Arafat's new smoke-screen

[NewsGuy]

In an apparent effort to reduce U.S. pressure on him to resign, arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat released contradictory statements today about his plans for running for what Palestinians term "re-election."

On ther one hand, Arafat told AP that he would not leave power, but speaking from the other side of his mouth, he also reported that he may not run in the upcoming Palestinian "elections."

In the past, Palestinian terror leader Arafat and his con-artist PR team have concocted several smoke-screen strategies to obscure the issues and prevent U.S. sanctions against the brutal Palestinian regime.

Normally Arafat's attempts at causing public confusion would be dismissed as an insult to the intelligence of civilized people. However, the Palestinians' European allies have previously prevented the world from laughing out loud at the Palestinian terrorist's PR trickery. Let's see what happens this time...

[cerulean]

An Arab newspaper article reports there are three Palestinians who have come forward to run in the January 2003 presidential election:

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Dail...002071902.html

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Powell has approved two Palestinians, Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Faiad and Interior Minister Abdel-Razak al-Yehiyeh, as possible presidential material:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/de...0271911444.htm

Unfortunately, anytime the US gives its approval of a Palestinian candidate, that is probably not good news for that candidate.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2002Jul12.html
Quote: A variety of voices, ranging from German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer to Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki, are suggesting that the Arafat problem be finessed through the appointment or eventual election of a Palestinian prime minister, who would exercise power while Mr. Arafat remained as a figurehead.

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Arafat said on Wednesday (July 17), in an interview with Egyptian television, that he would run again if asked to do so.
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/0...215060,00.html