SHARON'S WAR AND BUSH'S RHETORIC

USNewsLink Digital

by JUDITH HANEY

USNewsLink/April 26, 2002

While Ariel Sharon wages clear, unrestrained, all out destruction in the Arab occupied territories of the West Bank, George Bush is taking the prudent course and delivering sympathetic rhetoric to his right-wing political base.

Come on, think about it. Why would Bush seek to distance himself from the West Bank's problems beyond paying lip service in the form of "Israel should withdraw its troops from the West Bank"?

The reason is quite simple. It is a critical election year for the GOP and George Bush is not about to alienate his right wing political base, in part composed of wealthy Jewish contributors and power brokers, for a bunch of poor, penniless, Palestinians.

And, another reason that Bush is not going to do much about Ariel Sharon is because he is a puppet of his party, a figurehead who has no clout except that which is granted him by the GOP leadership.

So, if Americans are looking to George Bush for strong leadership in devising an Israel/Arab solution, they can forget about it.

When you couple the GOP/Bush factor with the wimps in the American press, you have nothing but nothing going to happen on behalf of the Arabs who are being driven from their homes, their land, and their way of life.

I am ashamed to be an American today. I am ashamed that my tax dollars are being used to support Ariel Sharon's murderous raid on Palestinian civilians. I am ashamed of George Bush. I am sick to my stomach over the manner in which the U.S. has failed to intervene on behalf of the Palestinian people.

If George Bush has an ounce of decency, he will IMMEDIATELY assemble American troops along the West Bank and dare Sharon to cross the line. Anything less will be an open invitation for Sharon to continue waging his war against Palestinians and Arabs who are unable to stand up to him.

AND, the U.S. should withhold any and all funds from Israel until it reaches a permanent peace with the Arab world.