Why Are We Abetting Terrorists?

National Review Online: The Bush Administration Supports Fatah Despite Its Pro-Jihadist Links

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Andrew C. McCarthy.

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President Bush's stirring post-9/11 message that regimes the world over have to choose between aligning with civilization or with terrorists should officially be interred in war-torn "Palestine." Seriousness about the doctrine is the only realistic way to defeat our enemies, and now we make a mockery of it. A mockery built on the trifecta-fiction that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is an avatar of peace, that his Fatah faction has aligned with civilization, and that the Palestinian people — the ones who freely chose to install Hamas as their parliamentary majority and who have trademarked "intifada" as an instrument of statecraft — are somehow worth prostituting ourselves over.

In the Palestinian civil war, the Bush administration has unabashedly cast its lot with Fatah. The United States, in the midst of its own global war against Islamic radicalism, is promising additional millions in foreign aid for a cabal which maintains its own jihadist wing and which is so thoroughly corrupt — having pocketed much of the foreign aid billions that poured in over the last two decades — that Palestinians opted for the more transparent Hamas terrorists when given the option.

Fatah is the creation of the late terror master, Yasser Arafat. It is currently led by Abbas, formerly Arafat's close aid. When last we left Abbas, the administration's favorite "moderate," he was laying a wreath at The Great Man's grave — the Palestinians, by the way, have turned the site into an Arafat shrine, telling us everything we need to know about them.

Abbas proceeded to urge a throng of 50,000 Palestinians to re-aim their guns at the "occupation" (that would be Israel) instead of turning them on each other: "[W]ith the will and determination of its sons, Fatah has and will continue," he brayed. "We will not give up our principles, and we have said that rifles should be directed against the occupation. ... We have a legitimate right to direct our guns against Israeli occupation. … "

That was less than six months ago — despite administration assertions on Monday that Abbas is "a partner who is committed to peace." And none of it was a surprise. When Abbas was seeking election in 2005, he declared to a cheering mob in Gaza that Palestinian terrorists being sought by Israel were "heroes fighting for freedom."

Fatah's Constitution

And just what are these Fatah principles that the moderate was referring to at the founder's tomb? Abbas' American boosters don't talk about them much, but Fatah itself is not so bashful. They are spelled out, for all to see, in the Constitution of Fatah (the name, by the way, means "Conquest" … and would anyone want to take a wild guess against whom?).

Here is what we're getting for millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars:

... We all must sacrifice ourselves, our effort and time; these are the weapons of honest patriots. Don't, therefore, dear brother bring your march to a halt! Proceed in your march, armed with the patriots' resolution, the true believers' determination, and the fighters' patience... Let's not forget for a while that our enemy is strong, and that the fight is fierceful [sic] and long... Consequently, determination, patience, confidentiality, commitment, and abiding by the revolution's goals and principles keep our march unremittingly steady and makes [sic] our road to victory much shorter. Proceed, then my brother, forward... to the revolution. Long live Palestine, a free Arab state.

"FATEH" is a national, revolutionary movement, and its membership is top confidential. … The Palestinian struggle is part and parcel of the world-wide struggle against Zionism, colonialism and international imperialism. … The Zionist Movement is racial, colonial and aggressive in ideology, goals, organisation and method. … The Israeli existence in Palestine is a Zionist invasion with a colonial expansive base, and it is a natural ally to colonialism and international imperialism. … Liberating Palestine and protecting its holy places is an Arab, religious and human obligation. … Palestinian National Liberation Movement, "FATEH", is an independent national revolutionary movement representing the revolutionary vanguard of the Palestinian people. … The crowds which participate in the revolution and liberation are the proprietors of the Palestinian land.

[Our "Goals" include:] Complete liberation of Palestine and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence. … Establishing an independent democratic state with complete sovereignty on all Palestinian lands, and Jerusalem is its capital city[.] …

(Bold in original, emphasis in bold-italics added.)

Sure, Fatah, like Arafat, makes the occasional feint at peace-making, or, to be more precise, at the "Peace Process," invoking the biggest snow job of all time — one that enriched Fatah leaders with piles of cash while "the Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence" received the bulging body-count of a second Intifada™.

