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It's not shifting the blame. Israel had Arafat contained to two rooms and pretty well had control of him it looked like to me. Now he's free to come and go as he pleases once again. The biggest thing standing in the way of no more Arafat is of our own doing as well. The very act of Powell or any state department officals even meeting with the terrorist gives him leader stature.

Should we meet with Bin Ladden as well and talk with him? How about a heart to heart with old Saddam. Oh yea we had our chance there and we did what? The very same thing contained in your letter. We or rather the POTUS's of that time chose to let them {Bush SR let Saddam & Clinton let Bin Ladden} live to fight another day. Will we do that same mistake again? Some how I think we will if we even try to stop Saddam at all it won't be with deadly force against him persoanally. Bin Ladden though will be shot on sight if he's spotted and a good soldier can get an aim on him.

You do not talk to terrorist and you do not make deals with terrorist. You do not even treat them as legitimate leaders. This includes not inviting them to the White House or sending a state department offical to talk to them. Dealing with the likes of these persons is a military matter not a state department matter. It was a mistake to talk to Arafat in such a manner reserved for more civilized leaders. If we refuse to handle our own terrorist and enemies as such and refuse to take them out then what right do we have to tell Israel to do the same or not do it?

It's not shifting the blame. Israel had Arafat contained to two rooms and pretty well had control of him it looked like to me. Now he's free to come and go as he pleases once again. The biggest thing standing in the way of no more Arafat is of our own doing as well. The very act of Powell or any state department officals even meeting with the terrorist gives him leader stature.

Sure you are. Why was Arafat alive when Powell got there? Hell I have never seen a slower response to a "crisis" than Powells slow boat to Israel tour. Look, you don't like this administration so therefore this is a convenient whipping boy issue. I am asking why Israel will not act like every other sovereign nation in the world and do what it takes to survive. I am sick of blaming the United States for "negotiating" with a person that due to Sharon's lack of will, is still around. If Sharon was content with keeping Arafat in his room then why waste any more time on this pain in the ass situation. This country has more important things to do.

If we refuse to handle our own terrorist and enemies as such and refuse to take them out then what right do we have to tell Israel to do the same or not do it?

This is not about "fairness", a " level playing field" or "consistency."

We tell any country any damn thing we want if it serves our interests.

None of them, Israel included, have anywhere near the integrity, sense of fair play and respect for equality under law we do. When one of them even comes close to where we are, I'll reconsider my position.