Palestinian Government Asks For A Chance

But Impasse Overshadows Mideast Summit, Rice

(AP)  Hoping to turn the page on six years of stalled Mideast negotiations, the U.S. instead found itself boxed in Sunday by a characteristically complex political impasse involving ally Israel and the Palestinians.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to the region intending to lead a symbolic peace summit. Her plans, however, have been eclipsed amid uncertainty and disagreement over how to handle last week's sudden announcement of a power-sharing deal to end internal Palestinian fighting.

Rice met for two hours with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, resolute in his position that he must govern hand-in-hand with Hamas militants who refuse to moderate anti-Israeli policies. The United States consider Hamas a terrorist group.

Later Sunday, the U.S. diplomat held a similarly long meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over a similarly hard-line position.

Israel will not recognize a Palestinian government that refuses to renounce violence, honor past commitments and accept Israel's right to exist.

Olmert says Washington agrees and will shun the new government. U.S. officials, however, are not going that far — yet.

The United States, still hoping Abbas will change Hamas or change his mind, says it will reserve judgment until the planned Palestinian government takes shape.

Rice acknowledged that the moment is awkward for discussions of peace. But she wanted to go ahead with Monday's summit with Abbas and Olmert.

"We could have decided not to meet during this time, but I actually think that when people have questions and want to explore issues that arise out of something like the agreement to form a national unity government that it's better that they be able to do it face to face," Rice told reporters.

The meeting was planned before Abbas made his pact with Hamas. The gathering was meant to offer weary Palestinians a brighter vision for their future by opening a discussion of the contours of an eventual Palestinian state.

It also was a way to strengthen Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas, which surprised the Bush administration by defeating Abbas' secular Fatah Party in elections 13 months ago.

Although U.S. officials brush off any suggestion the pact has tainted Abbas, diplomats have not hidden their displeasure with both the content and timing of the deal he made.

Neither the United States nor Israel has said it would boycott Abbas, who is widely known by his nickname, Abu Mazen. As head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, he would represent the Palestinians in any peace talks. Negotiations broke down more than six years ago in an explosion of violence between the two sides.

[lars008-2009]

"Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894) Theodore Roosevelt

[formrusmcsgt]

"The American and Israeli positions are totally identical on this issue."

Gee, imagine that....a bull always follows the ring through its nose.

[gladys_over]

RE: "It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." - lars008

This constant Bush-bashing is really getting out of hand.

It's enough to drive Britney Spears to shave her head.

[patriotic9]

True enemies of United States are those who want to support and protect the illegitimate and unjustified existance of Israel on the world map on the cost of American money,American lives and USA herself because according to their PSYCHOSIS "CHRISTIANITY",Americans are GOD-NEGLECTED and the NON AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE are GOD-CHOSEN,United States is an UNHOLY LAND whereas occupied Palestinian territories like Tel Aviv is HOLY LAND,The constitution of United States which separates CHURCH from STATE is UNHOLY whereas the RADICAL,NON-SENSE BIBLE which discriminates against Americans by not promising them a single penny whereas promising NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES of the GOD'S ONLY SON a land in the MIDDLE EAST is HOLY.
If Europeans were not brought into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinians by force who can't even speak the language spoken by HITLER because BIBLE said so,Alqaeda would not get enough recruit to blow themselves up since KORAN says so.
Nobody has been fooled in the history of mankind like Americans on the name of CHRISTIANITY.A vast majority of Americans have been made SLAVES,SERVANTS,PROTECTORS and DEFENDERS of a small minority on the name of Americans being GOD-NEGLECTED and NON-AMERICANs being GOD-CHOSEN.

[formrusmcsgt]

It's enough to drive Britney Spears to shave her head.
Posted by Gladys_Over at 08:30 AM : Feb 18, 2007

Good one!

[patriotic9]

CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.
If somebody wants to see the above mentioned statement in reality,just look at the actions of BUSH.
OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN was in TORA BORA and BUSH had attacked IRAQ which had nothing to do with 9/11 or Bush giving US tax payed money and US weapons to an ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI"for the killing of US troops deployed in Iraq is the continuation of the same PSYCHOSIS according to which a new born child who is incapable of not only comiting a sin but even to think about comiting a sin is born in the sins he or she has never comited nor can even think about or make intention about comiting sins.
Sins comited by Adam and Eve,sinners are those new born children who can't even understand what is a sin and what is not a sin and the price is payed by a totally third party named JESUS.
Bush's actions are the continuation of same PSYCHOSIS according to which if EUROPEANS were killed by NAZI GERMANS,the price should be payed by those Palestinians who can't even speak GERMAN.The same PSYCHOSIS according to which if CONCENTRATION CAMPS were in GERMANY,Israel was founded in Palestine in a totally different continent.

