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Bush's Palestinian State Strategy
El Rushbo ^
| Oct. 12, 2001
| Rush
Posted on 10/13/2001 6:28:09 AM PDT by jla
One of the things I had expressed a little curiosity about recently was President Bush saying that the United States "has always had" as one of its visions for the Middle East a Palestinian state. I didn't know that. I didn't think that we did. The most recent such call was by Hillary Clinton, who quickly retracted it when she made up her mind that she was going to seek a Senate seat in New York.
Well, I think I understand it now, because I've learned a little bit more. President Bush's reiteration of support for a Palestinian nation drew immediate criticism from Israeli officials who say that there's no point in talking as long as violence continues in the Middle East. At a news conference last night, Bush said that he believed that - if the parties in the Middle East could end the latest flare-ups of violence and once again begin political talks - that there ought to be a Palestinian state, the boundaries of which could be negotiated by the parties.
This is why it will never happen. The Palestinian nation would have to "recognize Israel's right to exist." Well, that's all you need to hear. This is the same thing as "Okay, Taliban, turn over bin Laden." We know it's not going to happen. We have to go in and either kill him, get him, level the country or whatever. It's just giving him every opportunity to come through. What this looks like to me is George W. Bush proving that a state is not what the PLO wants.
This, to me, is pretty smart, because it's not a Palestinian state that is first and foremost on the minds at Yasser Arafat's headquarters. It's driving Israel and the Jews into the sea. It's the elimination of the Jewish state. That's what they want. So Mr. Bush says, "Fine, we'll have a Palestinian state but you must recognize Israel's right to exist." That puts it in perspective for me, and now I understand - because Israel's right is exist is the whole poison pill of the Middle East. The only thing that unites the Arabs is their opposition to Israel's right to exist.
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
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1
posted on
10/13/2001 6:28:09 AM PDT
by
jla
To: jla
I have been trying to draw the distintion between Bush's Middle East foreign policy and that of Bill Clinton's. I really couldn't find any difference, but I wonder if Clinton ever demanded that the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist? I don't recall him ever making such a statement. If not, then this is a subtle, but critical difference between his and Bush's plan.
2
posted on
10/13/2001 6:35:13 AM PDT
by
CatOwner
To: jla
Remember last year the Israeli prime minister (I think it was), offered Arafat almost every thing Arafat had demanded...and Arafat still turned it down. They are more interested in continuing to make trouble than establishing a real state.
3
posted on
10/13/2001 6:35:56 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
To: CatOwner; TomGuy; jla
jla, Thanks for posting this.
I agree with Cat & Tom, that Ararfat, heretofore, has demonstrated that he doesn't really want a Palestinian State, so much as to end Israel as a nation.
However, he has literally staked his life & career on his present alliance with the U.S.
It may be a little laate in that the PLO/Arafat has engaged in DECADES of brainwashing p\Palestinians from early childhood on into hating the U.S. and Israel, as is borne out by recent Palestinian polls, which show an overwhelming majority of Palestinians siding with Osama/ al Q'aeda, and AGAINST the USA, post Sept. 11th.
Of course, eliminating Israel is totally suicidal, impossible & unrealistic, since Israel would, LITERALLY,
"blow up the Middle East,"
rather thatn accede to Israel's own destruction.
& Make no mistake:
Israel has the NUCLEAR means to blow up the M.E.,
probably several times over;
Israel has hidden surpluses of nuclear weapons for that & much less catastrophic scenarios.
To: FReethesheeples; State Attorney; Seti 1; AshleyMontagu; Bob Burnett; traditionalist; vrwc54...
Megaditto EIB bump.
5
posted on
10/13/2001 6:57:38 AM PDT
by
veronica
To: jla
Is Bush STILL flip flopping on Israel???
To: CatOwner
THe error of Bush is making respect of Israel as a condition, when he should add respect of America too. We are nuts to abandon our lives to the hands of terrorists supposedly because they are not going to attack ISrael. Has the State Department considered that women's lives in the hands of muslims and terrorits are terrorised. This Middle East peace process is not only turning into an instrument of destruction of Israel, but of America by extension.
Could it be that ARafat is going to protect Israel while his real target is the United States? Arafat has been working with the KGB before, Israel is not his target most probably, but just a scam target.
7
posted on
10/13/2001 7:01:28 AM PDT
by
lavaroise
To: The_Republican; BenF; MissAmericanPie; agrace; Tom_Busch; NorthernRight; Cool Guy
Maha Rushie all knowing all seeing one half of my brain tied behind my back bump.
8
posted on
10/13/2001 7:06:27 AM PDT
by
veronica
To: veronica
Rush has long been a friend of Israel.
9
posted on
10/13/2001 8:09:16 AM PDT
by
vrwc54
To: vrwc54
I thought this was obvious from the start. Bush is just calling Arafat's bluff. Now, if and when Arafat refuses, Arafat will be exposed for the real person he is. Also recall that Bush said he wouldn't meet with Arafat to "hear a bunch of empty promises just for a photo-op." Once Arafat is demonstrably shown to be what he is, Bush can go ahead and call him a terrorist too. Makes sense to me. This only boldens our support for Israel, not the other way around.
10
posted on
10/13/2001 10:22:34 AM PDT
by
Wphile
To: veronica
Rebounding Mega-dittos to you!
To: jla
Let's face it. Osama wanted this war because he hoped that a US attack on an Islamic country would unite other Islamic states against America. So isn't it obvious that the reason Bush said what he said about a Palestinian state was nothing more than a tactic, to help prevent this, and more specifically to help keep the moderate states in the US coalition, particularly Pakistan.
He didn't really mean it, and by saying that Palestine would have to recognize Israel's right to exist, he gave himself an out. Does anyone really believe that Bush would have announced such a US plan for a Palestinian state if September 11 had not occurred? Case closed.
To: zencycler
Of course he didn't mean it.
As he also didn't mean it when he gave the Taliban a 'second chance' to hand over OBL & Assoc.'s.
I can just hear the liberals now...~whiny-nasal voices~ "They're lying again! The Republicans are lying to the American people again!" *L*
13
posted on
10/13/2001 3:08:36 PM PDT
by
jla
Comment #14 Removed by Moderator
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
Comment #16 Removed by Moderator
To: Wphile
Absolutely, its a matter of time. Bush has been underestimated by all, this being one of his greatest assets. The President has been extremely clear, we're turning over every rock, its only a matter of time til we get to Arafat's rock. It seems apparent to me Bush wants every state which sponsers terrorism to watch the entire ballgame, he does'nt even mind if they play. When it comes to thier home field, there will be no question as to the rules.
17
posted on
10/13/2001 3:41:26 PM PDT
by
marcde
To: jla
I like Rush a lot, but one little problem with this analysis: Arafat and the PLA already agreed to recognize the right of Israel to exist. That happened in 1993, in the Oslo Declaration of Principles.
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