But we oughtn't be fooled: Fatah is still avowedly dedicated to the destruction of its neighbor (or, by Fatah's lights, its trespasser) by any means necessary, including terrorizing, inducing outside political pressure on, and gradually outbreeding the Israelis. For the purpose, Fatah-controlled school systems and media continue without surcease to inculcate a virulently anti-Semitic martyrdom culture in the young. (See, e.g., this report from Palestinian Media Watch on the stunning curriculum through which Fatah, in the rhetoric of radical Islam, delegitimizes Israel and Jews.)

And, of course, Fatah maintains its own terrorist wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, in addition to maintaining close ties to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization — both of which are Iran-friendly, Hezbollah-friendly, and formally designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the United States.

Secular Moderates

These ties put the lie to the myth that Fatah is a moderate political movement that is secular in nature. Yes, Fatah is not a self-identified Muslim fundamentalist movement, as Hamas is. But it demonstrates vibrant streaks of Islamic radicalism, as illustrated, for example, by its Brigades named for the al-Aqsa mosque in coveted Jerusalem, and the frequent admonitions on Fatah Web sites that prying that city from Zionist clutches is a religious obligation.

The terror ties also reveal the illogic of the Bush administration rationale (echoed in a recent National Review Online editorial, here) that Fatah, whatever its flaws, merits our support because its rival, Hamas, is in the pocket of Iran. There are divisions within Fatah, and it may be freely conceded that some of them, historically, have been anti-Iranian. But, on balance, Fatah's ties to Iran are longstanding, and operational. It is no wonder that the al-Aqsa Brigades, beneficiaries of Iranian largesse, speak glowingly of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his call to wipe Israel off the map.

Fatah may not love Iran, but it will work with Iran. After all, it has a lot more in common with the mullahs than it does with us — beginning, of course, with their mutual goal of eliminating our ally, Israel. The wager that, if Fatah ultimately beats back Hamas, Iran will have suffered a serious setback is wishful thinking, not strategy. What Iran cares most about is Israel, not Hamas. To terrorize Israel it will work with whoever is left standing.

Finally, even if, with several grains of salt, we were to accept the stop-Iran line of argument as well as the party line that Abbas himself has evolved into a trustworthy peace partner, there is still the 800-pound gorilla in the equation: the Palestinian people.

Such is the delusional U.S. looking-glass on Palestinian society that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the administration's staunchest Abbas booster, told columnist Cal Thomas last October, "[Y]ou can look at any opinion poll in the Palestinian territories, and 70 percent of the people will say they're perfectly ready to live side by side with Israel because they just want to live in peace."

Come again? As it happens, recent polling actually turns out to be more reflective of common sense, which says that when you systematically rear a people on hatred and a cult of death, as Fatah has been so instrumental in doing, they grow up to be hateful and instinctively resort to savagery to settle their disputes.

Thus we find that up to 93 percent of young Palestinian adults (aged 18 to 25) deny Israel
s right to exist — as compared with "only" 75 percent when the total population is factored in. Thus we find, moreover, that when not brutalizing Israelis, Palestinians now brutalize each other. The cold truth is exactly the opposite of the idyllic picture painted by the administration — and given the bile that Abbas' Fatah spoon-feeds Palestinian children, how on earth could it be otherwise?

Enabling Terror

Why is the administration supporting Fatah without demanding that it shred its constitution and unambiguously recognize Israel's right to exist, as Israel, in perpetuity? Why isn't President Bush demanding that Abbas not only order the disarming of Hamas in the West Bank (which Abbas did only because Hamas is fighting Fatah, not because Hamas is a terrorist organization), but that he also disarm the al-Aqsa Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad? Because Abbas would be finished the minute he tried any such things. They are not what Palestinians want.

The Palestinians are a backward people, indoctrinated toward brutality. They don't rate a sovereign state or anyone's help until they civilize themselves. Sovereignty is a privilege that implies acceptance of civilized norms — that is why we speak of states like Iran and North Korea as "rogues." Regardless of whether there really are scattered Palestinian moderates, it is a dangerous fantasy to assume the Palestinian people, as a whole, are ready to be anyone’s peace partner.

We are enabling their hatred when we provide support without insisting that the Palestinian people — not just Abbas and Fatah, but the people — convincingly foreswear revolution, terrorism, violence, ethnic-cleansing, and the goal of eliminating Israel. We are a generation or more, at least, from any hope of such developments. In the meantime, as long as we subsidize the hatred, we shall be buying more of it, while giving the Palestinians no incentive to reform.

