Homegrown antipathy for Arafat brews: Critics threaten to wage civil war

Boston Globe ^ | May 11, 2002 | Charles A. Radin

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Who was running the U.S. government when this brilliantly conceived plan was "brokered"?

I guess is was that idiot looking for an award.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's a mess all right. Perhaps a new day will dawn with the removal of Arafat and all his supporters.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Just how is Yasser or any other Pali leader going to re-educate these brain-washed young idiots? It is more likely though, that this is just more bravado and BS. The Palis don't want another dose of the Israelis moving in.

I think you've answered your own question, it's called discipline.

[section9]

This is our strategy, and it will work with telling effect.

The War Cabinet (Rice, Powell, Rummy, and Cheney, with some input from Tenet) decided to use aikido: they are going around Arafat. Instead of directly attacking him, they are looking for other people to work with while at the same time putting verbal pressure on Sharon (which is meaningless, and both the Americans and the Israelis know it). We are using the magic words of "corruption" and "bribery", and there isn't a man-jack in the Palestinian middle class that hasn't experienced this criminality.

Methinks this just might work: Arafat promoted to "elder statesman".

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Methinks this just might work: Arafat promoted to "elder statesman".

Right up there with Jimmy Carter. I think you're putting this in the right perspective.

[norton]

If Arafat were gone tomorrow and a rational, peaceloving, and compassionate dove set in his place;
if the palestinians-by-definition were provided their state and a pot load of international money to rebuild it with;
there'd still be a whole bunch of brain-washed loons out there with access to and training on the tools of terrorism.

Those loons would be a danger to the region and the world for a generation or more and they would assure the failure of any effort to build from what Arafat and the UN have left behind.

Increasingly I doubt there is any solution short of a very ugly war.

[Lion's Cub]

Oh yes, their reporting is so much more accurate.

You miss the point. Until Arafat can be criticized in the Arab press, he's still soundly in power.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I'm sorry I missed your point. I think every bit of "drip-drip-drip" that diminishes Arafat, (Gosh, what a change in presidents can acomplish!) works towards a positive outcome

[Cincinatus' Wife]

..... there'd still be a whole bunch of brain-washed loons out there with access to and training on the tools of terrorism.

Of that I have no doubt and they aren't just in the Middle East either.

[browardchad]

there'd still be a whole bunch of brain-washed loons out there with access to and training on the tools of terrorism

...and supported in terrorism by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

I'll BUMP to that !

[IVote2]

"I guess is was that idiot looking for an award."

Or a legacy...

OPPS! Both!!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Militants are enraged at his statements this week that suicide attacks constitute terrorism and must stop. The hard-liners threaten civil war if he makes the sort of crackdown on armed fighters that the United States and Israel demand. This time the threat seems credible.

One reaps what one has sown.

Sharon's (et al) strategy seems to be working, despite the opposition of the world's bleeding hearts. Marginalize arafart, and his own people will "take care of him" in one way or another. Next challenge will be to force upon them some semblance of a credible government. Precedent: post-WWII Japan, Germany. Could work.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Militants are enraged at his statements this week that suicide attacks constitute terrorism and must stop. The hard-liners threaten civil war if he makes the sort of crackdown on armed fighters that the United States and Israel demand. This time the threat seems credible.

One reaps what one has sown.

Sharon's (et al) strategy seems to be working, despite the opposition of the world's bleeding hearts. Marginalize arafart, and his own people will "take care of him" in one way or another. Next challenge will be to force upon them some semblance of a credible government. Precedent: post-WWII Japan, Germany. Finally, take out the rest of the "trash". Could work.

[monkeyshine]

Civil war is undoubtedly a strong possibility. I've been saying that for over a year. A power vaccuum is developing, and some groups will have to try and fill it.

One possible outcome will be a split between Gaza and the West Bank. Those who really know what's going on in the PA, know that it is a collection of gangs, thugs, mafias and criminal clans. Arafat is the godfather of several "families", but along with the well known Fatah and Tanzim and Hamas and Hezbullah and Al Aqsa also exist the Abayat family, Al Queda, and many smaller criminal enterprises. These groups have control ranging from just a few city blocks to entire cities. They will not yield control to a central authority, but will make corrupt deals with such a central entity -- like paying protection money. Many of these gangs already collect protection money from their local businessmen.