Posted on 04/18/2002 10:07:13 PM PDT by HAL9000
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Former President Clinton said Thursday he would like to have a role in the Middle East peace process but his contribution would depend on what the Bush administration had in mind."I'm actually working on a lot of projects right now that, if they went through, would bring some economic benefits to the region in a way that I think would be conducive to peace,'' Clinton said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He declined to elaborate on the projects.
Clinton said he wasn't surprised that Secretary of State Colin Powell did not win a peace agreement during his visit to the Mideast and that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat alone cannot be expected to bring an end to the terrorist attacks by various factions.
But Clinton added that Arafat still has considerable influence.
"If he had been 100 percent against all terrorism, there would have been less than there has been but there still would have been a lot,'' Clinton said.
Clinton would not comment on criticism by President Bush that his failed 2000 Mideast summit had resulted in a "significant intefadeh.'' Bush made the comment to British TV last week, but later said he was not trying to blame Clinton for the current crisis.
"I think the less I say about that the better,'' said Clinton, but added, "Keep in mind that Camp David was the beginning of a process that went on for six months ... We were very, very close at the end and I was surprised that we didn't get it signed and that's all I can say.''
The ex-president traveled to Arkansas on Thursday for a pair of fund-raisers, one for Rep. Mike Ross, a Democrat, and the other to help restore the home of civil rights leader Daisy Bates, who with husband L.C. Bates mentored the nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
Clinton recalled returning to Little Rock while president to mark the 40th anniversary of the school's integration.
"The governor (Mike Huckabee) and I held open the doors when the not-so-young Little Rock Nine walked through,'' he said.
Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, was captured in a historic photo being screamed at by a young white woman while walking to class. On Thursday, she recalled meetings in the Bates' basement.
"I knew the significance of what we were doing,'' Eckford said.
Johanna Miller Lewis, a history professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, said the school is seeking about $100,000 to renovate the home and open it as a museum.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Never a truer word was spoken by Mr. C.
The less he says about anything, the better.
Somewhere on this site is a thread with an article about Clinton screaming at Arafat "You ruined my legacy!"
I hate this SOB. And, yes, HATE is the right word. I consider it a sure sign of my intelligence.
"More, rather than less; sooner, rather than later."
HE WILL NEVER SHUT UP!
I agree. I hate him too. He raped this country for his own glorification.
I can see the boys and girls of the W administration laughing their collective a**es off over this. "Yeah, like we want the flu!"
Clinton is beyond irrelevant.
HUH??
This is an effort to rehab Clinton and nothing more.
Well, that's what I wish she would have said.
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