Posted on 02/28/2002 1:20:56 PM PST by 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.''
What are these "sheeple" going to hear about this on the TV news tonight (I won't know because I won't be watching)?
I hope the liberal spinsters as are as lame as your explanation. Because, just reporting the actual events of this exchange appear to be enough to look bad.
but perhaps they will make nice only up to a point.
I really hope you're correct. I hope that they're saving "what they know" untill the upcoming election cycle.
Time will tell.
Yes it will.
Hey, Matt, how about some props for the picture?
White House Regrets Blaming Clinton on Mideast
Note to Reuters: White House Regrets Blaming Clintoon FOR Mideast (crisis? violence?) Very stupid title, idiots.
ARI WAS SORRY FOR WHAT HE SAID. WATCH THE BRIEFING. HE WAS SPANKED.
we do not apologize
click above to see
Dan
She is right, you know. They shouldn't be trying to pass blame. The should be absolutely assigning it to The Slick One. If they want to pass anything they should feel free to pass gas in the press room...
Home > News & Policies > February 2002
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 28, 2002Statement by the Press Secretary
Earlier today, in response to a question, I stated that violence in the Middle East began at the end of 2000 and accelerated in 2001. I mistakenly suggested that increasing violence in the Middle East was attributable to the peace efforts that were underway in 2000. That is not the position of the Administration. As President Bush has consistently said, he supported President Clinton's efforts, at the behest of the parties, to achieve 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.
I regret any implication to the contrary.
###
But it's not Clinton's fault, per se. Just a contributing factor.
Liar! There's no "mistakenly" about it when it's true.
But Ari "apologized" for his remarks....
This morning, right here on FR, I read that Ari was going to throw Clinton to the dogs during his daily press briefing. At his daily press briefing, Ari mildly inferred that Clinton's efforts at Camp David may have exacerbated an already volatile situation in the Middle East and culminated in more violence. Later in the afternoon Ari "apologized" for his remarks.
Does anybody else think this whole thing stinks to high heaven?
It was obvious from the press briefing that Ari was anticipating a press attack on the "shooting the moon" quote because he had it ready, verbatim, to refer to for his clarification.
WHAT ARI SHOULD HAVE SAID: "I'm NOT sorry for what I said. And to clarify, Bill Clintoon was a stooge for Arafat and a self-serving fool who hosed Israel in hopes of winning himself a Nobel Peace Prize. I personally blame him for the rampaging terorism around the world because he chose to ignore the attacks on the U.S. rather than build up the military and respond."
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