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Does Bush realize he is committing political suicide? If he does the summit and terrorist attacks follow, he has just joined the Clinton club. We've got to hope that he pulls back from this before it leads to disaster.

If I had a dime for everytime someone has said 'Bush is committing political suicide...'

Does Bush realize he is committing political suicide?

Actually, it is Sharon who is committing political suicide by supporting the "roadmap"...

The onlysolution to the "palestinian" problem is relocation.

Facing this choice takes a lot more b***s than is currently fashionable, given the international PC mindset, universally among countries who do not (yet) experience the darker angels inherent in islam.

Population transfers are common, especially in the wake of wars. They have been practiced throughout history. In 1923, Greece and Turkey agreed to the resettlement of 2 million Greeks and 800,000 Turks; in 1945, the resettlement of 3 million Germans from Poland and Czechoslovakia was arranged. Following the collapse of its North African Empire, France accepted close to 1.5 million people. More than 12 million(!) Muslims and Hindus were exchanged between India and Pakistan. Israel has recognized this historical necessity. The "Arab Nation," with its enormous wealth and vast under-populated lands, has stubbornly refused to face facts.

It should have happened in 1948, right after the entire muslim world attacked the infant Israel.
It might have happened in the 50s.
It should have happened after the '67 war.

With each major conflict the problem grows bigger, but the basic solution does not change.
Do it now or do it later.

The longer it is put off, the bigger the conflict and the longer lasting its influence.

The determination of the muslim arabs to destroy the state of Israel is set, unyielding and will never change no matter how the Palestinian issue is resolved. Period.
Moving the palestinians as far away as possible is a slight amelioration of the problem for when the final blowup arrives.

First of all, Bush is not committing political suicide.

Terrorist attacks will follow... but, the situation cannot stay as it is...

I do not agree with the timetable of the Roadmap, nor do I approve of a Palestinian state with its terror infrastructure in place.

Abu Mazen may be the necessary next step of wresting control from Arafat. Yes, I know that he is an Arafat co-hort, but he has displayed some independence. He wanted to take Barak's deal in 2000. Yes, I know some of the things that he has written... but, the new prime minister could not be a total dove and survive. If Abu Mazen is serious in wresting power away from Arafat, then Abu Mazen needs our support.

Furthermore, if Abu Mazen can wrest that power away from Arafat, then and only then, can he do anything about the terror infrastructure. Will he? We won't know until we get to that moment... but, a summit between Israel, the Palestinians and America will determine just how much support Mazen needs to do that and how serious he is to clean up the terror networks.

If Mazen is nothing more than an Arafat shill, these talks are in vain. But I don't think Mazen is an Arafat shill since Arafat is rumbling around trying to convince everyone he is still in charge. Why?

Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Fatah, et all will not take this lying down. They will attack since they want to stop the peace talks. If Mazen cracks down on them (no revolving prison door, etc) then there might be a chance for peace.

But, Mazen has to be supported until that day comes. This summit will determine whether Mazen should be backed.

Let's talk about American security. The Arabs have convinced the West (and the State Department) that the only reason there is discord in the Middle East is because of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Of course this is bull... The conflict has nothing to do with it. These guys hated each other long before the Balfour Doctrine... but you can't underestimate the impact it has in Middle East. Israel is the flashpoint. Palestinian "oppression" strengthens more than it weakens. The refugee camps (even though they are not Israel's fault) incite...

So, the President can let it fester and grow until the Middle East is engulfed in war once more.. or, he can slowly force all the governments in the Middle East to come join the rest of us in the 21st century.

The Israelis want peace. They have asked for America's help. Clinton sold them down the river. I don't think Bush will do that. The Israelis look to us... the Palestinians look to us. So, let's see what can be done. Who knows... maybe Mazen is on the up-and-up... Arafat will be truly sidelined... and the terror will be attacked.

Or, (and I lean more here) the Palestinian moderates will finally rise up and do battle against the extremists. It may take a Palestinian civil war to settle the issue.

But, Israel cannot continue to "occupy" (IDF currently locking down Palestinian towns) for years and years. It is damaging their economy. So, Israel needs a way out. In Bush, Sharon sees a partner. A strong partner who understands Israel's concerns and fears. I think the President is the right person for the task.

Does Bush realize he is committing political suicide? If he does the summit and terrorist attacks follow, he has just joined the Clinton club. We've got to hope that he pulls back from this before it leads to disaster.

With all due respect, I must wholheartedly disagree. If (as I expect) the Palestinians never live up to their responsibilities under the Roadmap and continue to commit terrorist acts, President Bush will be in the position to take action against them or else give Israel the green light to do so. He can then say, as President Clinton did, that he did everything to give the peace process a chance and it dind't work. He can blame the Palestinian leadership and terorrists. What separates him from Bill Clinton is that George W. Bush has a consistent, morally based foreign poilicy. His saying it will mean a lot more than Bill Clinton saying it or Dennis Ross saying it.

Also, for President Bush this really is a win-win situation. The liberal elements in the press like to paint this as risky so they can criticize later if things go wrong. For President Bush, whether the Roadmap succeeds or fails, he will successfully capture a lot of Jewish votes from the Democrats for his support of Israel and his sincere efforts to promote peace. The last Republican to capture the Jewish vote was Ronald Reagan. Secondly, if this fails, he will have justification for more tough actions in the middle east and for pursuing the war on terror. He will be able to correctly portray Palestinian terrorism as an attack on peace and freedom rather than some kind of justified revolt against an occupier.

If, by some miracle, the Roadmap succeeds, President Bush is a great peacemaker. It would pretty much assure his reelection.

How is this political suicide?

I am hoping too that Bush will see the light and throw this map in the trash.

You do realize, don't you, that the Palestinians already have a state. They are recognized as such by the euro-peons and the Arab states. They have all the advantages of statehood with none of the responsibilities. Further, you can not declare war on a stateless people, nor can you work for "regime change".