Article

2003-01-03 Middle East

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Posted by Fred Pruitt 2003-01-03 09:45 am|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 And this would be bad because ... ?

Posted by Denny 2003-01-03 09:58:38|| [www.grouchyoldcripple.com] 2003-01-03 09:58:38|| Front Page Top

#2 very interesting to see Yasser coming it out in public against the US war in Iraq. On the one hand he has to be at least as hostile as states like egypt, syria, pakistan to retain cred with the Pal street - especially the more rejectionist elements has been cultivating of late - on the other hand this not only wont endear him to the Bush admin (or for that matter to Blair) it will not endear him to the Iraqi opposition either. The odds on an a post-Saddam Iraq recognizing Israel just increased, I think.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-01-03 10:19:13|| 2003-01-03 10:19:13|| Front Page Top

#3 So I guess any Palis we find in Iraq are "rogues", and we should feel free to waste 'em, eh?

Posted by mojo 2003-01-03 10:43:43|| 2003-01-03 10:43:43|| Front Page Top

#4 Mojo: No and yes. No, 'cause this says they're legitimate targets, not rogues. And yes, because in either case, we are free to waste 'em.

Posted by Ptah 2003-01-03 11:05:16|| 2003-01-03 11:05:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Any successful resolution of the Iraq situation by "arab diplomacy/Russian deviousness" would put tremendous pressure on the US to deal with the Palestinian problem with similar "diplomatic" approach. That would put Arafat back in the driver's seat.

Posted by john 2003-01-03 11:25:57|| 2003-01-03 11:25:57|| Front Page Top

#6 I don't see the substance to John's point at all. What happens to the leader of nation state who subsidizes terrorism as a national policy shouldn't be confused with what happens to a bunch of terrorist thugs who frequently pretend that they are leaders of an unrecognized nation state.

Posted by Tom Roberts 2003-01-03 18:12:40|| 2003-01-03 18:12:40|| Front Page Top

#7 I think TR's point is entirely correct. But on the other hand, Arafat has no longer any influence with the US (not that deserves any) so what he thinks about Iraq is irrelevant in Washington. Any resolution of the Iraq situation that is accomplished by a combination of Egypt/Syria/Saudi/Russian diplomacy/duplicity reduces US effectiveness on overall mid-east policy, even if the current military effort is the pressure point that makes it all happen. The potential reduction in influence is what Arafat thinks he needs to allow his arab and european buddies to come to his aide. Or maybe his meds are running low.

Posted by john 2003-01-03 21:47:34|| 2003-01-03 21:47:34|| Front Page Top

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