HILLARY CLINTON signs LETTER to PRESIDENT BUSH

www.clinton.senate.gov ^ | April12, 2002 | Hillary Clinton

[reformjoy]

April 12, 2002

Dear Mr. President:

We write out of deep concern over your response to the recent events in the Middle East. While we appreciate the importance of sending Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region, we are troubled by certain developments that have occurred during his trip. By urging the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), before the PA officially abandons their policy of suicide homicides against civilian populations, you have dramatically changed your steadfast policy towards not meeting with Chairman Arafat until he commits to a cease?fire.

As long as Arafat continues to support and fund terrorists, it is difficult to conceive that any progress can be made from meeting with him. Most worrisome, a meeting between Secretary Powell and Chairman Arafat in light of today's attack in Jerusalem validates the contention that Arafat is gaining ground through his strategy of terror.

If Secretary Powell meets with Chairman Arafat, we hope that the Secretary will make it clear that this is his final opportunity. In the past, Mr. Arafat has proven himself to be unreliable in following up with commitments to peace. Consequently, we believe that Secretary Powell should demand that Mr. Arafat act to eradicate the terrorist networks operating under his authority. Secretary Powell should make clear that if he does not comply, the United States will sever all ties with him.

Finally, we are dismayed by the pressure on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian towns before the Israeli military has had a chance to complete its operations. As the United States knows from its experience in Afghanistan, an operation of this kind takes time. If Israel is not allowed to complete its campaign, more Israeli lives will be vulnerable to future rounds of suicide bombings. If there is to be peace, Israel needs to isolate those elements of the Palestinian Authority that threaten its existence.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Susan Collins
Gordon Smith
Jon Corzine

[breakem]

We have been talking tough on Palistine-Israel. How many more bombs before we cut the guy loose. Too many second chances. Hamas doesn't recognize him, why should we. To visit him after that last bombing was ludicrous. Hard to see what that's doing for the US.

Time to take sides. Let the Israelis do what they need to do and let's stop huggung and kissing. What's the difference between Hillary hugging the wife for some votes and Bush/Powell smiling at the husband? Or was it a last good-bye?

If Willie-Jeff did this, people here would be popping jugulars all over the place.

[TwoStep]

Just phoney PR by Evita.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

She is courting the Jewish vote. She is also grabbing the moral high ground that Bush has abandoned.

[Clara Lou]

Don't worry-- Hillary merely senses that her action in this may possilby garner her a few votes in the next election. It's not as though she wouldn't take the opposite stance if that would bring her votes. Hillary is like Bill- morally rudderless-- her ethics are the ethics of the moment. (I'm remembering someone kissing Suha.....)

[reformjoy]

Have you forgotten so soon? Think: "FOCUS GROUPS."

Raw ambitious lust for power. The Clinton's will do ANYTHING to get back into the White House!

But, I also am concerned. Why HIllary is against Arafat, did she not kiss Arafat's wife on the Cheek?

And, Bill, Hill and Brother Hugh also pulled together their efforts to PARDON and RELEASE known Terrorists...

I suspect that Hillary Clinton doesn't want President Bush to get to close to the TRUTH about Terrorists or to find out WHO pulls their strings...

[breakem]

I'm one of the impatient, but I'll gladly eat my mouse here and bow my head when he goes into, Saudi, Iran, or Lebanon. You know, those people who support terrorists.

[deadhead]

"Bush should do whats best for America and Sharon should do whats best for Israel and hypocrites should suffer from genital psoraisis."

LOL, you always have a way with words ;-)

[DJ88]

I say we should all print out a copy of that picture and send it to Hillary. To remind her "whose" side she's really on.

I'm sure George W. is shaking in his boots. Wahhh.

[reformjoy]

And ALSO again .. notice her name is second on the list .. this way if it back fires on her she can say it was Chuckie's idea ..

I saw that! I took it a bit different though...

