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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: eureka!
Thank you, my friend. Your observations (post #28) were right on the money, btw.
61 posted on 04/03/2002 1:19:15 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: Republic
Thank you, thank you, friend =^)

And your comments (post #29) hit the nail on the head!

62 posted on 04/03/2002 1:21:08 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: Victoria Delsoul
You're quite welcome, hermana mia. And thanks for the generous compliments =^)
63 posted on 04/03/2002 1:23:13 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: Sabramerican
Come clean Joseph. Did you really think it yourself, or did you steal it from someone?

bump!

64 posted on 04/03/2002 1:23:51 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: Sabramerican
To add clarity:

I think there needs to be something dramatic done", Sen. Joseph Biden

Come clean Joseph. Did you really think it yourself, or did you steal it from someone?

bump!

65 posted on 04/03/2002 1:25:19 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: Sabramerican
HTML typ-o alert:

I think there needs to be something dramatic done", Sen. Joseph Biden

Come clean Joseph. Did you really think it yourself, or did you steal it from someone?

bump!

66 posted on 04/03/2002 1:26:23 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: JohnHuang2
Goodmorning JH2. Keep up the great work!!
67 posted on 04/03/2002 1:26:47 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Thanks, my friend =^)
68 posted on 04/03/2002 1:27:41 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: DoughtyOne
Arasplat is a terrorist Mr. President.

...and he has ALWAYS been a terrorist, deserving such treatment as a terrorist deserves. For the administration not to outright label him as one, especially in the face of these actions gives license for him to continue to act as one.

Many people state that if Araskank goes, there will be no one to negotiate with. I'd suggest that the Palestinians would find someone rather than face annihilation. Others state that if we don't support Ara"rat" that the Muslim nations will unite against us in the diplomatic arena. I mean, what could happen? Do they they that Kuwait and Iraq might open diplomatic relations again? Do they think that Saudi Arabia might finance and export militant Islamism to other countries? Do they think that some group of terrorist might launch a terrorist attack on American soil? (Huh? All this already happened? Oh....)

I don't see what there is to lose by taking out Arascab.

69 posted on 04/03/2002 1:36:16 AM PST by Caipirabob
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To: Yakboy
    I agree.  I've been operating under the impression that we wouldn't lose much if Arasplat was squished like the bug he is.
70 posted on 04/03/2002 1:44:39 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: JohnHuang2
:O)
71 posted on 04/03/2002 1:57:10 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: DoughtyOne
This standoff must end quickly.

The longer he holds out the more liberal scum will come to his defence.

Time for the teargas.

72 posted on 04/03/2002 2:03:48 AM PST by johnny7
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To: johnny7
I'd just cut off food and water. When they want to eat or drink bad enough, or escape the stench, they'll come out.
73 posted on 04/03/2002 2:09:11 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
Just as I was hypothesizing yesterday check out this thread and I think it even gives more credence to the idea that we just aren't in the tactical/logistical position to have a muliti-front war to fight.

Rumsfeld: Norwegian Pilots Needed to Protect U.S.; Military 'Run Down' by Clinton

74 posted on 04/03/2002 2:03:55 PM PST by ImpBill
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