"I strongly condemn the killings, and I urge and call upon all of the free world, nations which love peace, to not only condemn the killings, but to use every ounce of their power to prevent them from happening in the future." President GW Bush, June 11, 2003
Hmmm . . . Would that be the same "free world" and "nations which love peace" that you told to fuck off when they didn't applaud your Iraq adventure?
Bush made his remark today as the Israel/Palestine peace plan virtually disintegrated. He meant it as a dual condemnation of Ariel Sharon's attack on a prominent Hamas leader and of the Hamas response, which consisted of blowing up a commuter bus during rush hour, killing 16. It could just as well be a condemnation of Bush's own policies -- he makes an unconvincing peace activist.
Pro-Israel types now call Bush a hypocrite for not endorsing their attempts to kick terrorist ass the way the U.S. gets to kick it. Pro-Palestinians call him a hypocrite because he held a peace summit last week without, evidently, getting any promise of restraint from Sharon. It's worth noting that new Palestinian PM Abu Mazen has no direct control over the suicide bombing fanatics, whereas the Israeli military does exactly as instructed by Sharon.
Without one side's turning a cheek, killing will never stop. If only the Crusades had succeeded, I can hear Pat Robertson wishing. There are too many fanatics on each side who are content to perpetuate murder in the name of religion and nationalism. Even if Mazen is a Gandhi in waiting, he stands little chance in the face of hatred that Bush, Sharon and Arafat have been fanning for years.
Israelis elected Sharon for the same reason Americans will likely re-elect Bush: He makes them feel safer by doing more than just talking tough about terrorism. If we keep electing Bush and people like him, our future looks just as rosy as Israel's.
Posted by Vernam at June 11, 2003 11:30 PMCalling Abu Mazen a 'featherless chick' shows Sharon isn't even willing to give the new guy any respect. So much for trying fresh blood, to help defuse the situation.
Ariel and Bush go together, like birds of a feather.
Posted by: dean at June 12, 2003 10:44 PMThis NY Times editorial points out the folly of Sharon's actions, though it implies he may not realize the consequence of his latest attacks on Hamas. What's been exposed is that he doesn't want peace any more than the terrorists do.
Will Bush call on the Israelis to elect a new leader committed to peace, the way he did the Palestinian Authority? No, he won't.
Posted by: Vernam at June 12, 2003 05:59 PM