Posted on 11/11/2001 8:33:24 PM PST by stilts
RIYADH: Saudi media deemed U.S. President George W. Bush's refusal to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a calculated snub on Saturday and said Washington's stand on Middle East peace could sink its anti-terror coalition. Saudi Arabia has sharply rebuked its Western ally over the decision, saying it was angrily frustrated at Washington's failure to begin a promised initiative to forge a final peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Bush rejected an opportunity to meet Arafat at the United Nations this weekend, his national security advisor saying the Palestinian leader was not serious about the war on terrorism. "The refusal...is a calculated snub -- and it gives the lie to stories put out by Washington that it plans a new initiative to get Middle East peace talks back on track or that it supports a Palestinian state," the Arab News daily said.
"It is also an unbelievably ill-judged decision when Washington is desperate for Arab support in the war against terrorism," the English-language newspaper said in an editorial. Risking a backlash from conservative Muslims at home, Saudi Arabia has lent support to the U.S. campaign to root out Afghanistan-based Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born militant who is Washington's prime suspect in the September 11 attacks.
"Bush, who has refused to meet Arafat since taking office, has to realise that he cannot kick Arabs in the teeth on the one issue that is of overwhelming importance to them -- Palestine -- and yet expect them to fall in line on global terrorism, especially when it involves bombing a Muslim country," the Arab News added. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is trying to maintain close ties with Washington amid growing unease among many of its people about U.S. troops in the kingdom at a time when Arab anger over Washington's perceived one-sided support for Israel at an all-time high.
"American policy is linked to Tel Aviv, even if the result is against American interests," the Arabic-language al-Riyadh said. In the nearby United Arab Emirates, commentators said the Bush administration risked Arab support for raids on Afghanistan.
"Everyone must understand that the Arab world has not offered a blank cheque and is still able to achieve its rights by all possible means in spite of everyone," the Arabic-language al-Bayan said. "If Bush fails to distinguish between Israeli terrorism and Palestinian resistance, the bottom would drop out of his global anti-terror campaign," the English-language The Gulf Today said. - Reuters
Desperate? They think too highly of themselves. They have to choose, with us or against us. If they prefer to throw their lot in with the terrorists, they will lose.
I ain't losing sleep over the Saudis' grief! Thank God we have Dubya in charge.
The Saudis are posturing. And Bush is unmoved.
As Condoleezza Rice stated yesterday, "Yassir Arafat can make no claim that he is cooperating in the war on terrorism so long as he hugs Hamas and Hezbollah to his breast."
The Arabs are big on gestures and poses; they love their language. The Bush administration believes in actions.
Eventually, the Arabs will come to understand that.
Translation........Join the civilized world or you will be left behind!
Ramandan / Shmamadan......They sure has hell won't back off fighting during any holiday we have.......and palestine is frankly unimportant....it is though a great way for arab opportunist to stir up trouble.
One real question though if Yasser and his boys are so insignifigant as displyed in this article.....why the rush to declare a mideast peace( befuddling) by demanding a palestinian state?......Why "dubya" why?....sending powell over just gives them credibility at a time we should be shutting them down.
I couldn't agree more!
Drill responsibly everywhere we can.....we have learned enough not to "puke" in our own pot.
It is time for us to become independant again energy wise. This is the time to exploit our natural resources as .......AS! I stress..AS! We develope a means to power our own homes "off grid"
Computers used to weigh many tons and take several buildings.....whos to say the inefficent solar arrays we now use can't soon become the new " lap/ roof" top models we all use.
This country was founded on a frontier drive a thought of how to make the day better......
I always thought it would be moving off planet ...and still do
Now though I think a small revolution here to sustained home power would be a great step to the move off planet.
What is Arafat doing in their mouth?
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