[formrusmcsgt]

CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.
Posted by patriotic9 at 09:07 AM : Feb 18, 2007

Psychosis: "A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning."

I would submit that the definition applies to Jewish and Muslim zealots as well as Christians.

[patriotic9]

formrusmcsgt
I totally agree with you.That's why smart people had written the constitution which separates church from state.

[formrusmcsgt]

I totally agree with you.That's why smart people had written the constitution which separates church from state.
Posted by patriotic9 at 09:19 AM : Feb 18, 2007

With no mention of God or Christianity in the Constitution, the zealots still try to contend that our founding fathers intended for the US to be a Christian nation....go figure.

[patriotic9]

formrusmcsgt
I'd partially disagree with you.
If you look at jews,they atleast care about themselves and their community and they are very good in it.
Same thing goes with Muslims.They care about other muslims irrespective of their race,skin color,language,etc.
Only Christians are the ones who have been told to sacrifice their GOD-NEGLECTED money and lives for those people who have been chosen by GOD, eventhough they are not Christians,they don't believe in JESUS as a MESSIAH or SON of GOD,they deny the VIRGINITY of his mother MARRY and accuse her of FORNICATION.
I don't see NON-SENSE like this in any other faith at all.Do you?

[formrusmcsgt]

I don't see NON-SENSE like this in any other faith at all.Do you?

Posted by patriotic9 at 09:26 AM : Feb 18, 2007

As I subscribe to science, I consider all dogma to be "non-sensical". And I observe that zealots exist in all three religions and feel their zealotry is justification for killing those who don't subscribe to their dogma.

[patriotic9]

formrusmcsgt
Religious zealots also say that foundation of our country is based on Christianity.They tend to forget that we didn't get our freedom from MUSLIMS,HINDUS,JEWS,etc but from those British who are Christians and majority of them are Protestant like majority of the people in United States.

[skyk-2009]

RE: "It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." - lars008

This constant Bush-bashing is really getting out of hand.

It's enough to drive Britney Spears to shave her head.
Posted by Gladys_Over at 08:30 AM : Feb 18, 2007

ROFLMAO I wonder if Lars has ever had an ORGINAL thought? He keeps quoting LIBERALS while at the same time bashing them. Kinda makes you wonder what school is missing someone from their kindergarden class? LMAO

[patriotic9]

formrusmcsgt
You are right.All the unjustified actions can be justified on the name of GOD,ALLAH,etc.When people bring religion into politics to serve their personal and financial interest,they refer to God and God can't come infront of the people and tell them that "This guy is a liar,I never told him to kill people to increase his wealth"

[formrusmcsgt]

He keeps quoting LIBERALS while at the same time bashing them. Kinda makes you wonder what school is missing someone from their kindergarden class? LMAO
Posted by skyk at 09:30 AM : Feb 18, 2007

He didn't even get the quote right. I have it framed and on my wall here in the office. It's my favorite.

[articulator]

Perhaps the Palestinians will renounce violence and recognize Israel when Israel renounces it's illegal 40 year occupation of Palestinian land and recognizes Palestine's right to exist.

[lars008-2009]

"Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894) Theodore Roosevelt

at least get the full quote skippy.......

btw... Theodore Roosevelt was a Republican skippy

thanks for playing........ lol

hahahahahahahahahaha

[lars008-2009]

i did they didn't haji..........

"Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger." (1894) Theodore Roosevelt
Posted by lars008 at 07:10 AM : Feb 18, 2007

[lars008-2009]

it is legal haji.......

the UN voted into existance..........

[formrusmcsgt]

Theodore Roosevelt was a Republican skippy

Posted by lars008 at 09:38 AM : Feb 18, 2007

Too bad he wouldn't even recognize his party today.....

[lars008-2009]

I NO LONGER SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION

The real %u2018occupation%u2019
1300 years of Arab occupation

Arabs, whose home is Arabia, have occupied and brutalized for centuries.

