COLIN COY ON YASSER RE-ELECTION'

New York Post ^ | 6/26/02 | DEBORAH ORIN

[kattracks]

June 26, 2002 -- WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday blasted Yasser Arafat as a failed leader, but ducked the question of what will happen if he gets re-elected despite President Bush's call to dump him.

"We'll see what happens as a result of that election. We hope the election will produce a number of leaders," Powell told the Fox News Channel.

[kattracks]

Bahrain says Bush plan will contribute to Mideast peace

I wonder how many Arab states are secretly hoping to see the end of Arafat.

[dawn53]

I can't understand all the "hoopla" the press is making related to this question.

The President clearly called on the Palestinians to elect leaders that are not compromised by terror. He then proceeded to say "IF" they did that, then there would be rewards.

So if Arafat is reelected, clearly they have not complied with the request, and so no discussion of statehood can be held to.

[Catspaw]

I was wondering that myself.

The last time the Israelis went into the West Bank, there were howls and screams across the Arab world, protest marches, telethons, you name it. This time, there's a deafening silence. I find to be most curious and most telling.

[Hillary's Folly]

[Wild Irish Rogue]

I read and heard exactly what you did. But, the media has their own agenda, the facts be damned.

[pgkdan]

I can't understand all the "hoopla" the press is making related to this question.

Me either. President Bush said we're at war with terrorism and the world had to decide, either you're with us or the terrorists. Islamic terrorism to be specific...we just won't say that out loud. Yasser Arafatass is an Islamic terrorist. If the Palestinian people elect Aarafatass as their leader, then they've cast their lot with the terrorists and we should, from that point on act accordingly.

No more pussy footing around, no more blather about "the peace process" or "cycles of violence". We will know without a doubt if we have a newly self proclaimed enemy in the Middle East or a people who yearn to take responsibility for their lives and live in peace. My money's on the former.

[traditionalist]

if Arafat is reelected, clearly they have not complied with the request, and so no discussion of statehood can be held to.

About as clear as mud. Ask yourself, why did not Bush explicitly demand Arafat to leave office? Why did he use the ambigious phrase, "compromised by terror," instead of a clear one like "who have engaged in terrorism?" You have to admit that the word "compromised" is open to a lot of interpretation.

Why has no administration official said explicitly that the West under no circumstances will work with Arafat if he gets elected?

There can be only one answer: in the event that Arafat gets elected, Bush wants to keep his options open.