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Bush Is Criticized for Mideast Role
New York Times ^ | Tuesday, April 2, 2002 | DAVID E. SANGER and MICHAEL R. GORDON

Posted on 04/01/2002 11:57:11 PM PST by JohnHuang2

WASHINGTON, April 1 — President Bush, under rising criticism for his handling of the growing violence in the Middle East, expressed frustration today that Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, has failed to denounce what he called the "constant attacks" of suicide bombers. Continues.

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The 'Who-Gives-A-Hoot?' Democrats

Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. To some observers, the wonder isn't that it's happening, but that it took so long to begin with.

In Washington, partisan politics has reared its ugly head, yet again. This time the tussle concerns volatile events in the Mideast -- the Israeli-Arab crisis, specifically.

Democrats and their media surrogates are probing for ways to take political advantage of the situation. The wave of deadly suicide bombings and Israel's robust military response have dominated the news of late, even as Afghanistan has fallen off the pages: Clearly, Democrats see it as an opening for them to take potshots at the Bush administration.

So far, they're calling on Bush to 'get more involved', a stealthy way of suggesting the crisis is Bush's fault, without actually saying it and without tendering detail plans nor initiatives of their own.

"I think there needs to be something dramatic done", Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CBS' Face The Nation. "The President has to step up his involvement", he added.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who is mulling a run for president himself, told Fox News Sunday that Bush should "ask Secretary Powell...to go to the Middle East".

Terrorists inevitably interpret such fickleness as a green light to continue doing what they're doing. 'Keep bombing crowded Pizzerias and Discotechs, and wait for the Joe Bidens of the world to cave like cheap suits'. The torrent of suicide bombing attacks that have recently rocked Israel are, for terrorists, a pressure tool -- the means by which they hope to extract further concessions from the beleaguered Jewish state.

But for Joe Biden partisans, and Democrat mouthpieces like the New York Times, politics takes precedence over patriotism, any day of the week -- America's or Israel's security be damned.

For partisan Democrats, 'if our words of appeasement send the wrong message -- who gives a hoot?'

'Mr. President, send Colin Powell to wring more concessions from Israel, and if terrorism is ultimately rewarded -- who gives a hoot?'

'Mr. President, have Gen. Zinni exert pressure on Israel, and if suicide bombers are vindicated -- who gives a hoot?'

'Mr. President, offer a bold, new peace initiative, get on your hands and knees and beg chairman Arafat to accept it, and if bloodshed and carnage by Palestinians is validated thereby -- who gives a hoot?'

You've heard of 'Yellow Dog Democrats'. We'll call these the 'Who-gives-a-hoot?' Democrats.

With midterm elections drawing closer, and President Bush's approval ratings still straddling the stratosphere, Democrats are growing increasingly desperate. They do know one thing for sure: Bush's sustained popularity is an obstacle to recapturing control of the House and preserving their 1-seat plurality in the Senate.

But the boiling crisis in the mideast has given Democrats, at least for now, a glimmer of hope. They see it as a chance to undermine public confidence in Bush as a leader, and knock his popularity down to earth. At every opportunity, Democrats will try to link Bush to every mideast "setback", big or small, and call it a colossal "failure" of his policies. And if it gives aid and comfort to cold-blooded terrorists -- who gives a hoot?

There's only one itsy-bitsy problem with this "strategy": It won't work. But Democrats are too blind, too partisan, too hateful, too bitter, too vicious, too petty, too spiteful, too angry, too desperate to know it just yet. But it'll dawn on them, eventually -- give it time.

My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
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To: LarryLied
Have you ever heard of that game: "Larry says"
21 posted on 04/02/2002 2:45:46 AM PST by lavaroise
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To: RamsNo1
Muslim aggression which is the new Nazism.

Close but no cigar.

The pagan, Hitler, closely modelled his actions and activities on those of his fellow death-and-destruction worshipping pagan hero, Derr Fuerher Mohammed.

Islamanazi aggression is but the continution of the advancement of the old banner that was for a time carried by Hitler and his axis cohorts.

22 posted on 04/02/2002 2:45:55 AM PST by Brian Allen
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To: JohnHuang2
"I think there needs to be something dramatic done", Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CBS' Face The Nation. "The President has to step up his involvement", he added.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who is mulling a run for president himself, told Fox News Sunday that Bush should "ask Secretary Powell...to go to the Middle East".

