Posted on 04/09/2002 1:56:05 PM PDT by RCW2001
| Bush pullout demands make him target of Israeli ire | |
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By Matt Spetalnick
ELON MOREH, West Bank, April 9 (Reuters) - Members of an
Israeli tank brigade waging an offensive in the West Bank found
a unique way to show how they felt about the U.S. president --
they adopted a stray dog and named it "George W. Bush".
"He's a cowboy," one soldier said as the brown pit-bull
terrier prowled an Israeli hilltop encampment overlooking the
city of Nablus.
"He barks a lot," said a second.
"But he's useless," another chimed in.
Bush's ever more strident demands for an end to Israel's
12-day-old military campaign in Palestinian areas has struck a
sour note among army commanders and their troops -- a reflection
of growing resentment among the Israeli public as a whole.
"If the U.S. had this problem of terrorism, they wouldn't
ask for permission. They would finish the job like they did in
Afghanistan," said Commander Oran Ben Goya, head of Israeli
forces in the eastern part of Nablus, the scene of some of the
heaviest fighting of the past few days.
Opinion polls show an overwhelming majority of Israelis
support the operation, which the army has depicted as an effort
to crush a "terror infrastructure" behind a recent spate of
suicide attacks in a Palestinian uprising against occupation.
Many Israelis believe Bush has turned against the Israeli
campaign because he wants to mollify Arab states to shore up his
global anti-terror alliance ahead of possible military action
against Iraq.
Since the Jewish state can ill afford to alienate its chief
ally and provider of $3 billion in annual aid, most commentators
believe a pull-out will be well under way by the time U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives at the end of the week.
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Israeli commanders expressed deep frustration that they were
running out of time to complete their mission.
"I don't think we will be able to do all we wanted to do,"
Ben Goya said. "That means we may have to come back again."
Israeli forces have fought fierce battles, house by house
and alley by alley, in Nablus's ancient casbah market area and
in a refugee camp in the nearby city of Jenin. Both have been
subjected to heavy bombardment by tanks and helicopter gunships.
Army officers say soldiers stationed at Elon Moreh, a Jewish
settlement overlooking Nablus, peer down with high-powered
telescopes on neighbouring refugee camps and see Palestinian
gunmen roaming freely.
But officers say they have yet to strike key militant
strongholds in the camps and are increasingly doubtful they will
be allowed to undertake such operations before they are ordered
to end their offensive.
The army's mood was further darkened on Tuesday by the
killing of 13 Israeli soldiers in an ambush in a refugee camp in
Jenin, the worst single blow to the Middle East's best-equiped
armed forces in 18 months of conflict.
Ben Goya said that while the Israelis hold the advantage of
advanced weaponry, Palestinian fighters are more familiar with
the terrain and have employed an array of deadly booby-traps and
trip wires that have forced soldiers to tread carefully.
CAUGHT OFF GUARD
The Israeli offensive was launched after 27 people were
killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up in an
Israeli seaside hotel during a Passover holiday celebration.
International protests against the military operations that
ensued have shocked Israelis, who see the campaign as a
legitimate drive to root out terror.
The army says it has killed at least 200 Palestinians, many
of them wanted militants, though Palestinian officials say
civilians have borne the brunt of the onslaught.
Israelis, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, seem to
have been caught off guard by the Texas-raised president's
uncompromising demands for a withdrawal from all
Palestinian-ruled cities and towns.
"The Texans, as any American knows, are a breed of their
own," political commentator Hemi Shalev wrote in the Israeli
daily Maariv. "Sharon apparently did not take into account
President George Bush's short Texan fuse when he decided to
ignore him for many days."
((Jerusalem newsroom, +972 2 537 0502,
jerusalem.newsroom@reuters.com))
09 APR 2002 20:20:07 Bush pullout demands make him target of Israeli ire
LOL! Absolutely.
"I need some fun in life." says he, "You can't tell me what to do."
Then I withdraw his stipend. Oh, well!
