Bush feeds resentment that threatens Arafat

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 07/08/2002 | Patrick Bishop

[Pokey78]

Poverty and a failure of leadership have brought Palestinian doubts over their corrupt authority out into the open, reports Patrick Bishop in Gaza

President George W Bush's call for changes in the Palestinian leadership appears to have intensified an internal debate about the performance of Yasser Arafat and emboldened dissenters to air their views in public.

Critics of the move maintained that the American intervention would result in a surge of support for the veteran leader.

But in Gaza yesterday, Palestinians spoke frankly about the corruption and inefficiency of Mr Arafat's rule. There was also censure of his handling of relations with Israel, which has resulted in it re-establishing an iron grip on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The consequences of the Israeli policies could be seen at the Erez crossing point, where rows of Palestinian workers queued for hours in the tarmac-melting sun to register for permits that may allow them to work inside Israel again.

Before the second intifada began 21 months ago, about 40,000 crossed each day. Since then the border has been closed and almost all these jobs have disappeared, along with 100,000 others, as the local economy has run into the sand.

"I haven't made a penny for nearly two years," said Mohammed Attar, 36, who has a wife and eight children to support and who previously worked as a chef inside Israel. "My family tried to help but they have run out of money."

Mr Attar blames Israel for closing the border. But he is also angry with the Palestinian Authority, which has paid him the equivalent of £125 in the time he has been jobless. Last, week he joined tens of thousands of workers who marched in Gaza to demand work or dole money.

Mr Attar's view of Mr Arafat is simple: "If he can solve our problem he is welcome to stay. If not, he should go."

Palestinian intellectuals are bemused by the Americans' enthusiasm for reform. They accuse Washington and Israel of previously ignoring the corruption and repression practised by the Palestinian Authority and supporting Mr Arafat in power. They also wonder how they can rebuild their society with large swathes of the West Bank under Israeli occupation.

They accept, however, that the American call has forced Mr Arafat into long-overdue elections. "It's come about because of Arafat, and not because they are convinced of the need for reform, that is the sad reality" said Salah Abdel Shafi, a management consultant who may be a candidate. "But it doesn't mean that the process is bad."

There seems to be wide agreement that the system Mr Arafat planted after his return, installing his cronies in positions that they abused, must be uprooted. There is also a perception that his handling of the new uprising has been disastrous. "Arafat has made big mistakes," said one political analyst. "He failed to create a consensus about the objectives of the intifada and the leadership has kept people in the dark."

Mr Abdel Shafi believes that after the uprising had successfully made the point that "when there's no just solution there will be no stability", it should have been terminated. Instead, its continuation and the advent of suicide bombers has put the Palestinians on the defensive, especially after September 11. "We became the Palestinian Taliban," he said.

Western-looking Palestinians resent the idea that they have silently tolerated corruption and repression and point out there has been opposition to Mr Arafat's rule from the beginning.

The elections offer a mechanism for hope, but not if the Israeli occupation persists. "If you continue with incursions and assassinations, I guarantee the extremists will win," said Mr Abdel Shafi.

[Republic]

This will not be setting well with the Gay caberellos who run the NY Slimes. They are having a pink panty hissy fit right now.

LOL! You have outdone yourself with this one, Gramps! (Actually the entire post is mar-vooooh-las, darlin!) Poor elite dems...they are caught up in a smaller box than Arafat. Everytime they open their mouths to slice at President Bush, the rapid, intelligent, direct fire moves by our President gag um. Poor babies....the truth can be simply brutal.

[Miss Marple]

Ernest, you are spelling it wrong. It is cabelleros, NOT caberellos! LOL! No wonder Google couldn't find it!

We're three Caballeros, three gay caballeros,
They say we are birds of a feather.
We're happy amigos,
No matter where he goes,
The one, two and three goes,
We're always together.

We're three happy chappies,
With snappy serapes,
You'll find us beneath our sombreros.
We're brave and we'll say so,
We're bright as a Peso.
Who says so?
We say so!
The three Caballeros!

Oh------- we have the stars to guide us.
Guitars here beside us,
To play as we go! We sing and we samba,
We shout, "Ay caramba!"
What means "Ay caramba?"
Oh yes, I don't know.
Oh------ to fair or stormy weather.
We stand close together,
Like books on a shelf.

And friends though we may be, When some Latin baby,
Says yes, no or maybe,
Each man is for him self!

Disney, 1945.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OK:

Main Entry: ca·bal·le·ro
Pronunciation: "ka-b&-'ler-(")O, -b&(l)-'yer-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ros
Etymology: Spanish, from Late Latin caballarius hostler -- more at CAVALIER
Date: 1749
1 : KNIGHT, CAVALIER
2 chiefly Southwest : HORSEMAN

_______________________________________________________________

I think Iran will be last!

It might make sense to take out Syria first!

But that would be tougher to support in Europe and other centers of Liberalism.
Militarily it would clean up the Middle East to some degree since the arms to Hamas are coming thru Syria!

