(8:00) Zinni: PA is a mafia and Arafat is its leader

Jpost ^ | 27/1/02

[IcommGen]

(8:00) Zinni: PA is a mafia and Arafat is its leader

The Palestinian Authority is a mafia, and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat is the leader of the mafia, US special envoy Anthony Zinni said today.

Zinni made his remarks after his planned visit to the region was suspended by US President George W. Bush.

Sources in the prime minister's bureau expressed satisfaction with the decision, saying it will help in the war against terrorism. However, diplomatic sources said it could lead to more bloodletting on both sides.

The US administration threatened over the weekend to impose sanctions against Arafat, from closing the PLO's offices in Washington to totally cutting off relations, if he fails to prove he is making a concerted effort to fight terrorism.

Meanwhile, security forces remain on high alert throughout the country in response to intelligence warnings of planned terrorist attacks.

Police are out in force, especially along the Green Line, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.

Late last night, Palestinian terrorists lightly wounded an Israeli Arab taxi driver in a shooting attack between Peduel and Alei Zahav in Samaria, Army Radio reported.

[eccl1212]

Because six months ago, we did not have four carrier groups in theatre, and a shirtload of bombers parked and fueled on diego garcia... thats why.

USA is ready to play catbird. And with Saud's, Egypt, and Jordanians holding the evidence PROVING the radical arabs were trying to topple their governments, they will do nothing but bitch us out while secretly thanking allah for the Israeli and American military prowess in the area.

Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon are in for a real treat, because they really thought we didn't know. We have their communiques for the last year now, and we got the goods on em. We are daring them to bust a move.

NOW we can tell arafat, do it or die. Zinni's comment is yet another nail in the arafathead coffin. I understand Egypt, Saud's and Jordan won't return his calls. He has been kissed by the Godfather. I don't think it will be long now.

Israel's measured response to further agression is really starting to play "sweet" in some other places. They are looking more and more like the "victims" here... and they are.

I hope we win.

[eccl1212]

He told me that Clinton was basicaly in things for the glory

GASP!!! you are kidding us! Surely you did not believe this person did you?

... by the way, we all KNEW what kind of an egomaniac clink was and is. Anything to get alone with the babes.

all hail me... and such.

You weren't really surprised at that were you?

[mvonfr]

He told me that Clinton was basicaly in things for the glory

I'm sorry; I cannot believe this. He was also in things for the money, babes, and cocaine.

[College Repub]

No. But some people think that Clinton was egging the 2 parties on all along since 93 and that's just not true.

[mvonfr]

Haaretz version (someone may want to post in full):

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Anthony Zinni, speaking in Washington at the weekend, called Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat an unreformed liar and compared him to a Mafia boss akin to New York Mafioso Carlo Gambino.

Zinni also compared the Palestinian security service leaders to Mafia bosses who boast about their weapons and the number of people they have killed.

In contrast, Zinni described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in warm terms, called him a "Papa-Bear" who had aided him during his mission to the region.

Imho, Gambino should sue.

[Rain-maker]

The Palestinian Authority is a mafia, and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat is the leader of the mafia, US special envoy Anthony Zinni said today.

ROFLMAO...so much for being a peace envoy!

Yo-Ho Arafat must go!

[onyx]

Arafat has finally been given enough rope --- he's all but hung himself, and, in his isolated headquarters to boot!

[eclectic]

Imho, Gambino should sue.

Compared to Arafart, Gambino is a harmless little kid. Arafart is richer than bin laden, has much wider terrorist network at his disposal and especially dangerous because of the international legitimacy bestowed upon him by Bubba the Legacymaker

[Zorobabel]

"The Palestinian Authority is a mafia, and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat is the leader of the mafia, US special envoy Anthony Zinni said today. "

Whoa! For a high ranking diplomat, someone who carefully parses his words to say something like that, is a signal to not only Arafat, but the entire Arab world that the U.S. no longer considers the PA to be legitimate. This is going to really cause an uproar amongst our muslim "allies." George Bush has just thrown down the gauntlet. Yippee.

[College Repub]

"You can't ever wipe out evil. But it's like this: If someone comes to your house bent on killing you or your family, what do you do? You don't negotiate with them. You don't try to understand why they're coming to kill you and your family. You kill them. That's what you do." --Bill O'riely

[AmericaUnited]

If this is true it is really sad. How could Bush find himself so lost and confused in the Middle East. It makes me worry about my country and where it is heading.

The only one totally lost is YOU! ARARAT is a murderous, blood lusting, pathological lying evil person. If you think otherwise you are delusional or completely ignorant of the facts.

I have never been prouder of G.W. Bush. I'm sick of gutless weasels who won't call a spade a spade and act accordingly. Ararat should have been killed years ago.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Compared to Arafart, Gambino is a harmless little kid.

Well Gambino and Arafat will soon be in the same place. I wonder if they will talk about Zinni's comments, or does Satan keep them all too busy down there?

[AmericaUnited]

This is going to really cause an uproar amongst our Muslim "allies."

I disagree strongly with the "conventional wisdom" that keeps getting repeated ad nauseum.

Remember how there would be rage in the Muslim streets if we whacked Afghanistan. IT DIDN’T HAPPEN! The truth is Muslim countries really don't like Ararat or the Palestinians. They respect strength! G.W. has shown himself to have tremendous strength. There will be no "Muslim rage".

It's time the Muslim countries worry about what we think or do!!!

[VaBthang4]

Well I think it is safe to say...

...the clock is ticking.

There is apparently another Sbarro Restaurant attack this morning.

[Joe 6-pack]

Registered,

Looks like it's time for a movie poster for.....

...."My Cousin, Zinni"

[Zorobabel]

Well, I think there will be a lot of impotent, foaming and frothing at the mouth over this in Arab countries, but I don't look for them to do anything much about it. I agree with you it's time the Muslims started worrying about what we think, and not vice-versa.

[VaBthang4]

[backhoe]

I've not yet bothered to do a complete workup of links detailing Arafat
( or as I call him, "The Littlest Terrorist...." )
and his long, bloody ties to terrorism- here's just a sample:

Civil War: Lebanon--

HistoryCentral.com - Your Source for Everything History -> ...
... HistoryCentral.com > World History > Middle East > 1975- Civil War
in Lebanon 1975- Civil War in Lebanon. ...

Untitled
... exodus into Lebanon and Jordan. 1958 Civil war in Lebanon as Muslims rally to
pan-Arab calls of Egyptian President Nasser. US Marines land in Beirut in ...

LEBANON
... Here is the 1998 report by Amnesty International. Summary
of the Civil War in Lebanon. [IMAGE: Back Arrow] Return.
Description: Coverage of Lebanon from an Ararchist viewpoint. Part of the "Libertarians, the Left and the...

Britannica.com
... the PLO in Jordan; Palestinians and the PLO in Lebanon; International recognition;
Palestinians and the civil war in Lebanon; The PLO in the occupied territories. ...
www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=115036 - 28k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.britannica.com ]

Haunting Images Of Lebanese Civil War On Display
... on display at Zara Gallery in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, depict how the civil war in
Lebanon created a series of psychologically-charged images among artists.a "We ...
www.middleeastwire.com/jordan/arts/stories/20011115_meno.shtml - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

[leadhead]

If true, it's a stunning thing for a diplomat to say, at the very least. I wouldn't expect any future negotiations or discussions between Zinni and Arafat after a statement like this.

It was the shortest funeral oration I've read in sometime.

Now the money spigot has to be shut off.

If the playoff game gets boring, read this: Free Market or Kleptocracy?