Bush Middle East Speech Discussion Thread

[RCW2001]

Bush Middle East Speech Discussion Thread

[Diddle E. Squat]

since the "Who is like Bush who can make war with him" sentiments are coming from them.

While from my brief scan of this thread I surmise that I disagree with much of your position, I have to applaud you for a witty turn of the phrase. Very clever, made me chuckle.

I do think that Rush is correct on this issue, in that it smells to high heaven of appeasement(creating the new state of Polandstine?) Nonetheless, it may be a tradeoff that has to be made to enable greater gains in the region. Doesn't make sense to me yet, and I don't mind seeing others criticize Bush's actions on this particular issue, but for now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He is far more shrewd, pragamatic, and focused on the endgame than most of the perpetual Freeper Eyores.

[Howlin]

And eventually Israel will finish the wall.

And the problem with that would be...........????????

[habs4ever]

I've never been accused of being incomprehensible before,but maybe to those with your mental faculties, I would be.The big nut is Iraq and anything else the US does regarding the Palestinians is for public consumption throughout the region.And the word going forth is that the PLO is finished.Will Syria want to cross the US and support Arafat further? They do so at their own risk.

Keep up, now, this is major league statecraft at work.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Good to see your friend in the box taking Bush's advice and getting some exercise.

[Howlin]

I think we are seeing God's grace in action in this President's life and it is stunning to watch. Very humbling.

"This election is a choice between good and evil." ~~~Al Gore, Campaign 2000

[EternalHope]

I don't get this kind of thinking. Bush said Arafat has to go? Wasn't it Bush's secretary of state who said that we have to deal with Arafat, that we don't get to choose the Palestinian leader, and Israel has to deal with him, too?

I share your surprise, but the only possible way to interpret the speach is that President Bush said the current Palestinian leadership has to be replaced.

This FACT is starting to sink in around the world, and the Arab media is already outraged.

Obviously a lot of Freepers were caught by surprise as well. Many, many posters jumped to lots of wrong conclusions.

When Bush called for new Palestinian leadership, untainted by previous ties to terrorism, he knew Arafat would not go willingly. That alone was HUGE, but there was a lot more.

For instance, when President Bush explicitly singled out Syria, he knew Syria would shake their fist back at us. This was also HUGE.

Folks, those of you/us who were hoping for a clear-cut and principled declaration got exactly what we wanted. It was diplomaticly worded, and that threw a few hot blooded Freepers off track. But the meaning could not be more clear.

This speach was an ultimatum. President Bush knows how it will be received in the Arab world, and would not have given it unless he already had the winning cards in his hand.

As we said in my Air Force days, "The fit is about hit the shan."

[holdonnow]

And shame on you for the cheap shots against Ronald Reagan. I have to leave, or I'd deal with this directly.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I'll be darned, I never knew that Miss Cleo was a bullfrog.

[ClancyJ]

the administration will simply continue to pressure Israel to concede to its demands.

Bush is not now pressuring Israel to concede. They are occupying towns daily.

No matter what he said - there would have been people on here blasting Bush - so, you get to blast him. Enjoy yourself. It is pretty ridiculous when people have to continually tell people what was said over and over and interpret it for them. Read the transcript and then go ahead and blast him. We expect no less.

[Dane]

Now we have the President saying Arafat must go, and the Secretary of State recently saying that Arafat is the legitimate leader of the Palestinians, who the U.S. and Israel must deal with.

How recently? Anyway that doesn't matter since the President today did lay out an ultimatim and the onus is on Arafat.

Another point what is it about those radio headphones that make people like you, Rush, and Hannity loud mouthed, pompous, know it all, malcontents?

[pyx]

As an aside, can you name ONE national leader who asn't compromised?

M'am,
No, I can not.
IMO, your question is not an aside, its a relavent and good question. And that is the nub of my concern with this most recent national policy announcement regarding the Middle-East, imo.
No national leader has gone without compromise (Thank you Grampa Dave). I am of the opinion that in this case, it is impossible for President Bush to not compromise on what he has announced.

Sadly, any compromise whatsoever on the Middle-East policy announced today by President Bush, would be at least in part a capitulation to terrorism.

In fact, I'll go further, if I may. By even publically responding to the demand for a "palestinian" state, our good President Bush has lent credance to a causse furthered by the usage of terrorism.

Based on this, I am in disagreement with our President in his policy announcement today.
Respectfully,
Pyx.

[Diddle E. Squat]

No offense, but there is something ironic about someone named 'Spiff' calling the President a wimp.

[Miss Marple]

I am not defensive. I am mystified by your interpretation of the speech.

What do you suggest? The President has laid down very stringent conditions for a Palestinian state. Either they meet the conditions, which would mean the end of terrorism, or they do not. If they do not, I believe that the President was fairly clear in his threat to them and to all those who support terror.

[holdonnow]

An ultimatum, huh? And if the Palestinians don't do all asked of them, what will we do? Allow the Israelis to defend themselves? Some consulation. The Israelis should be free to defend themselves now. How many more ultimatums and false peace agreements must there be to make the point? wake up and smell the terrorists! We wouldn't tolerate any of this, and we shouldn't insist that the Israelis tolerate it.