Rice reinforces support for road map

Financial Times ^ | June 27, 2003 | Harvey Morris in Jerusalem

[yonif]

To the consternation of Israeli officials and the surprise of all but the most sceptical Palestinians, the signals from Washington appear to confirm that President George W. Bush really is determined to push through his "road map" to peace.

The arrival in the region at the weekend of Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, will reinforce the message he gave at the Aqaba summit this month that he regards the peace process as the "highest priority".

For once, Israel's skilful and well-informed corps of diplomats and negotiators appear to have been wrong-footed. They correctly predicted that, after the war in Iraq, Israel would come under pressure to renew the peace process. They seem to have miscalculated, however, in thinking that their solid relations with the Bush White House would help them water down the road map plan.

The apparent strength of Mr Bush's commitment has even surprised some US diplomats, who used to complain that their detailed reports on the deteriorating situation in the region never appeared to make it as far as the White House.

Some officials in the government of Ariel Sharon initially dismissed Mr Bush's re-engagement with the peace process as a short-term reward to Tony Blair, UK prime minister, for his support in the Iraq war.

Perceiving divisions within the administration, they counted on friends in the White House, including Ms Rice, to counter State Department pressure for a more proactive US role in pushing the peace process.

However, Colin Powell, secretary of state, last weekend assured the other leaders of the international quartet - the United Nations, European Union and Russia - that all branches of the administration were working in concert on advancing the president's Middle East vision. Moreover, he promised them Mr Bush was committed to the process for the "long haul".

On Thursday Ms Rice said Israel had offered Palestinians remarkable concessions at the Camp David summit in 2000 but that Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, had chosen instead to launch the intifada.

But with the appointment of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, and the engagement of Arab states in the process, she said: "It is now time for Israel to take the opportunity before it."

Speaking at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, Ms Rice stressed that Mr Bush believed it was in Israel's interest to achieve a two-state solution. Although she would not be drawn on condemnation of specific Israeli actions, such as assassinations of radical Palestinian militants, she said the president was "speaking the truth" to both sides.

Whether the US presidential election campaign will have an impact on Mr Bush's commitment has yet to be seen. However, countering the spin from Israeli officials that Israel's secret weapon is the personal relationship between Mr Bush and Mr Sharon, US officials suggest that the two men are not that close. Moreover, they stress that the president is genuinely impressed by Mr Abbas and Mohammed Dahlan, his security chief.

At Aqaba, Mr Bush appointed Mr Powell and Ms Rice as his principal contacts with the parties and also named John Wolf, a State Department veteran, as his envoy in the region.

Ms Rice handled most of the contacts with Dov Weisglass, Mr Sharon's chief of staff, in the run-up to publication of the road map. He assured the cabinet that Washington looked set to incorporate most of Israel's reservations into the peace plan. But when the document was officially presented on April 30 not a phrase of a draft first circulated last December had been changed.

Ephraim Halevy, Israel's national security adviser, had warned that the Bush administration was serious about promoting the plan. But the former Mossad chief's advice went unheeded. He quit last weekend.

Ms Rice is due to meet leaders of both sides during her visit. The Palestinians may announce an agreement of militant factions to abide by a ceasefire.

Progress is awaited on a transfer of Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority.

Underscoring the new US hands-on approach to the road map's progress, people familiar with the discussions say Mr Powell spent an hour-and-a-half last Sunday on Gaza maps to determine where Israeli forces may or may not remain once a withdrawal goes ahead.

[Norse]

Well, it's obvious now that you have extreme emotional issues. Although I have been civil, you have gone to attack not only me, but an entire culture, nation, and ancestry, extremely unjustly I might add. I wonder what would happen if I were to attack Jews in the manner that you have just done - I would be called anti-semitic. I wonder what exactly that makes you?

Another observation that can be made by your little tirades is that you don't know your history - particularly your Scandinavian history. I can outline a few things for you about the Norwegian people. Maybe after that, you won't think of them as such devils, unworthy of your Jewish Supremacist blood.

This is an extremely condensed version of history. I suggest you read a little on your own.

CULTURAL

The Norse culture is one based upon individual independance and self-reliance. It is one that advances Heroism in the face of evil. Norse culture has done more to advance the principles of freedom, faith, and individualism as well through the settling of European lands, as will be mentioned later. It is a culture that hates tyranny. Ever read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, or The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? These stories are based upon the culture of the North and champion its ideals.

Norse mythology is filled with beautiful stories and legends. Pick up the book called, "Norsemen, myths and legends" when you have a chance.

EXPLORERS, CONQUERERS, SETTLERS

The Norwegian people have throughout history been explorers, travelors, and conquerers. The Norwegians were the first Europeans to travel to the New World (Leiv Eiriksson, son of Eirik the Red, settler of Greenland and Iceland) braving extreme environmental conditions, such as the Atlantic Ocean and extreme cold. October 9th in the U.S. is official Leiv Eiriksson day) The Vikings have explored east as well, reaching the Caspian Sea. The Vikings Settled Scotland, England, Ireland, and France. They founded Normandy and Dublin, and these northern warriors were tamed by Christianity, going on to seriously influence these European cultures. In fact, if you look at the history of the English language, it would almost be an entirely different language if not for the Viking invaders. This is the language that you speak and the language that dominates the world.

