Sharon to Bush: We'll leave West Bank soon

6 April 2002 | MSNBC

[July 4th]

Sharon, in a conversation with the President, indicated that operations are wrapping up.

[July 4th]

JERUSALEM, April 6 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, under intense U.S. pressure to pull his forces out of West Bank cities, told President George W. Bush on Saturday that Israel would do all it could to speed up its offensive. The U.S. president had earlier made his most forceful demand yet that Israeli forces end their nine-day-old drive into Palestinian cities, urging them to "withdraw without delay".

Sharon's office said he had told Bush in a telephone conversation on Saturday evening that "Israel will make every effort to accelerate Operation 'Defensive Wall'". Israel says the operation is aimed at rooting out the people it believes are responsible for a wave of suicide attacks against Israeli.

Sharon told Bush that Israel was aware of Americans' wish to see the Israeli military action end quickly. But he explained that Israeli forces were acting "under difficult conditions, in cities and villages where there are weapons and a lot of explosive material", Sharon's office said.

[goldstategop]

Depends on what the meaning of the word "soon" is. I imagine the President and Sharon established a private understanding Israel can pull out when it is good and ready and not before.

[LarryM]

This is the actual account from Sharon:

PM SHARON SPEAKS WITH US PRESIDENT BUSH-making every effort to accelerate Operation Defensive Shield

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser) Jerusalem Sunday, April 07, 2002 12:37 AM

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke yesterday evening (Saturday), 6.April.2002, with US President George Bush and told him that Israel would make every effort to accelerate Operation Defensive Shield. The Prime Minister said that Israel is aware of the American desire to see the action end quickly and explained that we are operating under difficult conditions in towns and villages, in which there are considerable weapons, explosives and armed terrorists. Israel is making every effort to reduce civilian losses to a minimum and this caution is prolonging the operation. The two leaders emphasized the friendship between them and their two countries.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Your either with us or you're against us. The President said "without delay".

[July 4th]

The IDF needs a month. Not a weekend. I'm guessing they'll be out in full force until Powell's plane touches down in a few days.

[buzzyboop]

There's another thread not too far below where terrorist spokes.. I mean PAL spokesman Erakat tells President Bush to stop 'playing with words'. No doube PM Sharon took a cue from that.. Keep 'em guessing.

[Dog]

Sharon's office said he had told Bush in a telephone conversation on Saturday evening that "Israel will make every effort to accelerate Operation 'Defensive Wall'".

He didn't say he was pulling out or leaving soon .....

[goldstategop]

Israel will try to get the job done as soon as it can as Prime Minister Sharon told President Bush in their phone call. But note, neither man talked about a definite DEADLINE nor did either of them discuss an ULTIMATUM or anything that hinted of a forced Israeli withdrawal. Now that ought to leave Yasser Arafat and the terrorist amen corner in the liberal media steaming mad. Its all being very nicely coordinated between the U.S and Israel. Things are not like they're depicted by the pressitutes.

[linn37]

hustle Israel,get them bums!!!

[joyce11111]

I betcha there has been a whole lot going on behind the scenes with Bush and Sharon,and, some handpicked Arabs.

When Bush pulls it all off, WHAT WILL THE MEDIA DO THEN?

[goldstategop]

Just in case Peter Jennings, Dan Rather, and Katie Couric along with AP, Reuters and the BBC have missed the real story behind all this, this sentence is the kicker:

The two leaders emphasized the friendship between them and their two countries.

You couldn't really ask for more than this in considering the nature of the conversation between the two leaders. Its like they're singing from the same page.

[Semper Paratus]

We'll leave West Bank soon

Which means 'On to the Gaza Strip'.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Hmm ... You're right. I don't see how Bush can avoid the conclusion that Isreal is now our enemy unless he's willing to go Clintonian on us. He wouldn't do that would he? I mean, he wouldn't say one thing and then turn around and say "I didn't really mean it" and do the exact opposite would he?

[Dog]

I agree.

[Dog]

What are you talking about??

[yikes]

Things are not like they're depicted by the pressitutes.

You're absolutely correct. I watched Andrea Koppell on CNN practically having an orgasm over the Thursday Bush speech, in effect saying that she and her colleagues were responsible for Bush having a change of heart. Ted's daughter is delusional.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

The President. Remember? You're either with us or your against us. He said "Leave without delay". Sharon said "Not yet. Give us a while."

[yikes]

When Bush pulls it all off, WHAT WILL THE MEDIA DO THEN?

Look for another issue, although they are quickly running out of them.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Probably the deficit will be next. Or Enron. Or domestic right wing terrorism.

[looney tune]

Homelessness is always a good one.

[fuquadukie]

Where do you get off implying Israel should be an enemy just because they are not pulling back immediately? Israel is simply responding to terrorist attacks... much like the US has. IMHO, Isreal should have responded MUCH earlier and with MORE force.

