Posted on 07/29/2002 11:24:40 PM PDT by HAL9000
TORONTO (CP) - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton says the Palestinian rejection of his proposal for peace in the Middle East destroyed the best chance the region had to end the fighting. "When the history of this region is written, the failure of the Palestinians to accept former (Israeli) prime minister (Ehud) Barak's acceptance of the peace proposal I put on the table will be viewed as the most colossal error in their history," he said Monday night.Speaking at a packed fundraiser for the Jewish group Hadassah-Wizo Organization of Canada, the ex-president talked mostly about the Middle East, but said the conflict in the region showcases the need for co-operation between all nations if the world is to avoid disaster.
Clinton told the audience of about 350 people that recent violent actions by Israel and the Palestinians are not helping progress towards a solution.
"I don't think there is a military solution to this," he said. "But I know there's not a terrorist solution to it."
Clinton said the world needs more than just security solutions that protect independent countries and threaten others.
He cited India and Pakistan as countries that need to move forward toward a global community.
"They are a classic example of the tragedy that can result when people become obsessed with holding on to yesterday's grievances," he said.
Clinton moderated a summit between Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Camp David in Maryland in July 2000. The talks ended after 15 days after Arafat rejected Barak's offer for control of most, but not all, of the territory Israel had occupied since 1967.
Clinton stressed that America must remain involved in any Middle East peace plan, because U.S. participation is the only way to ensure the long-term trust of the Israelis.
"Israel believes America is the only big country who cares if they exist," he said.
The former president then delighted the mostly Jewish audience by saying he would always be willing to fight for Israel.
"If Iraq came across the Jordan River . . . I would grab a rifle and get in the trench and fight and die," he said to massive applause.
Since violence swelled again in the Middle East in September 2000, about 1,750 Palestinians and 570 Israelis have been killed.
Clinton did not take questions from the audience or reporters after the speech.
The former president has been on the speech circuit since leaving office, and although the fee he made at the Toronto fundraiser was not disclosed, he is usually well paid for his comments.
He earned $9.2 million US in speaking fees last year, including dates in Toronto and Hamilton, according to financial disclosure forms released by the U.S. government.
Clinton made at least 60 speeches around the world for between $75,000 US and $350,000 each in 2001, but the family still owes $1.75 million in legal fees left over from the White House investigations into his behaviour.
© The Canadian Press, 2002
Apparently, they have forgotten Clinton's letter to Colonel Holmes.
The audience must be senile if they believe this.
The lousy coward would not even fight for his own country!!!!!
Okay, let's take up a collection and buy him a really nice, accurate rifle. Then when Iraq starts attacking Israel - as seems almost inevitable at this point - we'll remind him of his pledge.
Ten bucks says he'll weasel out by saying, "Ah only said if they came across the Jordan River! Missiles and nukes aren't an army!"
Nothing more than a taxpayer-funded billion dollar payoff to shut up, play kissy face to make him look good, I'm guessing....Isn't that what peace talks ultimately consist of? "How much money will it take to get you to pretend to get along so the Nobel Committee will be impressed with my peacemaking abilities?"
Hey, let's ask Chelsea. She was there, wasn't she?
The conflict in the region showcases the need for victory by one side or the other. The hope is that the civilized world will win.
In my short 21-year military career I can never remember a similar kind of thing happening. If, after a change-of-command, a former commander routinely came back to the unit he/she had screwed up, criticizing the new boss, someone would get an a** whoopin'.
Tell me this pasty-faced hillbilly didn't really say this. Somebody. Please.
I just hope someone got it on video.
More likely he grab a white flag and get out of town and soil his pants.
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