| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"maff" |
| Date: |
04 May 2004 04:13:29 AM |
| Object: |
OT: Former diplomats attack Bush |
Former diplomats attack Bush
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1208914,00.html
White House accused of sacrificing credibility with Arab world in US
protest that mirrors assault on Blair
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Tuesday May 4, 2004
The Guardian
Fifty-three former US diplomats today accuse the White House of
sacrificing America's credibility in the Arab world - and the safety
of its diplomats and soldiers - because of the Bush administration's
support for the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.
The strongly worded rebuke, which paid tribute to last week's
broadside from more than 50 former British diplomats against the
government's policy in Iraq, marked a rare public display of dissent
for state department personnel.
Suzanne Goldenberg
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=18510aff.0401030302.3bb6299b%40posting.google.com
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Former diplomats attack Bush |
14 May 2004 09:33:11 AM |
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On 4 May 2004 02:13:29 -0700, (maff), Message ID:
<18510aff.0405040113.787aac1b@posting.google.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
Former diplomats attack Bush
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1208914,00.html
Former diplomats attack Bush
White House accused of sacrificing credibility with Arab world in US
protest that mirrors assault on Blair
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Tuesday May 4, 2004
The Guardian
Fifty-three former US diplomats today accuse the White House of
sacrificing America's credibility in the Arab world - and the safety of
its diplomats and soldiers - because of the Bush administration's
support for the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.
The strongly worded rebuke, which paid tribute to last week's broadside
from more than 50 former British diplomats against the government's
policy in Iraq, marked a rare public display of dissent for state
department personnel.
Its central charge that the Bush administration is unfairly tilted
towards Mr Sharon arrives at a time when Washington's strategy in the
Middle East is in tatters. George Bush has invested heavily in Mr
Sharon's proposal for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and
gone a step further by endorsing a continued Jewish settlement in the
occupied West Bank.
The overwhelming rejection of the proposal by Likud voters on Sunday was
seen in Washington yesterday as a direct snub to Mr Bush. But the White
House reaffirmed its support for Mr Sharon.
Yesterday he said he would modify his disengagement plan but gave no
details, while earlier members of his government said the setback was
temporary, and the withdrawal from Gaza would go ahead. "There is no
doubt disengagement is inevitable and unstoppable," the deputy prime
minister, Ehud Olmert, said. "The alternative is more murder, terrorism
and attacks without any wise answer for what 7,500 Jewish [settlers] are
doing among 1.2 million Palestinians [in Gaza]."
Mr Sharon's troubles are due for further scrutiny at a meeting in New
York today of the sponsors of the peace road map - the US, the EU,
Russia and the United Nations. But there is no doubt the rebuff from
Likud will be seen as an embarrassment to Washington, one that is
further deepened by the critique from an assembly of US government
personnel with decades of experience.
The last broadside from American diplomats was delivered during the
Vietnam war era. It is particularly unusual for US government personnel
to criticise policy on Israel.
Unlike the British version, which was scathing of Mr Blair's alliance
with Washington in Iraq as well as Israel and the Palestinians, the
American diplomats' critique was wholly focused on Middle East policy.
It said Washington had overthrown decades of US diplomatic tradition
last month when Mr Bush endorsed a plan for Gaza with no Palestinian
involvement. "By closing the door to negotiations with Palestinians and
the possibility of a Palestinian state, you have proved that the US is
not an even-handed peace partner. You have placed US diplomats,
civilians and military doing their jobs overseas in an untenable and
even dangerous position," the letter says.
It goes on to accuse the Bush administration of "unabashed support" for
Israel's strategy of assassinating Palestinian leaders and military
operatives, and urges Washington to change course. "A return to the
time-honoured American tradition of fairness will turn the present tide
of ill will in Europe and the Middle East - even in Iraq," it adds.
The letter, which was initiated by a former ambassador to Qatar, Andrew
Killgore, was endorsed mainly by those who had served for years in Arab
countries. Supporters include the former ambassadors to India, Saudi
Arabia, Syria and Egypt. The petition was also endorsed by two recent
rebels against the Bush administration policy: John Brady Kiesling, who
resigned last year in protest against the war, and Greg Thielmann, an
intelligence analyst who accused Washington of distorting information on
Iraqi weapons programmes.
But their numbers do not include former administration officials who
have been most closely associated with peacemaking efforts.
· Israeli troops surrounded Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compund
in the West Bank city of Ramallah early today, witnesses said. In Gaza,
an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at armed Palestinians in the Khan
Younis refugee camp, killing one and wounding at least 14, according to
reports.
(c) 2004 Guardian Newspapers
{The Ambassadors Letter}
Full text: the diplomats' letter
Tuesday May 4, 2004
President George W Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC
Dear Mr President:
We former US diplomats applaud our 52 British colleagues who recently
sent a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair criticizing his Middle East
policy and calling on Britain to exert more influence over the United
States. As retired foreign service officers we care deeply about our
nation's foreign policy and US credibility in the world.
