U.S. blasts Hamas as main obstacle in Middle East (from our friends at Reuters)

Reuters, where Every Good Terrorist is a "Militant" ^ | June 12, 2003 | Patricia Wilson

[section9]

U.S. blasts Hamas as main obstacle in Middle East

By Patricia Wilson

NEW BRITAIN, Conn., June 12 (Reuters) - The United States accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Thursday of being the major obstacle to Middle East peace amid a wave of bloodshed that has thrown a U.S.-backed peace plan into turmoil.

"The issue is Hamas. The terrorists are Hamas," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters traveling with U.S. President George W. Bush to Connecticut.

His comments marked a change in tone from U.S. criticism of Israel for its attempt to kill a Hamas leader on Tuesday. Hamas has rejected Bush's Middle East peace "road map" as too generous to Israel.

Since that attack, the Middle East has been engulfed in a wave of retributive violence, including a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed 16 in Jerusalem on Wednesday and lethal Israeli attacks in Gaza. An Israeli missile strike on Thursday killed a senior Hamas militant, his wife and 3-year-old daughter, among seven dead.

"The issue is not Israel, the issue is not the Palestinian Authority, the issue is terrorists who are killing in an attempt to stop the (peace) process," Fleischer said.

Bush has directed Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to continue speaking to officials in the region by telephone. There was no sign Bush himself would make calls.

"It's not as if a phone call will get Hamas to stop being terrorists," Fleischer said.

He said the road map endorsed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at a summit with Bush last week was still the right way toward a Middle East peace deal.

"The danger is created by the terrorists. The way ahead will be found by listening to the Arab nations, (Palestinian) Prime Minister (Mahmoud) Abbas and the Israeli government," Fleischer said.

[section9]

As I predicted earlier today, the White House is working hand in glove with Sharon to dismantle Hamas.

I tried to tell you people, but too many of the Bush Bashers forgot that Bush saw the same intel that Sharon did.

I will say this again: there is a secret agreement between Sharon and Bush to give Sharon a free hand to wipe out Hamas' leadership and tactical terrorist capability.

First, Hamas. Then, the elimination of Arafat by taking down the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigades, Arafat's personal terrorist bodyguard unit.

Some people just won't listen to me.

Sigh....

Comments, anyone?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Principled]

I agree with you S9.

[kesg]

Much better White House response today than yesterday.

[tomahawk]

My comment is "Wipe them (Hamas) out".

[Magnum44]

Comments, anyone?

Agreed. The alarmists need to stop spinning up over the medias poor analysis of what is going on, and realize that good negotiating on the part of this administration does not mean showing all your cards.

Folks will have to read the actions, more so than the words, sometimes.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[grimalkin]

The only comment I have is that I'm in agreement.

[yonif]

I will say this again: there is a secret agreement between Sharon and Bush to give Sharon a free hand to wipe out Hamas' leadership and tactical terrorist capability.

The mere fact is that Israel is forced to negotiate with terrorists, hurting its image and showing that terrorists have won. I do not believe this opinion. Why is US sending money to a terrorist organization it is going to be destroying (PLO)? Why is CIA training PA terrorists to fight terrorists and sending them weapons? Why did Bush say the "Holy Land must be shared"? This is not just Bush with this roadmap. There is Russia, UN, and EU (pressured by Blair). You think they are all in this together? I seriously doubt that. They are all anti-Israel.

[mikenola]

I agree.

You know it's pet peeve of mine when these Palestinian supporters get up and say "well, Israelis do terrorist actions, too!".

I don't remember in Israeli getting on a bus on blowing innocents anytime recently, do you. It kills me that the media and I think lots of people just accept the equivalence the Palestinians are peddling!

There is both a moral and material difference between Palestinian puposefully targeting civilians, and the Israelis hurting civilians accidentally. THERE IS NO EQUIVALENCE!
</rant off>

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Part of the War on the Terrorists seems to me!

[justshe]

THANK YOU for posting this article.

AND....thank you for your sage comments both yesterday.. and on this thread. I agree 100% with your analysis.

If you have a ping list, please add my name.

[rs79bm]

One would hope that would be the case. AS we know, Hammas is practically Arafat's terrorist organization. It must be dealt with and dismantled. It wouldn't be so bad to take Arafat out with it.

[ApesForEvolution]

I hope you're right, but I haven't seen the conclusive evidence on consecutive days yet.

[section9]

Yonif, hear me out.

If we sent money to the PA immediately, we'd merely be lining Arafat's pocket.

We're not, because right now we know that Abu Mazen is little more than an Arafat stooge. However, like all men, his ambition can be turned to our advantage. Don't be fooled. He's as hungry a dog for power as any member of Fatah. Part of doing that is to reduce Arafat's power to the point where Palestinians start ignoring him.

I strongly suspect that it is only then that any monies will start to flow to the Pallies. We want to make it so that people have to go to Abbas to get money. Right now, they can't, because Arafat controls the Security Services and the Terrorists. Eliminate Arafat's cadres in each and you go a long way towards making Abbas his own man.

Of course, one of Arafat's people in Abbas' bodyguard will put nine grams into Abbas' brain before that can happen, unless Yasir happens to have a humanitarian streak that we don't know about.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[GrandMoM]

I did, it has been my belief all along!!!

[Weimdog]

I agree, I think the only reason the "tune" changed today was that Bush got "bitch-slapped" by the press yesterday.

[jabotinsky]

I am one of the "bashers" I admit it, it seems W went back on his word on negotiating with the jihadis.

But OK dude, since you obviously are privvy to the mossad and cia files and know of the secret deal, for Israel and OUR sake, I hope you are right.

"You have 48 hours to cross the Jordan. OUT!"
(now there's a road map I can sign on to)

[blam]

"My comment is "Wipe them (Hamas) out"."

I can't figure out why the Hamas guy in the hospital is still alive. Kill the SOB!

[Amelia]

I tried to tell you people, but too many of the Bush Bashers forgot that Bush saw the same intel that Sharon did.

I think there are a lot of people on this board who are looking for reasons to criticize Bush, to further their own agenda.

Then again, this issue of Israel is probably one of the most emotional on the board - many people seem to react instinctively, without regard to logic.

I will say this again: there is a secret agreement between Sharon and Bush to give Sharon a free hand to wipe out Hamas' leadership and tactical terrorist capability.

I think you're right, Chris.

[Miss Marple]

Agree, and thank you for posting this article.

Also, despite what Reuters said, Bush did not "condemn" Israel's actions. He said that they "weren't helpful" and "wouldn't help Israel's security."

Since they MISSED hitting the Hamas guy, the rocket attack wasn't helpful and it didn't do anything for security.

He neither used the word "condemn" nor did he refer to Israel as terrorists, both of which he did with Hamas.

It is very dangerous to let the media interpret quotes, since they always choose the interpretation guaranteed to reflect poorly on the President.