When Bush gives his speech, I am going to be listening very closely to the conditions. The homicide bombings are largely done by a Hamas who do not want a state. Hamas is very active everytime it looks like everyone might be coming to the table. Right now, the PR that is winning is Israel is a horrible occupier. Well, if you take that away from the Palestinians. If you call their PR (that hides their real aim) bluff and give them what they call for. If you do that... and the violence continues... then you will have exposed them to the world. Even though you would have to be stupid to not understand the goal of Hamas, etc. is the destruction of Israel... the world seems to live in stupid land.
Well, let's say they get their land... they get their state... conditioned on acting like human beings... and the violence continues... then Israel and US can say to the world... they have revealed themselves to be what they truly are. They stand naked and exposed to the world. Article 22 of the PLO charter, the one they say they don't mean... they one they say they don't hold to anymore... is the whole reason for being.
I do believe Bush will call for a Palestinian state... this is a good thing. But, the conditions will be such that the Palestinians must stop acting like animals and act like civilized human beings. They must do away with their current leadership and their current aims... If they cannot, then no state... no nothing... If article 22 remains and is continued to be acted on... then they will have to live with the consequences of that action. They are getting the only chance Bush will give them. Then he can go to the world community and say... you can't make peace with these people for we have given them what they want and still the violence continues.
I believe Bush understands Israel's real enemey is not Hamas but Saddam Hussein. Israel seems to understand this too.
I read some of these posts, and I see people jumping to conclusions. Calling Bush a sell-out, etc. Israel, herself, does not want to rule over Palestinians. As early as August of 1967, the Israeli government have looked for ways to live with the Palestinians in peace.
But again... I think Bush is frustrated because Iraq has done her job well. By stirring up the Palestinians (especially Hamas)... it buys Iraq precious time to continue to get weapons of mass destruction.
So, I've said it twice... I will say it again... before we jump to conclusions and call Bush all sorts of names... let's hear the speech first. I believe everyone will be pleasantly surprised.
...(Actually your entire post) Truth and rational thinking BUMP.