During that time, non muslims have...

been murdered en masse
had their land stolen
their holy places destroyed and desecrated
been sold into slavery
their women raped
their children butchered


and the arabs have the nerve to whine about "occupation" when non muslims fight back

I NO LONGER SUPPORT ISLAM OCCUPATION

[formrusmcsgt]

The following is a list of Rice's diplomatic successes:

[lars008-2009]

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech
December 8, 1941/September 12, 2001
The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

[lars008-2009]

USA's PLEDGE 2 THE WORLD GIVEN BY JFK!!
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
--John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." --John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "

One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill

Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

[formrusmcsgt]

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
--John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "

And you're saying that Hussein somehow threatened our liberty, lars? How was that?

[formrusmcsgt]

Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
Posted by lars008 at 09:48 AM : Feb 18, 2007

Precisely why the Congress is putting a leash on Bush.

[lars008-2009]

Theodore Roosevelt would be happier with the GOP than the DNC of today..........

So would Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.....
these two would not like the DNC of today.....

[formrusmcsgt]

Theodore Roosevelt would be happier with the GOP than the DNC of today..........

So would Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.....
these two would not like the DNC of today.....
Posted by lars008 at 09:53 AM : Feb 18, 2007

That comment makes me think you've not read much on Roosevelt.

The man believed in forthrightness, not deception.

He believed in building respect around the world for Amerca, not disdain.

He believed in cultivating relationships with our allies, not insulting and alienating them.

[lars008-2009]

the war is legal

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement.....

did you have a problem when clinton and the dems wanted to resume hostilities with iraq in 1998???

did you have a problem with gulf war one???

[lars008-2009]

which roosevlet are you talking about???

must be the big stick teddy..... lol

[mdc76082]

lars008, quoting doesn't take a certain skill. The real question is...can you "think" for yourself? Answer: doubtful.

[patriotic9]

lars008
Why do you think it was justified to bring people from different European countries into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinians by force who had nothing to do with the actions of HITLER.
I know you are a CRHISTIAN and in CHRSITIANITY actions have no values.
A new born child incaplable of not only comiting a sin but incapable of making intention about sins or even to understand what is a sin and what is not a sin is born in the the sins he or she has never comited.
Sins comited by Adam and Eve,sinners are those new born chidren who can't even think about comiting a sin and price is paid by neither ADAM or EVE nor those innocent new borns who are sinners without comiting or thinking or making intention about sin but by a totally third praty named JESUS.
lars008,do you really want US foreing policies to be based on your PSYCHOSIS called CHRSITIANITY which doesn't make any sense at all.
The same way like people are not good or bad but their actions are good or bad(I know you'll disagree with me as your psychosis "CHRISTIANITY"teaches you exactly opposite),Organizations like UN are not good or bad but their policies and actions are good or bad.If UN had recognized Israel which is based on RACISM,INJUSTCIE and INVOLVEMENT of RELIGION INTO POLITICS(all of which go against our American values),UN was wrong.

[mdc76082]

By the way lars008, it isn't haji...it's hajji. One who completes the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

[lars008-2009]

poor skippy....... you hate FDR and JFK and Churchill and Teddy....... hahahahahaha

[lars008-2009]

patriotic9

they are returning to their homeland haji......

[lars008-2009]

it can be spelled haji, hajji, hadji, get over yourself....

[generey]

There is only one type of "piece" Condi is gonna get over there.

[formrusmcsgt]

the war is legal
--------------------------
It is in violation of international law, the UN Charter.

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement.....
----------------------------

The UN is empowered to enforce it's own resolutions, not individual member states.

did you have a problem when clinton and the dems wanted to resume hostilities with iraq in 1998???
-------------------------------------
What resumption of hostilities did Clinton undertake?


did you have a problem with gulf war one???
---------------------------------

No. It was sanctioned by the UN.


Posted by lars008 at 09:56 AM : Feb 18, 2007
+ report this comment

[patriotic9]

lars008
Why do you think Palestine is the Homeland of those Europeans who were brought from different European countries into Palestine after WWII.You want the price to be paid by Palestinians for those crimes comited by Nazi Germans just like in your Psychosis "CHRISTIANITY",sins were comited by Adam and EVE ,sinners are new born chidren around the globe who can't even think about comiting sins and price was paid by a third party named JESUS.
lars008
If you really hate Muslims,then why do you support"HAJI Bush" in giving our TAX PAYED MONEY and our WEAPONS to an ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our finest men and women in uniform.Don't tell me that all the Muslims are not fascist like all the Germans were not Nazis.
Islamic radical "MALIKI",appointed by AYATOLLAH ALI AL SISTANI and those IRANIAN AYATOALLHs who call us THE GREATEST SATAN,that "MALIKI" whose religious belief teaches to kill all the non-muslims for the second coming of IMAM MEHDI, is an ISLAMIC RADICAL and there is no doubt that he is using the money given to him on the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and WEAPONS on the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to kill our men and women in uniform.

