Wishful Thinking

Submitted by Jeffrey G. Schwartz (United States), May 7, 2002 at 11:57

Undeniably so, but Bush must now appreciate and address not only the rejectionism of the Arab world, but what motivates it. For the large dictatorships in the region (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt), funding of Mullahs, official (anti jewish) news, and Hamas are for the self-interested purpose of keeping Palestinians destitute and brainwashed. The Israeli monster is the whipping boy for a loose Cartel of anachronistic repressive regimes who enjoy (and abuse) obscene wealth and power. They are encouraged by the fact that every time Israel has won a war, the US has made certain that the aggressors sustained no long term negative consequences. The recent Israeli documentation of Saudi complicity in the Arafat terror machine should not surprise anyone.

Sharon's visit this week is, in essence, the defining moment, for the next 30 years of Israeli and US security. Does this President have the wisdom to appear in public, somber-faced, to announce that a reformed CIA has determined that the Israeli investigation is authentic as can be, that he meant exactly what he said on 9/20/01, that the party is over for the Arab world and that those who have been blown up in Jerusalem, Manhattan and the Pentagon did not die in vain.

If so, Bush will insist there will not be a "Peace Conference" this summer, that the US will do "whatever it takes" (remember Taiwan?) to back Israel's security, and invite the formation of a democratic territory for palestinians developed exclusively with funds from their Arab neighbors. Some of Jordanian land will be devoted to this end. Is Sharon also prepared to demand such a course and do it in public? Or will he just whine privately about Arafat being the "wrong leader" and then repeat the "peace process" blunder of the 90's, which has already killed, terrorized and impoverished so many people in the region?

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".