Powell Meeting with Arafat CANCELLED - State Department, Fox News Channel

Fox News Channel - no URL

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Cancelled, not "on hold" and not "postponed".

[Scott from the Left Coast]

This is good. I was a little amazed by the earlier statement that the meeting might be held on Sunday. The delay of one day was for the bombing in Jerusalem? My how cheap life has become, I thought -- it's only worth a one-day delay. But if this is true that's a much better sign.

[tomahawk]

Yes, that strategy is called stupidity. The State Dept. pushed the paying of ransom to terrorist, which inevitably caused them to take more hostages. Defense Dept. was against.

[RamsNo1]

How fitting it would be for arab terrorist thugs to be marching down the champs d'elysees in Paris re-enacting the Nazi death march of 60 years ago.

[L`enn]

It MUST escalate. To save the village, it must be destroyed.

[DJ88]

Yeah, that would work too. Anything to tick off the Frenchies. Notice the stunning silence from Arafart? Not a WORD.

"Who ME?? I HAD NUDING TO DO WID DIS! I AM GENERAL ARAFAT! YOU LEAVE ME ALONE! I BE CUT OFF FROM WORLD UNFAIRLY BY EVIL ZIONISTS!" WAHHHHH.

[linn37]

I guess I'll have to get flamed here. I think he should have had the last meeting with Arafat to explain in person what the US policy would be with dealing with him if he did not get on track....and then after that let whatever Arafat decided on be what Arafat had to live or die for.

[elfman2]

"Was there any particular strategy in paying ransom to Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the Phillippines?"

You tell me.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

How about: "I was showing Sharon how a little weight- training can really slim you down, and he should really stay out of those pizza joints anyhow given all the bombs going off in them."

[DJ88]

One question about the "village"...would that be the one Hillary will be in? ;-) (just kidding)

[Robert_Paulson2]

This is (in diplomatic war) the "cutting off" part. I suspect arafatty's own brethren will be offing him soon to try and take over his lofty position in the plo, hamas or whatever else... the in-fighting amongst arabs is about to begin in earnest... I suspect.

[DJ88]

Arafat could have denounced the bombing today. But of course he did not, because it was the Al Aqsa Brigade that did it, and that is part of his "regime". Therefore, his silence speaks a 1000 words. He didn't have to say anything. His silence said it all.

Not flaming you, linn, just the way I see it, is all.

[Robert_Paulson2]

sounds like a plan.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That message can be sent without a meeting that could be used to legitimize and support Arafat amongst his own population. There would be TV and photos of the handshake, just showing the Palestinians that all their murders weren't enough to make the "craven" Americans act against them. The symbolism would've stained the hard message by allowing Arafat to use it for PR purposes.

Total isolation and a statement that no business will be done with the Palestinians until they first get rid of the terrorists and renounce it forever.

They won't do that, at this time, of course. But that's what winning wars are for.

[RamsNo1]

I'm sorry but what should we care about 2 people who freely went to the Phillippines taking their lives in THEIR own hands? I'm so glad that my taxpayer money is funding filipino terrorism now. Bush should be investigated for this debacle.

[Cloud William]

That is a bit of a relief. I didn't think it was a good idea at all for Powell to meet with Arafat.

I'll be more relied when Powell's jet lifts off, leaving Arafat to contemplate his fate. This talk about "Well, maybe on Sunday we could meet..." is absurd. What, is there some rule of etiquette that say one must wait a certain number of hours after a terror bombing before meeting with the bad guys? If it's a no-go at this point, why would Sunday be acceptable?

[Cold Heat]

I just watched the CNN spin on the same subject. They are still reporting the Palistinian version of a 24hr delay and then won't confirm it. Do these folks at CNN have a soul? Must not, cuz they cannot report what the state dept. said. They lie as badly as Arabs.

I believe that if Arafat acts like a statesman and does what we ask, then he should be given anther chance to humiliate himself and the Palistinian cause. If he humiliates himself one more time the die will be cast and his lack of leadership will be noted by all.(wishfull thinking)

BTW I plan to be there at this time.(unless something stops me) Mrs. Wirestripper will likely come as well.

[L`enn]

Arafat is now between the devil and the deep blue sea. If he denounces the terrorist homicide bombers, in Arabic of course, his own people will do the whacking, and blame it on the Jews of course.

What noone seems to get is it does not matter if he renounces terror, in Arabic, or English. If he does say it, the Palies will envision him saying it while winking at them. Actions, not words will clean out this cesspool.

[aBootes]

I think he should have had the last meeting with Arafat to explain in person what the US policy would be with dealing with him if he did not get on track....

I'd love to see this happen if we could get it on tape. It would be Part 1 of a two-part drama. Part 2 would be scenes of what happens when Arafat gives the wrong answer. Think of it as the American answer to all those jihad recruiting CDs...

[linn37]

ok just thinking a face to face warning might have helped arafat understand just how far gone the situation is.

[Cloud William]

D'oh!! "relied" = "relieved".