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Hmmmmmmm.... They must be reading my posts. I said Israel tanks would be leaving the West Bank as Powell's airplane touched down on the tarmac.
Anyone who thinks President Bush embarked on this course of action on-the-fly, or was caving willy-nilly to media pressure, I've got a bridge to sell you. In fact, Israeli officials likely kept the White House in-the-loop all along, but have decided to wrap-up the mission, its primary objectives having been met.The notion that Bush would risk U.S. prestige to have Israel snub his appeal to withdraw is ludicrous on its face. Yesterday's Rose Garden statement was likely the culmination of heavy U.S.-Israeli advance planning. You'll notice the tell-tale absense of any timetable for Israel's departure.
In Mideast diplomacy, finesse is the coin of the realm, so a good deal of tactical subterfuge is essential.
Contrary to claims by enemies of Israel, it was never Sharon's intention to stay in the "territories". Public statements by senior Israeli officials made that abundantly clear. The mission was never meant as open-ended, but rather a short-term (2-week) incursion with very specific, clearly defined military goals.
One thing's clear: Both in its swiftness and execution, the impressive success of Operation Defensive Shield sent a jolting message to enemies of Israel -- particularly those in the "territories". It convincingly demonstrated that, notwithstanding months of suicide bombings, Israel's resolve remains as firm as ever. If the terrorists banked on breaking Israeli morale, they badly miscalculated. The wanton killing of innocent civilians only strengthened Israel's resolve.
Operation Defensive Shield was 'blowback' -- Israeli style. It reaffirmed Israel's determination to survive; but more than survive, to defeat -- and defeat decisively -- those who would threaten her, or attempt to drive her from the region.
That said, Israel would still need a face-saving way to pull out, and that's where yesterday's Rose Garden announcement comes in.
Regarding that speech, it wasn't exactly what I would call a glowing portrait of Yasser Arafat. Far from it: It was a searing indictment. The President placed the onus for peace where it rightly belongs -- squarely on Arafat's shoulders. In so doing, he vindicated Sharon and blamed Arafat -- not Israel -- for the deterioration. He reiterated Israel's case for moving against the terrorists, and put his imprimatur on her military campaign.
"At Oslo and elsewhere, Chairman Arafat renounced terror as an instrument of his cause", said the President yesterday, "and he agreed to control it. He's not done so. The situation in which he [Arafat] finds himself today is largely of his own making. He has missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of his people."
Not quite what Arafat and his minions wanted to hear. "Cabinet Minister" Saeb Erekat blasted Bush, denouncing his criticism as "unjustified and unacceptable", even as the Palestinian Authority issued a statement ostensibly embracing the U.S. initiative "unconditionally".
The President, in that 20-minute address, made another thing clear: Suicide bombers aren't "martyrs", they are murderers. This is homocide, not legitimate political activism. He condemned governments like Iraq for inciting it. In Iraq's case, for soliciting it through its system of payments to families whose children engage in it.
The President put Syria and Iran on notice: "Those who would try to use the current crisis as an opportunity to widen the conflict: Stay out".
While the President said he doesn't harbor any illusions, it's clear where blame will fall in the event of failure: On Arafat and his terrorist allies.
Moreover, among the damning evidence collected by the IDF during its sweep of the West Bank are truckloads of documents implicating Arafat personally of complicity in terrorism, despite strong public denials.
Gee, any wonder why those suicide bombings have ceased since Israel's incursion?
In short, for the U.S., this is a diplomatic/political no-brainer; For Israel, it's a win-win.
So, in one swift-fell-swoop, Bush gives Sharon a face-saving way out (and enough time to finish the job: Sec. Powell won't get there till the middle of next week), out-maneuvers the E.U., defuses yet another issue -- all the while maintaining America's pre-eminent role as honest-broker in the region.
Yet another masterful chess move by the master himself.
Anyway, that's...
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"