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Politics : Attack Iraq? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: rrufff who wrote (8089)	9/19/2003 10:43:09 AM
From: lorne	Respond to of 8683

Why Oslo has failed September 19, 2003 worldnetdaily.com This past week marked the 10th anniversary of the Oslo Agreement that set the groundwork for the rapidly folding roadmap to peace. It is doubtful that the many who watched approvingly as Yitzhak Rabin shook the bloodstained hand of Yasser Arafat on the rose garden lawn expected it to end with the worst wave of terrorism in Israel's history. I have to admit that I wept when I heard of the Oslo Agreement. I knew exactly where it would lead. I knew that it would only open the doors for thousands of Palestinian terrorists to finally get inside Israel proper with deadly weapons. In the aftermath, the only thing Israel has learned from this experiment is a lesson for the new generation of Israelis. It was a lesson their fathers were taught in the blood and suffering of five major wars. They learned that peace cannot be negotiated with terrorists. Every prediction made by the political right in 1993 has come true with a vengeance. The more land Israel turned over, the more Yasser Arafat demanded. The more compromises given, the more Arafat was emboldened to go for all of Jerusalem and the whole of Israel. The restraint Israel has been forced to display because of outside interference – led by the United States and the United Nations – the more the Muslims interpreted it as weakness. And this is the most dangerous miscalculation that can be given to them. The most enduring obstacle to peace, according to the Palestinians, is Israeli settlements, like the one in Hebron. Isn't it interesting how the ethnic cleansing of their territory of Jews can be an acceptable obstacle to peace to the international community? The Palestinian policy of driving all Jews out of what they call their territory is a blatant demonstration of "ethnic cleansing." Just imagine the international repercussions if Israel sought to ethnically cleanse its territory of all Arabs. Doesn't this make you think about how unbalanced things are? But for most people, this kind of thing just goes right over their heads. Here is the real problem why Oslo and all other attempts to negotiate peace with the Palestinians have failed. It isn't the Jewish settlements in Hebron that are the obstacle to peace. It is the Jewish settlements in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberius, Caesarea, and everywhere else that are the real barrier to peace, according to the predominant Muslim view. As long as there are Jews anywhere, except floating face down in the Mediterranean, Arafat will call their presence an "obstacle to peace." Oslo envisioned a Palestinian state emerging after a gradual process of reconciliation. Instead, the opposite has happened. The Palestinian leadership made a strategic decision to create a Palestine not through negotiations, but through blood and fire. The Palestinian goal of the last three years has been to demoralize the Israeli people through terrorism and force a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the territories. So far, the Palestinian strategy has failed dismally. The result of Palestinian aggression has been the hardening of Israeli resolve and the near-total destruction of the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state. And as long as Yasser Arafat remains on his throne in Ramallah, Israel has little choice but to fight the war that is constantly forced upon them. The current war isn't a "cycle of violence." It is the Israeli response to the relentless murder of its civilians by Palestinian terrorists. It is also Israel's necessary response to convince the Palestinians that terrorism will not lead to Israel's destruction, but to the Palestinian's. Thus far, Israel has shown superhuman restraint. But if Israel is finally forced to fight for its survival, it has the capability of obliterating the Palestinian elements who will not forsake terrorism – including the Muslim patrons of terror in the surrounding countries. And that day is fast approaching.

To: rrufff who wrote (8089)	9/21/2003 11:00:40 PM
From: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck	Respond to of 8683

Iraq adopts sweeping economic reforms news.bbc.co.uk All Iraq's major industries - except oil - will be up for grabs The American-backed administration in Iraq has announced sweeping economic reforms, including the sale of all state industries except for oil. The surprise announcement by Iraqi Finance Minister Kamel al-Keylani dominated the second day of meetings organised by the International Monetary Fund in Dubai. The recently-appointed minister unveiled a string of reforms that analysts said read like a manifesto devised by Washington, signing off 30 years of Saddam Hussein and the socialist Baath Party. Al-Keylani said liberalisation of foreign investment, the banking sector, taxes and tariffs would "significantly advance efforts to build a free and open market economy in Iraq". We should play a role and spend a lot of money there, but we shouldn't dominate Bill Clinton But the BBC's Nick Springate, in Baghdad, says many ordinary Iraqis will see the moves as a big sell-off with predominantly multi-national, American companies viewed as getting "rewards". The American administration in Iraq is likely to play a role in overseeing the privatisation process, along with the Iraqi Governing Council, our correspondent says. A number of the people on the council themselves have financial backgrounds and business backgrounds, and will have strong views about who should be coming into the country. But former US President Bill Clinton, on a visit to Dubai, urged moderation from American firms. "We should play a role and spend a lot of money there, but we shouldn't dominate," Mr Clinton said. But US Treasury Secretary John Snow rejected the suggestion that US had dominated the drafting of the reforms, saying they were the "proposals, ideas, and concepts of the Governing Council". Gold rush The scale of rebuilding needed in Iraq is likely to attract many investors hoping to secure multi-million dollar contracts, not least from the construction industry. Experts say reconstruction could take 10 years Many roads and buildings in Iraq need to be repaired or rebuilt. Telecommunications is also a major factor, our correspondent says. Although mobile-phone contracts are going to be awarded in the next couple of weeks, even before the fall of Saddam Hussein telecommunication companies were very prevalent, bidding to rewire the country and bring in new technology. The changes - set to be implemented in the next few weeks - will allow foreign banks to buy Iraqi financial institutions, while the central bank itself will become independent. Foreigners will be able to take over businesses and industries that were previously state-controlled. 'Oil' The most lucrative part of the Iraqi economy - oil - is not included in the reforms. Natural resources are exempt from the changes, excluding current outside participation in Iraq's oil reserves. There is widespread belief in the Arab world that the US military action in Iraq earlier this year was motivated by a desire to control Iraq's substantial oil reserves. Other measures announced: The central bank will have full independence and investors will be allowed full transfer of foreign exchange earnings. Under new bank rules, six foreign banks will be allowed "fast-track" entry into the country and will be permitted full ownership of the local banks within five years. The reforms also see a new maximum tax rate of 15% for both individuals and companies. A 5% surcharge will also be imposed on all imports, with the exception of humanitarian goods such as food and medicine. The World Bank said on Saturday that a full assessment of Iraq's long-term economic needs should be ready within two to three weeks.