Terrorists inevitably interpret such fickleness as a green light to continue doing what they're doing. 'Keep bombing crowded Pizzerias and Discotechs, and wait for the Joe Bidens of the world to cave like cheap suits'. The torrent of suicide bombing attacks that have recently rocked Israel are, for terrorists, a pressure tool -- the means by which they hope to extract further concessions from the beleaguered Jewish state.

But for Joe Biden partisans, and Democrat mouthpieces like the New York Times, politics takes precedence over patriotism, any day of the week -- America's or Israel's security be damned.

For partisan Democrats, 'if our words of appeasement send the wrong message -- who gives a hoot?'................

With midterm elections drawing closer, and President Bush's approval ratings still straddling the stratosphere, Democrats are growing increasingly desperate. They do know one thing for sure: Bush's sustained popularity is an obstacle to recapturing control of the House and preserving their 1-seat plurality in the Senate.................

There's only one itsy-bitsy problem with this "strategy": It won't work. But Democrats are too blind, too partisan, too hateful, too bitter, too vicious, too petty, too spiteful, too angry, too desperate to know it just yet. But it'll dawn on them, eventually -- give it time.

I wish I could get a picture of the faces of the key DIMocRATS this November late that Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning when they realize they have LOST House seats and have LOST the Senate as well! "Priceless!"........

Good job, John.

23 posted on 04/02/2002 2:47:43 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: JohnHuang2
Good morning, JH2. Good essay, as always.

While these criticisms won't work - they won't stop either, unfortunately.

24 posted on 04/02/2002 2:54:40 AM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: expatriot
Pisses me off that the elected president of the United States is expected to mediate the ME problems. His job (the POTUS) is to pay attention to American problems, and the last time I looked the west bank is NOT American territory.

ME TOO!!!

Please, Freepers, look at the global picture. Don't fall into democrat traps! Whenever you hear a quote from Biden, Lieberman, Matthews, etc. bashing the administration's handling of the current situation, ask yourself:

What would Biden, Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards, be doing or saying if (God forbid!) one of them were in the White House?
President Bush and his advisers are miles ahead of these twerps.
25 posted on 04/02/2002 4:17:34 AM PST by maica
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To: JohnHuang2
See post #2. Thanks John.

/john

26 posted on 04/02/2002 5:04:06 AM PST by JRandomFreeper
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To: DoughtyOne
He knows damn well what scum Arafat is - which is why he isn't going to be directly involved. Besides he's not fool enough to repeat the Clinton error in all this.

But I understand why you are licking your chops in hopes that he will "pay for it big-time." Since you are so sure he will fail and go down to defeat, you should be cheering him on.

27 posted on 04/02/2002 5:25:50 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: LarryLied; JohnHuang2
"Many on this forum agree with Biden and Lieberman."

Larry, with all due respect, I don't know that I agree. I haven't seen a lot of "W needs to do more" stuff here. I think that many understand that W is doing a lot--just not in front of the cameras like the Sink Emperor: Powell is fully engaged, Cheney spent a week in the ME and Zinni is there. That is just the action being reported. Who knows what else is going on.

John-Great Two Cents, as per usual. The 'rats are desperate and they are trying to use the blood of innocents to damage W. They know damn well that W is as engaged as can be (much like they get briefed on the terror war but whine about no info, asking for photo op committee circle jerks with Ridge). Perception is their goal, not results. Oh, I loathe their dishonesty....

28 posted on 04/02/2002 5:42:12 AM PST by eureka!
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To: JohnHuang2
Ohhhhhhhhhh baby-----NICE TWO CENTS! From now on....it is going to be 'who-gives-a-hoot' democrats all the way.

It think you are dead on....not only will this not work, but the absolute brilliance of this administration in patiently waiting for the exposure of what is really going on over there in that cesspool of hatred (middle east), by encouraging the actual involved parties to work out their differences before either we or other nations take the lead....we have all been permitted to see what is REALLY going on inside the rabid minds of the extremists in Palestine. Now the WORLD has a better understanding of what Israel is up against. Not that Israel is pure, heck not, but that the Palestinians are ruthless.

And as for the tactics of the 'who-gives-a hoot' democrats coming back to bit them all in their keisters- you bet! Yep. The democrats are so completely inferior to people like our President, that their scramblings have become even more unjust, and simultaneously fully exposed for what they are....politics above our nation. I sense the upcoming elections are going to shake the democratic party like nothing else.