[spetiya]

Blame it all on the "other." Blame all the problems on millions of desperately poor people surrounded by checkpoints, soldiers, settlements and fences. Propaganda and indoctrination by a weak, corrupt pseudo-government is what radicalizes people, not the 40 years of poverty and occupation. Claim none of the leaders are moderates, don't negotiate or aid anyone, just let the occupation continue until the victims can 'civilize themselves' peacefully, despite all the constraints imposed by said occupation.

Is this a strategy that will make Israel and the U.S. safer? Not a bit.

[jegibbons]

Posted by ezillyamused at 11:07 AM : Jun 22, 2007
amen TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID
From someone on the RIGHT! Well Said!

[jegibbons]

If One brand of fanatical Terrorists goes to war with another and the US intervenes to assist to defeat one over the other. This alliance may be short lived, necessary and could simply be chocked up to "DIVIDE AND CONQUER strategy.

To criticize this is tantamount to more piling on criticism of the Bush Administration. It's justified by those who have more sympathy with the terrorists than with our own government!
That is misplaced loyalty or WORSE!

[jegibbons]

gkc99
I think your comments are interesting and show insight. As someone who has likely lived a bit longer than yourself; I honestly believe there is MORE demonstrated hatred and INTOLERANCE expounded on the LEFT than on the RIGHT, although anyone who is using pejorative insulting rhetoric TO make their point automatically loses ALL credibility with me, whether THEY be on the left or on the right.

[closethippy]

As a Palestinian I find it laughable that not even that traitor Abbas and his unelected corrupted hunchmen can find sympathy in the US, the very country he sold his soul to. The freaking b'stard.
Abbas can kiss behind all he wants but he's a freaking fool if he thinks that's going to get him anywhere here in the US.
Abbas should have figure out what Arafat understood: Palestine is not yet a sovereign nation, not even close to it, and as such you cannot behave like the head of free state.
Imagine if George Washington followed the adivce of King George and banned armed militias under the pretense that no decent country has militias running around creating havoc.
If you're fighting for your independence you have to have militias. Period.
Abbas The Traitor has painted himself into a corner: If he doesn't deliver independence he'll be seen for the fool that he is and we'll behead the idiot.
Does he really think that now Israel is willing to let the 300,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem have freedom and make it our capital? What about the refugees? Will Israel even let us have control of our own borders, airspace, sea shores and water resources?
Abbas is on borrowed time and I'm sure the US, Israel and those European wimps will do their best to buy him time by setting up negotiations and more negotiations.
But this time if Abbas doesn't deliver right away he's minced meat. I just hope I can grind him myself.

[tucano2]

The US Senate and the President of the USA are currently aiding and abetting terrorists by *** around with the giant Corporate Welfare and AMNESTY bills S.1348/S.1639 instead of insisting CURRENT LAWS BE ENFORCED at maximum effort levels.

[xzavierbrown]

an anti-war liberal's request is very simple:
"why cant we just let islam follow up on thier promise and push the jewish state onto the red sea??"

I wonder if any of these anti-war liberals (or as most muslim would call them, a "bunch of godless infadels" would get a symapthetic ear anywhere in middle east.

Humm nice neck..care for a beheading?

[xzavierbrown]

an anti-war liberal's request is very simple:
"why cant we just let islam follow up on thier promise and push the jewish state onto the red sea??"

I wonder if any of these anti-war liberals (or as most muslim would call them, a "bunch of godless infadels" would get a symapthetic ear anywhere in middle east.

Humm nice neck..care for a beheading?

[sjc_1]

Fareed Zakaria summed it up well on the Daily Show the other night. He said that we told them to have elections and then they elected Hammas and we said we do not like who you elected, so we are going to deprive you of funds that are rightfully yours, put you into debt and call Abbas a bum.

So when Hammas is marginalized and turns from ballots to bullets, we are shocked and now Abbas is a good guy and our friend.

All of this happened in just that last year of so. You have to have a playbook and score card to keep track.

