President Bush Discussed Middle East in Rose Garden Address - FULL TEXT

Whitehouse ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

The United States, along with the European Union and Arab states, will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new constitutional framework, and a working democracy for the Palestinian people.

Respectfully, what incentive exists for the non-democratic Arab states to work for a democratic Palestinian state?

[D-fendr]

Well done, Mr. President.

Radical Islam will not accept your terms of democracy, they see it as opposition to their goal of theocracy and Islamic world domination. But we cannot accept that and if the Palestinians choose these leaders and goals, then our only option is to defeat them, and bring more misery upon these people.

This speech is clear and right. I hope the Palestinians choose the right path.

[TheDon]

Nice line.

[Mike Darancette]

I put the radio on and the 'expert' Sean Hannity is bashing the President and suggesting this is all about appeasing terrorists.

Since this was Hannity's pre-conceived position based upon stories from the NY Times and the whining of Bill Krystol does anyone expect him to change it now?

Did Hannity even listen critically to what Bush said?

[Tamerlane]

Got yer quote.

[hchutch]

I don't know what speech YOU were listening to, but to me it was just this side of an ultimatum to the Palestinians. Most of the Israelis sure seem happy with it.

[moodyskeptic]

This is, I believe, the first time an American president has insisted on concrete changes:

"Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born. "

"Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money, equipment and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel -- including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Every nation actually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to these groups, and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq. And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations"

"Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media, and publicly denounce homicide bombings."

"Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing, terrorism. This is unacceptable."

These sound pretty firm to me. And they stand as a public statement from which Bush can act in the future, disarming the inevitable criticisms when the Mideast heats up. And it will get hot, indeed.

[thoughtomator]

This speech is simply amazing, kudos to Bush. All you people who are trying to put him down... pull your heads out of your asses. This speech provides for the #1 most important thing in the Israel-Arab conflict... the prompt removal of Arafat. There's no equivocation at all about Israel, he clearly and truthfully states that they are well within their rights to defend themselves. Of course he's going to sugar-coat his words about the Muslim world. It is not our intention nor in our interests to make this a religious war. It is a war about truth, justice, and the American way.

[MeekOneGOP]

There ya go.......

[sakic]

History of Israel

[ex-snook]

Thanks for posting the speech. President Bush has given both sides enough rope to hang themselves. Let's see if the Palestinians will find it easier to suppress their 'wipe out the Jews from Palestine' hard-liners or the Israelis to suppress their 'wipe out the Palestinians from the West Bank' hard-liners.

Will the 'settlers become Palestine citizens or not? Let the games begin.

[Travis McGee]

This speech is clear and right. I hope the Palestinians choose the right path.

This is a delusion.

It does not matter if 90% of Palestineans endorsed Oslo or any other plan, or even if they elected a new Ghandi as leader.

Those whose goal is the destruction of Israel will ALWAYS hold full veto power over peace; they will continue to blow up buses and markets full of children, and the IDF will continue to go into the West Bank if force.

Anyone who doesn't recognize the terrorism "veto card" held by the radical islamist hardliners is simply not facing reality.

[miner89]

The interesting thing, I think, about this speech is that it is exactly right. It sets forth exactly what must happen for a real peaceful solution to be achieved. In a nutshell there are basically three ways for a final resolution of this conflict.

1. Israel utterly defeats all the Arabs opposing her.

2. The Arabs utterly destroy Israel.

3. Both sides agree to live peacefully together.

The world community insists that 3 is the proper answer and the pressure is always on every US administration to achieve number 3. The refreshing thing about this speech is that it tells absolutely the truth about what is required to achieve solution number 3.

ALL PARTIES MUST AGREE TO BE REASONABLE

The problem is that so many of us and everyone else that do not really believe that there is any chance that all parties will be reasonable.

So in a sense, Bush has prescribed that exact right solution. This is what must happen if 3 is to prevail. However, if it happens that people are not reasonable (probably) no one can credibly claim that Bush did not attempt to do it.

I think it's interesting that once again Bush makes a speech where he basically states "This is the right thing to do." (I was thinking of the stem cell speech. Note all the sudden flurry of research that adult stem cells are adequate). The speech probably doesn't really make anyone happy, but states some obvious truth that people generally don't want to hear.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

What is wrong with Sean Hannity? Total garbage. Thanks for the report re: Israel's reaction to the speech.

[berned]

I agree with you. I think Bush knows the Pali's can never truly bring themselves to elect a leadership which has the West's approval (kiss of death) and they can never renounce terror. So, it's just as you say. This is merely political cover for Bush, and he will move on -- to Iraq.

[OldFriend]

Israel is thrilled with the speech.......every commentator stated it was totally in support of Israel........but of course big mouth motor mouth knows better. SICKENING.......and truth be told I am sick of Mark Levin too.

[My2Cents]

"The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace, and hope, and life."

And if the Palestinians don't....BOMBS AWAY!

[hchutch]

The big choice is on the side of the Palestinians, though. Will Arafat and the Arba states go against the terrorists, and will the Palestinian people shake off the hoodlums and murders who lead them?

Israel will pull out the settlements if the deal is reached to do so. See the Camp David accords with Egypt.

The real question is how the Palestinians react. The ball is squarely in their court.

[KissOfTheSith]

>"It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation."

There you go. Nobody even had to wait for it. First sentence, second paragraph.

Equating the Israelis to the Palestinians.

It wasn't the Israelis singing and dancing in the streets after the 9/11 attack. That was the Palestinians.

Clearly, Bush is not insane.

Then why would he continue this irrational, horrible and hopeless course of embracing the Palestinians, and CONCEPTUALLY giving them equal status to real, honest-to-goodness civilized people?!

There is going to be big trouble ahead. When you insist on driving toward a river after passing half a dozen signs that read "Bridge Out" there's really no excuse for a surprised look on your face when you start drowning...

--KotS

[Dog Gone]

Amazing that the President could say this with a straight face.

Cheap compliments made in an effort to get someone to behave better are often effective. This speech is going to be read in the arabic press, and Bush knew his audience.