Bush Waives Provisions 1987 Anti Terrorism Law "in the national interest"

CNN TV | 4/16/2002 | Phil V.

[CyberAnt]

He's not trying to help Arafat - he's trying to help the Palestinian people ... you know, the ones who think it's okay to blow up their children.

Our President is ever the optimist - bless him!!

[Phil V.]

BTW, if you weren't being sarcastic on your post#52 . . .

I was not being sarcastic. Bush IS way ahead of the "FreeRepublic curve".

When I heard the CNN flash my first thought was how the majority on FreeRepublic would froth over the "death" of the Bush Doctrine/betrayal/confusion . . . and on, and on, and on . . .

Sadly, I was not disappointed

[wimpycat]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm willing to give Bush and Powell the benefit of the doubt and I concede the fact that they are privy to information that the general public is not.

[takenoprisoner]

"You get what you pay for." Too late to whine now.

[Phil V.]

Too late to whine now.

I like my "purchase". No whine here.

[browardchad]

Absolute, complete and total SPIN.

But this time, the document notifying Congress of the decision includes new language adding a factor to the president's ongoing determinations about relations with Palestinian authorities: compliance with Bush's April 4 demands for an immediate cease-fire, immediate resumption of security cooperation with Israel against terrorism and an immediate order to crack down on terrorist networks.

Which of these "factors" have been fulfilled? Answer: NONE.

I am now convinced: Bush's "War on Terror" is phony.

[takenoprisoner]

Bush IS way ahead of the "FreeRepublic curve".

Indeed, but he's going the wrong way.

[Phil V.]

I am now convinced . . .

You must have a WHOLE HOUSE FULL of stuff costing $19.95.

[takenoprisoner]

I like my "purchase". No whine here.

There was a time this nation did not negotiate with terrorists. Now not only does this nation negotiate with terrorists, it as a matter of record financially supports terrorism.

Do you deny the well documented fact that Arafat is a terrorist? And do you fear Arafat?

[Phil V.]

Your assertion is false. Your question leads nowhere.

Benign neglect has allowed the conflict to ripen to a point where we see the "precipice". As we contemplate the "precipice" we now have a choice. . . incineration or another day.

I have been an outspoken critic of Sharon. Yet I see just a glimmer of genius behind what has appeared to me to be INSANITY. His isolation of Arafat has transformed Arafat to near god-like dimensions in the eyes of HIS people. At the same time Sharon has assumed an equivalent level of esteem in the eyes of the Israelis. Both men have an excruciatingly difficult sell to their constituents. BOTH will have to spent every last ounce of political capital in the peace process/deal. One or both may pay with their lives. Peace or precipice?

Thy Will be done.

[Phil V.]

fyi

[takenoprisoner]

Your assertion is false. Your question leads nowhere.

I'll try one last time. Do you accept the fact that Arafat is a terrorist?

[Phil V.]

I accept that there are many, many dimensions to Mr. Arafat/Sharon. One of those dimensions, "terrorist", applies to each. It is useless to define either man in terms of one dimension.

I can say with absolute honesty that I am a KILLER. That statement/dimension of myself MEANS NOTHING by itself.

Your desire to reduce the Middle East to simple, absolute terms is understandable. But it is not productive.

[week 71]

I get a really bad feeling about what this means for the United States.

[takenoprisoner]

This is a smart move on Bushs part. The deal is : funding if they root out terrorism. They have 6 months.

I first came to know Arafat as a terrorist in 1972. That's thirty years by my calculation. Smart? Is this a trick question? The supply of monies which should never have been dealt to terrorists should be deleted now and forever. Not six months from now, not 24 hours from now. But right this instant.

[Rollee]

Oh, God, no, please don't send her back here! I shudder at the thought. This place is rife with dem's, we don't need any more. Could we put the creature, the husband, the ex veep and alec baldwin in a boat and ship them away? There are many places where they could exist with their own kind -Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia...

[whadizit]

Yeah, that's the answer! Hey, GW, they get so much from Arab countries, trying to control them this way is stupid!!

[takenoprisoner]

Your desire to reduce the Middle East to simple, absolute terms is understandable. But it is not productive.

These are not my terms. Arafat is a world renowned terrorist.

[Cold Heat]

I first came to know Arafat as a terrorist in 1972.

That would be the killing of atheletes at the olympics in West Germany. I was there. We were on alert for so long, I forgot what hot food tasted like.

[whadizit]

Exactly. They just raised a bunch - $100 million! What has Arafat done with the aid from yrs. past? Has GW or any official asked that? Huh?