White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast

Reuters ^ | 2/28/02 | By Arshad Mohammed

[BigTime]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Thursday he regretted suggesting that former U.S. President Bill Clinton's push for a Middle East peace deal was to blame for the last 17 months of violence in the region.

Earlier on Thursday, Fleischer suggested that Clinton's ''shoot the moon'' effort to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before leaving office was responsible for the strife in which nearly 1,200 people have died since September 2000.

While he did not cite Clinton by name, Fleischer alluded to the former president's July 2000 drive at Camp David to broker a deal between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

``I mistakenly suggested that increasing violence in the Middle East was attributable to the peace efforts that were under way in 2000,'' Fleischer said in a rare written statement that expressed regret for his earlier remarks.

Fleischer said his earlier comments did not reflect the position of the administration and said his boss, President Bush , supported Clinton's efforts to bring about a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

``No United States president, including President Clinton, is to blame for violence in the Middle East. The only people to blame for violence are the terrorists who engage in it,'' Fleischer said. ``I regret any implication to the contrary.''

Breaking a tradition of not criticizing former presidents, Fleischer earlier suggested that Clinton's efforts had created unrealistic expectations that then boiled over into strife.

``You can make the case that in an attempt to shoot the moon ... more violence resulted,'' Fleischer told reporters during his morning briefing. ``That as a result of an attempt to push the parties beyond where they were willing to go ... it led to expectations that were raised to such a high level that it turned into violence,''

During his afternoon briefing, Fleischer said Clinton ''tried valiantly to achieve peace in the Middle East'' but did not retract his earlier comments. Asked if he stood by his morning remarks, Fleischer said: ``Of course I stand by it.''

A Clinton spokeswoman, speaking before Fleischer issued his statement of regret at midafternoon, dismissed his comments.

``It is unfortunate that the spokesman for the president, in dealing with the Middle East, is trying to pass blame,'' Clinton spokeswoman Julia Payne said. ``They would be better off using their energies to facilitate the peace process.''

A Bush administration official, who spoke after Fleischer issued his statement and asked not to be identified, said: ``We agree completely that President Clinton made tireless, energetic efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.''

[BigTime]

Didn't see Ari's retraction posted so apologies if this is already on FR.

This sure smells like a coordinated effort to get Clinton's name planted in the middle of this Middle East mess then to quickly step back and act like they didn't mean it. Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play. Probably baiting Clinton to step out front on the issue.

[Dog Gone]

Well, the fact that his earlier statement is demonstrably true shouldn't be lost on anyone.

[johniegrad]

What the hell is this all about?

[cgk]

Good point. It's not often someone who already knows what they are going to discuss/say will then go back and immediately "regret" saying it.

Clinton is absolutely at fault for much more than Israel vs Palestine IMHO.

Mrs Kus

[MeekOneGOP]

He probably made that original statement for Helen Thomas' benefit. She was clintoon's biggest fan!

[Aric2000]

Something is afoot here, Ari was right on the nose when he said what he said, so what's up with this then. The Bush team doesn't do anything for no reason. This should be interesting.

[MeekOneGOP]

fyi

[anniegetyourgun]

He meant what he said and said what he meant - but the press took it as an attack on their guy. The presslibs thought he was drawing a straight line from Clinton to the violence. That's not at all what he said.

I don't think he needs to apologize, he only needed to clarify for the press idiots - as he has done here.

[ironman]

This was a big time warning shot to the RATS and to Puff Dashole for recent criticisms of the war effort and it's costs.

[ppaul]

"Well, I tried to get bin-Laden,
I really did......"

[anniegetyourgun]

CLICK HERE.

[Argus]

``It is unfortunate that the spokesman for the president, in dealing with the Middle East, is trying to pass blame,'' Clinton spokeswoman Julia Payne said. ``They would be better off using their energies to facilitate the peace process.''

Why does an ex-President have a "spokeswoman", like he's still an official operation? Are we paying Julia Payne's salary, too? Does any other ex-prez have a spokesperson - Carter, Ford, Bush I? They always seem to do their own talking to the media. Why do we continue to cut this corrupt, freeloading sleazebucket any more slack?

Just asking. BTW, Ari was right the first time.

[sinkspur]

Ari is too accurate to make this kind of mistake so it had to be an intentional play. Probably baiting Clinton to step out front on the issue.

Didn't some Dem take a shot at Bush over the Mid-East peace process earlier this week?

This is Bush's way of responding, through one of his spokesmen.

Don't mess with Texas!

[Balata]

LOL! Which is it. Blaming Clinton on the Mideast or Blaming the Mideast on Clinton?

[ValerieUSA]

White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast
or
White House Regrets Blaming Mideast on Clinton

[flamefront]

wimps

[ArcLight]

Nonsense. Ari's remarks were stupid. But we all say stupid things from time to time, and he had the good sense to do a quick climbdown. One hopes the whole thing blows over. Wasting time blaming Clinton for the bloodlust of the Palestinians makes no sense to me, anyhow.

[financeprof]

In Washington GAFFE=TELLING THE TRUTH. Ari committed a gaffe.

[GussiedUp]

WHY OH WHY don't the republicans STOP that weak-a$$ed constant apologizing?!?!