Posted on 03/31/2002 1:07:10 PM PST by blam
US ignores international mood and lays blame on Palestinians
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
01 April 2002
Amid a wave of international concern over Israel's ongoing siege of Yasser Arafat, the United States again condemned the latest Palestinian suicide bombings yesterday and said Mr Arafat could do more to stop such attacks.
Several world leaders made direct appeals to Israel, asking it to show restraint and to ensure Mr Arafat's safety. The foreign ministers of China and Japan, and Morocco's King Mohammed called either the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, or the Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, to voice concern. France, Germany, Turkey and Arab states also urged restraint.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, has called on Mr Sharon to pull back his tanks from Mr Arafat's headquarters. Mr Straw tried to speak to Mr Arafat by telephone but the line went dead. He hopes to speak soon to Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, about the siege.
The Speaker of Greece's parliament accused Israel yesterday of committing "genocide".
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates all made diplomatic appeals, and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia contacted the US to voice his concerns.
Germany's Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, said in a statement: "The military confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians is cause for great concern. It holds the danger of a destabilisation of the entire region. The German government urgently appeals to the Israeli side to guarantee Palestinian President Arafat will not be harmed."
Amid such growing concern over Israel's siege of Mr Arafat's compound in Ramallah, the US has stood almost alone backing Mr Sharon's right to defend his country.
On Saturday with Mr Arafat still trapped and with his communications under threat President George Bush told reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, that the Palestinian leader could, and should, do more to prevent suicide attacks, including the most recent in Tel Aviv.
Yesterday, a senior official repeated Mr Bush's assertion. "We condemn these terrorist attacks," the official said.
"Chairman Arafat knows what he needs to do. President Bush was very clear about that yesterday and in previous days and our heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to the victims and the families of the victims of these brutal attacks."
Washington's refusal to express anything other than "grave concern" about the situation in Ramallah underlines the difficulty which the Bush administration faces in addressing the problem of the Middle East, while also prosecuting its so-called war on terror.
When Mr Bush came to office last year, it was immediately made clear that the United States would play a much-reduced role in trying to achieve a peaceful settlement in the region and that the President would not expend the sort of personal and political capital that the previous president, Bill Clinton, had. A series of initiatives aimed at attempting to bring both sides together was terminated.
The attacks of 11 September have made criticism of Israel more difficult for Mr Bush even if he wished to indulge in such activity. In the aftermath of the attacks on New York and Washington, Mr Sharon visited Mr Bush, and argued the Palestinian suicide bombers were no different to those who had attacked the US. It was an argument which the US did not seek to counter.
While Mr Bush last year became the first US President to use the word "Palestine" in terms of an independent state, his administration's dealings with the two sides remain unbalanced. Though Mr Arafat has repeatedly condemned the spate of suicide bombings, Mr Bush has refused to meet the Palestinian leader until he makes a public call in Arabic for the suicide bombings to end and to arrest those involved in the attacks.
Our President Bush, bless him, gets it. Pray for him to stay the course, rely on his instincts and not on his advisors, and to keep America Israel's faithful friend and ally.
Any writer who maintains this false equivalence is an enemy of America and ought not to be allowed to write for papers unless they openly declare themselves anti-American and pro-terrorism.
Obviously, everyone is out of step but us.
The answer the the piece, however, is that world "opinion" doesn't mean a horse's patoot. World War III has begun. This author is like Nevil Chamberlain, willing to stick his nose up Hitler's butt to come back from Munich with a signed piece of paper in order to announce "Peace in our times."
There was no peace. World War II was inevitable when Chamberlain signed that piece of paper in Munich. Not enough terrible things have happened to the Euroweenies for them to realize that World War III has begun. Shortly, such things will happen.
When Israel finally "takes care of business" against the Palestinians, the Arabs will shut off the oil spigots again. Europe, with its 80% dependence on Arab oil, will experience cars, lorries, industries, and political and journaistic careers screeching to a halt, all across the continent.
Then the Euroweeenies will join the war. On our side (and Isreal's.) Maybe even France. As Tom Lehrer sang in the "MLF Lullaby," "They're on our side, I believe." Click below for my take on the beginning of WW III.
Congressman Billybob
More evidence that Greece is not a friend of the U.S. I wouldn't plan on going to their Olympics in 2004, as their security arrangements will be questionable. I think that Americans will be targeted by the Greek's allies, the Arabs.
In addtion, there is much doubt that the Olympic facilities will be completed.
Thanks, Nachum, for posting these articles.
I think you have something here. They are siding with the palis now in an attempt to stave off any terrorist attacks in their own country. Their time will come.
You are... dead wrong!
It's the spirit of Adolf Hitler and Mengele and....
America will unfortunately side with Europe, I fear.
I do believe this is the beginning of the end of it all.
THAT I do NOT fear.
I think you are wrong perhaps though.
I suspect that America will back down... side with the Euros... with a bloody, ongoing and uncertain outcome.
If this is the end... it WILL play itself out. But, I suspect it is not THE end... just an ongoing preamble to the ongoing conflict between the islamic/arab extremist world, and the USA, democracy in general, and the UK's progeny.
I hope you are right. I hope Europe wakes up and sides with right... instead of oil. But, I doubt it.
I am interested in how a economic meltdown of biblical proportions in Europe (based on the end of their oil supply) would affect the UK, her satellites, and the US proctectorate states, and our military which is now based in virtually every free nation on the face of the Earth.
Just a discussion and NOT an argument with you... not really even much of a disagreement, I would just your reasoned speculation.
It pays to prepare for mulitple scenarios. Thanks.
When Israel finally "takes care of business" against the Palestinians...
A friend said this same thing yesterday, and several of us agreed with her. IMO, the only reason it isn't obvious (like to Europe) is that Israel has shown great restraint and hasn't blown the Palestinians away yet. We're just waiting for the other shoe to drop. When it does, it will be something else!
And I do not think US will side with EU.Why do you think that?
vaudine
The seeming lull in progress is a little disquieting. While musli try to foment WWIII by outrageous acts of terror in Israel, we seem to be waiting for something. It perhaps goes way beyond a simple incursion into Iraq... in my view.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.