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I think that Sharon is doing what should be done. Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism. But in private conversations with Sharon, Bush has probably asked him to withdraw when Powell gets there.
Terrorists should get no leniency at all, and that's what the Palentinians are, including Arafat. If anyone has rebuffed Bush, it's the Arab nations. Bush asked that the leaders "stop terrorist activities, disrupt terrorist financing and stop inciting violence by glorifying terror in state-owned media or telling suicide bombers that they are martyrs." To date nothing has happened, in fact, the recent Islamic conference called for the Palestinians to continue their "legitimate resistence" against Israel.
It seems to me that by "legitimate resistence" it is meant the continues targeting of civilians that's happening every day. Look at what's been bombed: religious dinners, kids' birthday parties, supermarkets, pizza shops, restaurants, clothing stores, even women standing with their babies. The perpetrators of these deeds aren't martyrs, they are murderers. And Arafat says he wants to be a martyr too. Well, if he's promoting this conduct, maybe that's a good idea. Arafat is irrelevant anyway, either he can't stop the murderers or he doesn't want to stop them.
And now Powell is going there to ask Israel to stand back and not defend itself, just like in 1991, until the US has its way with Saddam. Sometimes it's harder being a friend of the US than an enemy.
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