TRANSCRIPT - President George W. Bush Middle East statement, April 4, 2001

MSNBC ^ | 4-4-02 | George W. Bush

[bvw]

I am inclinated to give our President George W. Bush the benefit of the doubt on this, yet I know the evil ones will read it as appeasement and their hate, percieved (but absolutely perverted) righteousness and blood lust will be aroused further, not slackened.

[Fabozz]

"To the contrary, suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."

I don't have any real problems with Bush's speech, except for this one line. The statement is patently false: No number of suicide bombings will ever "blow up the hope for a Palestinian state." Taking Palestinian statehood off the table would be seen as punishing the Palestinian people for the crimes of their unelected leaders, something the "enlightened" world will never countenance.

The PLO could send ten suicide bombers a day into Israeli preschools, and the world would call on both sides to "show restraint." The PLO could set off a nuclear device in Tel Aviv, and the world would call on both sides to "end the cycle of violence." The PLO could release smallpox in Israel and kill three million Jews, and the world would say the time had come to "address the legitimate desire of the Palestinian people for security and dignity." The PLO will never, under any circumstances, end its terrorism, because it has absolutely no incentive to do so. Bombings do nothing to hurt its cause and everything to aid it.

The only path to peace is to eliminate entirely the PLO, with as little harm to Palestinian civilians as possible. Bush can "expect results" all he wants, but he had damn well better have a response planned for the next time a Palestinian decides to claim the $5,000 bounty our loyal Saudi ally places on the lives of Jewish children. I know Bush isn't amoral or an idiot, so for the time being I'll take it on faith that he has such a plan. It would sure be nice to be given a little hint about what that plan might be, however.

[geros]

very true - Jordan is Palestine, this is the elephant in the living room nobody notices.

[Tolik]

You are right. They pull from this great speech what they want to see. Their sound bites are wrong, but they are there. People here on FR won't be fooled, but those getting info from the mainstream media - will.

 

Yahoo World:

Bush Demands Israeli Withdrawal as Tanks Advance
Thu Apr 4, 1:28 PM ET - (Reuters)
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) Tanks thrust into another Palestinian city Thursday shortly before President Bush called on Israel to begin withdrawing from West Bank towns it has reoccupied over the past week. Full Coverage
 

Drudge:

Bush Calls on Israel to Stop Incursions
X X X X X
Says Arafat Betrayed Hopes Of His People
X X X X X
Powell to Middle East

Reuters:

---> Bush Sending Powell, Wants Israel to Stop Incursions

---> Bush Demands Israeli Withdrawal as Tanks Advance

Washington Post:

Thursday, April 4, 2002 | Updated 1:47 p.m. EST
 

placeRandomImg()   President Bush says Secretary of State Powell will seek "broad international support." (AP)

Bush Sends Powell On Mideast Peace Mission President urges Israel to show restraint but says Arafat is in a position "of his own making." Video: Bush on Mideast  |  Text • Live, 2 EST: Palestinian Columnist Israel Tightens Its Grip Forces control Nablus as tense Bethlehem standoff continues. • Israeli Forces Bar Ambulances • Bethlehem Eclipses Arafat's Siege • Egypt Suspends Israel Ties

NY Times: UPDATED THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2002 1:23 PM ET

Bush Is Sending Powell to Middle East
And Urging Israel to Stop Incursions

 

 

(AFP)

President Bush urged Israel today to end its military offensive and called on Arab nations to crack down on terrorists.

Bush Says U.S. Is to Assume Stronger Role in Ending Violence
By DAVID STOUT
President Bush said today he was sending Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to the Middle East next week.
• Text of Bush's Statement on Situation in Mideast

 

 

[rbmillerjr]

You are likely going to be right that the Palis will continue the terror. If they do, they will never have a state. Israel should never agree, and either should we if they continue the cowardly terror campaign.

If eventually they act civilized (which I doubt) and they get a state, and then they continue terror, the puma is out of the bag, and Israel will have right to demolish the state which attacks it.

