Safire: Bush's Mideast Charade

The New York Times ^ | 10/25/2001 | WILLIAM SAFIRE

[VA Advogado]

How can so many freepers not wonder at the Bush administration when it acts this way? It is just so gutless.

As opposed to your brave heros in the Clinton administration that really did want to screw Israel?

[alley cat]

Safire must lurk on FR. I said over a week ago that we were winking at Israel while criticizing them.

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

I think I have as good pro-Israeli credentials as anyone around here, but in Dick Cheney's famous words, Sharon screwed up 'big time.'

The big fault of Sharon in reaction to the assassination is that he obviously acted with his heart and not his head. He never declared what the IDF was doing in the first place. Was it to end the PA, now and forever, as Ghandi's assassination was the last straw? No, he didn't say that. Was it a preventative act--in other words, we're so sure that the Palestinians are about to go and assassinate more ministers, I have to do this to protect my buddy Shimon Peres. No, he didn't say that either.

This 'we will treat the PA as a terrorist organization' unless the assassins are handed over implies that, according to the IDF rules of engagement, Arafat is a legitimate target. But, right after the PA tells the Israelis to go screw themselves, the whole government tells the whole world that, no, Arafat is not a target.

In fact, it's pretty clear that he's backing away from the whole extradition concept in any event. Now, they're going after the killers, which is fine, and I'm totally happy with the action last night. But why wasn't that the goal in the first place? Why give Arafat time to meet a demand he wasn't going to meet?

As the IDF tanks inevitably withdraw tomorrow, Sharon will have to eat many words--not good, for Israel's deterrent capability. The Arabs--correctly--will realize the IDF can be held in check by a few well placed phone calls to Foggy Bottom. Since the Palestinians act in one-day attacks, and not sustained movements, this gives them yet another leg up on Israel in the assymetric warfare.

Sharon must be the worst chess player in the world, he doesn't even think one move in advance. LIke the Chamberlain comment. If he felt compelled to say it publicly, why did he back away the very next day? Did he think Bush would appreciate the comment? Or, if he really doesn't want to tick off Bush, then why say it in the first place?

This is why the last election featured one of the worst turnouts in Israeli history. It's obvious the vote was, 'Get rid of Barak,' and not, 'Bring on Sharon.' Because Sharon's leadership skills are pretty horrible.

[veronica]

Yeah I read this. Reuters (barf) had a similar piece. MUGGER, my fav at the NY Press too.

I love Safire...he's a jewel (-;.

[veronica]

As the IDF tanks inevitably withdraw tomorrow, Sharon will have to eat many words--

WRONG.

Israel had a very successful foray into the West Bank.

LOTS of baddies captured, killed, whatever. Over 20 terrorists nailed, two assasins found....AND THAT WAS THE POINT.

If Arafat won't nail them Israel will. AS WE WOULD.

[Sabramerican]

a smart strategy

No it's not. As Safire says, it will get Americans killed.

Sends the message that the more Americans you kill, the more you harm US/Israeli relations.

Imagine a different message to the terrorists. The US and Israel are together. Come against any one of us and separately and together we will destroy you. They have big mouths but watch them run (as they have always done when faced with force instead of appeasing words)

[mmmmmmmm....... donuts]

did sharon say or not say that he'll treat the PA as terrorists if they didn't have over the assassins? if they're terrorists, then you flush them out. i don't see too many planes being revved up for tunisia. do you?

[mercy]

****your brave heros in the Clinton administration****

your???? YOUR?!?!?!?

Them's fightin words buddy. Retract or die. [:~|

[mercy]

Gee, allowing ME terrs to run free in America is NOT a major blunder?

How about ESTABLISHED TERR NATION'S ongoing present day immigration?

Encouraging terrs worldwide with criticism of Israel?

Causing outright celibration in Islam by advocating a terr/pali state?

Let me know when I get close.

[sarcastro]

As opposed to your brave heros in the Clinton administration that really did want to screw Israel?

I think comments like that were mercy's point. I mean, Bush has been very disappointing about Israel- it has been his worst issue by far. And yet you're interested in just bashing Clinton! Yes, Clinton tried to sell Israel down the river- Clinton tried to sell EVERYONE down the river. But Bush has been a MAJOR disappointment when it comes to Israel. And many conservatives have been a MAJOR disappointment when it comes to criticizing George W Bush.

