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

Whitehouse ^

[dinok]

So much for the GW Bush Doctrine...

It would appear that we have returned to the Bush Senior doctrine..."do whatever is politicaly convenient"...

[hchutch]

Appeasement?

"I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence."

"Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing, terrorism. This is unacceptable. And the United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure."

"I've said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror. To be counted on the side of peace, nations must act. Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media, and publicly denounce homicide bombings. 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.

"Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show by their deeds an undivided support for peace. And as we move toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world."

This is not appeasement. This is something just this side of an ultimatum.

[Trust but Verify]

Sean Hannity is a lightweight when it comes to thinking on the fly. I personally cannot stand listening to him. It's like he has talking points and cannot deviate from them.

[fogarty]

President Bush laid out conditions for his support of Palestinian statehood, which the terrorists will be certain to pre-empt through continued violence.

So why doesn't he pull US support of a Palestinian state because of PAST VIOLENCE? I guess the slaughtered mom and her children two days ago don't count. I guess the 19 Israelis (mostly schoolkids) who were torn apart from a nail-laced bomb last week don't count. I guess the fact that Palestinians were dancing in the streets in their support of 9-11 don't count.

It is far too late to be telling the Palis - "One more time, and I'll punish you...I really mean it this time" - when they already are at the point of laughing at Bush's threats.

[Dog Gone]

The fact that there are some terrorists who are sworn enemies of Israel and will never change their minds is an obstacle to a quick peace, but they won't always have a veto over it. They can be defeated.

Whether they will be defeated anytime soon is really within the control of the countries in the region.

[Hugin]

That is exactly my point. He told the truth about what must happen to get a peaceful settlement. If people don't really want peace there is no use pretending some other make-believe solution. The ball is in their court.....

Well said. For once the onus is on the Arabs (including non-Palestinians) to put up before any concessions are made. If they refuse, they stand with the terrorists against the USA. I doubt that they will change, but the line has been drawn. I especially liked this part...

I've said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror. To be counted on the side of peace, nations must act. Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media, and publicly denounce homicide bombings. 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.

Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show by their deeds an undivided support for peace. And as we move toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world.

This speech offeres a return to the moral clarity of Bush's 9/20/01 speech while still offering a road to some kind of hope for the Palestinians, If they choose not to take it they stand with our enemies. Let's roll.

[Stultis]

That bible quote is kind of "in your face" isn't it?

I don't think so at all. Pious muslims generally are not put off by displays of piety in others; indeed they have a whole "thing" about Western secularism.

[traditionalist]

Has there been any Arab reaction yet to this speach?

[fogarty]

His words bring to mind a weak parent, once again scolding a rebellious toddler with words rather than action: "One more time, and I promise, you are gonna get spanked.....I really mean it this time."

The fact of the matter is, this "ultimatum" should have been given MONTHS ago. It is too late for words promising a vision of a Palestinian state to people who murder and slaughter innocents.

Here is my prediction. Within a few weeks, another crazed Muslim thug will blow himself up in another market or bus, and kill another bunch of Israeli kids. And once again, Bush and Powell will trot out a variation of the 'scolding' speech. "We really mean it this time...if the violence continues, no Palestinian state for you!"

[hchutch]

I think it was always there. Bush was just trying to work it out beforehand.

Watch Venezuela. Hugo Chavez will probably be tossed out in a coup within hours after the next murder-suicide bomb.

[monkeyshine]

Mostly a BS speech, IMHO.

The only concrete thing he said was that we are going to go in and control new elections. That'll be interesting. How are we going to get Arafat out, and then... how are we going to get Hamas out... and then, when a new leader is sworn in, how is he going to get the allegience of the people to stomp terrorism, esp when 55% of the people support suicide bombing?

I dunno RCW2001, call me a pessimist, but I think Bush just set the Palestinians up to fail, again.

[Shermy]

I was kind of thinking it was responsive to Osam's, Hamas, and all the others pointmaking that they are superior because Muslims allegedly prefer death to life, if done for the right cause. I thought Bush twisted this around in a smart way.

[My2Cents]

I think of it as the "Do or Die" speech.

Agreed.

Despite the usual Bush Bashers who have shown up on this thread, I thought these were pretty tough words:

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.

Very specific -- he names names. They are now warned.

[hchutch]

Did you think Bush was bluffing on September 20?

I think the Arabs thought we were, but they guessed wrong. Now, another speech, just this side of an ultimatum.

Arafat is very nervous by now. Bush now can say, "we tried to work it out" before the Israelis roll. It's laid out pretty clearly, and it is up to them to decide if they will choose liberty and peace or war, death, and all that will result from war.

The Arab states also have a choice. Live peacefully with their Israeli neighbors, or share the fate of the Taliban. The unasked question hangs out there: Do you think you can take both the United States and Israel?

[blackie]

There are a few "Axis od Whining Weasels" here that never miss a chance to dis GWB...

To those snivelers, I say, enjoy your misery because you'll be in a funk for the next six plus years of GWB's brilliant leadership !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[Howlin]

There are lot of party liners here who will spin any act of Bush as a success.

Unlike your spin, where everything he does is evil? How dare they contradict you!

[KissOfTheSith]

>...For once the onus is on the Arabs (including non-Palestinians) to put up before any concessions are made. ...offering a road to some kind of hope for the Palestinians, If they choose not to take it they stand with our enemies. Let's roll.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Where have you been for the last, oh, thirty or so years? Did Israel ever initiate a war against an Arab nation?

The "onus" has been on the Arabs for almost two generations and they don't give a rat's ass about it.

The Arabs have been "offered" a road to peace for two generations. Every couple of days they make their choice clear about which road they're committed to when they blow up a half dozen more Israeli civilians.

"Let's roll?!" The Western "Establishment" will not "roll" against the Arabs no matter what the Arabs do or don't do. If 9/11 didn't do it -- Saudis, remember? 3,000 Americans dead, remember? -- then the Establishment is not going to "roll" about any new terrorist attack(s) against Israel (which can always be explained away as "radical extremists" disconnected from the "peace loving" Pallie people...).

One can draw a line and say this is the border between, say, Britain and France. But can anyone draw a line and say this is the dividing line between OPEC and the Western Establishment?

-- KotS

[Howlin]

Several times he mentioned his VISION FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE. How can you possibly explain that this is NOT coddling of the Palestinian terrorists?

Somehow I don't think his VISION is the same at the terrorits.

Don't you LISTEN??????

[foreshadowed at waco]

This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace; a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death; therefore, choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace, and hope, and life.

This just about says it all. Will the Arabs choose life or death?

[Howlin]