FLASHBACK: Clinton to Arafat: It s All Your Fault

Newsweek ^ | June 27, 2001 | Michael Hirsh

[Oldeconomybuyer]

June 27, 2001

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Clinton to Arafat: It’s All Your Fault
The former president says the Palestinian leader squandered a chance for Mideast peace
By Michael Hirsh NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE

[smiley]

Pray tell, why is Clinton still in the news?

[lavaroise]

June 27, 2001 — Nearly a year after he failed to achieve a deal at Camp David, former president Bill Clinton gave vent to his frustrations this week over the collapse of peace in the Mideast. And Clinton directed his ire at one man: Yasir Arafat. On Tuesday night, Clinton told guests at a party at the Manhattan apartment of former U.N. ambassador Richard Holbrooke and his wife, writer Kati Marton, that Arafat called to bid him farewell three days before he left office. “You are a great man,” Arafat said. “The hell I am,” Clinton said he responded. “I’m a colossal failure, and you made me one.”

CLINTON SAID HE TOLD Arafat that by turning down the best peace deal he was ever going to get—the one proffered by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and brokered by Clinton last July—the Palestinian leader was only guaranteeing the election of the hawkish Ariel Sharon, the current Israeli leader. But Arafat didn’t listen.

Now who the heck should we believe in this matrimonial domestic violence fight between Arafat and Clinton? By the way, in this enlightening farce of a love-hate relationship between two men, is Clinton playing the woman beat up or the man?

[lavaroise]

Pray tell, why is Clinton still in the news?

He is in the news because he is "controvercital". Ie another term for "fomenting hatred between two parties, as well as unrest and sedition in the US and the world". This is the media's goal.

[Dog]

Good find!!!!!!!

[Dog]

I think everyone is missing the point.....

Clinton told Arafat he was the reason why the peace process failed.......they can't blame this on the Bush Admin.....

It was ole Yasser's fault...

[Anamensis]

Clinton told Arafat he was the reason why the peace process failed.......they can't blame this on the Bush Admin.....

I have to admit, I'm really glad to see this in print. The liberal press, who is so contemptuous of such remarks if they are made by Bush or any other conservative, will swallow things whole if Clinton says them.

[Psalm 73]

“The hell I am,” Clinton said he responded. “I’m a colossal failure, and you made me one.”

Bubba is a victim - always a victim.
Reminds me of John Belusi in Blues Brothers" explaining to Carrie Fischer why he left her at the alter:
"My suit wasn't back from the dry-cleaners, I had a flat tire, there was an earthquake, a typhoon, it's Arafats fault..."

[uncbob]

Pray tell, why is Clinton still in the news?

Did you read the date ?
This was from JUNE 2001

HOWEVER Israeli spokesman should be referring and quoting it in their statements they are currently making

I wonder if it is possible to get the article into the right people's hands

Maybe it will help shut these idiot liberals up

[Amelia]

I think everyone is missing the point.....
Clinton told Arafat he was the reason why the peace process failed.......they can't blame this on the Bush Admin.....
It was ole Yasser's fault...

Exactly the point.

[Dog]

Carl ........a blast from the past here ...I think needs to get into the media again..

[rrr51]

How do we know if we can believe anything this guy says. It sounds a little too convenient that he is saying this now.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Note the word "FLASHBACK" in the title and the date of the article.

[alex]

I would say the picture of Clinton pushing Arafat and Rabin together would be more appropriate with a capture - there is only one smart guy here.

Arafat was in the bind after the collapse of FSU and he was allowed by the moron (I mean Clinton) and his stupid friends (Rabin, Peres, Barak etc) to find his way out of this to become a much stronger figure when ever before.

[Russ]

I don't believe one word that comes out of The Great Stainmaker's mouth!

[yoe]

Bubba is a victim Bubbett is a victim - always a (the) victim (s).

Bill Clinton had one thing in mind and that was the Nobel Peace Prize! The spin king was spinning again...when did Bill Clinton start telling anything close to the truth? Arafat's job then as now is to annihilate the Jew anyway he can, funny Clinton doesn't mention this fact, or that all Arabs see them as the infidels.

[mj1234]

I think Arafat didn't trust Clintooon-Arafat was there at camp David for talks only!!--not to broker a Deal--that is what Clinton wanted so he could have a LEGACY.Clintoon really didn't care for Arafat--remember making him wait at the white house while Clintooon was screwing Monica-slut. Imagine flying 10,000 miles to see this jerk and he pulls this stunt--and it gets printed in every paper across the world!! I am surprised Arafat showed up at the Camp David compound.I believe the Israel/Palestine peoples both distrusted Clintoooon.THINK ABOUT IT!....ANY ONE on this board believe anything out of Bill or Hillary's mouth.The comments made by Clintooon were to make himself look good- Clintooooon is the worst president we ever had. Clintooooon hated America. Clintooooon hated Laws of God and man. Clintooooon hated women. Clintooooon hated children. Clintooooon loved Evil and is proud of it--

[What Is Ain't]

The liberal press......will swallow things whole if Clinton says them.

As Monica was wont to do.... It appears the lowly Terrorfat has swindled the most brilliant man ever to step foot in the White House. Why, he made him look like a trailer park greenhorn.

[eureka!]

'I have to admit, I'm really glad to see this in print. The liberal press, who is so contemptuous of such remarks if they are made by Bush or any other conservative, will swallow things whole if Clinton says them.'

Agreed. The pressholes are going to be scrambling to explain this in light of the intellectually bankrupt pap they've been serving....

[gridlock]

From June 2001 Article: “He could only get to step five, and he needed to get to step 10,” the former president said. But Clinton expressed hope in the younger generation of Palestinian officials, suggesting that a post-Arafat Palestinian leader might be able to make peace, perhaps in as little as several years.

As of last summer, Clinton had not yet given up on his dreams of Nobel glory, and this was his "Plan B". He was going to undercut Arafat and promote some malleable nobody to step into the massive vacuum after Arafat leaves the scene (either in exile, retirement, or a body bag, it matters not). Think of a Palestinian Ehud Barak clone. Then all he has to do is reprise his role getting a squishy moderate elected in Israel, maybe even Barak again. Then he would control both sides of the conversation.

Clinton loves controlling both sides of the conversation. That way his opinion is the only one that matters and he is always right. I bet The West Wing is his favorite TV show, because the President is always right and his opponents always follow the script.