[VA Advogado]

I think comments like that were mercy's point. I mean, Bush has been very disappointing about Israel- it has been his worst issue by far.

No, Mercy, after reading Safire's article, still took a cheap shot at Bush by calling him/his administration/his actions on Israel gutless. Safire made it clear (and I still don't know how true this is) that Bush is just playing to the arabs with the Israel bashing. I was pointing out to Mercy (who seemed to be ok with the Safire premise) that Bush's approach is better than Clinton's, who really did want to screw Israel

[VA Advogado]

Them's fightin words buddy. Retract or die. [:~|

Apologize first for calling our Commander-in-chief gutless.

[mercy]

Not until he thoroughly renounces NWO globalization and openly sheds all such tendencies.

Deporting ME visitors and halting all ME immigration as presently practiced would be telling evidence of such.

[livius]

Yes and no. The problem is that each country has its own agenda, as well it should. Israel's agenda is the protection of Israel (which is why it has spied on us - remember Pollard?) and ours is the protection of the US. Most often, these interests will coincide, if only because Israel is the most "European" of the Middle-Eastern countries and is not a Muslim country. However, there are times when they don't, and unfortunately, Israel seems to be unable to understand this.

[cynicalman]

I'm going to give Bush the benefit of the doubt until a significant aspect of the war turns into a major blunder.

Im going to give Bush and the Pentagon the benfit of the doubt but it will expire unless we unleash hell upon are enemy and take control of Afganistain before Ramadanadingdong.

McCain said one intelligent this this evening. If its between a quick win and chaos or a long war and a agreed upon government I pick the quick win and chaos

[sinkspur]

But Bush has been a MAJOR disappointment when it comes to Israel.

He has if you believe that WORDS mean anything in this situation.

Bush still has not had a sit-down with Arafat, and probably never will.

Don't pay attention to what Bush says; watch what he does.

[VA Advogado]

Deporting ME visitors and halting all ME immigration as presently practiced would be telling evidence of such.

Stop being such a rock head. What does his immigration policy have to do with his Israel policy? Go back to your cave Osama Bin Buchanan.

[mercy]

First it's 'your' Clinton regime. Now it's Pukeanon. Just because I am presently deeply dissapointed in President Bush does not mean I fit in your convenient pigeon holes.

I'm not ticked off over some narrow political difference. I was once pretty much a Bushie however I have always feared, and posted so two years ago, that he might just be his daddy's boy.

I have not, nor ever will I, forgive Bush41 for betraying the Reagan Revolution.

Bush is headed in a very dangerous direction and his seemingly PC politics regarding immigration could get a lot of us killed and is heading this entire nation towards oblivion.

[VA Advogado]

I'm not ticked off over some narrow political difference. I was once pretty much a Bushie however I have always feared, and posted so two years ago, that he might just be his daddy's boy.

Yes you are. You have a narrow, myopic grudge that is eating you from the inside out. Its poisonous.

Bush is headed in a very dangerous direction and his seemingly PC politics regarding immigration could get a lot of us killed and is heading this entire nation towards oblivion.

This is a crock of BS and you know it. Watch what he does, not what he says. He's DONE nothing offensive on immigration. If he can appease the left by SAYING he wants to expand immigration, yet DO nothing to expand it, he should get credit from pebble heads like yourself.

[lavaroise]

The administration relies on calculations for optimum results. However, in a fight of good against evil, calculations do not apply, because to be good requires faith, not calculations of whether we will lose or win the war that way.

This is why we tolerate "friends" like Saudis while they terrorize women there. We simply calculate that if we let them do that, if we offer to the Saudi gods sacrifices of our principles, we will win, or at least lose much less according to calculations.

Safir has got it right, it is a charade, and in this charade we try to serve various gods instead of the One God, only to find ourselves servants of other successful gods. The danger is that once directly oppressed, a people cannot fight back the regime, only direct intervention from God as in Egypt would allow that to happen, but if God does not want to help us, we're screwed. Islamism and socialism are gods to be reckoned and avoided, else they will rule us for the next 1000 years.