That would be a nice base to operate from to take on Iraq! and Turkey would guard the backside!

What would be needed to support our doing that?

I think I saw that Egypt just had a shootout with some Palestians smuggling arms into GAZA!

[crusher999]

STRATEGERY!

I'm laughing so hard, it's hard for me to type.

Nice one Pokey78!

hehehehe

I can't wait to see if any of the "three stooges" (Rather, Bokaw or Jennings), reports this tomorrow.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It's Grampa Dave's fault, I just copied what he posted!

[Grampa Dave]

See what you can learn on Free Republic? Of course if Grampa Dave could spell better, it would be easier for you.

Miss Marple, besides being the great Billy Kristol watcher, has all of these great facts right at her finger tips/polished nails.

What if we take the trash out of Syria and Iran at the same time? Then, we would have two good places from which to really box up the trash in Iraq for disposal?

Also if the new Iran started a responsible government and then broke the back of Opec and the Opecker Princes, we could really tighten up the ejection process of Saddam.

[Bobby777]

Arafat was born a terrorist, lived as a terrorist and ruled as a terrorist ... small wonder he has brought ruin upon his own people besides those he terrorized ...

[The Great Satan]

Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes visible on TV and covert operations secret even in success.

We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest.

And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.

President George W. Bush
Address to the Congress
September 20, 2001

[Miss Marple]

Dave! You live out there with the Hispanic influence, and you misspelled caballeros! What's up with that? LOL!

Sorry Ernest, I didn't check to see the source of the error. Well, now you know the source, and please notice the song is very un-PC, not like the present Disney. Probably Eisner is scurrying around trying to buy up all the refeerences to this song, the way they did with "Song of the South."

[Grampa Dave]

It is mar-vooooh-las, darlin!

You can actually smell the panic as it settles in on the left wing maggots.

The Brutal Truth used with them is like the appropriate antibiotic to kill bad germs. There is nothing the once dangerous germs can do when the brutal truth is used appropriately.

[Miss Marple]

This pleases me no end. I love having smart people in the White House!

I also think bin Laden dead and in a freezer in Cheney's cave. After about 176 references to why we don't have him by Gore and Daschle, he will be thawed and deposited at the DNC offices.

[Grampa Dave]

You are great inspite of my miss spelling!

Eisner is probably sneaking around trying to gather up all of the old references to three gay caballeros!

[Republic]

A truer analogy could not be made! Our President hones, sharpens with laser-like skill, manages, aims, releases and fires the truth with the aplomb of a marksman intimately familiar with his weapon of choice and willing to deal with the consequences of the hit.

The democrats are flailing around like headless chickens in a large farmyard... the show is becoming quite comical out here in fly-over country. This war of words, launched by the dems and meant to discredit and destroy President Bush becomes a comedy of errors each time they propose and put forth a new insult. Our President patiently brings out his faithful weapon, the truth, and the spin (distortion, lies, propaganda, misrepresentations, whatever) frothing out from dem talking points wilts under the fire.

I can hardly wait until tomorrow, the poll driven democrats are going completely nuts.

[Grampa Dave]

Thank you for posting this so we can re read it. Now for all the naysayers, I will repost these great words from our President Bush that you just posted:

Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes visible on TV and covert operations secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place until there is no refuge or no rest.

And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.

President George W. Bush

Address to the Congress, September 20, 2001

[Crossbow Eel]

 
 

President Bush I Say Thank You!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hey, it was interesting!

Been over checking out the meade Camera / Binocular on the other thread. I have clearance to get one.My grandkids and I could have some funnn with that!

[fire_eye]

Poverty and a failure of leadership have brought Palestinian doubts over their corrupt authority out into the open, reports Patrick Bishop in Gaza

Crap.

Loud noises and the smell of cordite have awakened Palestinians to the fact that the civilized world isn't going to take any more, ah, "Guff".

The article's author can try all he wants to cover the scent of camel dung with expensive Arabian perfume; attempt to evoke lofty philosophical issues, etc. etc. ad boredom infinitum. The simple fact is, when the goat-ropers feel the heat, they see the light.

As my wife is fond of saying, "Wake up and smell the nerve gas, Abdul..."

[xJones]

Mr Attar blames Israel for closing the border ...

There isn't one word in this whole article as to WHY Israel closed the borders. Was it because those nasty Israelis were just being cruel? No, it had something to do with exploding Palis, didn't it? But the terrorist suicide bombers and gunmen aren't even mentioned. Mr. Attar's eight children have probably been going to the wonderful Pali schools where young children are taught to hate Jews and glorify martyrdom, but that's beside the point, I guess. Israel should have kept those borders open where any and every Pali jihadist could come right in.

[hchutch]

And Jordan's broken up weapons runs, too.

Egypt and Jordan have chosen who THEY are siding with. Syria, Iran, and Iraq are on our list next.

[Free the USA]

thanks for the ping