TRANSCRIPT - President George W. Bush Middle East statement, April 4, 2001

MSNBC ^ | 4-4-02 | George W. Bush

[eureka!]

Here comes the tide of analysts. Thanks for the post...

[hawaiian]

WAY TO GO, MR. PRESIDENT.

[hchutch]

Seems to me he's gotten a look at a couple of the documents, and he's probably sending Powell to take a longer, more thorough look over them.

Yassir Arafat is running out of time, IMHO.

[Sir Gawain]

Here's my paraphrasing:

Bush: Israel--pull out of the occupied territories. Palestinians--stop blowing yourselves up. If you don't stop after Israel has pulled out and shown that they're making an effort, I'm giving Israel the green light to wipe your sorry asses off the face of the earth.

Hey I can dream.

[Miss Marple]

Note that Sharon has until next week to finish.

Also I found it very good that he called Syria, Iran, and Iraq on the carpet.

I don't know about the settlements...I am not up to speed on that issue and how important they really are to the Israeli people as a whole.

Pretty strong, and I bet they already have something going on or Powell wouldn't be sent over there.

[eureka!]

I agree. It really is amazing the number of Freepers who think that Sharon did not know about, and give the green light, for this request, having accomplished the destruction of the PA's two major compounds, gathering priceless intel and proof and otherwise taking the most aggressive action in years. It got to a boiling point and Sharon saw that and agreed. W betrayed no one...

[freedomcrusader]

The chairman of the Palestinian Authority has not consistently opposed or confronted terrorists.

Half truth. The whole truth is that he has supported, equipped, trained, and supplied terrorists. Arafat is firmly on the side of the terrorists, and the longer official U.S. policy ignores that, the worse off the Middle East will be. Therefore, I don't think Bush's speech is terribly helpful to the cause of peace in the Middle East.

[Miss Marple]

Laz, here is the transcript.

[mardler]

L E A D E R S H I P !

[mardler]

L E A D E R S H I P !

[Oldeconomybuyer]

From President Bush:

"Since September the 11th, I’ve delivered this message: Everyone must choose; you’re either with the civilized world or you’re with the terrorists. All in the Middle East also must choose, and must move decisively in word and deed against terrorist acts.
       The chairman of the Palestinian Authority has not consistently opposed or confronted terrorists.
       At Oslo and elsewhere, Chairman Arafat renounced terror as an instrument of his cause, and he agreed to control it. He’s not done so. The situation in which he finds himself today is largely of his own making. He’s missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of the people he is supposed to lead.
       Given his failure, the Israeli government feels it must strike at terrorist networks that are killing its citizens. Yet Israel must understand that its response to these recent attacks is only a temporary measure. All parties have their own responsibilities, and all parties owe it to their own people to act."

[GailA]

btt

[rintense]

Excellent speech. I bet the Arab league is peeing their pants right now.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

L E A D E R S H I P !

No, Gravitas !

[norton]

Sounds OK to me...
Sure wish he'd added the "get your sorry asses off any church property you've decided to "take refuge in" - or else" part.

[RamsNo1]

Israeli settlement activity into occupied territories?

[Victoria Delsoul]

I call on the Palestinian Authority and all governments in the region to do everything in their power to stop terrorist activities, to disrupt terrorist financing, and to stop inciting violence by glorifying terror in state-owned media or telling suicide bombers they are martyrs. They’re not martyrs. They’re murderers. And they undermine the cause of the Palestinian people.

Bump!!!

[newsperson999]

Good speech..but the news of the day is that Bush asked Israel to end it's mssion, well I guess its time to wrap up the US war too....
Just look at these news headlines:
Bush calls on Israel to stop incursions into PA areas -Haaretz
Bush Calls on Israel to Stop Incursions -Drudge
Bush Urges Israel to End Offensive -AP