We've been hearing about it for weeks, so I guess we should pay attention. It's supposed to be happening in about 30 minutes.
Home | We've been hearing about it for weeks, so I guess we should pay attention. It's supposed to be happening in about 30 minutes.
I'm so excited!
The first reports are fairly encouraging. It is widely reported that Pres. Bush has called on Palestinians to dismiss Arafat as their leader. Bush also calls for the creation of a Palestinian democracy. The goal is statehood within 3 years.
Unwillingness by Palestinians to pursue democratic reforms, which is almost a given, should gradually weaken support and sympathy from Western democracies. Instead, we will hear complaints about meddling in their corrupt and brutal "internal affairs."
I'm sure that when we get the transcript there will be much to criticize, but it seems that overall Pres. Bush is framing everything in the ongoing War Against Terrorism.
I have not heard any reports that Bush is calling for Israel to end Operation Determined Path, and I suspect he welcomes Sharon's latest pledge to unleash a massive assault on Hamas, which is merely a Palestinian sister organization of the Al Qaeda mass murderers.
More good news: President Bush has said nothing about the Palestinians having a "right of return" nor their getting East Jerusalem.
If his speech focused on the need to end terrorism and institute democratic reforms in the PA, then it can only help Israel. Nothing may come of it, but it puts the burden of responsibility on the PA, and exposes their refusal to end terrorism and dictatorship to the rest of the world.
They are promised help from the US to establish their own state if they stop terrorism and embrace democracy. It seems clear that Pres. Bush put the ball back in the Palestinians' court -- not Israel's.
Additionally the call was to stop new development in the suburbs but not to roll anything back.
Moreover there was a statement to return to pre-2000 borders which is a very good sign.
Yeah, but who cares what Bush thinks. The biggest moron will tell us what peace is all about and what should happen in the ME. Luckily, nobody in Europe (except Blair) takes him serious.
"More good news: President Bush has said nothing about the Palestinians having a "right of return" nor their getting East Jerusalem"
That's what you call good news. I think it's just another proof of Bush's incompetence.
Here's some evidence that'll show you how dumb this man really is. I would like to have a drink with him, but I wouldn't think even of letting him handle such a big crisis as the ME.
Enjoy
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"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country." ....George W. Bush, Jr.
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child." ...Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
"Mars is essentially in the same orbit...Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr., 8/11/94
"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr., 5/22/98
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." ...Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr., 9/21/97
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
"Public speaking is very easy." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr. to reporters in 10/9
"I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican" ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
" time for the human race to enter the solar system." ....Governor George W. Bush, Jr.
Morpheus, you can dismiss the President of the United States as a nitwit, but you have to be rather unintelligent to believe that what he thinks doesn't matter.
It should be instructive to anyone paying attention that Bush has an extremely high "job rating" among the American people, who were originally split right down the middle on who to elect. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people -- including many who voted for Gore -- say how glad they are given what happened on 9/11 that Bush and not Gore is President.
Bush's speech will put pressure on the EU to recognize that it's more important for the Palestinians to reject terrorism and dictatorship than demand a "right of return" to within Israel. The latter simply proves that destroying Israel is much more important to them than creating their own state.
There are some intelligent people in the EU, and a growing number of them will realize that the Palestinians don't want a state and don't want democracy. What they really want is to join with Osama bin Laden in jihad against the West.
The day is coming when the Islamists will pull off a major attack in Europe. Perhaps you will blame it on Israel. But decent people will blame it on the perpetrators.
P.S.: Isn't it amazing that nitwits manage to beat out intellectuals in getting elected President of the US? I guess that means the way the world works is this: those who don't know what they are doing succeed, while those who know what they are doing fail. Yeah, makes perfect sense.
Last edited by ibrodsky; 06-24-2002 at 12:01 PM.
Here is the text of speech (from Fox News):
For too long, the citizens of the Middle East have lived in the midst of death and fear. The hatred of a few holds the hopes of many hostage. The forces of extremism and terror are attempting to kill progress and peace by killing the innocent. And this casts a dark shadow over an entire region.
For the sake of all humanity, things must change in the Middle East. It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation. And the current situation offers no prospect that life will improve. Israeli citizens will continue to be victimized by terrorists, and so Israel will continue to defend herself, and the situation of the Palestinian people will grow more and more miserable.
My vision is two states, living side by side, in peace and security. There is simply no way to achieve that peace until all parties fight terror.
Yet at this critical moment, if all parties will break with the past and set out on a new path, we can overcome the darkness with the light of hope.
Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born. I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror.
I call upon them to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty.
If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence.
And when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors, the United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state, whose borders and certain aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of a final settlement in the Middle East.
In the work ahead, we all have responsibilities. The Palestinian people are gifted and capable and I'm confident they can achieve a new birth for their nation.
A Palestinian state will never be created by terror. It will be built through reform. And reform must be more than cosmetic change or a veiled attempt to preserve the status quo. True reform will require entirely new political and economic institutions based on democracy, market economics and action against terrorism.
Today the elected Palestinian legislature has no authority and power is concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few. A Palestinian state can only serve its citizens with a new constitution which separates the powers of government.
The Palestinian parliament should have the full authority of a legislative body. Local officials and government ministers need authority of their own and the independence to govern effectively.
The United States, along with the European Union and Arab states, will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new constitutional framework and a working democracy for the Palestinian people. And the United States, along with others in the international community, will help the Palestinians organize and monitor fair, multiparty local elections by the end of the year with national elections to follow.
Today, the Palestinian people live in economic stagnation, made worse by official corruption. A Palestinian state will require a vibrant economy, where honest enterprise is encouraged by honest government.
