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Bush Going to Mideast to Advance Peace
AP ^ | May 25, 2003 | Scott Lindlaw

Posted on 05/25/2003 7:49:05 PM PDT by ejdrapes

Bush Going to Mideast to Advance Peace

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites) is planning to travel to the Middle East early next month to advance the peace process amid fresh signs of progress in ending the violence between Israelis and Palestinians, senior administration officials said Sunday.

Photo
AP Photo

 

A military support plane left Washington on Sunday morning, carrying personnel who will lay the groundwork for a summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. Another possible site being explored was the royal retreat at Aqaba, Jordan.

Bush tentatively plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in Egypt to prod them into putting the peace "road map" into effect. Administration officials were still weighing whether Bush would meet with the two leaders together or separately.

It was possible Bush would make another stop in the region as well, the leading choice being Doha, Qatar, to visit troops, three administration officials said.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bush's plans could change. Political events in the region Sunday gave the plan momentum, but future developments could just as easily derail it, one senior administration official said. The administration wanted the support team in position so Bush could make a last-minute decision, this official said.

But others said the plan was quickly firming up, with a strong focus on the Egypt summit.

Bush leaves Friday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) and then a summit of world powers in Evian, France. The Mideast travel would follow that.

Sharon on Friday reluctantly embraced the road map after the United States assured him publicly it would take into account Israel's objections to some parts of the proposal.

The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday voted 12-7, with four abstentions, to approve the plan, but also objected to significant parts. Sharon was to meet with Abbas on Tuesday — their second summit in 10 days — to work out the next steps.

The Palestinians last month accepted the road map, which envisions a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (news - web sites) by 2005.

"We welcome this development in confirmation of prime minister Sharon's acceptance of the road map," State Department spokeswoman Tara Rigler said of the Israeli Cabinet's vote. "We will continue to work closely with both sides throughout implementation of the road map."

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the vote was a "big deal, but the president's involvement is the biggest deal."

Before the Iraq (news - web sites) war, Sen. Richard Lugar said he was told by the president that he was going to lead the road map process because of its importance to world peace.

A leading Democrat in the Senate urged the administration to become more closely involved in the peace process and said the president should go ahead with the meeting.

"The Bush administration has effectively been disengaged from the ground in the Middle East, and when that happens, nothing good will happen between the Israelis and the Palestinians," Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), D-Conn., told "Fox News Sunday."

"We're indispensable there. They need us because we're the only one they trust," said Lieberman, who is seeking his party's 2004 presidential nomination. "There's a moment of opportunity here."



TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: roadmap; scottlindlaw

1 posted on 05/25/2003 7:49:05 PM PDT by ejdrapes
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To: ejdrapes
Lord, please protect President Bush.
2 posted on 05/25/2003 7:51:06 PM PDT by rintense (Freedom is contagious. And everyone wants to catch it.)
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To: rintense
That Lieberman is such an ignorant person, there is no "peace" process between the Palestinians and anyone group of people - especially the Israelis. Shame on him, and may President Bush be guided to stay out of dividing the land of Israel.
3 posted on 05/25/2003 8:02:30 PM PDT by Hila
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To: ejdrapes
Just a few days ago we hear from abbas in an egyptian newspaper interview, that he gets his orders from arafat and that arafat is really in charge behind the scenes. Earlier we hear from the president, that we will not deal with arafat. Now that we have a "puppet" leader for the palestinians, and now we can go forward with a peace plan.

Can someone explain to me what has changed?

4 posted on 05/25/2003 8:06:39 PM PDT by hoosierboy
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To: ejdrapes
Remember "A Bridge Too Far" the failed allied WWII drive into Holland? President Bush's trip to the Middle East will be his bridge too far.

He has had a good run post 9/11 in foreign policy. His efforts to try to sort out the mess in Israel will be another of the string of US peace plan failures. We have seen the Jimmy Carter Camp David plan go down, Clinton's miserable efforts and now Bush will lose his reputation for some successes in foreign policy.

Expect many Palestinian suicide bombs and attacks on settlements. Expect the rabid settlers to do their share of nasty reprisals. Expect the IDF to run over some kids with their tanks. Neither side wants peace. Both sides will tell Bush that more US aid money is needed.

Bush should focus his efforts on stabilizing Afghanistan and Iraq. He should let Iran and Syria know terrorism is a bad business decision. Let Israel and the Palestinians figure out their own peace if they really want it.
5 posted on 05/25/2003 8:31:21 PM PDT by RicocheT
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To: RicocheT
IMHO, I think this is a new opportunity. So much has happened since the last round of peace negotiations. We weren't *really* affected by the turmoil in the Mid-East before.

Carter tried with Camp David, and it seemed encouraging for a time. At least he got Sadat and Begin together. That was significant, to say the least. Clinton tried, but I think he was as interested in personal glory as he was in a Mid East peace.

Since then, we have had September 11. And Afghanastan, and Iraq. Now, we are in the thick of it. We know what those people have been suffering for years. GWB is a different kind of leader. He really means what he says. He's interested in results. He's not in it for the personal glory. I have a feeling this time will be different. Even the Moroccans were marching this weekend against terrorism. People have had enough. Maybe this time.

Prayers for peace, and our President's safety while he is working to make this world a safer place.
6 posted on 05/25/2003 9:02:51 PM PDT by baseballmom
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To: rintense
There will be no peace as long as Arafat is part of the equation. As long as he is alive he is like that nasty variable in a complex equation that keeps creeping up on you. I say kill that snake now!
7 posted on 05/25/2003 9:38:23 PM PDT by quesera (Scr*w the RATS, the U.N., and the French!)
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To: ejdrapes
There are so many people here who forget there is a war on against terrorism. Yet they all think that President Bush has suddenly gone soft on terrorists just because he's meeting in the mid-east. Why?

Perhaps this is all part of the war. Face it, once the terrorists are eliminated, there will very likely be peace.

8 posted on 05/25/2003 9:49:12 PM PDT by McGavin999
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: McGavin999
You know what, I think many here are missing the issue. President Bush is going to the land of the enemy. He is going to the snake pit... and people are worried about the actual peace plan? Sorry, I worry about my President first and foremost. His safety should be the foremost concern for all of us. My greatest fear is that he will be assassinated while over there. And it is a very real possibility that we should all fervently pray does not happen.

Bush's life is in the hands of the Lord, but a few extra prayers would be nice.

10 posted on 05/26/2003 6:43:29 AM PDT by rintense (Freedom is contagious. And everyone wants to catch it.)
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