Now you'll probably scream that the Washington Postal is under Bush's thumb. Maybe you should stop "exaserbating" your tensions and work on your comprehension and analysis.
washingtonpost.com
Bush Says Arafat 'Failed as a Leader'
President Blames Breakdown in Peace Process on Palestinian Leader
By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 18, 2003; 1:44 PM
Three months after relaunching his Middle East peace efforts with a summit in Jordan, President Bush acknowledged today that the process is "stalled" and blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Speaking at Camp David with Jordan's King Abdullah at his side, Bush departed from his usual formula of stressing the obligations of both Israel and the Palestinians, and said Palestinians were responsible for the collapse of progress amid renewed violence. Bush accused Arafat of undermining the anti-terrorism efforts of former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned Sept. 6 after four months in office.
"His efforts were undermined, and that's why we're now stalled," Bush said. "Mr. Arafat has failed as a leader. ... Prime Minister Abbas was undermined at all turns by the old order -- that meant Mr. Arafat."
Bush also appeared to put distance between himself and the U.S.-backed "road map" to peace, which has been his blueprint for progress in the region and is based on reciprocal efforts by both the Israelis and Palestinians. Bush said he is "still committed to peace, because I believe the vast majority of people want peace," and said he is "committed to the road map."
"But I'll remind those who focus on the road map that the first thing the road map said was that there must be security in order for peace to advance, that there must be a collective effort to fight off terror," he said. "Mr. Arafat has failed in that effort."
Abdullah arrived at the presidential retreat today and was to stay overnight with his wife, Queen Rania. The leaders' press conference was moved up a day because of the storm threatening the Washington area, and they spoke in a helicopter hangar instead of against the usual bucolic backdrop of Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. Bush saluted Abdullah as "a reformer who's working to build a country that is tolerant and modern and prosperous," and said he "takes risks for peace."
The king was the first Middle Eastern leader whom Bush has met since Abbas resigned, a development that came as a bitter disappointment for Bush and his aides. The administration had backed Abbas fervently while refusing to deal with Arafat. But Arafat remains popular among the Palestinian people.
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice spoke to Israeli officials last week to warn them that it would be counterproductive to carry out their threat to deport Arafat.
The administration has enlisted European and Arab allies to pressure Arafat to yield more control, including giving a new prime minister full control of security services. Arafat has designated Ahmed Qureia, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, to succeed Abbas.
"The people of the Palestinian territory must understand if they want peace, they must have leadership who is absolutely 100 percent committed to fighting off terror," Bush said.
"It is very difficult to stay on a road to peace when there are terrorists bombing and killing people," he added. "That's what must be stopped. In order for there to be a peace, we must stop terror. And it requires a collective effort. All people are responsible."
Bush said the world looks forward to supporting an economically viable Palestinian state but added, "The first thing that must happen is an absolute condemnation and defeat of those forces who will kill innocent people in order to stop a peace process from going forward."
The Jordanian leader said discussions would include the road map's provision for monitoring to ensure both sides are fulfilling their obligations. "I think it's more important now to see how we can move the process back on track," Abdullah said. "We're talking now about the principle of getting the movement forward again, and Israelis and Palestinians engaging positively in the right direction."
Rice told reporters that peace process is in a "lull," and said the administration wants an "empowered" Palestinian prime minister "who can deliver on the obligations of the road map." Asked if Qureia, the designated prime minister, was empowered, she said, "We don't know."
Staff writer Glenn Kessler contributed to this report.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
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Considine, your position that the bombings of innocent, civilian women and children can be justified by construction of a wall is beyond the scope of any rational, civil argument. |
