Posted on 04/12/2002 2:56:08 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Using the terms "reasonable" and "Arab states" in the same sentence is an irresolvable contradiction.
Doesn't anyone find it sad how little we now need from our administration to make us happy??? Powell goes on an insane trip, we howl! Then he stops the insanity, and we are in ecstacy!!!
I hope my kids don't figure it out!
Dad : "I am so proud of you son!!! Yes, you killed two of your sisters, but you did stop from killing the last one!!! Well DONE!!! BRAVO!"
Arafat Meeting with Allah BREAKING HARD
These same Arabs pull Arafat's strings. This is not local.
The Arabs know they're on deck. They don't want to step in to the batter's box.
They hope for a delay, like a fan(atic) running out on to the field. Something to distract everyone watching.
This was, IMHO, the original plan. Not that anyone in Washington or Jerusalem planned on this specific incident, but Bush and Sharon did plan to give Arafag as much rope as he needed to hang himself. Being true to his nature, Arafag unleashed another bomber. This was very predictable, and very much to our advantage.
As you say, now we look as good as possible to the rest of the Arabs. Now they can't scream so much when we cut off Arafag altogether, and Israel decides (probably after a few more bombings) to go in, seize him, and put him on a plane to Tunisia.
Powell is doing just what Bush wants him to do. By leaving open the possibility of a meeting on Sunday, he gives Arafag more rope. We all know that he will never denounce the terror, at least not in Arabic. Powell will take that as a double sign of bad faith, and leave.
All the pieces are falling into place.
I just wish I could figure out a way to skate by the way Powell/Bush do. You know? I want to get rewarded for doing things I am supposed to do and not doing things I am not supposed to do!
Powell will not meet Arafat! (I pledge not to kill my neighbor!)
Bush stops coddling the murderer Arafat! (I pledge not to steal EVERYTHING from the donation plate in church!)
I prefer to think in terms of leadership. President Bush enjoys my implicit trust, and therefore I will reserve judgement until the results of his policies manifest themselves.
Does it appear contradictory to mitigate anti terror objectives and dissemble about Arafat, well heck yes it does, but I reserve my judgement in the expectation that the goal of ending terror is the singular principle in the President's mind. I give total, nonjudgemental lattitude to the Bush administration's tactical maneuvers.
clinton demonstrated that he was a coward, a criminal, a vapid leftist hack, and an individual entirely lacking in character and judgement. As such his tactics were suspect because a damnable fool is as a damnable fool does.
Some folks in the media, and even here, cant seem to shift from suspect crookedness mode to expect excellence mode.
Who knows. Even FNC has conflicting reports. It seems the Bush administration isn't sure what needs to be done on this matter. I suspect Powell wants to meet with Arafat and the national security team is saying NFW.
Give Arafat enough rope to hang himself and have Powell shrug his shoulders and say, "Hell, I tried. OK, Sharon, go to it."
I like that. It may take a while...
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