Posted on 05/16/2004 12:16:18 PM PDT by yonif
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:42:10 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Shuneh, , May. 16 (UPI) -- Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for the Middle East William Burns said Sunday Washington recognizes Yasser Arafat as the elected leader of the Palestinians.
Speaking to reporters during the World Economic Forum being held in Shuneh, Jordan, Burns said the U.S. administration also recognized the "status" that Arafat enjoyed in the Palestinian territories.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
ARAFAT APPROVED ATTACK ON U.S. CONVOY
Arafat makes call to 'terrorize' enemy
White House spokesman says the U.S. remains opposed to exiling or killing PA Chairman Arafat
The US should stop sending aid to Arafat and his Palestinian Authority terrorist regime (it should place sanctions on it), view it as a terrorist regime, close its offices in DC, and stop with this hypocritical policy. The Palestinian Authority is a terrorist regime, and it should be no surprise that it refuses to take action against terrorists.
Kaddoumi: PLO charter was never changed [back the Iraqi terror; happy Israel will leave Gaza]
Ping.
Wake me when something important happens...
Actually, there is an alternative. But few people want to think about it, let alone discuss it.
The State Department needs to be either cleaned up or shut down, it's a disgrace to the nation and a major liability in the war.
This month, the State Dept makes this statement, which contradicts the Pres, makes our policy confusing, confers a status on Arafat, that I can only equate with Israel conferring statesman status on Bin Laden.
I am beginning to sense a "wishy washyness" to this admin that is deeply troubling.
And I for one am getting sick and tired of this PC approach to diplomacy and on th conduct of the Iraq war.
Not sure what the issue is. Of course the US has recognised Arafat as the Palestinians elected leader. He is.
The US recognises Gaddafi as Libyan leader, it recognised Mandella as South African leader, it recognised Shamir as Israeli leader, it recognised Saddam as Iraqi leader, it recognises Kim Il Jong as N.Korean Leader, it recognises Tony Blair as UK leader.
It is without judgement - just a statement of fact. Yasser Arrafat is the leader of the Palestinian Authority. Whether the US likes the Palestinian Authority is an entirely different matter....
William Burns continues to circle the globe, embarrassing the United States When will Bush finally pull the plug on this Arabist bastard? Hey Burns--when was the last election which Arafat held? Does Burns believe that "democracy" means "elected once, rule forever"? If so than he belongs in the court of Ibn Saud, and not the Republic of the United States.
I doubt it. I foresee the same middle east policy that has been practiced by the US since 1967.
I agree that status quo is the most likely outcome - but hope springs eternal.
How many times must we hear the same old rhetoric?
As long as negotiations go on with the Palestinian leadership, innocent death and mayhem will prevail.
It's not like this hasn't been proved by history, time and time again, for crying out loud.
ping
So lets see...what day is it today? Monday, the State Department loves Arafart, Tuesday they aren't allowed, Wednesday, they love him again, Thursday, not...Sounds like the old she loves me, she loves me not but with different violent results!!
What a bunch of Putzes we have let assemble under our name in the U.S. State Department! After GWB celebrates in November, (from your mouth to...) I hope he really has the guts to clean up our house first and then let loose the full force of US weapontry on our ememies, both foreign and domestic!!
There is a difference between recognizing someone as a leader and someone as an "elected" leader. Gaddafi, Saddam, Kim Jong Il are not recognized as "elected" leaders by the US. This also gives legitimacy to Arafat, a terrorist.
Look at what CNN had to say about these elections (http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9601/palestine_elex/):
Arafat, expected to win the presidency by an overwhelming margin, has been criticized for conducting the election the way he ran the revolutionary Palestinian Liberation Organization: autocratically, arbitrarily, secretively, and without accountability. "This is only rumors, false rumors, nothing else," Arafat said. "We are used to having some criticism in Gaza. It is part of our democracy, and we are proud of it." Arafat's police have jailed journalists and human rights activists and have intimidated Palestinian newspapers. Winners of primary elections have been pushed aside and elections results ignored so Arafat's people could get on the ballot.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was in the West Bank along with an international team of observers. The group met with Palestinian human rights activists Friday, concerned about reports that journalists and campaign activists were arrested by Arafat's security forces. "Criticism of the central authority has not been permitted," Carter said.
If the US calls Arafat elected, it should call Mullah Omar of the Taliban elected too.
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