Diplomatic Response to American Deaths

AP ^ | 8/2/02 | Barry Schweid

[ppaul]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration's response to a terror attack in Israel that killed five Americans is focused on diplomacy, with no indication there will be U.S. military retaliation. "We are responding by working with our Arab friends, and Israel of course, to track these people down," President Bush said Thursday.

The United States already is at war with terrorists, Bush said. "This bombing in Israel showed how tough it's going to be," he replied when asked if the Americans' deaths took the U.S. fight to a new level.

The president did not raise the option of military action against Hamas, the group that has claimed responsibility for several bloody attacks, including the one Wednesday at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Bush made the comment at the start of a meeting Thursday with King Abdullah of Jordan to discuss the situation in the Middle East. By contrast, Bush has publicly included a U.S. military strike among the "tools" he may employ to try to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"In different regions of the world the war is being fought differently," presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said when asked whether there would be a U.S. military response to the Jerusalem bombing.

"In the Middle East, it is being fought through diplomacy, it's being fought with financial means, it's being fought through political means. And those are the steps," Fleischer said.

"The president has indicated that we are taking action against terrorists, and that action comes in a wide variety of forms," Fleischer said.

Asked on "NBC Nightly News" if there could be a U.S. reprisal for the attack, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said it was "very unlikely, in my opinion. I just can't imagine it."

Bush has come down hard on Yasser Arafat, accusing the Palestinian leader of being entwined in terror and corruption and demanding his ouster.

This week, Bush broadened his demands to include Palestinian security officials who have not been effective in stopping attacks on Israel. And on Thursday he said he was looking for a new security force that is not beholden to the "whims" of individual Palestinian leaders.

Hamas, which the State Department has listed as a terrorist organization, is inclined to be more militant than the Palestinian Authority. Its spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, has declared the year 2027 will see the end of the state of Israel.

But whether it uses force in a bad-cop, good-cop scheme with Arafat's Authority is not clear to analysts.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia and several other Arab governments have declared their disapproval of attacks on Israeli civilians. Bush's statements seeking Arab cooperation could put them on the spot to take action against Hamas and like-minded groups.

They have suggested the violence is rooted in Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and urged Bush to prod Israel to withdraw.

Meanwhile, because the bombing killed Americans, the FBI is investigating it in cooperation with Israeli investigators, a senior administration official said Thursday night.

"That's something that Israel is taking the lead on," Fleischer said.

At the State Department, deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said the United States has offered a reward for the capture and conviction of the perpetrators.

"We're deeply committed to seeing those responsible for this brought to justice and we're going to be in close consultation with the Israeli government regarding the issue," Reeker said.

Bush seemed visibly moved at the start of a meeting

"I'm just as angry as Israel is right now," he said. "I'm furious that innocent life was lost."

However, Bush said, "Even though I am mad, I still believe peace is possible."

He said Israel must defend itself but still "keep the vision of peace in mind." That is, Bush went on, Israel must bear in mind whether its actions make the area more secure and contribute to peace.

Jordan's Abdullah stressed the need to move ahead in peacemaking.

"You have really given us hope that once and for all we will be able to move forward as Arabs and Israelis to be able to live in peace and harmony and have a tremendous future," the king said.

Link to article HERE.

[ppaul]

The Bush administration's response to a terror attack in Israel that killed five Americans is focused on diplomacy appeasement, with no indication there will be U.S. military retaliation..."We are responding by working with our Arab friends...," President Bush said.

I suppose that at one time, perhaps prior to 1939, FDR may have referred to the Nazis as our "friends" too.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

From what I've seen of Bush, he is making his list and checking it twice. There is no way he will forget this. But GW is a very patient person. The only thing keeping him from squashing that bug is his plan to hit Iraq first. I predict that the Palestinian terrorists are on the brink of tragedy.