[ezillyamused]

Did I miss Hitler's return? I am shocked by the unending amount of anti-Semetic drivel being posted here! Fatah and Hamas ARE terrorists groups bent on the destruction of Israel. They are backed by Iran and Syria and have absolutely no legitimate bases. They teach children to hate and that it is acceptable to take another human life. What kind of garbage is that?!? You people have a fit about the ethnic cleansing that is going on in Darfur, that happened in Bosnia, and to the Kurds in northern Iraq, but if it's happening in Israel, well, that's OK because they are just Jews and "everyone knows Jews are taking over the world. They own all of the banks and the food and the ..." Oh, by the way, I am not Jewish, I am a Christian (not a right-winger), and I am proud to back Israel every step of the way!

[prinzowhales]

McCarthy asks why Fatah doesn't shred its constitution and recognize Israel...He knows the answer--he just doesn't want you to know it-- the Palestinians will not recognize the existence of the Zionist entity unless that recognition comes with the recognition of a Palestinian State by Israel.

If anyone is "backward" it is not the persistent Palestinian freedom fighters,it is McCarthy, a Neo-Con hack writing for the NATIONAL REVIEW--which has become a regular kennel for these creatures. If you read the FATEH document that is has quoted, you will note that it attacks Zionism--not the religion of Israel, which is its polar opposite--and quite rightly points out that Zionism is connected with imperialism, colonialism and racism.

There is one thing on which I agree with McCarthy, our money is squandered on Fatah. But, it is a paltry sum compared to the hundreds of billions that we have squandered on the Zionist state.

[brianbwb-2009]

to gkc99,

Besides, dude, if I wanted to say something about Jews, I would say it straight.

Now could the pro Israel lobby have paid? Perhaps, but that doesn't mean "Jews", since not all who advocate for Israel are "Jews"...

[brianbwb-2009]

to gkc99,

Let me clarify. There are professional advocacy organizations who are paid to appear in media, on tv, and, in the internet age, on blogs. These groups may or may not believe in the position they advocate, they are simply being paid to do so. Some even pay people to "troll" or to post deliberately hostile material that they can then "combat" for the benefit of their clients. Like an ad agence, they might advertise a product even though none of them actually use it.

Is it possible a Palestinian group could pay a MsCarthy to write his article so they have fodder to show their followers? Yes, it is very possible.

Therefore I don't suggest any group in particular, only that from whoever might have paid for it, I hope it was good compensation.

By the way, is it possible some of the anti Semitic propaganda we have all been soaked in may have subconsciously led to your assumption?

[gkc99]

Brianbwb:

You said:
It seems they also control your mind, I trust you were paid well for it..."


I thought you mean "they" were the Jews. If not, to whom were you referring? I mean, the idea that Jews are subversives who buy support is pretty much part of the stereotype, no?

If you didn't mean "the Jews", your post was unclear.

[johnshaft4]

You forgot to mention the Zionist, war mongering
AEI and AIPAC.

[brianbwb-2009]

to rharrin1,
LOL, From your lips to God's ears...

[rharrin1]

are we approaching the end of our Republic too ?



Posted by neoconRcrazy at 08:03 AM : Jun 22, 2007

No just republicans.

[brianbwb-2009]

to closethippy,

You are probably right, Abbas is a marked man. His soon to be fatal mistake is the same one Saddam made, he trusted the Americans in power to protect him, but as any Native American could have told him, "bad idea, dude".

Sorry to say that because of people like him, the struggle for Palestinian sovereignty will take longer, and be bloodier, for he will have to eliminate the majority of people who don't want to be the US's "friend" after decades of favoritism to the other side. As a result, any agreements between Israel, the US, and Abbas will not have the mandate or support of the Palestinian people, unless it addresses without exception all of the grievances of the Palestinians.

[neoconnie]

As a Christian, I think we should bomb anyone who isn't.

[brianbwb-2009]

to gkc99,

I also see a difference between "Israel" and "Jews". I believe I can criticize what I see as occupation and subjugation of a people by Israel, and those who truly listen with a rational mind will know I am not criticizing "Jews", just as I can criticize the right wing "Christians" in the US without being accused of criticizing Christianity.

Unless those who hear me cannot tell the difference between a state and a religion.

Apparently, going by his statement, Sharon could not, as also many "anti Semitophobes" cannot, so they exacerbate a problem where none should actually exist