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To: stomper who wrote (130985)10/25/2001 9:30:55 AM
From: Haim R. Branisteanu  Respond to of 436258
 
Bush's Mideast Charade

If the U.S. order to withdraw is both patently hypocritical
and certain to be rejected, why are Colin Powell and his
spokesman sent out to beat up on the Israelis?

One answer is obvious: This is supposed to show the
Arab "street" that the U.S. is not pro-Israel, that we are
evenhanded brokers of Palestinian peace. Our message is
that it's O.K. for Pakistanis, Egyptians and Saudis to be
with us against the bin Laden terrorists in Afghanistan
because the U.S. does not blame Arafat when suicide
bombers kill Israeli teenagers.

Another answer is "coalition building." For example:
Because Iran is angry at being used as the route for the
Taliban's heroin exports, and because its clerics also
despise Iraq's Saddam Hussein — then maybe if we
publicly castigate Israel and privately condone Iran's
support of Hezbollah terrorism, "moderate" ayatollahs
will not oppose our terrorist hunt in Afghanistan.

nytimes.com