Lawmakers rip Bush's 'double standard' on terror (Barf Alert)

CNN ^ | October 17, 2001 Posted: 10:54 PM EDT (0254 GMT) | By Elise Labott

[Sparticle]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Members of the House International Relations Committee Wednesday criticized the Bush administration in unusually harsh language for opposing Israeli targeted killings while it hunts down suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden "dead or alive."

Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Asia, said it was inconsistent for the United States to denounce Israel when "they go after the miserable SOBs [who launch terrorist attacks against Israel] ... and they have every bit as much evidence as we have" for the September 11 terrorist attacks.

[ladyinred]

Is this because of the position we are in right now, trying to appease our Arab allies, or is this how this administration really feels? I didn't notice this before Sept. 11th, and in fact, the President seemed Pro Israel.

[MississippiMan]

I don't know what gets in Bush's head that a Palestinian state is good for America.

I wonder the same thing over and over and over, and it never does make one lick of sense. It also puzzles me that Bush as a Christian would even remotely entertain the notion of siding with Israel's enemies against her. Very troubling and quite perplexing.

MM

[Waco]

The message seems to be, no to targeted killings. But if you just lob a round in and take out 500-600 at a whack, then Powell will be able to sleep well tonight.?!!! (What the hell is going on here?)

[walden]

"What does it benefit them to condemn Israel for doing the same thing they're doing? Makes zero sense."

What it supposedly gets is "support" from the "moderate" Arab states. Hah. I put those words in quotes because there is NO SUCH THING as support (as we know it in the west) from any Arab state, and NO SUCH THING as a moderate Arab.

[Deb]

The administration is appealing to the only responsible party in this because the hardline Palestinians are doing exactly what the IRA always does when peace, or at least calm, are near...they blow the whole thing up hoping for all out war.

That's all Bush & Co. are attempting to do, stall all our war till we get past phase #1.

[Deb]

These Democrat field marshals sure aren't helping the situation and neither is CNN by making sure everyone knows their objections.

I hope Israel will take their revenge covertly so Arafat doesn't get what he wants...all-out war.

[ConservaChick]

I see no reason for a "barf" alert here.I admire and repspect Pes.Bush in most ways but this is accurate. The PLO are no better than Bin Laden and deserve the SAME fate.I am glad we are going after Bin Laden but i am ashamed and shocked that the State Department,Powell and even Pres Bush expects Isarael to accept the terror the PLO brings on Isarael and even continue to make "peace" with them. I say Go Sharon and kill the murdering Bast$&*s and give the PLO fanatics NOTHING!

[goldstategop]

Friends, I'm not usually with the Democrats but once in a while they're right and the President is wrong. We have been employing a double standard that says American lives are worth defending while Israeli lives aren't. That's dead wrong. And the President and Secretary Of State Powell and the Arabists in the State Department had better sit up and listen good. Israel has stood beside us since Sept. 11th as a faithful ally and now is the time for our country to return the favor. Let's send Osama Bin Laden and Yasser Arafat to the dustbin of history where they both belong.

[lynn madison]

I am not barfing. This IS an unjust double standard.

[LavaDog]

Hate to say it but I have to agree with the critics. I know that GW is ultimately responsible for what his State Dept says but it's the PLO loving beaurocrats in the State Dept that need to go.

[rightwing2]

Great article that points out hypocrasy of Bush Administration in supporting a state for the Palestinian terrorists to more effectively kill Israeli civilians and statesman! The Bush Administration opposes Israel's war against Palestinian, Syrian, and Iranian supported terrorism in order to appease the "moderate" Arab states to support the US war against Bin Laden in Afghanistan! Liberal internationalist terrorist appeaser Colin Powell is to blame for thiese idiotic policy pronouncments, not Bush, a well-intentioned and honorable President, who is merely doing what he is told. Bush needs to renounce support of all terrorism and ally itself with Israel in crushing Arafat and the other Palestinian terrorists who have murdered hundreds of Israelis over the past several years. We do not need any strategic partnerships with terrorist states like Iran, Syria and the de-facto state Palestinian Authority. Any such Powell proposed strategic partnership with terrorist regimes that have killed Americans and Israelis would be manifestly immoral.

[angry beaver norbert]

Let the Israelis' shoot 'em as they see 'em.H##l, let ANYBODY shoot 'em!

[liberalism=failure]

I don't get your barf alert. I agree wholeheartedly with the criticism.

Same here.

THere's nothing wrong with Israel targeting terrorists, after all, if this is a war on terrorism then the more terrorists THEY get rid of the better. Go get 'em