Rice calls Hamas 'resistance movement'

WND ^ | June 26, 2007 | Aaron Klein

[Nachum]

JERUSALEM – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice twice referred to Hamas as a "resistance movement" during a meeting with reporters from the New York Daily News earlier this month, but the newspaper did not report her remarks, WND has learned.

Rice's interview is transcribed in full on the State Department website.

Rice's statements mark the second documented time in recent months she called Hamas a "resistance movement" during unscripted chats with journalists.

Hamas is responsible for scores of suicide bombings, shooting attacks and rocket firings. It's classified by the State Department as a terror organization. The group's official charter calls for the murder of Jews and quotes widely from the anti-Semitic creed, the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

During the interview June 8 with the editorial board of the Daily News, Rice was asked about the recent history of democratic elections in the Middle East resulting in the rise to power of terror groups, such as Hamas.

Rice told the paper it was "very interesting to see Hamas trying to come to terms with no longer being really a resistance movement, but having to deal with politics."

Rice then referred to Hamas as a resistance movement a second time during then interview.

"A moderate Palestinian friend of mine said, 'You know, they (Hamas) used to be the great resistance, running the streets with their faces covered and going after Israel. And now, they look like a bunch of politicians who also can't make the sewer system work.'"

She went on to reference Hamas' terror cells, calling them the group's "military wing," which regularly carries out terror attacks, including shootings and firing of rockets into Jewish population centers.

"And they're (Hamas) clearly uncomfortable in that framework, which is part of why I think you see the military wing of Hamas trying to make this again about Israel and the Palestinians, not about the contestation of politics inside the Palestinian territories," Rice said.

Rice's remarks were not challenged by the Daily News editors. Much of the interview was conducted by Daily News Chairman Mort Zuckerman, who is also a prominent Jewish leader.

Reached for comment, Zuckerman told WND, "The U S government officially refers to Hamas as a terrorist organization, and I can't imagine that isn't her policy as well."

A State Department spokesman could not explain why Rice called Hamas a "resistance movement." The spokesman confirmed the State Department had not changed its policy of classifying Hamas as a terror organization.

Rice's Daily News interview was the second recorded time in recent months she called Hamas a "resistance movement."

WND reported Rice, speaking to reporters in Berlin Jan. 18 about the situation of Palestinians prior to 2000, commented, "You had Hamas, of course, sitting out as a resistance movement, not at all, by the way, involved in the politics at all."

Rice's remarks at the time prompted some U.S. Jewish groups to demand an apology to victims of Hamas terror.

[bobby.223]

couldn’t have said it better. at one time I was one of those who would not have minded her as the next POTUS. boy was I wrong and about bush also.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

Rather sad, but here it is.

[diverteach]

“I used to like the lady.”

Me too. I had high hopes for her. I’ll still admire her accomplishments (other than SOS) as an African American woman.

Now I’d rate her down with Bush and congress.

[Salem]

"...What the hell happened to her?..."

The Arabists Among Us
[Posted at Free Republic]

[kinoxi]

She has accomplished much. She was a serious VP contendor at one point IMO. Turning into ‘Carter incarnate’ in the middle east and with regards to islam in general has destroyed any chance of high ranking elected office IMO.

[firebrand]

This is not the U.S. government. This is the State Department. Embarrasing now that Dr. Rice has gone native. Bush can’t really fire her.

[familyop]

It’s worse than sad. It provokes anger.

[Salem]

The extremely close relationship between Ms. Rice and President Bush is well known. Bush would do well at one of their White House dinners to reevaluate her priorities in regard to terrorism and the importance of definitions.

[familyop]

"I don’t hear many here at FR advocating her candidacy for POTUS anymore.....She went to Foggy Bottom and ‘went native’!"

And it goes on.

http://www.state.gov/t/isn/isab/

International Security Advisory Board (ISAB)

The Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board (formerly called the Arms Control and Nonproliferation Advisory Board (ACNAB)) provides the Department with independent insight and advice on all aspects of arms control, disarmament, international security, and related aspects of public diplomacy. The ISAB is sponsored and overseen by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. The Board provides its recommendations directly to the Secretary of State. The Board currently has 20 members and is chartered to have up to 25. Board members are national security experts with scientific, military, diplomatic, and political backgrounds. The Board meets in a plenary session on a quarterly basis.

Updated: April 19, 2007

http://www.state.gov/t/isn/isab/c17650.htm

Board Members

— Senator Fred Thompson (Chairman)
— Dr. Michael R. Anastasio
— Dr. Kathleen Bailey
— Dr. Ashton B. Carter
— Ms. Alison B. Fortier
— Dr. William Graham
— Amb. Robert Joseph
— Mr. Mitchel B. Kugler
— Dr. Ronald F. Lehman, II
— Vice Admiral Robert R. Monroe, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
— Dr. Gordon C. Oehler
— Dr. Keith B. Payne
— Dr. Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Jr.
— Senator Charles S. Robb
— Dr. C. Paul Robinson
— Dr. Amy Sands
— Dr. James R. Schlesinger
— Dr. William Schneider, Jr
— Dr. William Van Cleave
— Mr. R. James Woolsey

[pissant]

Rice has jumped the shark.

[cowdog77]

She should go back to doing what she does best: playing Brahms.”
_______________________________
Agreed........she couldn’t have possible done a worse job.
(I’ve never understood why we would send a black woman to a male-dominant society like the Middle East and expect any kind of progress in diplomacy whatsoever!)

[rmlew]

I would need the full quote.
HaMaS translates to The Islamic Resistance Movement, so she may just have been calling it by its formal name. However, if she was not, this is a suicidal error. Hamas does not just want Israel. It's charter also speaks of Al Andalus, i.e. Spain.

[Gideon T. Reader]

HAMAS is much closer to a bowel movement than it is to a "resistance movement".
Sec.Rice is what can be expected when the unknowing and unresponsive appoint the ill informed and ill prepared.
Condi Rice’s ability and knowledge regarding the Middle East is similar to MY knowledge of how a U.S.Senator is able to look in a mirror each day, without vomiting.

[Cacique]

Dumb RINO

[kenth]

Too, Lady Thatcher would have scoffed at the idea that the Palis would vote for a non-violent regime, and wouldn’t have been surprised at all at the election of Hamas.

[Salem]

Ms. Rice, a refresher course:

This is a HAMAS terrorist. He kills innocent Jews and their children, because the Koran teaches him to. When not killing innocent Jews, they are brutalizing women or killing Fatah terrorists for fun, while picking up Fatah guns which have never been fired and only dropped once.

This is an American patriot, a Minuteman, who killed fully armed British redcoats who were genuinely oppressing the colonists. He did this so other people could live free. They then went forward to build the greatest country that has existed in the recorded history of man.

There is no moral equivalence between the two whatsoever.

[justiceseeker93]

Rice shouldn't be hanging out with Zuckerman and his New York Daily News reporters to begin with. Zuckerman is a devout Clintonista Dummycrat who wouldn't endorse the current administration's policy under any circumstances. Apparently Rice caught some pro-terrorist virus from being around too many lefties lately.

[bobby.223]

best post of the month.

[RightthinkinAmerican]

I used to have a lot of respect for her.