Powell Advances Plan to Help Modernize Arab Society

Fox News ^ | 12/12/02 | AP

[hoosierskypilot]

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration outlined a program Thursday to help modernize Arab society, offering an initial contribution of $29 million and pledging to seek more from Congress and rich Arab countries.

In the process, the administration hopes to deflect radicalism and combat illiteracy and poverty through scholarships and economic development.

"We are adding hope to the U.S.-Middle East agenda. We are pledging our energy, our abilities and our idealism to bring hope to all God's children who call the Middle East home," Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

"Hope begins with a paycheck," he said. "And that requires a vibrant economy."

Few details were released by Powell in a speech and news conference at the Heritage Foundation, a private research group.

On Wednesday, CIA Director George J. Tenet pledged in a speech that the United States would draw closer to the Muslim world.

[hoosierskypilot]

Two points: 1) LBJ taught us that you can't solve severe sociological problems involving dysfunctional masses by throwing money their way. People have to want to change!!!

2) Yea. We'll draw close to them, and then they'll detonate the explosives they've got strapped to their waists!!!

[TLBSHOW]

LOL

Powell just loves acting like clinton and the socialist!

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[hunter112]

I think the best way to modernize Arab society is through nuclear energy.

[Caesar Soze]

The best way to modernize Arab societies would be through a free media, so the people have someone other than Al-Jazeera and Hezbollah feeding them news.

A blantantly pro-America media might work, too.

[etcetera]

Personally, I prefer the solution suggested by Gen Curtis LeMay - bomb 'em back to the stone age.

[American in Israel]

But they are in the stone age...

[American in Israel]

Well the 100 million a year Clintoon's foundations sends to the Palestinian Authority for "school books" in the name of peace seems to be working fine, if you like genocide.

Just like a socialist, to repeat what has failed before to try to get it right this time.

Anybody doubt that this is another "get rich quick" democrat scheme? The more money flows, the easier to skim...

[RLK]

But they are in the stone age...

------------

Har!

[LibWhacker]

"Hope begins with a paycheck," he said. "And that requires a vibrant economy."

Oh, sure. Let's make 'em richer! So they can buy more weapons, hire more scientists, and send their kids to Berkeley where they too can study nuclear physics, biochem, engineering -- and become good little jihadists lovers of Western democracy and apple pie. Just like their daddies did.

GET 'YER HEAD OUT, COLIN!

[valkyrieanne]

Colin Powell really, really needs to resign.

[John O]

I think the best way to modernize Arab society is through nuclear energy.

Stop calling folks we have a winner!

God Save America (Please)

[alaskanfan]

We already send them 1 billion per year. How is another 29 million going to make any difference?

It's time for the rich Saudi princes to start supporting their own nation, and we should tell them as much. Giving them money to kill innocent people doesn't count.

[weikel]

This is retarded its the richer arabs which commit terrorist acts. The oldschool poor beduins don't join Al Qaeda( in fact in Israel a lot of them serve voluntarily in the IDF). These subsidies will just end up subsidizing Wahabbi terrorism and indoctrination as sure as Saudi oil money( the education money is just going to go to Madrassas and "Islamic" schools you watch).

[BlueLancer]

"I think the best way to modernize Arab society is through nuclear energy."

I agree ... and we have this nifty little item that will make an ideal fixer-upper and clean-awayer ...

[ejdrapes]

Do you think Powell gave this address and pledged these funds without the concent of the President? So then should the President resign too? Maybe he should, because he hasn't put forward a policy of bombing the Middle East back to the "stone age" or using the might of our military to kill all Muslims.

[ejdrapes]

I think the best way to modernize Arab society is through nuclear energy.

Is this how the majority of Conservatives think and feel, that Arabs should be exterminated from the world? If so, then I guess I'm no longer a Conservative, and George W. Bush must not be either.

[ejdrapes]

We already send them 1 billion per year. How is another 29 million going to make any difference?

It's time for the rich Saudi princes to start supporting their own nation, and we should tell them as much. Giving them money to kill innocent people doesn't count.

Did anyone actually listen to Powell's remarks? It was about a lot more than just sending money over there. What would people suggest we do (besides using nukes to rid the world of all Arabs)?

[beavus]

How about modern burials?

[beavus]

Only solution--liberate the silenced self-interested masses by eliminating their corrupt and brutal autocratic leadership and indoctrination programs.

We need to use more assassination and less full-blown war. Those in power will soon learn what it takes to NOT get assassinated.