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Arabia
U.S. reform push clashes with Arab demands
2004-12-12
The usual suspects with the usual BS face off with Powell... and you know whose fault everything is...
RABAT (Reuters) - U.S. calls for reform in the Middle East have clashed with Arab demands to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict as Washington insisted that economic and political modernisation is needed to fight terrorism.

With unabated violence in U.S.-occupied Iraq, the inaugural "Forum for the Future" in Morocco was viewed by many in the Middle East as U.S. meddling even though American officials insist change must come from within the region.

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Washington was committed to working actively with Palestinians and Israelis to solve the conflict but that "reform does not have to wait for that".

"We did not overlook some of the challenges that we are all facing in the region and uppermost in that list of challenges is the situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians," he told a news conference on Saturday at the close of the one-day conference.

"But we cannot ignore the fact that reform has to go on ... A child who is in need of an education and will not be a contributing member of society without that education, needs that education now," he said.

The original U.S. initiative to promote democracy across the Arab world was watered down after an outcry from Arab critics. More emphasis was put on economics and less on political reform.

"Now is not the time to argue about the pace of democratic reform or whether economic reform must precede political reform," Powell told delegates from nearly 30 countries.

"All of us confront the daily threat of terrorism. To defeat the murderous extremists in our midst we must work together to address the causes of despair and frustration that extremists exploit for their own ends," he said.
Still hoping, after almost 60 years, to keep up the Paleo Gambit and avoid all other issues - particularly those leading toward substantive change. Nothing doing, boys.
Posted by:.com

#4  the Arabs are going to find out what kind of "incentives" we can bring to the table

HV, For starters the 40 mile wide Free Republic of [clanname_puppet] Arabia.

Actualy, we're seeing right now some real desperation, in a tightly controlled manner. They keep hitting all the usual buttons, but it dosen't work the same way, or at all (ie palis). And do you think that the spike in crude prices right before the election was entirely co-incidental? (No, I am not a kook!) But it did not work.

Iran just saw 2 of its neighbhors get blown out in rapid sucession. They have no illusions as to what their fate is, if/when we get around to them.

The magic kingdom is beginning to wonder what the real value of their stock with us is worth.

As for baby asshat assad, well, Meine Meine Tenkel Upharishin.

They have yet to stop confusing gentile words with weakness, but we shall see.
Posted by: N Guard   2004-12-12 11:34:27 AM  

#3  the Arabs are going to find out what kind of "incentives" we can bring to the table

HV, For starters the 40 mile wide Free Republic of [clanname_puppet] Arabia.

Actualy, we're seeing right now some real desperation, in a tightly controlled manner. They keep hitting all the usual buttons, but it dosen't work the same way, or at all (ie palis). And do you think that the spike in crude prices right before the election was entirely co-incidental? (No, I am not a kook!) But it did not work.

Iran just saw 2 of its neighbhors get blown out in rapid sucession. They have no illusions as to what their fate is, if/when we get around to them.

The magic kingdom is beginning to wonder what the real value of their stock with us is worth.

As for baby asshat assad, well, Meine Meine Tenkel Upharishin.

They have yet to stop confusing gentile words with weakness, but we shall see.
Posted by: N Guard   2004-12-12 11:34:27 AM  

#2  I guess we haven't reached the point of desperation yet. When we do the Arabs are going to find out what kind of "incentives" we can bring to the table.
Posted by: HV   2004-12-12 6:24:50 AM  

#1  U.S. calls for reform in the Middle East have clashed with Arab demands to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict as Washington insisted that economic and political modernisation is needed to fight terrorism.

Yep, them nasty ol' Jews are always supposed to be at the root of all the Arabs' problems. It's about time someone bluntly told them to find another scapegoat.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-12-12 5:12:51 AM  

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