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Jerusalem Post Editorial: Kill Arafat
Drudge ^

Posted on 09/11/2003 7:55:48 PM PDT by sonsofliberty2000

Jerusalem Post Editorial: Kill Arafat Thu Sep 11 2003 22:11:57 ET

The world will not help us; we must help ourselves. We must kill as many of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders as possible, as quickly possible, while minimizing collateral damage, but not letting that damage stop us. And we must kill Yasser Arafat, because the world leaves us no alternative.

No one seriously argues with the fact that Arafat was preventing Mahmoud Abbas, the prime minister he appointed, from combating terrorism, to the extent that was willing to do so. Almost no one seriously disputes that Abbas on whom Israel, the US, and Europe had placed all their bets failed primarily because Arafat retained control of much of the security apparatus, and that Arafat wanted him to fail.

The new prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, clearly will fare no better, since he, if anything, has been trying to garner more power for Arafat, not less. Under these circumstances, the idea of exiling Arafat is gaining currency, but the standard objection is that he will be as much or more of a problem when free to travel the world than he is locked up in Ramallah.

If only three countries Britain, France, and Germany joined the US in a total boycott of Arafat this would not be the case. If these countries did not speak with Arafat, it would not matter much who did, and however much a local Palestinian leader would claim to consult with Arafat, his power would be gone.

But such a boycott will not happen. Only now, after more than 800 Israelis have died in three years of suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks, has Europe finally decided that Hamas is a terrorist organization. How much longer will it take before it cuts off Arafat? Yet Israel cannot accept a situation in which Arafat blocks any Palestinian break with terrorism, whether from here or in exile. Therefore, we are at another point in our history at which the diplomatic risks of defending ourselves are exceeded by the risks of not doing so.

Such was the case in the Six Day War, when Israel was forced to launch a preemptive attack or accept destruction. And when Menachem Begin decided to bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. And when Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield in Palestinian cities after the Passover Massacre of 2002. In each case, Israel tried every fashion of restraint, every plea to the international community to take action that would avoid the need for "extreme" measures, all to no avail. When the breaking point arrives, there is no point in taking half-measures. If we are going to be condemned in any case, we might as well do it right.

Arafat's death at Israel's hands would not radicalize Arab opposition to Israel; just the opposite. The current jihad against us is being fueled by the perception that Israel is blocked from taking decisive action to defend itself.

Arafat's survival and power are a test of the proposition that it is possible to pursue a cause through terror and not have that cause rejected by the international community. Killing Arafat, more than any other act, would demonstrate that the tool of terror is unacceptable, even against Israel, even in the name of a Palestinian state. Arafat does not just stand for terror, he stands for the refusal to make peace with Israel under any circumstances and within any borders.

In this respect, there is no distinction, beyond the tactical, between him and Hamas. Europe's refusal to utterly reject him condemns Palestinians, no less than Israelis, to endless war and dooms the possibility of the two-state solution the world claims to seek.

While the prospect of a Palestinian power vacuum is feared by some, the worst of all worlds is what exists now: Terrorists attack Israel at will under the umbrella of legitimacy provided by Arafat. Hamas would not be able to fill a post-Arafat vacuum; on the contrary, Hamas would lose the cover it has today.

A word must be said here about the most common claim made by those who would not isolate Arafat, let alone kill him: that he is the elected leader of the Palestinian people. Even if Arafat was chosen in a truly free election (when does his term end?), which we would dispute, this does not close the question of his legitimacy.

Whom the Palestinians choose to lead them is none of our business, provided it is a free choice, and provided they do not opt for leaders who choose terror and aggression. So long as the Palestinians choose such a leadership, it should be held no more immune to counterattack by Israel than the Taliban and Saddam Hussein were by the United States.

We complain that a double standard is applied to us, and it is. But we cannot complain when we apply that double standard to ourselves. Arafat's survival, under our watchful eyes, is living testimony to our tolerance of that double standard. If we want another standard to be applied, we must begin by applying it ourselves.


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To: My Favorite Headache
Can You Hear Me Now?? Good...THIS IS GENERAL ARAFAT!!!! CLICK...


21 posted on 09/11/2003 8:41:15 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache (Which one will lose? Depends on what I choose or maybe which voice...I ignore.)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
He means business here...lol


22 posted on 09/11/2003 8:49:25 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache (Which one will lose? Depends on what I choose or maybe which voice...I ignore.)
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To: sonsofliberty2000
I wouldn't be surprized to read his Obit in the next few days
23 posted on 09/11/2003 8:51:22 PM PDT by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America, treasonous everytime they speak)
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread | DoctorZin

Click on the link above!

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”


24 posted on 09/11/2003 9:00:54 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
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To: The Wizard
I wouldn't be surprized to read his Obit in the next few days

Only my joy would exceed my surprise.

25 posted on 09/11/2003 9:10:54 PM PDT by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Vey interesting.
26 posted on 09/11/2003 9:16:26 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: jbstrick
It's in Breaking News.
27 posted on 09/11/2003 9:19:55 PM PDT by justshe ("Do you trust a Democrat to protect America?")
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To: sonsofliberty2000
[Arafat's death at Israel's hands would not radicalize Arab opposition to Israel; just the opposite. The current jihad against us is being fueled by the perception that Israel is blocked from taking decisive action to defend itself. ]

Yes.

PS: Excellent article. Thanks for posting it.

