Posted on 10/20/2005 6:22:57 PM PDT by Salem
US President George W. Bush Thursday declared that the dream he shares with the Arab world of birthing a Muslim state on the ancient Jewish lands of Judea, Samaria and Gaza is closer to reality today than ever before.
He vowed to use America's considerable influence to help “realize [that] shared vision.”
Speaking at a joint press conference in Washington, Bush heaped praise on visiting PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, despite the latter's refusal to honor his primary peace commitment to disarm and dismantle anti-Jewish “Palestinian” terrorist organizations.
For Israel he had a warning: You will be “held to account” for any actions that hinder Washington's “peace” efforts and burden the lives of the Palestinian Arabs.
Bush also admonished Abbas, telling him that “the way forward is confronting the threat armed gangs present to the creation of a democratic Palestine.”
He said it is time for the Palestinian Authority to “earn the confidence of its neighbors by rejecting and fighting terrorism.”
The tone of his remarks indicated the president had accepted Abbas' assertion that the Palestinian Arabs are “committed to peace” and that his regime has already taken steps to impose the rule of law.
But Abbas made it clear his policies do not include the forced disarmament of those dedicated to Israel's demise.
“We are following a policy I believe is successful,” he said. “All [terrorist] organizations accepted the [temporary truce].”
Likud MK and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuval Steinitz, however, warned that if Abbas did not act in accordance with signed agreements, he could find himself isolated in his Ramallah headquarters, like Yasser Arafat before him.
“Either he fights terror and disarms the organizations, or Israel will behave toward him as it did toward his predecessor and isolate him in the Muqata,” the Itim news agency quoted Steinitz as saying.
Steinitz reacted with fury to an editorial published earlier in the day that Abbas had penned for The Wall Street Journal, in which the Arab accused Israel of acting to strengthen the more radical elements of “Palestinian” society in an effort to see his rule fail.
“It's clear that there is no end to audacity,” Steinitz said. “The man who is personally making it possible for Hamas and the other terror organizations to hold onto their weapons and prepare for another round of bloodshed is accusing Israel of strengthening them.”
In the editorial, Abbas claimed to have created “a climate of peace” since his assumption of power in January, and suggested the only thing preventing regional harmony were the obstacles “Israel has created.”
The Administration is under an incredible amount of pressure from many different areas, and it is in environments like this that errors can be made. And when American Presidents make errors, a lot of people can get hurt.
Since "democratic values" contradicts Islam (which itself condones terrororism), NO Muslim country can truly ever be a "democracy."
and what would you prefer? Continued war?
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee...
On another note, this is the first time I have seen a link at FR to the SecondDraft site. I had a few comments through email way back with Richard Landes, prompted by Daniel Pipes. Glad to see Landes' new project making it into the intellectual forums of the Internet—including FR.
I would prefer a successful war.
For all the greatness and honesty of Mr. Bush, he is still a man, and this is a serious flaw for him. May he reconsider, escape the evil ones.
Gangs don't disappear because things get more democratic. It's the other way around. Every last one of these thugs is going to have to be killed. That's the reality of it.
And then there's:
If I wanted a flip-flopper for President I would have voted for the ketchup man.
Seriously, there are contradictory articles concerning the Bush/Abbas summit. Abbas came with his begging bowl and Bush tossed in a nickel.
You and me both. My senior Pastor just returned last week from a White House meeting, and his comments to our congregation struck me as a little too sycophantic in support of this.
I always pray for President Bush, not only because it is Biblically mandated to "pray for those in authority," but because I really like that guy. I've already written the White House concerning Israel, and they are dead set on this path.
Now I am going to be writing my senior Pastor and a few of his peers in the national Evangelical arena concerning this, and including copies of David Jonsson's "The Clash of Ideologies."
I don't care how "qualified" my Pastor thinks the people he met with are and "impressed" with them he was, this placating radical Islam in the heart of Israel is plain delusional lunacy, and even a secular thinker like Daniel Pipes will agree with me.
Amen....
Jumping in where I've not been invited....MY children were never taught the utter HATRED of another country, another culture. My children were not taught, nor ENCOURAGED, to strap bombs onto their bodies for the only purpose of ... well. I'm not sure what the purpose is.
"the president has never given a HOOT about poll numbers or "legacy."
It's hard to debate with someone who is politically naive.
indeed.
I would imagine they are very public words (which were also backed up in private talks with Israel regarding what he had to say publicly versus what will happen in terms of his support if Israel is violated in the accord)...
I have learned that Bush does not fool around.
I agree; with gasoline prices, energy costs, record bankruptcies, hurricanes, corporate failures, airline failures, we are slowly being brought to our knees. We had better not sell out on Israel, if we haven't already...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.