Bush "War On Terrorism" Now a Big Joke: "Arafat Is Not A Terrorist" (Japanese News Report Breaking)

In Japanese (Kyodo News, Tokyo) ^ | 2 April 2002 Japan Time | Kyodo News Service

[AmericanInTokyo]

Breaking. Japanese headling says "USA Government Does Not Consider Arafat a Terorrist"

Briefly attributes the stated policy to a 'high-level press spokesman' in the Bush Administration. (Probably Fleischer).

Short dispatch in Japanese just now. Breaking fast.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Wonderful. Just wonderful. What a joke that if 'you harbor terrorists, you are just as guilty' and 'if you are not against terror you are not with the USA.' How can they justify this. Looks like an 18-hour day ahead for the spin meisters.

[Miss Marple]

Before you go into a tailspin, I think you should wait until the entire press briefing is posted. I heard part of it, but until I see the whole thing posted I won't comment.

What I did hear did not contain anything like this.

[AmericanInTokyo]

MM, you seem to be assuming the Kyodo report/statement comes only from a news conference that you happened to see.

Do you dismiss that these might be from statements delivered directly to the Japanese news agency from the US Goverment either on background or as on/off record? I for one trust Kyodo that they have the characterization right. But we will perhaps see throughout the day, won't we, and my post will be shown as errant?

[Lazamataz]

This is proof that the Japanese press lies to you outright, just like our American press does.

[Dane]

Oh my, using the hyperbole(making up your own headlines) again I see, oh BTW I don't see Bush stopping Israel.

BTW here are the Presdient's remarks,

Bush: Suicide Bombings Are Terror

By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush appealed Monday for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to order a halt to the suicide bomb attacks in Israel and the West Bank. "Suicide bombings in the name of religion is simple terror," Bush said.

But the president stopped short of applying to Arafat his oft-repeated own statements that those who harbor terrorists are terrorists. He said the Palestinian leader is excepted because of his past efforts to negotiate peace.

"There will never be peace so long as there is terror, and all of us should fight terror. I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terror," Bush said during a meeting with New York's governor and New York City's mayor.

Sheesh it must be close to 3:00 AM in Tokyo. Did you decide to make up your own headlines after a night of heavy drinking in Shinjuku?

[SamAdams76]

I see Drudge has made up his own headline too.

[mewzilla]

Well, I heard it and the President in an infinite lack of wisdom, did in fact say it!

[DoughtyOne]

You know, as much as I like some people, it's pretty difficult to watch someone who spends their entire adult life on "Bush a Day in the Life, Shrine Threads" criticize someone else for not using good judgement. Over and out...

[Dane]

You know, as much as I like some people, it's pretty difficult to watch someone who spends their entire adult life on "Bush a Day in the Life, Shrine Threads""I hate Bush and will make up my own headlines" criticize someone else for not using good judgement. Over and out..

[LarryLied]

The Democrats are sharpening their knives. They see another James Bird and Matthew Shepard in blaming Bush for everything which happens in the mideast. If nothing bad happens, they will take one comment, twist it around and repeat it over and over. They want to inflame the Jewish vote, get more Jewish donations and stop any idea liberal Jews might have that Bush cares about Israel. That Bush won the under 30 Jewish vote in 2000 put the fear of God in them.

[mewzilla]

...not using good judgement...

Now, there's a euphemism for it.

[paul544]

Anyone who makes up their own headlines should be banned. Plane and simple. That will put an end to it soon enough.

[Biblebelter]

It doesn't matter a wit what Bush or his administrations says on this subject. What matters is, is its pattern of actions. It like previous administrations have given the murdering terrorist Arafat a free pass in hopes that murderers can be rehabilitated enough to someday be the leaders of civilized and peaceful nations. Bush has yet to learn what folly this is.

[jpl]

Wonderful. Just wonderful. What a joke that if 'you harbor terrorists, you are just as guilty' and 'if you are not against terror you are not with the USA.' How can they justify this. Looks like an 18-hour day ahead for the spin meisters.

It's been common knowledge for many years now that official bipartisan U.S. policy is to not classify Arafat as a terrorist. I've always considered it one of the more repulsive and hypocritical aspects of our foreign policy.

[mewzilla]

To heck with the Dems! If they want to make hay out of this, Bush has it coming. He literally said that Arafat wasn't a terrorist because Arafat was willing to negotiate. Ye gods. In addition to being an absolutely outladnsih statement, what kind of a policy is that supposed to set? That we should negotiate with Osama if that expletive-deleted all of a sudden wants to talk about his grievances???The utter stupidity of this remark is right up there with Ford's remark about Poland, but the repercussions from this one could be scary.

[AmericanInTokyo]

The Kyodo article title says "hodo kokan" which is "high level official for press" for the US administration. Just for your information. Further, please ping me when the correct comes through that this official did state that Arafat is a terrorist, or that the Bush paraphrase of exempting Arafat from being considered a terrorist, is revised by the White House. I'll be standing by.

[survivalforum.com]

The only thing I will say is HYPOCRISY!

This release might be a bunch of hype and garbage, but did you hear 60 minutes interviewing Sharon last night?

Again, HYPOCRISY!

Franklin

[Walkin Man]

If that pig was terror bombing McDonalds in America I bet he would be considered a terrorist! But he's only murdering (Jewish)women and children in Israel, so hey Arafat and the Pali's get a free pass from our government!

Nah...Arafat isn't a terrorist just ask this little Jewish boy. Oh sorry he may not be living anymore.

[Dave S]

Wonderful. Just wonderful. What a joke that if 'you harbor terrorists, you are just as guilty' and 'if you are not against terror you are not with the USA.' How can they justify this. Looks like an 18-hour day ahead for the spin meisters.

The statement that the administration made excepted Arafat from Bush's statement about harboring terrorists because Arafat has negotiated for peace. It didnt sound like it was an open ended exception however. Besides his statement about you are either with us or against us only dealt with terrorists with international reach and those targeting the US.

They are giving Arafat more leaway than Iraq or Afghanistan because there are no other Palestinians to deal with and killing off Arafat would only make things worse. Thats the same reason that the Israelis dont assasinate Arafat (i.e., as bad as things are now, they would get worse if Arafat was gone).

What did you want Bush to do? Launch an air strike on Ramallah? Nuke all the arab capitals? We are not the worlds policeman. The PLO hasnt attacked the US so why do you want to paint Bush into a corner where he has to order air strikes/etc. on PLO that the Israelis are even unwilling to do. BTW, Drudge has it that the US and the EU have arranged for Arafat to go into exile in Morroco. However, he hasnt agreed to go yet because he wants to take some of his terrorists buddies with him and Bush and the Israelis say no. Calm down. Things are only joke if living in Japan has taught you to think in black and white.

[Miss Marple]

Well, I see that the long knoves are out for me today. I said I didn't hear it, and I didn't, because I was OUTSIDE.

Now, what has been posted is still a far cry from what the headline says.

I still would like to see a TRANSCRIPT.

And in my experience, "high level officials" who are not sourced turn out to be aides to Senator McCain or Clinton supporters.