"SHARON COULD STRIKE AT ANY TIME" SAYS BUSH
By Daoud El Sanqer
- MATZPEN
MANCHESTER, N.H., 5 Oct — President Bush today argued for rapid, pre-emptive action against Israel, saying that Ariel Sharon "has a horrible history" of striking without warning. "We cannot ignore history," Mr. Bush said in the armoury in this sleepy New England town. "We must not ignore reality. We must do everything we can to disarm this man before he hurts one single American."
The President for the first time called the Israeli a "cold-blooded killer" - a phrase he normally reserves for Al Gore - in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday. Mr. Bush was clearly modulating his arguments for his address the USA on the Israeli threat, scheduled for Monday night.
He said : "We have no quarrel with the Israeli people. They are the daily victims of Ariel Sharon's oppression, and they will be the first to benefit when the world's demands are met."
Mr. Bush was clearly timing his comments to influence the debate in the Senate over a resolution authorising him to use force against Mr. Sharon. Presidential aides have indicated that Mr. Bush’s speech on Monday should build public pressure on the Senate to act quickly on the resolution he has worked out with House leaders.
However, the Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle still had reservations. He has so far resisted pressure to sign on Mr. Bush’s wording. He thinks that Israel's capability and intentions were far more opaque than Mr. Bush would have us believe. "I don't think there is any consensus with regard to the threat, today," he stated.
He is also anxious about the aftermath of a war. He says that many unresolved questions remain, such as: "How long will we be there? What will it entail, on the part of the United States? How much will it cost? Who will be involved? What kind of a framework can be established with Jews, Muslims and Christians? Those are the kinds of things, I think, that have yet to be addressed satisfactorily, and it's why many of us continue to ask questions."
The President for the first time called the Israeli a "cold-blooded killer" - a phrase he normally reserves for Al Gore - in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday. Mr. Bush was clearly modulating his arguments for his address the USA on the Israeli threat, scheduled for Monday night.
He said : "We have no quarrel with the Israeli people. They are the daily victims of Ariel Sharon's oppression, and they will be the first to benefit when the world's demands are met."
Mr. Bush was clearly timing his comments to influence the debate in the Senate over a resolution authorising him to use force against Mr. Sharon. Presidential aides have indicated that Mr. Bush’s speech on Monday should build public pressure on the Senate to act quickly on the resolution he has worked out with House leaders.
However, the Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle still had reservations. He has so far resisted pressure to sign on Mr. Bush’s wording. He thinks that Israel's capability and intentions were far more opaque than Mr. Bush would have us believe. "I don't think there is any consensus with regard to the threat, today," he stated.
He is also anxious about the aftermath of a war. He says that many unresolved questions remain, such as: "How long will we be there? What will it entail, on the part of the United States? How much will it cost? Who will be involved? What kind of a framework can be established with Jews, Muslims and Christians? Those are the kinds of things, I think, that have yet to be addressed satisfactorily, and it's why many of us continue to ask questions."
- MATZPEN
posted by Vinod at
11:53
