Quote:
Originally posted by Penske_Account
He is a terrorist. Israel is a nation and an ally. Saddam was the leader of a real nation. Arafat was a terrorist. Why can't the left admit it? Why glorify a anti-semitic babykiller?
|
Apropos of nothing, there is a fascinating article on him in the latest Atlantic Monthly.
I don't disagree with you, but once he "renounced" (yeah, I think it was bullshit, too) terrorism, leaders of both Likud and Labor in Israel spoke to him, so why was it not ok for Clinton to?
For better or for worse, he was regarded by the Palestinian people living in the West Bank and Gaza as their leader. Any effort to come to a peaceful resolution would have to involve him.
The Oslo Accords were done directly beween Rabin and Arafat without any meaningful US involvement (other than "sure, you'll love Oslo, Yitzak"). Bill's contribution was to lean on AIPAC not to scuttle the deal. He followed up with Barak and Arafat after the election, but Arafat blinked when he had the chance to be a hero (and Barak apparently knew he would).
And terrorists can go on to form political parties and become responsible leaders -- ask any neo-con about how wonderful Menachem ("I blew up the King David Hotel in 1947") Begin was.