[radiob-2009]

formrusmcsgt
Good Morning

Something to ponder, that some of these bombings, killings are Shiite on Shiite and Sunni on Sunni.Why? It serves a two-fold purpose, one being that it emboldens the sectarian division throughtout the country and two it elimiates any potential rival in a particular area be it domination of a "land" area or "commerce" area.This is more than likely not the overall trend of the bombings and killings however it is worth consideration. The usage of this to foment the overall theme of sectarian division is in itself a tool of propaganda that is easy to exercise in the eyes of the government of Iraq providing deeper inter governmental disruption amongst the differing elected sects.This does not seem unlikely the net result of these types of actions is deeper division in the government. Something to consider.

[lars008-2009]

that's your opinion........

wrong as it may be....

usa has not signed away its sovereignty to the un.... i hope they never will..... but i bet you do.........

[tuckerndfw]

From the story:

"Israel and the U.S. agreed ahead of a Mideast summit to shun any new Palestinian government . . ."

Exactly how does that benefit the American people or contribute to stabilizing the Middle East?

Who cares if Palestinians or anyone else "recognizes Israel"?

And, when is the US going to make ANY "demands" on Israel? According to a recent story, Israel ("settlers") continues to steal Palestine land, yet the US remains silent on that breach of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

Until the US decides to become an honest broker in these affairs, the "war on terror" is pointless.

Zionism is a far greater menace than al qaida or other terrorist groups.

[lars008-2009]

righttttttttttttttttttttttt
only muslims can steal land..... right haji....

I NO LONGER SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION

The real %u2018occupation%u2019
1300 years of Arab occupation

Arabs, whose home is Arabia, have occupied and brutalized for centuries.

During that time, non muslims have...

been murdered en masse
had their land stolen
their holy places destroyed and desecrated
been sold into slavery
their women raped
their children butchered


and the arabs have the nerve to whine about "occupation" when non muslims fight back

I NO LONGER SUPPORT ISLAM OCCUPATION

[tuckerndfw]

"usa has not signed away its sovereignty to the un...."

Posted by lars008 at 10:47 AM : Feb 18, 2007

Entering into a treaty is not "signing away sovereignty" regardless how many time cowards, morons and Bush boot lickers (Limpbow, Hammity, et al) make that idiotic claim.

The US Constitution elevates treaties to the same status as constitutional law:

US Constitution, Article 6:

"Clause 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."

http://www.house.gov/house/Constitution/Constitution.html

George Bush opposes the constitution because it increases his and his cronies' personal wealth.

But, why do Bush boot lickers oppose the US Constitution? That is clearly "anti America" if not treasonous.

[tuckerndfw]

The "settlements" are a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

[lars008-2009]

Is islam a violation of international law???
islam practices slavery on non muslims
islam practices apartheid on non muslims
islam practices rape on non muslims
islam practices rape on babies and animals
islam practices genocide on non muslims
all are violations of international law and are crimes against humanity
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=slavery+islam&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=slavery muslim&btnG=Google Search
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4795808.stm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apartheid islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apartheid muslim
Malaysia women 'suffer apartheid'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4784784.stm
A matter of tolerance
http://musingwithmarinamahathir.blogspot.com/2006/12/matter-of-tolerance.html
Marina Mahathir
http://musingwithmarinamahathir.blogspot.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape muslim&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape islam babies&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape muslim babies&btnG=Search
Imam Khomeini - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
http://www.homa.org/Details.asp?ContentID=2137352826&TOCID=2083225445
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=genocide islam&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=genocide muslim

[lars008-2009]

what treaty do we have with the un haji.....

[lars008-2009]

when muslims return to the arabian peninsula.... then you can talk about israel....

[tuckerndfw]

Lars,

In other words, you oppose the US Constitution and the rule of law. Which is clearly anti-America.

You are in good company, all other Bush bootlickers are also anti-America.

[formrusmcsgt]

Israel and the U.S. agreed ahead of a Mideast summit to shun any new Palestinian government that does not renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept existing peace agreements, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday.

Bush runs around proclaiming his desire to see democracy practiced and then refuses to recognized a duly elected government. Can you say HYPOCRITE?