We also are deeply concerned by your April 14 endorsement of Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral plan to reject the rights of
three million Palestinians, to deny the right of refugees to return to
their homeland, and to retain five large illegal settlement blocs in the
occupied West Bank. This plan defies UN Security Council resolutions
calling for Israel's return of occupied territories. It ignores
international laws declaring Israeli settlements illegal.
It flouts UN Resolution 194, passed in 1948, which affirms the right of
refugees to return to their homes or receive compensation for the loss
of their property and assistance in resettling in a host country should
they choose to do so. And it undermines the Road Map for peace drawn up
by the Quartet, including the US. Finally, it reverses longstanding
American policy in the Middle East.
Your meeting with Sharon followed a series of intensive negotiating
sessions between Israelis and Americans, but which left out
Palestinians. In fact, you and Prime Minister Sharon consistently have
excluded Palestinians from peace negotiations. Former Palestinian
Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo voiced the overwhelming reaction
of people around the world when he said, "I believe President Bush
declared the death of the peace process today."
By closing the door to negotiations with Palestinians and the
possibility of a Palestinian state, you have proved that the United
States is not an even-handed peace partner. You have placed US
diplomats, civilians and military doing their jobs overseas in an
untenable and even dangerous position.
Your unqualified support of Sharon's extra-judicial assassinations,
Israel's Berlin Wall-like barrier, its harsh military measures in
occupied territories, and now your endorsement of Sharon's unilateral
plan are costing our country its credibility, prestige and friends.
It is not too late to reassert American principles of justice and
fairness in our relations with all the peoples of the Middle East.
Support negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, with the United
States serving as a truly honest broker.
A return to the time-honored American tradition of fairness will reverse
the present tide of ill will in Europe and the Middle East-even in Iraq.
Because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the core of the problems
in the Middle East, the entire region-and the world-will rejoice along
with Israelis and Palestinians when the killing stops and peace is
attained.
Sincerely,
Andrew I Killgore, Ambassador to Qatar, 1977-1980
Richard H Curtiss, former chief inspector, US Information Agency
Colbert C Held, Retired FSO and author
Thomas J Carolan, Counsel General Istanbul, '88-'92
C Edward Bernier, Counselor of Embassy, Information and Culture,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Donald A Kruse, American Consul in Jerusalem
Ambassador Edward L Peck, former Chief of Mission in Iraq and Mauritania
John Powell, Admin Counselor in Beirut, '75-'76
John Gunther Dean, last position held US Ambassador to India
Greg Thielmann, Director, Office for Strategic Proliferation Military
Affairs, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
James Akins, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Talcott Seeyle, Ambassador to Syria
Eugene Bird, Counselor of Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Richard H Nolte, Ambassador to Egypt
Ray Close, Chief of Station Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1971-1979
Shirl McArthur, Commercial Attache, Bangkok
Source: Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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| User: "SMChristenson" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Former diplomats attack Bush |
14 May 2004 08:08:14 PM |
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On Fri, 14 May 2004 07:33:11 -0700, stoney wrote:
On 4 May 2004 02:13:29 -0700, (maff), Message ID:
<18510aff.0405040113.787aac1b@posting.google.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
Former diplomats attack Bush
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1208914,00.html
As if the Neocons give a rat's *****. They don't listen to the current
State Department. Wolfie knows those smartie pants with their collective
centuries of overseas experience all put together aren't as smart as him.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Former diplomats attack Bush |
15 May 2004 10:09:27 AM |
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On Fri, 14 May 2004 20:08:14 -0500, SMChristenson <smchris@visi.com>,
Message ID: <pan.2004.05.15.01.08.13.834429@visi.com> wrote in
alt.atheism;
On Fri, 14 May 2004 07:33:11 -0700, stoney wrote:
On 4 May 2004 02:13:29 -0700, (maff), Message ID:
<18510aff.0405040113.787aac1b@posting.google.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
Former diplomats attack Bush
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1208914,00.html
As if the Neocons give a rat's *****. They don't listen to the current
State Department. Wolfie knows those smartie pants with their collective
centuries of overseas experience all put together aren't as smart as him.
I know. Their effort falls on deaf ears.
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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| User: "Fred Stone" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Former diplomats attack Bush |
15 May 2004 06:47:55 AM |
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SMChristenson <smchris@visi.com> wrote in
news:pan.2004.05.15.01.08.13.834429@visi.com:
On Fri, 14 May 2004 07:33:11 -0700, stoney wrote:
On 4 May 2004 02:13:29 -0700, (maff), Message ID:
<18510aff.0405040113.787aac1b@posting.google.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
Former diplomats attack Bush
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1208914,00.html
As if the Neocons give a rat's *****. They don't listen to the current
State Department. Wolfie knows those smartie pants with their collective
centuries of overseas experience all put together aren't as smart as him.
As if anybody in their right minds considers the Guardian to be any more
reliable than FOX News.
--
Fred Stone
aa# 1369
Cthulhu for President! Why vote for a lesser evil?
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