Hillary Clinton's name is AT THE TOP, with only one name hiding her aggression...

[scan58]

Well, that smell would be Hillary, but she's talking sense in THIS particular instance. I'd never stand shoulder to shoulder with her, but, in this case, I'm standing on the same side she is...

I wouldn't be so sure of that. I doubt she's ever been one to actually want to be good. She just wants to look good.
Besides, it's still so difficult to take her seriously in a public office, doncha think?

[Libertina]

Did anyone hear the article Rush read today? It portrays a VERY strategic President Bush setting his ducks in a row. Let's allow our President to maneuver - and I believe he won't dissappoint us. Unlike a broken clock, which can be right twice a day - Hillary is wrong - EVERY TIME! Let's stand behind our President, he knows more than we do and is SMARTER than the demorats.

[stanz]

Hillary does nothing that isn't 100% self-serving. The Jewish vote helped pushed her over the top in the Senate race. Now, she's thinking in loftier terms.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

You are not in agreement with the she-beast. I think/hope what you mean is: The she-beast is in agreement with you.

[jwalsh07]

If Willie-Jeff did this, people here would be popping jugulars all over the place.

No, the difference is enormous. Bush has dealt with people who kill Americans head on and is killing them in return. Clinton pardones terrorists.

Israel has had 50 years to kill Arafat before Powell ever got there. They chose not to, it is their choice, not Bush's. Sharon can kill him tomorrow.

To compare negotiations with scumbags to taking them home for dinner and a movie serves no purpose.

I have asked myself many times why Bush has eaten this crow and I can only come up with one answer. Iraq. And if he ate that crow to further America's interests, then he is a better man than even I thought. Only time will tell.

[The Raven]

>>Why is Hillary siding against negotiations with Arafat?

Obviously public opinion polls

[Wphile]

The hysteria on this forum and on talk radio is unbelievable. Thank goodness cooler heads prevail in the White House and the Bush administration. So many arm-chair quarterbacks.

[d14truth]

Looks like a typical CYA memo from Senators who want to be able to say they supported meeting, while not supporting meeting. So, the result being that if Powell succeeds they were in support of it; and, if, after meeting, the 'homocide bombings' resume, they cautioned against the meeting. The 'Powell gets credit, Bush gets blame' scenario for campaign statements required of the left and moderates.

[reformjoy]

In addition to the fact that Bush's current policy regarding Israel is a sickening embarrassment, all you have to do is read that letter to see the full clip of ammunition he has handed his enemies to use against him.

Operation Enduring Freedom is America's answer to the attack of 9-11....But, TERRORISTS are more widespread then just the Bin-Laden network, and presently our President is distracted by the TERRORIST actions of the Palestinians against Israel...

Is President Bush committing the error that his father did...

And FORGETTING to ***GET*** Saddam Hussein??

How convinent it is that Arafat's thugs decided to get Bully, right when America Forces were closing in on the Bin Laden Network,...

And getting VERY CLOSE to discovering WHO pulled Bin Laden's strings...

And NOW, Hillary comes out to make President Bush look bad...

America, don't you feel just a bit, like a puppet on HIllary's String?

[breakem]

You reply about the difference between the reaction to Bush and Clinton does not negate my comment.

I'm willing to wait for Bush. I have a lot of respect for the administration he's put in place. So we'll see what tomorrow brings.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...It was The Enemy Within ..HILLARY CLINTON.. that first publically pushed the BUSH Administration to get more "Involved" in the Middle East when it didn't want to. Then ..HILLARY's.. Mouthpiece Senator ARLEN SPECTOR chimed in right behind her on National TV the same day. And then it was a ..HILLARY CLINTON.. controled mainstream news media that picked up the ball from there.

...Can you imagine just what kind of Hell these people would raise here at home if something happens to Secretary of State COLIN POWELL while he's over there and just BUSH ..HILLARY CLINTON.. made sure would be blamed for sending him over there...?