This is not to say that each side over there shouldn't go after each other's throats. They have for centuries, and I'm of the opinion the only way peace will reign there is for one side to whip the other's ass off the face of the Earth.
Just don't say that America has no grounds to insist on calling any shots. 
Obviously a two eyed visionary, in the room of blind, hand wringing, depends-wearers... "woe is us" ...
I fear bush not going far enough, fast enough, soon enough, long enough, too.
Then I think: So what, Israel continues unimpeded for what will be the exactly two weeks bush, powell and sharon outlined on the day of the "incursions". Incursions that included CIA and NSA operatives... or what is sometimes referred to as "us special forces".
The Cia and NSA acknowledged this in press releases... John Huang2 posted SEVERAL articles on it... Associated Press mind you, NOT DEBKA.
It helps to remember who is allies and who ain't.
Our allie, and Israel's, Turkey prepares to attack Iran, with Israel... they sent the warning to NATO this morning. Whilst we prepare to take out??? Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, or any of the 21 pussie national sheet dictators of the arab league? Time will tell.
But it is for damned sure, we ain't gettin' all dressed up for nothin.
10%...there's more conservatives and jewish people who see it Isreal's way in this country than that. JMHO
"Give war a chance"!
I missed Haung2's posts on our Spec Forces helping. That'd be pretty risky to do. Stupid IMHO.
You don't mean this poll, do you? More than a third, 34% of Americans said the Israelis should continue their violence.
If true, I will withdraw every nasty epithet muttered under my breath at Bush when I see him on TV jabbing his finger in Sharon's chest and demanding withdrawal "without delay".
It is hard to criticize those who have unswerving loyalty and devotion to Clinton when you see we have the same misplaced blind loyalty and faith on the right. Bush has sold us out in so many areas, he has shown himself to be just another politician
Exactly the plan. I agree with Sun Star that this was pre-planned. The media (and, therefore, most world leaders who don't know him) constantly underestimate Bush. I'm a bit disturbed by the hypocracy of the rhetoric, but it is all for show. Look, here it is:
1) Israel knocks the @#$% out of the Pallies. This accomplishes a few goals - first, actually taking out a bunch of terrorists, seizing their weapons, disrupting their plans, destroying their infrastructure. Second, Sharon looks good to his people for finally doing something. Third, the terrorists are taken down a notch without US troops, similar (though better) than Afghanistan.
2) Bush criticizes both sides, putting pressure on Sharon to withdraw. Sharon resists, Bush complains more. Bush sends Powell, but slowly. Sharon continues to fight, Bush ups the criticism. Sharon withdraws a bit, squealing all the way. This accomplishes a few goals also: First, Sharon looks strong for resisting Bush, increasing his popularity at home. Second, Israel reinforces its image as a kick-ass country. Third, Arabs (radical and "moderate") put off guard by Bush rhetoric and Powell trip. They think that they've won when, in reality, Bush is snowing them into this whole thing.
3) Powell finally arrives late this week, spends a bunch of time kissing Arafag's @$$, Sharon pulls out (screaming all the way). Powell comes home, Bush a hero.
4) Some Islamic crazies (OK, I know that this is a large group) resume suicide bombings in Israel (i.e. back to square 1).
OK, what happens then? Sharon goes back in, REALLY cleans out the rat's nest this time, and Bush reacts by calling Arafag and the PLO a bunch of terrorists who are not interested in peace. At this point, the US or Israel also releases some intelligence information (which I believe they already have) that conclusively shows that Saddam is involved in Israeli terrorism and WMD. Don't be surprised to see evidence that he's been involved in terrorism against the US, including the 1993 WTC bombing and Oklahoma City, possibly even 9/11. At that point, we and the Brits, possibly joined by Turkey, invade/bombard Iraq. The game is then on. Israel takes out Syria and helps out a bit in western Iraq. If Iran gets involved, we will pound them also.
War is coming. Bush and Sharon know it, and are on the same side. Most of what has happened is simply a smokescreen to confuse our enemy, i.e. masterful strategery.
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