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Posted on 08/30/2004 1:05:38 PM PDT by areafiftyone
NASHUA, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) staunchly defended Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) from a surprising attack at a Bush campaign event in this battleground state.
Bush also recommitted himself to the internationally drawn "roadmap" to Middle East peace and blamed the Palestinian leadership for stalled efforts to create an independent Palestinian state living at peace with Israel.
"Ariel Sharon is a duly elected official in a democracy," said the US president. "We would hope that the Palestinians would have that same kind of democracy, which would lead to a more peaceful world."
A young woman had asked Bush in a question-and-answer forum how he could have called Sharon "'a man of peace' if he causes death and torture among innocent Palestinians."
"That's a good question," he said. "First of all, Ariel Sharon is defending his country against terrorist attack, just like we all are," Bush said, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.
Sharon "has made the conscious decision that a Palestinian state is in his nation's interest," said Bush, who insisted that the best way to reach that outcome is the tattered roadmap to peace.
"There's a leadership question involved in whether or not a Palestinian state will emerge. In order for a Palestinian state to emerge, there must be Palestinian leadership that believes in the hopes and aspirations of the people," he said.
Bush said Palestinian leaders must be willing to establish institutions and the rule of law "as opposed to a system in which one person pretty well dictates the fate of the Palestinian people."
"And so the real challenge is to not only stay on the roadmap ... but is for (Palestinian) leadership to emerge that is committed to the aspirations of the people," Bush said.
fyi
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"That dress isn't fooling anybody," Bush snapped back in response. "Sit down, Buchanan!" :)
LOL!
A perfectly understandable mistake... 
... in more ways than one. :)
Well, at least "she" has "some" credibility.
Great question which gave the President an opportunity to shine with his answer.......thank you, sir!
<< Well, at least "she" has "some" credibility. >>
Good one!!
The Kerry defence is forthcoming.
what?.... uh huh.... uh huh..... huh?..... oops! DOH! Never mind. Sorry....
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