I'm pessimistic on long term peace. I see the inevitable large scale war.

Lets dont forget some key things that have happened since Bush has been in office. *States are now targets of our military if they merely support terror. I firmly believe that primarily Iran and followed by Syria and the pathetic nuisance of Iraq...will all be targets of our military if they follow the path they are currently following.

I am one American that that considers Iraq effectively neutered - and that Iran (which is the real center of world terrorism) should be first on the list. We should assist Israel in regard to one terrorist org. (Hizbollah) as it is directly trained, financed, and planned for in Iran - indeed Iranians are in Hizbollah.

[bvw]

When such evil receives a even a drop of support from good people it grows like the most invasive vine.

[Thinkin' Gal]

The outlines of a just settlement are clear: two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

And...

I speak as a committed friend of Israel; I speak out of a concern for its long-term security, the security that will come with a genuine peace.

"No peace" is a good phrase to plug into a KJV search.

[NormsRevenge]

It kind of makes ya wonder what planet the media creeps are from ? UrAnuS? Perhaps! They don't see that they are the biggest proponents of a continuation of these conflicts. It sells papers and draws in viewers and boosts ratings, No? JMHO...


The United Nations Wants to Take Your Gun!





SEMPER FI
Norm

[mil-vet]

This is a great speech, but it still ignores the fact that peace will only come if the "koran" is modified to teach islamics that their one goal in life is NOT to kill non-islamics ("infidels").

Failing modification of the "koran", the alternative is removal of islam, like smallpox, from the face of the earth.

Remember, islam is out to kill ALL non-islamics, not just jews! On the other hand, maybe I merely imagined 9/11....

[Stultis]

This speech and the policy implied therein is excellent provided that:

1) It is made clear that, although Arafat will be given a genuine chance to do the right thing, it is apt to be his last.

2) Powell goes to Europe before going to the Middle East and obtains firm face-to-face commitments from those hand-wring, rifle-dropping, hypocritical m___-f___ers that, when it comes time to put the screws to Arafat and force him to act, and hold him accountable if/when he does not (and we all know it will come to that), THEY WILL NOT STAB US IN THE BACK and let Arafat off the hook like they did the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that...

This will only work if the Western World is united, and it must be made clear that anyone who breaks rank will pay a severe price (e.g. be publicly nominated and pressed to provide peace-keeping troops in the West Bank).

[Just another Joe]

I agree with the President on the bulk of his speech.
Thee are some points that I'm not sure I CAN agree with.
It's not just the 'palestinians' that want the blood of Israel. IMO, it's almost all the arab nations that would like to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth, or at least humbled to the point of a good whacking.
I really don't see why Israel should have to give up territories won in an armed conflict started decades ago by the same countries that now want the territories back.

[dawn53]

You can't blame Bush for how the press spins this.

Whatever he said they would put their spin on it.

I liked the part where he called the suicide bombers murderers. Especially after the Muslim nations wouldn't even call them terrorists. Let the press try to spin that one.

[swheats]

I like your scenario. I had been thinking why Powell wasn't sent right away.

[88keys]

And everyone else, "stay out of it"...seemed like a good "steely" speech to me...like "you have all been warned, and we do mean it".

Very fair, very serious. Go W.

[NordP]

I'M SO PROUD YOU ARE MY PRESIDENT!!!

GOOD JOB!!!

YOU TELL 'EM GEORGE, WE WANT RESULTS!!!!!

[88keys]

I like the phraseology "responsible Palestinian leaders"...translation: "notice I do not say 'Arafat' here, and do take this to mean that if there are any reponsible Palestinian leader types out there, step up to the plate..."

Peace.

[Mo1]

Exactly WHEN did the people here start believing the press?????

What are you trying to say .. that they slant the truth???

Well I never ... I'll never vote for the press again ..

[Howlin]

I said PRESS, not PREZ.........LOL.

[Mo1]

Oh ... I guess this means I should read before I type huh???

Geee what a concept .. lol