[John W]

I watched the short interview excerpt by Brokaw of Rummy on NBC Nightly.My reaction is colored by my opinion of our middle east policy since media/liberal/arab pressure forced Bush's re-engagement in the "peace" process,however,I have never seen Rummy look more inept.It was as if he was upset that Brokaw's question about U.S. retaliation for citizens deaths did not take into account the conventional world wisdom on how the Israel/Palestinian terrorists conflict should be resolved.

[Brad C.]

I wonder why our President is "furious that innocent lives were lost" in this incident, when so many other innocents have lost their lives in previous bombings. Are the five American lives equal to the hundreds that Israel has lost to date? If President Bush is as mad as the Israelies, then we should expect American tanks to start rolling into the Gaza in the coming days. I doubt this will happen.
President Bush needs to allow Israel to deal with the matter in their own way, and to provide whatever backing they need to accomplish what needs to be done.

[Brytani]

The question now becomes, how many Americans will die from terrorist attacks due to Bush's patience? How many more Al Quada cells will develop or grow stronger because of his patience? Bush promised us, after the attacks of 9/11, that he would go after terrorists that kill Americans regardless where it takes place. This isn't the first time an American has been killed in Israel and it won't be the last. Bush needs to come out strongly against this and any other attack and send a strong message to Hammas (and their cronies) bombings will not be tolerated. I don't know how much patience the American public will have when our citizens are being blown to bits by terrorists.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Bush has come down hard on Yasser Arafat...

Whatever. I don't consider the actions of going on TV and saying that you're "very disappointed" as coming down hard on Arafat. Sending the Sec. of State out so that Arafat can crawl up on daddy Powell's knee and snivel isn't my idea of "coming down hard" either.

[Elkiejg]

My vote is to let Israel "take care of" Hamas - they're much better at it than we are. And for G*D's sake, DO NOT capture them and send them back here for another circus trial - in short, go Israel - shoot the BA**ARDS!!

[Bogey78O]

If Reagan was president he'd have Arafat's head on his desk and the pink slip to Jordan, Syria, and Iraq in his front pocket. No one kills Americans under his watch and gets a free ride.

[Octavius]

Let's give them a good talking to.

[Sabertooth]

Bush seemed visibly moved at the start of a meeting

"I'm just as angry as Israel is right now," he said. "I'm furious that innocent life was lost."

Ooops! I'm the ass.

He said "Just as angry AS Israel right now," not AT.

Jeepers, I'm going back to bed. Apologies.

[Jackie222]

If Reagan was president he'd have Arafat's head on his desk and the pink slip to Jordan,

agreed! I'm still mad that Bush did not confront China when they stole our plane and kidnapped our people. Wonder what Reagan would have done? (fly AF One in there and demand our ppl?) :-)

[Stavka2]

Yes, he's so patient as a matter of fact that most Americans and most of the rest of the world have forgotten that there is any such "war" going on. They've forgotten so much that the terrorists are calling America's bluff and attacking with impunity again, while the captured ones get all the medical/dental care they need, hot showers and hot food to order and ride around in golf carts...hell it's the X-Ray Hilton.

Mean while, US airports are still crap for security...so in other words, outside of taking out the Taliban and getting America into the body guard business with Karizi and his buddies, nothing has changed...PERIOD. Way to win.

[Admin Moderator]

Removed your comment per your request. Thanks, AM

[Stavka2]

The American public only cares about American lives when they go in large bunches, on live television (otherwise, how are you going to entertain the masses but with this type of live soap opera) and with a landmark or two. Why else does no one for the most part still give a damn. Lucky for America, this generation of baby boomers, Xers and Yers and the rest were not around in WW2...otherwise, the US would still be talking to Hitler in '45 while the Russian army would be rolling in.

[Sabertooth]

Thanks for doing that so quickly. Sheesh!

[Stefan Stackhouse]

"We are responding by working with our Arab friends

Now there's an oxymoron for you!

[SJackson]

Janis Ruth Coulter, 36

Janis Coulter, a former Hebrew University student who converted to Judaism, served as deputy director of the Hebrew University's foreign students department in New York for the past three years.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1991, Coulter studied Jewish civilization in Jerusalem.

