Bush offered solution to Palestinian-Israeli Conflict 1/28/04

[tlcandie]

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2384.shtml



<snip>
During secret talks between US President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, the US President offered both leaders a solution to the leadership problem. "I don't like leaders who are not listening to me. Today, I offered a solution. The Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting each other for too long. I presented both leaders with the tools to solve their issue."
<snip>

<snip>
At the secret meeting, George Bush handed two light weapons to both Prime Ministers and demanded an overhaul of the Palestinian Authority and Israel at the same time, saying that both have failed under their respective leaderships to halt suicide bombings against Israelis. Mahmoud Abbas protested and said that the conflict did not only included suicide bombings. He pointed to a number of alleged unlawful actions by Israel and tried to influence the American leader to uphold his position as a honest broker.
<snip>

<snip>
Referring to the situation in Iraq, the US President told his audience that once, his arch enemy Saddam Hussein invited him to Iraq to fight him personally. "Actually, I liked the idea. Having my roots in Texas, I was not afraid to board a plane to Baghdad and punch that son-of-a-gun in his face." Apparently, State Department officials and CIA intelligence advised Bush not to go. Some officials stated off the record that they didn't believe Bush was strong enough to beat the Iraqi President. Analysts remember an address by Saddam Hussein, transmitted by a Baghdad satellite channel, in which he called on US President to shoot himself. Hussein stressed that "the best way out for this person is to put a bullet in his head in order to avoid disgrace."
<snip>

One of * remarks when questioned why he did not invite the current Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei, aka Abu Ala, he replied,

"Abu Ala, Abu Amar, Abu Dis and Abu Dad, they are all the same".


If this is old news please ask for it to be deleted. I was shocked to see this picture and * responses :wow:

EDIT: typo in headline/subjectline

[JohnLocke]

1. Bush handing a pistol to both sides.

The irony come thick here. That photo pretty much sums up the Bush administration's "position" on Israeli-Palestinian issues.

[Lithos]

2. Locking

Per I/P guidelines

1) Picture in headlines

2) Old news outside of the 6 week limit.