SOME MODERN SETTLERS, EXPLORERS, AND NORSEMEN

Fridtjof Nansen - Norwegian explorer in late 1800s was the first to cross the Northern icecap.

Roald Amundsen - Norwegian explorer, first man to reach the South Pole, ahead of Scott, an Englishman.

Norsemen are the ones who have settled across the American midwest and Canada, farming the land, feeding the world. To this day, they are the ones who provide the milk that your Jewish family drinks for breakfast, the cheese you have on your sandwiches for lunch, and the meat that you eat for dinner.

HISTORY OF NORWAY IN WW2

Unfortunately, you seem to think that Norway was this collaborationist country, helping the Nazis at any turn. Wrong. When Hitler suprise attacked the extremely small Norwegian military, the vastly outnumbered Norwegians slaughtered so many German paratroopers that battle plans had to be redrawn. After the military was finally defeated, Norway had a REAL resistance movement, unlike some others. Norsemen successfully shipped out Jews from Norway is massive numbers to allied nations, they blew up ships, they fought the enemy using guerrilla tactics.

God knows that you cannot blame every Norwegian for those who did collaborate. You can't blame modern day Norwegians, their ancestors, or Norsemen around the world for that. Doing so is absolutely rediculous. Tell that to those brave Norsemen who fought and died against the forces of evil. 9,000 Norwegians were sent to German concentration camps. 760 were Jews, only 24 survived.
Your ignorant words show extreme disrespect for these men.

Here, for your reference, since you think that Norwegians and people with Norwegian blood are worthless, here is a list of famous American Norsemen and women.

Waldemar Ager*
Arthur Andersen*
Andrews Sisters*
Christian Anfinsen•
Anna-Lisa*
James Arness*
John C. Ausland*
Bernt Balchen•
Jakob Bjerknes•
Robert Bly*
Norman Borlaug*
James Cagney*
Arlene Dahl *
Blossom Dearie*
Babe Didrikson*
Linda Eder*
Stein Eriksen*
Ole Evinrude*
Kirsten Flagstad•
Joe Foss*
Andrew Furuseth*
Ivar Giaever•
Herbjørn Gausta*
Peter Graves*
Sigrid Gurie*
Greta Gynt*
Knut Haukelid*
Hans Christian Heg*
Sonja Henie•
Conrad Hilton
Celeste Holm
Hubert H. Humphrey
Henry "Scoop" Jackson
Earl Johnson Jr.*
Vendela Kirsebom*
Carole Landis*
Ernest O. Lawrence•
E.G. Marshall *
Robert Mitchum
Walter Mondale•
Marilyn Monroe
Harry Morgan*
Knute Nelson*
Eliot Ness*
Greta Nissen*
Lauris Norstad*
Casper Oimoen*
Lars Onsager•
Pat Paulsen*
Charles J. Pederson*
Cleng Peerson*
Sally Ride*
Knute Rockne•
Ole Rølvaag
Finn Ronne
Marta Sandal•
Pete Sanstol
Atle Selberg
Eric Sevareid•
Karsten Solheim
Kevin Sorbo*
Jan Stenerud•
Richard E. Taylor•
"Snowshoe" Thompson*
Merle Antony Tuve*
Oswald Veblen•
Thorstein Veblen•
Andrew Volstead*
Grete Waitz*
Earl Warren•
Renee Zellweger *
Vera Zorina*

If you actually do some research on the amazing people of Norway, I think you'll be surprised. What I listed is a small, tiny fraction. Norwegians and Norsemen around the world can claim scientists, philosophers, writers, statesment, etc.

So, I ask, what in God's name did you know about Norsemen before you read this post? Not much at all, obviously. Now, you know a little. And one more thing; i'm not Norwegian. I'm an American with Norwegian blood. So, quit calling me a Norwegian. We are more plentiful than you believe. Anytime you hear a last name ending in "son" or "Sen", you'll know who you're talking to.

[Norse]

>What in G-d's name do you actually know about Israel's >economy, apart from what you pick up from anti-Israel >websites that is?

I know quite a bit. I know that a real marketplace does not exist for the Palestinian people and that the Israeli economy is in shambles, not only because of terrorist attacks, but because of socialistic confiscatory economics. Create a marketplace, give all involved hope and success, and perhaps people will want to make money and not war.

Secondly, the Palestinians did have a chance to be Israelis and blew it, I know. But at the same time, currently, there are millions of Palestinians existing there. You either have to move them all out, or include them. The bottom line here is that the only way to bring peace to the region is to bring economic prosperity. Bottom line. If you don't agree with that - end of discussion. Adios amigo.