She arrived in Israel just one day before the bombing to accompany a group of 19 American students who arrived to attend classes at the unversity. She was killed while having lunch with the students in the cafeteria.

She is survived by her father and sister living in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Marla Bennet, 24

Marla Bennet, born in California, was studying Judaism in Israel and writing her final essay. Family members said that she was due to return home to San Diego on Friday.

Bennett, who was in the second year of a three-year master's program in Judaic Studies at the Hebrew University, had been on campus to take a final exam in Hebrew language, her sole class of the semester.

Norman Greene, a relative, said, "Marla was incredibly bright, top of her class. She was extremely outgoing, bubbly young lady, very seriously involved in investigating her Judaism. She was interested in human beings, and finding a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict."

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David Gritz, 24

David Gritz, 24, of Peru, Massachusetts, lived in Jerusalem, and held dual U.S. and French citizenship.

Gritz, the son of a Croatian mother and an American father, grew up in Paris, but spent his summers at his parents' house in the small town of Peru in the Berkshires. He had arrived in Jerusalem to begin a graduate course in Jewish thought at the Hebrew University, having recently completed the first year of a philosophy degree in Paris.

Gritz had just finished registering for the Hebrew ulpan at the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University when he was killed in the blast.

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Benjamin Blutstein, 24

Benjamin Blutstein from Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania, was on a two-year study program to be a teacher of Jewish studies at the Pardes yeshiva in Jerusalem, and was attending a Hebrew language ulpan at the university.

Blutstein, a musician, lived with two friends, worked as a DJ at discos in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. On the day after he was killed in the cafeteria bombing, he was to haved flown home to visit his family in Pennsylvania before returning for the next academic year.

Blustein was president of Dickinson University's Hillel organization from 1998-1999.

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Dina Carter, 37

Dina Carter, 37, immigrated to Israel from North Carolina 12 years ago. She had a master's degree in Sociology and worked at the National Library at Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus over the last five years.

"Carter was charming, and loved by her friends," Prof. Yoram Zafrir, head of the library, said yesterday. "She was very close to the people with whom she worked. She was an excellent worker, very talented and capable."

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Levina Shapira, 53

Levina Shapira, 53, had worked at Hebrew University for 33 years, her most recent job was head of the university's Student Authority. Her family scoured hospitals for her all day until they finally realized she was dead.

A scion of a veteran Jerusalem family, Levina met her husband Alex, an insurance agent, while she was at high school. The couple had three children.

"Mother was the glue that held us together," said her daughter Adi tearfully. "Most of all, I remember her hugs." Levina will be buried today - a time for the funeral had not been set last night.

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David (Diego) Ladovsky, 29

David Ladovsky, a brand-new member of the diplomatic corps, was supposed to set off on his first mission in 10 days. He was headed for Lima, Peru, where he was to serve as second secretary in the embassy.

Ladovsky, 29, had just completed a master's degree in public administration; he was at the university yesterday to turn in his final project.

Ladovsky was born in Argentina and moved to Israel 10 years ago. He completed his bachelor's degree and then his army service, and then worked for a while in the Communications Ministry. Two years ago, he joined the Foreign Ministry's diplomatic training program.

"Diego saw the Foreign Ministry as a mission," said veteran ministry official Victor Harel. "For him, this was the realization of Zionism... He had the potential to be a first-class diplomat." Ladovsky is survived by his parents and two siblings.

[ksen]

I am becoming physically ill.

I don't know which is making it worse, the actual news reports of our bold inaction or the comments assuring us that there is some grand plan at work here. Either way, more Americans will die before anything is done to stop it.

[FITZ]

However, Bush said, "Even though I am mad, I still believe peace is possible."

Mad doesn't cut it, we need to get back to Reagan's "Peace through Strength". We cannot send the message to the Muslims that we're just mad but will be wishy-washy in our response. They understand only one thing.