White House Backs Latest Israeli Attacks

The Washington Post (Excerpted) ^ | 06/13/2003 | Glenn Kessler

[DoughtyOne]

White House Backs Latest Israeli Attacks
Focus Shifts to Arab Leaders' Commitment to End Support for Militant Groups

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 13, 2003; Page A22

The Bush administration signaled strong support for Israel's crackdown on militant groups yesterday, effectively abandoning its earlier criticism of the government of
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that had sparked an outcry from lawmakers on Capitol Hill and pro-Israel lobbying groups.

In coordinated statements, White House and State Department officials tried to shift the diplomatic focus from Israeli actions to the commitment made by Arab
leaders at a summit last week in Egypt to cut off funding and support for terrorist attacks against Israelis. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell made that point in a
round of phone calls to Arab foreign ministers, officials said.

Truncated as per our agreement with the Post.

Link to full text

[Peach]

Yesterday Sharon issued a statement that said he never promised President Bush he would not respond if attacked and that if he had to chose between the Road Map and responding to terrorism, he will chose to respond to terrorism.

That is the appropriate response, in my view. If we had a president who repeatedly let our country be attacked by terrorists and did nothing, we'd impeach him. Wait, Clinton already let the terrorists attack repeatedly without responding in kind.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Go Bush Go.

[Better late than never.]

[Peach]

The administration needs to stand publicly behind Israel in it's response to terrorism and I'm glad President Bush has had the courage to do so.

Also extremely glad he has not had Arafat to the White House,as the impeached one did, and hope he refuses to negotiate with the terrorist named Arafat.

[snippy_about_it]

ping

[hchutch]

Same pattern as before. Folks get several chances to do the right thing before the hammer is dropped on `em.

Well, folks, Hamas is screwed. Toast. Dead meat.

[ohioWfan]

Once again, patience with what the President is doing, confidence in the fact that he knows more than we and is asking God for wisdom, and trust that he will do the right thing have proven correct.

If he had meant what it "seemed" like he meant (to some) two days ago (and what many around here were screaming about), it would have meant that he had lost both his values and his character.......

Obviously he hasn't. He supports Israel. He hates terrorism.

We need to keep praying for him.

[carton253]

The tune has never changed out of Washington... it has been consistent since 9/11.

The President has never backed away from the issue of Israel's self-defense. Even the "public rebukes" were just form and not substance.

[ohioWfan]

Exactly. Same pattern.

The Road Map (whether we agree that it will work in the long run, or not), is HIS. He has put himself on the line for this peace plan.

He wants it to work (therefore the mild reaction against Israel), but he was giving BOTH sides a chance to do the right thing, knowing full well that only Israel would do so. He is neither naive, nor stupid, and he despises the loss of innocent life.

If I were part of Hamas, I would be VERY afraid.

[carton253]

Miss Marple is right... the game of words is one thing... the game of actions is the main thing...

Many on these threads have condemned Bush for coercing Israel to Aqaba. If that is true, and Sharon, like a good little vassal, came to Aqaba... then the good little vassal would not break away and start bombing in Gaza.

He did so because there has been no constraints put upon him.

I also think it was interesting that after the bus bombing, both Arafat and Mazen made a statement condemning the terror. This is 180 degree turn from previous statements. What caused it? This President caused it. (I know that words from these two are cheap until we see action)

If you read the accounts before Bush went to the Middle East, he was calling for a crack-down by the Arab government supporters of Hamas. He understands that these Arab governments are the root of the problem. Hamas is the fruit.

Miss Marple is correct... the President never condemned Israel.

[hchutch]

Now, he can back Israel and say "We tried to work things out, but Hamas and the others wouldn't give peace a chance, so they have to go."

[ohioWfan]

The tune hasn't changed, unless you can't read the music.

[ohioWfan]

Right.

This is the first time, because of the Road Mad, and the fact that HE had meetings with the Arab leaders, and the 2 prinicple parties personally, and that they agreed to stop the terrorism, VERY publicly, that he has the authority needed to come smashing down on Hamas.

The whole world saw what happened, including the Arab world, and they know, because of Iraq, that this President means EXACTLY what he says, and that the US, under his leadership is NOT to be toyed with.

[Fawnn]

The tune hasn't changed, unless you can't read the music.

It looks to me like we're all on the same page singing the same hymn.

When it comes to the war on terror, and to support for Israel, my president has been -- and from what I can see and trust, continues to be -- a man of action, not empty rhetoric.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Well, folks, Hamas is screwed. Toast. Dead meat.

Their three other hidey holes (Iran, Lebanon & the Bekaa Valley) are soon to come under SERIOUS pressure.

[carton253]

Doughty... since right after the Passover bombing, the President has consistently said that Israel has the right to self defense. He has never faltered in that stance.

The statements that the Gaza attacks "weren't helpful" had more to do with the overwhelming use of force perhaps.

Not you, but some, on these threads want it both ways. They want Israel bound and gagged and dragged, kicking and screaming to Aqaba... and Sharon only going along with the road map because he was forced...and they want Sharon the independent Israeli warrior and the President, finally, finally seeing the light.

I think the Israelis want peace... see the road map (with its strong and immediate emphasis on the destruction of the terrorists) as a way forward. The President has never publically said that Israel had to suffer the body blows. What this Administration has warned the Israelis about was the manner in which they go about getting justice, which I don't have a problem with.

[Ready4Freddy]

If the 'public rebukes' from Washington are going to stop, the tune has certainly changed.

Question(s) - how do y'all think the US will 'drop the hammer' on Hamas, et al? What will Israel *now* be able to do to Hamas, et al, that they were not able to do before?

[ohioWfan]

The hymn is "A Charge to Keep," Fawnn....

To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage, To do my Master's will.

"It is more than an office. It is a Charge to Keep, and I will give it my all." .....George W. Bush

[rintense]

I never said the President condemned Israel. He played the word gane, but the words he chose a few days ago, were in my opinion, not correct.

[Miss Marple]

Well, in my opinion they were correct. Opinions differ.

[ohioWfan]

There was MUCH more read into that 'public rebuke' of Israel than was actually there. He said he was 'deeply troubled' by it (I think those were the words). It was not in any way a betrayal of Israel, and now two days later, that fact is more than obvious.

You misunderstand diplomacy and statesmanship or words which are required of a President, with inner beliefs and actions.

As to the details of how it will be done, I'm just a music teacher, so I'll leave that to the experts.......the President has one of the best foreign policy teams ever assembled, and they hate terrorism as much as he does.