BTW, I am not a "blind 100% supporter" everything to do with Israel. I do support Israel in this situation, though... 100%.

[Defender2]

Post #5 Israel is once again fighting terrorists!!!! Terrorists kill people!!!! Israel is now saying "If you feed, harbor, support, condone terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists!!!!"!!!! Israel is fighting terrorists and is saying,"You're either with us or against us!!!!"!!!!

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Bush is the one who said "If you're not with us you're against us". My contribution here is simply to assume he's a man of his word who wouldn't go Clintonesque on what the meaning of "without delay" is.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Gee, you're right. What's Bush thinking?

[tet68]

That would seem to be the next step.

Do it, without delay.

[tet68]

Just imagine, "Pull out soon" is not a term you would have heard clinton use. Hehehe.

Sic'em Ari!

[TheDon]

You noticed that too? LOL!

[TheDon]

2 funny! That was my thought as well.

[TheDon]

The Bush speech had the desired effect on the press and the international community. Did you notice how quickly the hissing turned to praise? I'd say Bush is playing them like a violin.

[tet68]

I'd say Bush is playing them like a violin.

They are a day late and a dollar short.

In Aikido, one leads an opponents mind in the direction one wants it to go, then reverses direction, their feet can't follow fast enough!

Makes you proud to have a President like him.

[PhilDragoo]

Sharon to Bush: We'll leave West Bank soon as we finish.

Then we'll put the tanks on those lowboys and boogaloo down to funky Gaza.

Peter Jennings, double up on your meds, it ain't over til the fatah sings. Croaks.

[Helms]

I bet they are making a list of follow-up goals as well as really getting a good look at the first battleground in Phase 2 in our mutual war against terror.

We are Rollin

I try to remind myself of the 4th plane really succeding but it nor for citizen heroism. Should that have happened I suspect that we would have really gone ballistic w/ no US Capital and dead officials.

[Democrats are liars]

Screw BUSH! What ya have to say bout that?

[knarf]

"The U.S. president had earlier made his most forceful demand yet that Israeli forces end their nine-day-old drive into Palestinian cities, urging them to "withdraw without delay"."

There's a scene in the movie "Moby Dick" where, when Capt. Ahab has heard of the whereabouts of the great white whale, the harpoon boats are called back in while killing a bunch of whales after running dry for a long time ... one of the harpoon boat captain's (I forget his name) says to Ahab when they've come alongside the Pequad ...

"But captain, ye can't stop us now ... we been killin' all day and we've got blood in or veins" (or something like that).

Sharon to Bush ...

"We been killin' all week and we'll be back when it's done."

You go, Ari.

[Democrats are liars]

Bush just lost my vote! He is a hypocrite!

[Helms]

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All of this also reminds me of titans of industry going at it, as well as a boardroom battle, or perhaps some of Jack Welchs midblowing moves.

The media are on the outside looking in or the employye that has been passed over for promotion.

Bush Passes Over The Media and Arafat For Promotion Bush Passes Over The Media and Arafat For PromotionBush Passes Over The Media and Arafat For PromotionBush Passes Over The Media and Arafat For PromotioBush Passes Over The Media and Arafat For Promotionn

[SamAdams76]

Very good. The terrorist Palestinians have been delivered a message. And should the suicide bombing return after the pullout, it will be "weapons free" for Isreal and it shall be open season on Palestinians for a long time to come with no bag limits.

[LibWhacker]

Say it ain't so.

[WaterDragon]

The IDF will pull back when they get done what they intended to do, G-d bless them!

[xm177e2]

Very good. The terrorist Palestinians have been delivered a message. And should the suicide bombing return after the pullout, it will be "weapons free" for Isreal and it shall be open season on Palestinians for a long time to come with no bag limits.

They have to clean out Jenin first. But after that, they'll fall back.

Next time they'll sack Gaza, and capture all of the terrorist leaders hiding there. Just because few attacks come out of Gaza doesn't mean terrorists should get to be safe there!

Because Gaza is so small compared to the West Bank, they'll be able to do a very thorough job very quickly.

[Rome2000]

The guy who wrote that headline was engaging in wishful thinking.

They'll leave when they're done, who's going to stop them?

They will probably declare a temporary cease fire while Powell is there, and of course the ragheads will blow it as usual.

The Israelis appear to have stopped the suicide bombing, not too much made of this in the left wing press.

[Rome2000]

Bush just lost my vote! He is a hypocrite!

Try to be a little less gullible.

Bush needed to shut the leftist SOB's in the press and the rat party up by saying this.

Actions speak louder than words, the left can no longer criticize Bush and the Israelis are still kicking raghead ass.

[My2Cents]

Well said. I grow weary of people who can't see below the surface on these things. People willing to throw-in their support for Bush on such flimsy rationale were never strong Bush supporters to begin with.

[The Great Satan]

Ah yes, the zen of strategery, grasshopper. When Arafat can snatch the pebble from Colin Powell's hand, only then will it be time for him to leave.