28 posted on 09/11/2003 9:20:34 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: sonsofliberty2000
[We complain that a double standard is applied to us, and it is. But we cannot complain when we apply that double standard to ourselves. Arafat's survival, under our watchful eyes, is living testimony to our tolerance of that double standard. If we want another standard to be applied, we must begin by applying it ourselves. ]

This at a time when GW is hounding bin Laden, Zarahiri, et. al., Taliban, Saddam, et.al into their graves. The hypocrisy is absolutely aphalling.

29 posted on 09/11/2003 9:24:49 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Arafat's survival and power are a test of the proposition that it is possible to pursue a cause through terror and not have that cause rejected by the international community.

Ain't that the truth, of course the U.N. comes to mind.

30 posted on 09/11/2003 9:37:59 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
This at a time when GW is hounding bin Laden, Zarahiri, et. al., Taliban, Saddam, et.al into their graves. The hypocrisy is absolutely aphalling.

Isn't that the truth!!

It stands out almost as much as the prudence being taken to not take on too much at one time.

31 posted on 09/11/2003 9:41:49 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: sonsofliberty2000
As Israel sets its sights on Arafat, it is time for the US Administration to prepare the ground for the obituary of this man of the people.

Transcripts and video of Arafat’s meetings with Presidents and State Department officials focusing upon his role as a peace maker need to be released now.

The major channels and the BBC should be encouraged to make documentaries about Yasser by dangling the carrot of exclusive tapes and access to former Presidents and Secretaries. It is essential for the West to manufacture Arafat’s image as an untiring leader dedicated to bringing peace to the conflict.

Israel will be condemned what ever happens to Arafat, but it is best left said that his demise will be less problematic than his exile, preferably by his own hand.
The US must condemn Israel for the incident and the rhetoric used must generate the icon of a great statesman worldwide and elevate him to sainthood.

Messages of his persistent struggle for a solution must ring across Europe and the Middle East. His great dreams and ambitions for peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis must not be allowed to fail. We must continue with the road map. We must move on and follow his example.

The short term for Israel would be painful but the long term would be beyond our wildest expectations.
It would be an irony that Arafat in choosing to become a martyr,be converted against his final desires into a martyr for peace. Yasser Arafat should be the West’s first and last martyr.

32 posted on 09/11/2003 9:51:19 PM PDT by ijcr (Age and treachery will always overcome youth and ability.)
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To: ijcr
DEBKAfile INTEL SITE NOW REPORTING THAT ISRAELI SPECIAL FORCES ARE SURROUNDING ARAFAT COMPOUND... ALSO REPORTS THAT ISRAEL HAS INITIATED PARTIAL RESERVIST CALL-UP...

http://www.debka.com for the latest
33 posted on 09/11/2003 10:01:55 PM PDT by sdk7x7 ("This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like Clinton. I think this is the end.")
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Kill Arafat. Exile Arafat. This is all just wishful thinking.

Colin Powell spent an entire interview with al-Jazeera today hammering upon "Israeli obligations". He said Jewish "settlement construction must be frozen and unauthorized outposts in the West Bank removed". Powell paid the smallest of lip service to the P.A.'s need to "reduce terror", a remarkable choice of words. So would he be satisfied if say, only 7 Jews died per bombing instead of 15? Would that be a sufficient "reduction". Take that you FReepers who have bashed me for DARING to criticize Powell. He is nothing but an Arab ass-kissing Saudi stooge, and today's interview proved it. Here we are only a few days after more Israeli children are murdered, and all this piece of sh*t "General" can speak of is "Israeli obligations". He is truly detestable.


Above: Powell with his Wahabbi master, Darth Bandar.

34 posted on 09/11/2003 10:37:11 PM PDT by montag813
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To: montag813
I've always felt that Powell hated Israel. You could
see the look of disdain when he was speaking in a joint
appearance with Arik. Perhaps he just has an affinity for
the Labor Party in Israel, but I think it is something
much deeper. I think he identifies with Arabs.
35 posted on 09/12/2003 3:56:37 AM PDT by AdvisorB (Arafat Delenda Est!)
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To: Mr.Smorch
I've always felt that Powell hated Israel. You could see the look of disdain when he was speaking in a joint appearance with Arik. Perhaps he just has an affinity for the Labor Party in Israel, but I think it is something much deeper. I think he identifies with Arabs.

Powell is lifelong friend of Saudi Prince Bandar and spirited out the Bin Laden gang on September 12th, 2001 on his request. Powell is completely on the Arab side, hostile to Israel, hostile to the Bush Doctrine, and overall untrustworthy to represent out interests abroad. Unfortunately this pretty much describes every SoS we've had for 30 years.

36 posted on 09/12/2003 6:21:34 AM PDT by montag813
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To: montag813
The entire State Department is in the hip pocket of the royal gangster clan of Saud.
37 posted on 09/12/2003 6:25:08 AM PDT by Alouette (The bombing begins in five minutes.)
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To: Alouette; montag813
Look at this
38 posted on 09/12/2003 6:32:10 AM PDT by Allan
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To: sonsofliberty2000
Fry Mumia

Whoops, wrong thread! We FReepers are just awful people. /sarc

Check this out

39 posted on 09/12/2003 9:38:36 AM PDT by LayoutGuru2 (Call me paranoid but finding '/*' inside this comment makes me suspicious)
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