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Mr. Pipes has Jumped the Gun

Reader comment on item: Bush is rewarding [Palestinian] terrorism

Submitted by Bill Nathan (United States), Jun 25, 2002 at 17:33

While I normally agree with everything Mr. Pipes says, in the case of the "Bush is rewarding terrorism" article, I feel he has jumped the gun in his criticism. I would normally make all the below points myself, but after receiving JINSA's (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs) Report #261 on President Bush's speech, I will let them do the talking:

"The previous administration made two fundamental mistakes in Middle East diplomacy - assuming that both sides wanted "peace" (which is why they called it a "peace process"); and assuming that Israel could offer inducements to Arafat that would make him give up his strategic goals. Former negotiator Dennis Ross, speaking publicly, now says Arafat was never a proper partner. He has been educated. The price was nearly 2,000 lives lost and thousands more scarred; the imposition of a cruel dictatorship on the Palestinian people; the inculcation of the cult of martyrdom into Palestinian society; and a rising belief among impressionable Palestinians that they will get their state from the Jordan to the Med.

"The price was high and other people paid it.

"President Bush's speech on the Middle East had many virtues, beginning with limiting the damage American intervention can cause. This is no small thing. He rightly said everyone, including Palestinians, benefit by democracy, personal liberty, free market economics and the rule of law. And that these are not entitlements - they are rewards for the hard work of responsible citizenship. Mr. Bush laid down a series of "ifs" and a series of "thens." "IF the Palestinians have free elections, a new constitution, an independent judiciary, and economic reforms will result. IF the Palestinians stop incitement, conduct sustained operations against Hamas, Hizballah and Islamic Jihad, and give block weapons from Iran, REFORMS WILL BE THE RESULT. IF the Palestinians choose life rather than a cult venerating suicide and murder, and IF the Palestinians do all of these things substantively, not rhetorically, REFORMS WILL BE THE RESULT."

"Then the Palestinians would be entitled to something to which they are NOT entitled today - concessions from Israel on the path to provisional statehood. The President gave the Palestinian people the benefit of the doubt with the assumption that Arafat holds them hostage and they would dump him under the right conditions.

"But more importantly, he protected against the downside - asking Israel to take NO further risks with the lives of its citizens until AFTER the Palestinians make some crucial choices (indeed, he firmly stressed the right of Israel to defend itself). Mr. Bush's assertion that Israel should release tax revenue, pull back to the 29 September 2000 lines and freeze settlements were formulated to FOLLOW Palestinian elections and reforms not be done in tandem, and certainly not to be offered as inducements for future Palestinian behavioral improvements.

"The onus is on the Palestinians. If they rise to the occasion, the US will put its weight behind provisional Palestinian statehood. If they don't? If, once again they walk away from American generosity, they will lose again, but Israel will be little worse off for the President's education.

"The days of "risks for peace" appear to be over. And this is cause not only for relief among Israel's friends, but also for profound appreciation for the President."
Submitting....

