Arab leaders saying goodbye to Arafat

WorldNetDaily ^ | 11 April 2002 | GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

[The Great Satan]

I have no idea on the accuracy of this particular report, but it certainly makes sense. The leadership of the so-called "moderate" Arab states is susceptible to reason -- even if the hoi polloi is not. Bush is laying out for them two visions of the future -- the same alternatives he described so eloquently in his speech a few days ago. In one, the crazies (Arafat and Saddam, for starters) are out of the picture, and some kind of settlement and mutual economic progress is possible. In the other, the crazies continue ramping up their murder and mayhem until the Middle East, and perhaps the whole world, goes up in flames. When one thinks in terms of end-states, the choices become stark and unavoidable. That means the key short-term problems are how to replace Yasser Arafat, and how to replace Saddam Hussein.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Do you think this report is credible? I don't."

It goes against everything I've read or heard over the last few days...then again, considering the Medyuh Whore'd is my primary source, maybe it is true. Sure beats the heck outta Powell going over there and re-legitimizing the little terrorist bastard!!

FReegards...MUD

[Dog Gone]

The only thing that lends any credence to this report, in my opinion, is the unmistakeable signals the Bush Administration has given that it wants to deal with responsible Palestinian leaders, and that Arafat has failed his people.

That's not quite the same thing as giving him the boot, but it's pretty darn close. There certainly is no question that the US has explored this option and made feelers. It would be negligent not to.

But I don't believe for a second that this is a done deal. I think Powell is going to give Arafat the chance to be a useful idiot. An ultimatum. We'll see.

[StriperSniper]

The the hatred the Arab world has for Israel runs so deep, they send their own children in to die

But not so deep that they will risk their own overthrow. About sending the children, I saw a news report where a pali woman in Jenin where she said she would send all her kids now. Notice none of these 'people' would do it themselves, they are cowards who send the brainwashed young and collect the rewards for themselves.

[PsyOp]

I'll bellieve it when I see it.

[FlyVet]

Egypt has said it will take Arafat. Morocco is another address.

What about Saudi Arabia? He could move in next door to Dada Amin. I'm sure they'd hit it off....

[The Great Satan]

But I don't believe for a second that this is a done deal. I think Powell is going to give Arafat the chance to be a useful idiot.

Oh God, I hope not. That would be insane.

[Brad C.]

Quick thought for you. Maybe President is the only one plotting and schemeing here. There is a single act that arafat could take during the meeting that would not only bring the US into the conflict, but also unite the Arab world. The man has expressed a desire to die as a martyr, let's hope he doesn't do it with visitors present. He is a desperate man at this time, and desperate men do desperate things.

[CedarDave]

If this is coming from Bill Gertz of the Washington Times, a columist who I have a lot of respect for, it may well be true (though I wouldn't bet the store on it). The Arabs may well be fed up with his double dealing -- after all they kicked the Palestinians out of many of their countries, including after the Gulf war. And Saudi Arabia is trying to put on a more friendly face (in public at least) by putting out a peace settlement offer (though I know it demanded Israel return land near Lebanon, which Israel should not give up). However, IMO, one thing the Israelis are going to have to do, in return for any legitimate peace opportunity, is to dismantle the new settlements they built on the west bank following its capture.

Clearly, as the days drag on, Arafat will see that he can't stay in the compound indefinitely (even though the IDF is providing food and water), and that "retirement" in another country will become more attractive. Israel is not going to oust him by force, but let him get more and more uncomfortable until he begs to be sent to another country. Of course, at some point the radicals in there with him may make him the martyr he says he wants to be, and he will meet 72 versions (vs. virgins) of Hillary in his dream paradise.

[PsyOp]

I don't see how any of these leaders can accept him into their country. He'll just continue to cause problems where-ever he goes.

Unless of course he meets with an "accident" while living in exile, or is announced one morning to have "died peacefully in his sleep."

[RamsNo1]

Wasn't there a news report today that some high Egyptian official was going to meet with Arafat in a few days?

[Amerigomag]

Bush is confident enough to take the lumps from all of the naysaying weenies while engineering Arafat's demise. I call it one hell of a gutsy and brilliant strategy.

I appreciate your enthusiam and agree that Bush has been taking his lumps but brilliant it ain't. This obvious solution has been the focal point of the criticism for Bush's recent posture.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Then the attack on Iraq can wait until December.

but i cant wait that long i already have the beer and party favors ready to go

[SJackson]

The front men are at work, trouble with the maps.

Two Club Meds

And Showers (I wouldn't post a pic with people).

Ten, fifteen million more bucks for Suha (sp?, whatever), he's out of there. His pals can be martyrs.

[CedarDave]

No doubt this is the most dangerous mission Powell or any other US SOS has ever undertaken, and probably the most dangerous to Powell personally since Viet Nam. I hope they have completely debriefed General Zinni about conditions inside Arafat's compound so that Powell can be as secure as can be expected there. (Will he wear a bulletproof vest under his suit, do you think?)

[RamsNo1]

I have heard reports like this for more than a week so this is nothing new. I do agree that there's more going on in this mess than what's on the surface. I really don't think that Colin Powell is going to come back "empty-handed" from the Middle East.

I'd have loved to have known what Netanyahu said to Cheney and NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR Rice today and why he went in a side door of the WH.

[Brad C.]

One would hope that he will be protected as much as possible, yet I doubt that a vest would protect him from an explosive device. It is fool hardy to think that with the limited space available that it will just be two men getting together for a chat. Even more so to assume that the US will be able to exercise any type of security checks on the palestinians present. Everyone will be armed and very wary of the other's intent. Arafat knows his days are numbered no matter what he does. His officers know the same thing, and from what we have read here and there he has known terrorists in the compound with him.

Gee, I wonder if any of those people who were over there acting as human shields are willing to step inside with Mr. Powell.

[Rule of Law]

So, Arab leaders are discussing with the Bush administration the prospect that Arafat will be sent into exile.

You know, I'll bet the Shah of Iran thought he was ensuring peace when he exiled the Ayatollah.

If you trap a poisonous snake, you kill it. Letting it go just means you're going to have to deal with it again.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

"Arafat arrived in France today, and the French promptly surrendered to him.".....and pleaded with the United States of America to send troops.

[Dog Gone]

If this is coming from Bill Gertz of the Washington Times, a columist who I have a lot of respect for, it may well be true

But it isn't. This rag drops Gertz's name, because he supposedly contributes a column to it which we've never seen, in order to gain credibility. This isn't his column.