President Bush's Palestinian Bombshell

April 4th, 2002 | Sabertooth

[Sabertooth]

ON reviewing President Bush's outstanding speech today on the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, I was struck by the following passage...

"I call on the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, and our friends in the Arab world to join us in delivering a clear message to terrorists. Blowing yourself up does not help the Palestinian cause. To the contrary, suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."

Let's look at that last line again...

"To the contrary, suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."

For the first time since the Oslo folly, we see the possibility that there might not necessarily be a second "palestinian" state in the Middle East. Jordan of course, is the first.

This is a very hopeful sign.

Let Israel be Israel.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Searching for pearls is not necessarily a bad thing...but there was some swine in this speech as well. I fear that too much of this effort is aimed at placating all the wrong people: Euro-leftists, Congressional Democrats, the media and those pesky semi-friendly Arab States. All folks who fear most the exertion of power by and the advancement of western democracy and western culture and religion. All good politics these days where confidence and certainty of our right have been lost, I suppose. Give peace a chance and lets all feel good over the next martini.

There is much wishful thinking in your analysis but even I, as much a supporter of our President as one can be, I suppose, sees not much else in it. We've given Israel 4 days to finish the job. I fear that Bush is losing his way...that politics and machination have usurped his moral compass. And in the long run moral compass leads to success whereas politics and machination, in very big issues (any one bigger than this?), leads to disaster. Shakespeare understood that. Machiavelli too. Reagan as well. Bush appears to have lost it, if ever in fact he truly possessed it.

[Valin]

I before E except after C

And now back to the thread.

[Howlin]

Think twice about Kuwait.

[Sabertooth]

Do you seriously feel confindent that the Arabs are going to invite us in to use their bases

No, but that's not the agenda...

We need to stifle a pan-Arabic jihad to "liberate Jerusalem" while we're taking out Saddam.

In this war, we want to tackle one scumbag Islamofascist regime at a time.

[CyberAnt]

No it isn't! Bush wants the Arabs to take some responsibililty for this mess. If Israel pulls back, and the Arabs don't respond, then the whole world can see the real truth - the Arabs don't want peace. Now, you and I already know this, but the world doesn't - or at least it's pretending it doesn't. This was a brilliant move by the President - as usual.

[rbmillerjr]

You are both underestimating the power the US has over Israel. It is clear that we insisted that Arafat would not be exiled let alone killed. Self preservation is a strong motivator for a tiny country like Israel. They have no support anywhere except from us. So yes, they cowtow to us.

[Sangamon Kid]

That yawning kitty sure does take up some bandwidth.

[wardaddy]

I watched Falwell go it alone on CNN fighting the liberals and Novak over the fact that Israel must be allowed to prevail over this even if it destroys the PA and exiles many many Palis to Jordan. Why is a typically despised by the left Christian fundie one of Israel's biggest cheerleaders?

Jewish liberal Shields was shouting him down ad hominum on the program. Sad....damn sad. I talked to a friend in Haifa yesterday and she said even the old folks (ex-Hagana types) were as scared as they've been since the beginning of Israel. The left in this country treats Israel the same as any other issues...like cowards.

Regards....I know I mispelled Hagana..>)

[Sabertooth]

So you're going to change your mind about the speech? :-)

I've had nothing but good things to say about this speech since Bush gave it this morning. I don't have the same complaints with him on foreign policy that I do on certain domestic matters (to remain nameless).

But the particular importance of the passage above didn't strike me until later today.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Bump.

[Michael2001]

This is not the same Israel this is a nation that can't even kill a terrorist when they have him surrounded.

Ditto. I served in the Israeli military and you are right on. Israel has the capability to do what needs to be done, and they don't need anyones permission. If they don't act, Sharon will be to blame for the murder of their innocents

[rbmillerjr]

I guess 91 is a distant memory hugh, what gives here. BTW, dont you feel better now that we are back on opposing sides of an issue. I cancelled my psych eval lol.

Bush had me on the speech, but the UN vote not only shows an abandoning of Israel but says more to the thugs in the Arab world about our weakness of will.

[browardchad]

We don't need the Arabs' help, we just need them to sit on the sidelines while we kill Saddam.

Actually, we need them to keep their murderous hoardes in check while we kill Saddam. I have to believe Saddam had a hand in stirring up the palestinians, since it's definitely to his advantage to keep the pot boiling elsewhere.

[SCalGal]

AND they've been given an out- they can support someone other than arafat - they have been given the opportunity to push for a palestinian state, and NOT support arafat. It ought to be evident to all of them (OUGHT!) that supporting him is only going to get them into trouble.

Nice twist.

[ladyinred]

Do you think Israel can reel Arafat in with the US telling them to pull out of his area right now? Can Israel go against the government of the United States?
I hope they get rid of Arafat once and for all too, but with us telling them to basically back off, how can they?

[america-rules]

"I haven't really heard it discussed, but am I the only one concerned about Bush's elevation of the UN?"

You're forgetting the UN created Israel.

[rwfromkansas]

lol

[montesqieu]

To: G.W.Bush

AT LAST !!!!

Now we know who is in charge of the US.

For the first time, we applaud without any reserve the American President's stance. A fair US policy towards all parties involved in the Middle East is definetly the only policy which will bring Peace in that Holy Land.

To: The President of the United States, G.W.Bush

Mr. President,

Let them all know now that we all had enough.

Although the writer is a European so-called "Anti-Semite, Anti-American, anti-, anti, etc etc, who always incited others to reason, hereby, publicly wishes wholeheartedly you succeed on this chosen path of Justice and Peace for the sake of all the innocent populations of the area. Yes, Trouble-makers, blood-thirsty vengeful so-called "leaders" have no place among us in international relations.

In this path you and your Country will surely enjoy historical greatness, provided you persist to hear at all times the wisest advisor of all, JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS. Don't deceive us anymore and we shall stay the closest friends of America as we always were. From us you can expect not only an unpleasant but honest criticism, but also, a true support.

May God help and guide you!

[rbmillerjr]

If they don't act, Sharon will be to blame for the murder of their innocents

Then why is it that the most prominent hardliner, Bibi, also cowtowed to the US and Clinton nonetheless.........Dont think we dont pull Israels strings, we do.

No way in hell a guy like Bibi listens to a scum socialist like Clinton.

[Sabertooth]

Thanks for fixing the spelling of "President" in the title of this thread.