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Reader comments (59) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
help for the islamists . . . [39 words]Phil GreendMay 28, 2007 22:5795078
Greed and perpetual war [271 words]Craig JonesDec 17, 2005 22:5830122
President George W. Bush is right on target [282 words]conservativechick14Oct 13, 2005 23:0126927
You can't fight fire with fire [50 words]Steve MacdonaldNov 4, 2004 13:4418097
1The Psyche of the Terrorist [48 words]Dr S.SanyalJan 17, 2003 07:145825
I disagree [27 words]JamilOct 8, 2002 20:272967
Reward for terrorism? [84 words]David MontyJul 2, 2002 10:021102
Palestinian State [78 words]A. AhmedJul 1, 2002 14:191096
I mostly agree [419 words]Jerry GJul 1, 2002 03:251094
What Two State Solution?! [146 words]Philip ZwickJun 28, 2002 17:591074
Bush Right On [149 words]Gary BlackJun 27, 2002 18:291066
Bush is rewarding terrorists and permits them to continue [297 words]ImreJun 27, 2002 17:211065
We see this one differently from each other [185 words]Dave SelwinJun 27, 2002 15:421064
An Offer They Cannot Accept [126 words]Paul HowardJun 27, 2002 11:341060
Common terror [67 words]R.B. PhillipsJun 27, 2002 05:181058
The Palestinian Heart [182 words]Dan McDowellJun 26, 2002 21:441052
Misspoken President [163 words]Vitaly PurtoJun 26, 2002 20:481048
I disagree [165 words]Isaac YetivJun 26, 2002 20:041046
Palistinian State [84 words]Mike NeibelJun 26, 2002 16:511040
Ominous Parallels [52 words]Douglas MessengerJun 26, 2002 16:021035
Poverty does not cause terrorism [147 words]E. AmsterJun 26, 2002 15:341034
Thank You [40 words]Linda TracyJun 26, 2002 14:391029
Keep up the great work [44 words]pscheinmanJun 26, 2002 10:351015
Clinton II foolishness [112 words]James B. SmithJun 26, 2002 10:031010
Grand Slam Home Run [101 words]Steve HermanJun 26, 2002 09:191003
Worries... [168 words]Richard ConwayJun 26, 2002 09:05999
The Palestinians have a state in Jordan [67 words]Dinah BeckmanJun 26, 2002 08:23997
You are almost right [214 words]Joe TaboeJun 26, 2002 07:32995
Bush Rewards The PLO Terrorists [121 words]Charles LauderJun 26, 2002 04:49990
respectful disagreement [385 words]Max SingerJun 26, 2002 04:40989
The bigger picture [88 words]Lou NihoulJun 26, 2002 01:09986
Democracy vs. Destruction? [36 words]Glenn HowardJun 25, 2002 23:45979
So, George Bush doesn't get it? [96 words]joyena abrahamJun 25, 2002 22:38977
US is not an ally of Israel!? [67 words]MobySep 10, 2008 10:06977
defining moral clarity [92 words]Rusty RivetJun 25, 2002 21:52976
Good Show!! [64 words]Alon ALoniJun 25, 2002 20:08974
Arafat [60 words]Glenn KlotzJun 25, 2002 19:37971
There was a time of peace...... [158 words]Steven M. BuschJun 25, 2002 18:15969
"Let's talk about Jordan" [186 words]Robert M. BraunJun 25, 2002 18:07967
1Palestinian democracy=mob rule [71 words]Mark FeldsteinJun 25, 2002 18:05966
Mr. Pipes has Jumped the Gun [541 words]Bill NathanJun 25, 2002 17:33965
This Time You Missed the Mark [550 words]IBrodskyJun 25, 2002 16:59962
The Players [150 words]David MitchellJun 25, 2002 16:39961
Totally Right! [43 words]Wm. C. Clayton, Ph. DJun 25, 2002 16:39960
Dismantling the Settlements? [55 words]Charlie HaymanJun 25, 2002 16:08959
The evil DOER Mr. Bush [406 words]Doody KaminskieJun 25, 2002 15:10958
The Western World is Doomed [180 words]Jeff BercovitchJun 25, 2002 14:57956
Christianims, budism, islamism who cares? [21 words]jonathanSep 16, 2007 22:12956
Clarification re Palestinian ships [319 words]John HadjiskyJun 25, 2002 14:09954
Re Bush rewarding terrorism article [137 words]Steve SingletonJun 25, 2002 14:06953
I agree with Steve [8 words]SqualdrinoJul 15, 2007 02:44953
Hope you are sending this on to the Bush Administration and Congress!! [50 words]Debbie WallsJun 25, 2002 13:39952
Distortion of Bush position on Terrorism [251 words]Ray QuigleyJun 25, 2002 13:17951
I actually disagree... [209 words]alanHJun 25, 2002 13:04949
Disagree with Pipes [235 words]Marc FurmanJun 25, 2002 12:35947
national post june 25 article [27 words]gskorJun 25, 2002 12:34946
...Pipes hits the nail right on the head! [226 words]Susan Schwartz WaplesJun 25, 2002 12:30945
Bush Speech [31 words]susan mancilJun 25, 2002 12:28944
You're right on ! [87 words]Stella DavisJun 25, 2002 11:51941

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