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2003-06-09 Middle East

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Posted by raptor 2003-06-09 09:33 am|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Abbas just plain doesn't have the capability to affect Hamas.

OTOH, Israel has been targeting them strongly for the last several months. Quid pro quo?

Posted by Chuck 2003-06-09 09:49:57|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-06-09 09:49:57|| Front Page Top

#2 whilw one hopes these are just words, and abbas will eventually hit Hamas, it does seem he may be too soft for this job.

Of course it would help if Arafat were out of the picture.

look at the sequence of events - 1. summit to which arafat not invited. 2 Arafat criticizes peace initiative. 3. terrorists, including Al aqsa martyrs brig, kill israelis.

doesnt seem like connecting the dots should be too hard, eh?

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-06-09 09:51:46|| 2003-06-09 09:51:46|| Front Page Top

#3 Can you repost the link? I guess Arafat is still in charge. If you look real close, you can see Arafat's lips move when words come out of Abbas' mouth.

Posted by Becky 2003-06-09 10:00:56|| 2003-06-09 10:00:56|| Front Page Top

#4 "It's just bidness, Mike. It's not personal."

Gotta love a country where the leaders are indistinguishable from the 5 families...

Posted by mojo 2003-06-09 10:59:28|| 2003-06-09 10:59:28|| Front Page Top

#5 "There is absolutely no substitute for dialogue,"

I believe Neville Chamberlain said the same thing....

Posted by Dripping Sarcasm 2003-06-09 11:01:15|| 2003-06-09 11:01:15|| Front Page Top

#6 I think he'll find the Israelis disagree: targetted killings of the higher-ups in IJ, Hamas, and Al-Aqsa are certainly a substitute for a dialogue that the other side(s) refuses to attend

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-09 11:43:09|| 2003-06-09 11:43:09|| Front Page Top

#7 It may seem like nothing to most people, however, Abbas has been basically truthful. If he says he won't do anything involving force, he won't. This is a looked upon by the Israeli govt as a big improvement from Arafat (who would say he was doing something and wouldn't or would tell the Euromorons one thing, tell Reuters another, Al Jazeera yet another).

Posted by mhw 2003-06-09 11:52:48|| 2003-06-09 11:52:48|| Front Page Top

#8 If Abbas weren't too soft for the job, he wouldn't have it.

Posted by Matt 2003-06-09 12:36:00|| 2003-06-09 12:36:00|| Front Page Top

#9 Can you really believe that a man that trained (and led) terrorists is now afraid to use force? He won't use force because he doesn't want peace. If the PALs really wanted peace, ~~suicide~~ homocide bombers would be a myth and not a reality. I still think we need to hit the 'reset' button on the Arabs.

Posted by Cyber Sarge (VRWC California Chapter) 2003-06-09 12:54:12|| 2003-06-09 12:54:12|| Front Page Top

#10 My analysis is that Abbas likes power, He also knows that Arafat will wack him when he can. He also know that if he tries to surpress Hamas, et al, he may not have enough troops to do it, especially if Arafat sits out the conflict.

Abbas is playing to the US and EU as our new candidate for high muckety muck of the PA. If Israel takes out Hamas, he won't weep. He'd like to see an arrangment where he ends up in power and Arafat, Hamas, and the other gunnies suffer unfortunate martyrdom.

Posted by Chuck 2003-06-09 21:35:01|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-06-09 21:35:01|| Front Page Top

09:33 raptor
09:01 raptor
08:06 raptor
03:24 Watcher
03:01 R. McLeod
02:21 Watcher
02:00 Watcher
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00:41 Anonymous Troll
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00:08 Scott
23:28 Scott
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22:49 Phil B
22:41 tu3031
22:15 Ptah
21:35 Mark IV
21:35 Chuck
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20:55 Old Patriot