Several options.
Posted on 06/06/2003 12:59:28 PM PDT by yonif
Although talks between Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and militant Islamic group Hamas over an end of attacks against Israelis broke down Friday with Hamas's walkout, other efforts to clear the streets of gunmen continued.
Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan on Friday offered to buy illegal weapons carried by members of the Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades, a militia linked to Abbas' Fatah movement, according to several Palestinian officials and militia members. The buyback was to start in the coming days, they said.
Dahlan has received money from the United States, Britain and other European countries to buy the weapons, the officials said.
A British Foreign Office official, speaking on condition of anonymity, denied any British involvement in the plan, but said the government was prepared to help in any initiative that could improve the prospects for peace.
US officials did not respond to requests for comment.
An Al Aksa leader said Dahlan is offering US$6,000 - more than twice the black market value - for each rifle, while officials gave lower figures. Dahlan also offered a signup bonus of at least US$6,000 to Al Aksa members who leave the militia and join the security forces, militiamen said.
Those amounts are enormous in the West Bank and Gaza, where a teacher makes about US$330 a month, and unemployment is over 50 percent.
In a leaflet, Al Aksa said it would only lay down its arms if Israel stopped killing and arresting its leaders and released prisoners. The group also demanded Israel lift a travel ban on Yasser Arafat, in effect for more than a year, that confines him to the West Bank.
2. Dahlan also offered a signup bonus of at least US$6,000 to Al Aksa members who leave the militia and join the security forces, militiamen said.
So? The terrorists will change their clothes (or rather actually wear a uniform) and change their heart about hating Israel and Jews? Yeah right. Now we know the security forces the US is aiding is tainted and made up of terrorists who will use the training and equipment against Israelis.
3. The weapons that are being buyed back is all but a show. The weapons will be back for use by the terrorists.
A terrorist has an old weapon? The US will give him money both to buy a new weapon and a brand new TV.
Abu Abbas, kill a jew, and then come on down and pick a door filled with American prizes.
Imagine if you read "also offered a signup bonus of at least US$6,000 to Al Quida members who leave the militia and join the security forces"
There would be justifiable marches on Washington. By Republicans.
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Dahlin has recently indicated that the Al Asqua Martyrs would be "disarmed". Of course, individuals would become operatives of the parent, Fatah, if they so desired, AM Martyrs are members of Fatah anyway. I figured they'd simply turn in their weapons, then have them reissued, maybe with a different color head sheet. This is a much better idea, we buy the weapons, then give them back. I'm impressed with the skill these guys have making the west dance to their tune.
Or, "Why is the world, more often than not, run by idiots?"
Who knows.
How this plain logic is lost on the "brilliant" foreign policy wonks in the State Department is testament to the "dumbing down" of the American intellect. Too bad it tends to get so many innocent people killed.
Several options.
You forget that in the minds of the enlightened ones at our State Dept. there are no innocent Israelis.
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