Posted on 06/15/2007 8:35:56 AM PDT by SJackson
WASHINGTON: Bush administration officials said that they had been discussing the idea of largely acquiescing in the takeover of Gaza by the militant Islamic group Hamas and trying instead to help the Fatah Party of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, retain its stronghold in the West Bank.
The United States had quietly encouraged Abbas to dissolve the Palestinian government and dismiss Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, steps that Abbas announced Thursday, administration officials said. Before the announcement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Abbas to reiterate U.S. support for the move, they said.
"President Abbas has exercised his lawful authority as the president of the Palestinian Authority, as the leader of the Palestinian people," Rice said. "We fully support him and his decision to try and end this crisis of the Palestinian people and to give them an opportunity for - to return to peace and a better future."
The state of emergency that Abbas announced has underscored the widening rift separating Gaza, where Hamas has largely routed Fatah's forces, and the West Bank, where Abbas still has a strong base. But diplomats and Middle East experts said a "West Bank first" strategy might now be the last option for Rice to salvage something from her plans to push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
The State Department insisted that the United States had no plans to abandon Palestinians living in Gaza.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
As another freeper brilliantly put it, "The Republican's Jimmy Carter".
2-Do not accept the current situation and reduce the amount of U.S.cash that we supply to the Palestinians by 0.00010%.
3-Say “Dammit!” and pressure the Israelis to “be more forthcoming and flexible in seeking peace; and give up more land for Peace”.
4-Do not accept it and have U.S.soldiers dress as Fatah personnel and go into active combat with Hamas, providing a major Ass Whuppin' that no one will believe actually came from the incompetent and moronic Palestinian Authority troops, who we arm, train, dress, feed, provide medical care to and pay.(Actually this although the dumbest idea of the lot, may be the one selected by the current Kakistocracy in Washington, D.C., just based on it’s gross stupidity)
No more confusing that fighting a supposed War on Terror, while leaving our borders wide-open. (sorry - I didn't mean to hijack the thread - just stating a fact).
Our administration has totally and completely gone nuts - a crazy mixed up set of contradictions.
From recent press reports it appears that Hamas has captured over 15,000 M-16 rifles and 10 APC’s that the US had provided to the PA. This is inaddition to the weapons they smuggled in through Egypt.
Lets double the Pali handouts, since now there are two, that's two, collective pali mouths to feed.
Watch what is happening, don’t listen to what they say.
Don’t even get me started again on that mess. I think I need to just back away from the news for awhile ahmmmmmm ahmmmmmm
Yes, Hamas on its way to extinction; Fatah more appreciative of Israel and US efforts in their mess.
Great.
The plan unfolds.
Make an air drop of ammo to hamas and fatah and let them continue killing each other.....it’s a good day when terrorist kill each other. US should only, if that, help contain the fighting to the gaza plaza !
Let em self destruct !
Never bargin with terrorists !
It is time to drive them into the sea.
Thanks for the reminder. Its tough sometimes to keep my eye on the ball.
Perhaps to the international banking community. Or perhaps not.
The U.S. shouldn’t “accept” anything. Just sit back and let those animals kill each other and then go in and wipe out the remainder. They are all supported by Iran....when are we going to wake up?
I may have to agree. I loved Bush, but he has disappointed so many times now, that there is no way I could honestly say I approve of the way he is doing his job as President. I still like the guy, but.......
In my view the US really doesn't have much of a role to play, hasn't since Oslo collapsed. All we're doing by funding the palestinians is drawing out the misery.
Remember, if a politician is speaking, he is l . . .
Hamas likes the 'woody' uniformed look. 
That said, they are both terrorists, (despite being nuanced only by the terroristophiles in the EU,UN and StateDept.)
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