Rice Visit Leaves Palestinians Gloomy

[Joanne98]

After meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made no effort to hide his grim expression from his staff. From the Palestinian perspective, the talks hadn't gone well. Abbas had complained to Rice that an earlier chat and a bear hug with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, at the Secretary of State's behest, had only landed him in trouble with his fellow Palestinians. According to a presidential aide, he told Rice that "Olmert embarrassed me by not implementing a single Israeli promise."

Olmert had vowed to release $100 million in Palestinian funds frozen by Israel after Hamas became the government last March. Olmert also promised to remove some of the more than 400 roadblocks inside the Palestinian territories. Israel has so far failed to deliver on either promise, according to Palestinian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Abbas was also miffed at the public discussion in the U.S. of Bush Administration plans to secure $86 million from U.S. Congress to arm forces loyal to Abbas for a looming battle with Hamas. According to one insider, Abbas had wanted this kept secret. "This has put us in more trouble with Hamas," griped one Abbas aide.

After Rice and her phalanx of bodyguards and advisers left Abbas's office in Ramallah, one Palestinian source close to the Palestinian president reported gloomily that "She didn't bring anything new." He added: "The American 'Road Map' is a dead body, and implementing the plan will enable Israelis to swallow more of the West Bank." The reasoning, say Abbas supporters, is that Abbas cannot comply with Rice's demands that he disarm Hamas militants, and Abbas failure to do this will embolden the Israelis to erect more Jewish settlements inside the Palestinian territories. "What she's asking — this is a joke," said one Abbas aide.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1578039,00.html

It sounds like Condascenda is trying to overthrow another democratically elected government. She's also trying to start a civil war between Hamas and Fatah.

[annabanana]

1. Someone rope this diddly-head IN, already!

She should not be allowed to travel internationally. Stop her at the airport. Something. She sows discord and destruction wherever she goes.

[goforit]

2. Ye Condi is only there to stir up trouble. So what else would be new.

[Tellurian]

8. Thats what she gets paid for..

shit stirring double talk!

an inborn republican talent.

[SpiralHawk]

3. BushCo: Spreading GLOOM hither and yon

Commander AWOL and his republicon HenchUnits really screw up everything

[Boojatta]

4. Just wondering

Olmert had vowed to release $100 million in Palestinian funds frozen by Israel after Hamas became the government last March. (...) Israel has so far failed to deliver on either promise, according to Palestinian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Abbas was also miffed at the public discussion in the U.S. of Bush Administration plans to secure $86 million from U.S. Congress to arm forces loyal to Abbas for a looming battle with Hamas. According to one insider, Abbas had wanted this kept secret. "This has put us in more trouble with Hamas," griped one Abbas aide.

The objection was to public discussion of plans to secure $86 million from the U.S. Congress to arm forces loyal to Abbas. Is it okay to give the money for that purpose, but not okay for there to be public discussion of the matter?

Suppose Israel delivers $100 million. What would prevent Abbas from using $86 million of that $100 million to arm his forces?

[Joanne98]

5. Arming the PA isn't a good idea. They were corrupt...

That's why they got voted out. Bushco is just bloodthirsty. He wants to start a another civil war.

[Kagemusha]

6. Probably a cacophony of financial controls to ensure it's not used for arms

But as I've long said, it does Abbas no good whatsoever to be revealed, in public, to be a US stooge. And if he's not even getting the goods for being a US stooge, in public, how the hell is he supposed to win an incipient civil war?

[tanyev]

7. Yeah, she has that effect on people.

[partylessinOhio]

9. Condoho is a joke wherever she goes.

Single man/woman with no children who sits at the foot of Bush. What a bad joke on all of us!

[rodeodance]

10. wish we could send in someone who will REALLY WORK

[xchrom]

11. she leaves EVERYONE gloomy.

[lonestarnot]

12. These freaks will not be content until the entire middle east is destabilized

and in bloody conflict. Beaver is not living up to her name. Beavers cut off the water, but they don't destabilize.

[donkeyotay]

13. Ain't it just like a neocon

Abbas was also miffed at the public discussion in the U.S. of Bush Administration plans to secure $86 million from U.S. Congress to arm forces loyal to Abbas for a looming battle with Hamas. According to one insider, Abbas had wanted this kept secret. "This has put us in more trouble with Hamas," griped one Abbas aide.

Some road map.