The United States, the international donor community and the World Bank stand ready to work with Palestinians on a major project of economic reform and development. The United States, the EU, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are willing to oversee reforms in Palestinian finances, encouraging transparency and independent auditing. And the United States, along with our partners in the developed world, will increase our humanitarian assistance to relieve Palestinian suffering.
Today, the Palestinian people lack effective courts of law and have no means to defend and vindicate their rights. A Palestinian state will require a system of reliable justice to punish those who prey on the innocent. The United States and members of the international community stand ready to work with Palestinian leaders to establish, finance and monitor a truly independent judiciary.
Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing terrorism.
This is unacceptable. And the United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure.
This will require an externally supervised effort to rebuild and reform the Palestinian security services. The security system must have clear lines of authority and accountability and a unified chain of command.
America is pursuing this reform along with key regional states. The world is prepared to help, yet ultimately these steps toward statehood depend on the Palestinian people and their leaders. If they energetically take the path of reform, the rewards can come quickly. If Palestinians embrace democracy, confront corruption and firmly reject terror, they can count on American support for the creation of a provisional state of Palestine.
With a dedicated effort, this state could rise rapidly, as it comes to terms with Israel, Egypt and Jordan on practical issues such as security. The final borders, the capital and other aspects of this state's sovereignty will be negotiated between the parties as part of a final settlement.
Arab states have offered their help in this process, and their help is needed.
I've said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror. To be counted on the side of peace, nations must act. Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media and publicly denounce homicide bombings. Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money, equipment and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.
Every nation actually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to these groups and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq.
And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations.
Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show by their deeds and undivided support for peace.
And as we move toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world.
Israel also has a large stake in the success of a democratic Palestine. Permanent occupation threatens Israel's identity and democracy. A stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for.
So I challenge Israel to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state.
As we make progress toward security, Israel forces need to withdraw fully to positions they held prior to Sept. 28, 2000. And consistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell committee, Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop.
The Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violence subsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting innocent Palestinians to resume work and normal life. Palestinian legislators and officials, humanitarian and international workers, must be allowed to go about the business of building a better future. And Israel should release frozen Palestinian revenues into honest, accountable hands.
I've asked Secretary Powell to work intensively with Middle Eastern and international leaders to realize the vision of a Palestinian state, focusing them on a comprehensive plan to support Palestinian reform and institution building.
Ultimately, Israelis and Palestinians must address the core issues that divide them if there is to be a real peace, resolving all claims and ending the conflict between them.
This means that the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between the parties, based on U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli withdrawal to secure and recognized borders.
We must also resolve questions concerning Jerusalem, the plight and future of Palestinian refugees, and a final peace between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and a Syria that supports peace and fights terror.
All who are familiar with the history of the Middle East realize that there may be setbacks in this process. Trained and determined killers, as we have seen, want to stop it. Yet the Egyptian and Jordanian peace treaties with Israel remind us that, with determined and responsible leadership, progress can come quickly.
As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge, demonstrating real performance on security and reform, I expect Israel to respond and work toward a final status agreement.
With intensive effort by all of us, agreement could be reached within three years from now. And I and my country will actively lead toward that goal.
I can understand the deep anger and anguish of the Israeli people. You've lived too long with fear and funerals, having to avoid markets and public transportation, and forced to put armed guards in kindergarten classrooms. The Palestinian Authority has rejected your offered hand and trafficked with terrorists. You have a right to a normal life. You have a right to security. And I deeply believe that you need a reformed, responsible Palestinian partner to achieve that security.
I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinian people. For decades you've been treated as pawns in the Middle East conflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a comprehensive peace agreement that never seems to come, as your lives get worse year by year.
You deserve democracy and the rule of law. You deserve an open society and a thriving economy. You deserve a life of hope for your children.
An end to occupation and a peaceful democratic Palestinian state may seem distant, but America and our partners throughout the world stand ready to help, help you make them possible as soon as possible.
If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank in Gaza, it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe, who are equally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled to the benefits of democratic government.
I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your commitments to morality and learning and tolerance lead to great historical achievements, and those values are alive in the Islamic world today. You have a rich culture, and you share the aspirations of men and women in every culture. Prosperity and freedom and dignity are not just American hopes or Western hopes, they are universal human hopes. And even in the violence and turmoil of the Middle East, America believes those hopes have the power to transform lives and nations.
This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace, a test to show who's serious about peace and who is not.
The choice here is stark and simple, the Bible says, "I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace and hope and life.
It's better than I expected, that is for sure.
Supposing elections are held, though, and Hamas emerges as the winner. What to do then?
Really a very good speech.
I particularly appreciated the comment:
"I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinian people. For decades you've been treated as pawns in the Middle East conflict."
Clearly, Bush recognizes that militant Islam is behind the conflict and terror. He is appealing to normal and decent Palestinians -- not the ones who support terrorism.
Was it the State Dept. or the NSA this time?
The big question now: will PA and other Arab leaders denounce the speech as a concession to the "Jewish lobby"? I have to believe that Bush has lined up some Arab support for it.
This speech is really a "Are you with us or against us in the War Against Terrorism?" litmus test.
I haven't picked at the wording but what's clear is implied assistance to the PA if they play along and cooperate. Say what you will they would have to be crazy to turn their backs on that both for the assistance and for the appearance to the rest of the world and the EU for forcing the issue back onto their wallets.
While Israel and some others have said for a long time that the window of opportunity is closing for Arafat - this time that statement may have some teeth in it.
Remember what Pres. Bush said:
Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born. I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror.
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