice to reject the fuhrer system as a good choice for the "palistineans".
More's the pity.
who gives a darn?
Or what exactly?
And he did the right thing. Each time we sent Zinni to meet with Arafat, the Palestinians mass murdered Jews. When Powell went, the Palestinians mass murdered Jews. It got to be so predictable that freepers would even say "Zinni is going to Ramallah, more Jews are going to be blown up".
So, Bush has washed his hands of the PA. The PA is not interested in peace, the PLO is a terrorist organization, and Arafat is an unrepentant, unreformed terrorist. If they want our help, which we will offer in the form of money and advise, then they have to clean up their act. It's very simple. If they cannot self organize, then they will suffer from the calamaties of a brutal leader's edicts, the repercussions of his brutal actions and inactions, and eventually a horrible civil war by factions vying to fill his shoes when he dies.
Pity the Europeans are too blind to see the stark reality of the situation.
Or what about their barracks being blown up in Tel Aviv, or a nice little Cromwellian self-worshiping thug to go rape around?
Europe is so perfect, just like the perfect Nazies.
This is the Arab line; 'The U.S. has no right to decide Palestinian leaders'. Right. They may keep their precious little Arafat and do as they will but expect no more aid or 'peace talks' brokered by the United States. No 'Palestine'.
A very neat reversal of the Palestinian 'Land for Peace' mantra. Now, it's 'Peace for Land' and the onus is on the Palestinians, not Israel or the U.S.
That Britian's government pretends not to understand this is rather sad but predictable. It's Tony Blair, not Maggie Thatcher at 10 Downing Street.
We are independent of them as we have shown in the past.
Maybe they'll sack and burn Washington again. One can always hope.
The Palistinians may "elect" anyone they choose to represent them.....
Our President is exercising his responsibility and assessing the current leader as an unacceptable negotiating "partner".... in other words.... President Bush recognizes that Arafat is a lying, murdering terrorist, incapable of keeping his word or contracts with the West.
One can not negotiate peace with an agressive bully. First, the bully must be totally defeated - then TERMS of peace can be mandated and enforced.
Arafat and the radicals continue to force Bush's hand -- this will lead to their destruction.
Semper Fi
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