And I wonder if the democratic party is going to explode, with those who do have moral character splitting off in disgust. Some very bad people have spent a very long time listening so intently to special interest groups in order to get money, that they have lost their ability protect and defend our national interests. Many, like myself, see many democrats as people who deep down dispise our nation and its foundations. And the corruption within the democratic party has bubbled up and over the top.....my bet, there is a sea change coming on.

29 posted on 04/02/2002 8:33:54 AM PST by Republic
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To: ThePythonicCow
Let's hope you're right. Frankly I think both you and Bush are in denial. Thanks for the comments.
30 posted on 04/02/2002 8:40:37 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: anniegetyourgun
Tell you what Annie, you continue to think I'm just out to get Bush and ignore what I'm trying to tell you. Right on this thread is a post that mentions that certain members of the press are already casting Bush as having no middle-east strategy with regard to Israel. Close your eyes, ignore the whole thing, label me any way you like. In post six I tried to lay out what could happen if Bush doesn't wake up. It certainly doesn't benefit me. I would think it would be food for thought. Nope, you're in denial as well. Well okay, let's just watch it play out. Good luck.
31 posted on 04/02/2002 8:44:26 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
I am glad that our President understands that there is no peace if hearts are not in agreement. The hatred is so intense that it must be fully exposed. Otherwise, the terrorism will be neverending. The patience being shown is nothing short of brilliant. It hurts, but in the end, the understanding that comes from it will permit real peace to happen.

In order for the Tenet plan to work, a certain level of peace must be attained. To pretend otherwise is exactly what has been going on for a long time and EXACTLY why the plans have not worked.

32 posted on 04/02/2002 8:56:22 AM PST by Republic
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To: anniegetyourgun
Do you relize that Bush IS using the exact Clinton strategy used over the last eight years? He is trying to deal with Arasplat and refusing to call him a terrorist. Then he's refusing to admit that Israel must use military force against the Palestinians.

Sure he makes some pro-force comments. Then he neuters their meaning by demanding Israel show restraint and pull out prematurely.

This is pure folley.

33 posted on 04/02/2002 8:56:27 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: JohnHuang2
But it'll dawn on them, eventually -- give it time.

Yes... how about next November, hehehe. Thanks John, as always your articles are a pleasure to read.

34 posted on 04/02/2002 9:05:17 AM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: DoughtyOne
Only thing I want to see the President do on this one is either help the Israelis bomb the Palis into the dark ages or get out of the way and let them do it. However, I am guessing there are some tactical/logistical reasons why he presently can't be hawkish.

When we make the jump to taking action against the Palis and other Jihadists in the ME, we better be ready to either use tactical nukes or be able to fight a war on a few different fronts at one time.

We may just not be ready quite yet.

35 posted on 04/02/2002 9:06:19 AM PST by ImpBill
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To: DoughtyOne
What you do is call a spade a spade. Arafat is a terrorist along with the Palestinian terrorist, and the army of Israel should destroy them. They should un leash the dogs of war and destroy their enemy. If Bush does not think Arafat is a terrorist or that the terrorist should be killed. Then he is in fantasy land. On this issue.
36 posted on 04/02/2002 9:07:06 AM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: DoughtyOne
Any approach other than the one that Bush is taking now (and Clinton took previously) would be utterly ineffective. The thing you have to remember about the current situation in the Middle East is that Israel is NOT being invaded by outsiders. These suicide bombers live in the West Bank or Gaza Strip (or even in Israel itself), so Israel is in a very difficult position. Israel cannot have it both ways -- it must either insist that these territories are part of Israel (and deal with the inhabitants of these territories) or cast them off and allow the creation of a separate Palestinian state. The cost of the first option is prohibitive in financial terms, and the cost of the second option is prohibitive in political terms. The second option is more likely, which means that Israel's best interests are served if this Palestinian state has a nominal leader (Arafat) who is familiar to all of the players involved.
37 posted on 04/02/2002 9:14:26 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: DoughtyOne
You took the words right oughtta my mouth.Well said.
38 posted on 04/02/2002 9:16:26 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: ImpBill
Thanks for the comments.
39 posted on 04/02/2002 9:21:13 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: TLBSHOW
Thanks.
40 posted on 04/02/2002 9:23:26 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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