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| Europe |
| Belgian FM backs ’off road’ route to Mid-East peace |
| 2004-03-27 |
| The European Union should move away from the ill-fated roadmap for peace between Israel and the Palestinians and begin looking for ’off road’ solutions to the Middle East conflict, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel has said. "We’re revoking the registration on the Cycle of Violence™. Get ready for the SUV of Serenity!" Speaking on Thursday after meeting with his European counterparts at this week’s EU summit in Brussels, Michel suggested that the roadmap, drawn up in June 2003, was no longer in a position to deliver peace in the Middle East. He said some other EU foreign ministers had agreed with his comments, but did not name them. "Because, technically speaking, John Kerry isn’t an EU foreign minister." "We need to find solutions outside of the roadmap and to embark on what I call off road exploration, particularly in the direction of Arab League countries," Michel told journalists after the Brussels talks. "All the best dictators drive armored SUV’s, naturellement." "We have to force open a window of opportunity," he added, The road map was drafted by diplomats from the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations and amended after talks with both the Israelis and the Palestinians. The ambitious plan set out a three-phase process that was supposed to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensure Israel’s security and create a viable, democratic Palestinian sate by 2005. This was to have been followed up by a series of peace deals between Israel and its Arab neighbours. But most analysts now say the roadmap is dead in the water, with neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians showing any real commitment to meet the plan’s goals. Israel’s assassination last week of Sheikh Yassin, spiritual leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, was seen by many as the final nail in the roadmap’s coffin. Washington’s subsequent refusal to back a UN resolution that would have formally criticised Israel’s action only pushed the possibility of a peace settlement based on the US-backed roadmap even further away, |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #16 Getting ready for duck season, Carl? |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-03-27 10:34:14 PM |
| #15 Okay, SH, I'm on board, as long as you throw in the 50-cal gun mount for the bed. |
| Posted by: Carl in NH 2004-03-27 8:29:31 PM |
| #14 Carl, let's dub it Plan Z71, a name that connotes rock solid performance. :-) |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-03-27 8:15:46 PM |
| #13 Does the "off road" solution come with a plush interior and all the options, or is that only for the PLA leadership ? |
| Posted by: Carl in NH 2004-03-27 6:34:22 PM |
| #12 Lol! Shoot, I know all those by heart, bookmarks aren't necessary! Into the RB Stylebook. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-03-27 5:43:58 PM |
| #11 One big problem with the roadmap is clearly demonstrated by the way it is described in two places in the article (unintentionally I'm sure.) First we have the description: The road map was drafted by diplomats from the United States, the EU, Russia and the United Nations and amended after talks with both the Israelis and the Palestinians Then we have the description: "...peace settlement based on the US-backed roadmap." Maybe the roadmap would have had a glimmer of a chance for success if the entire quartet had been engaged in support of the peace process instead of just sniping from the sidelines. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-03-27 4:42:17 PM |
| #10 You forgot the automated machine guns and canals full of Jewish pirahnas. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-03-27 4:14:36 PM |
| #9 OP, won't the rabid rotweilers get tangled up in the barbed wire and set off the mines? I'm just asking :-) |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-03-27 4:12:44 PM |
| #8 "Thick fences make good neighbors." Especially if there's two of them, and the space between them is filled with mines, barbed wire, and rabid rotweilers. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-03-27 2:13:05 PM |
| #7 Lol! Shoot, I know all those by heart, bookmarks aren't necessary! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-03-27 10:45:54 AM |
| #6 ;-) I bow to your extensive (yet twisted) bookmarks |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-27 10:38:20 AM |
| #5 LOL! Don't be jealous, Frank, but Madame Voluptuanna has that role covered! ;-> |
| Posted by: .com 2004-03-27 10:25:33 AM |
| #4 quit begging for a spanking, PD...we know you'd like it too much |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-27 10:18:47 AM |
| #3 Wow. Even the purveyors of conventional wisdom have finally caught on. Amazing - only a year or so late. I wonder - is this an improvement over previous episodes of willful ignorance? No, wait. There I go again. Upon reflection, I must admit it. I'm sorry. I abase myself before such wisdom. Since being properly upbraided and chastized (an Everything You Know Is Wrong moment delivered by my better) I am rethinking my position on everything at the moment, I will wait to see if the other signatories to the Road Map follow Michel's brave lead. When Kofi agrees publicly, well that will make it official. Only then will those of us who've been so derisive, mocking or otherwise, be right. Officially. Sans this imprimatur, I'm afraid I've been bad. Very bad. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-03-27 9:26:38 AM |
| #2 OK, for 5,321st time - the Paleos never took the first step in their obligations: cease terror attacks. When you never do your part, and constantly bitch, whine, and seethe about the Joooos preventing you from being a "partner" in the process, you get the stinking shit-hole of a situation you have now: no peace, anarchy, child boomers, gangs and thugs stealing and killing everything not bolted down, and a new wall to quarantine your sick society to prevent infection of the democracy next door. Good luck, assholes |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-27 8:42:50 AM |
| #1 The roadmap turned out to be a track to nowhere. Surprise Surprise! |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-03-27 7:43:03 AM |