Arafat: Gone & Hopefully Soon Forgotten

Want more examples of why a lot Americans think the dems are a wee bit out of touch? Here you go:

WASHINGTON - Former President Jimmy Carter said Thursday the death of Yasser Arafat robs the Palestinian people of "indispensable leadership" and he joined other American Middle East analysts in expressing hope that Arafat's successors will find peace with Israel.

Carter, architect of the 1978 Camp David agreement between Israel and Egypt, said Arafat "was the father of the modern Palestinian nationalist movement. A powerful human symbol and forceful advocate, Palestinians united behind him in their pursuit of a homeland."

Carter added he is hopeful an emerging Palestinian leadership can benefit from Arafat's experiences "and be successful in helping to forge a Palestinian state living in harmony with their Israeli neighbors."

Former President Bill Clinton called Arafat a symbol of Palestinian hopes and aspirations but said he regretted that Arafat "missed an opportunity" for a settlement at Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that Clinton convened at Camp David in 2000.

With all due respect former Mr. Presidents: What the fuck!?!

I’m just awestruck. These two men, former leaders of the free world, praised Yasser Arafat as an example of leadership and as a statesman. PRAISED him!!! At least Clinton had the balls to remind us that Arafat was the one who walked away from the peace table, but it’s a bit of obfuscation to call it simply missing the mark. Arafat rejected a peace plan that gave his people 90% of the concessions they were asking for from Israel, opting instead to strap explosives to more children and send them off to kill.

Daniel Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, has a better understanding of the late Mr. Arafat:

He [Pipes] added: Arafat "showed that it was possible through murder and deceit to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner, something that we hadn't known was possible."

Arafat won the prize in 1994 in recognition of his efforts on behalf of peace with Israel.

One thing America has got to start doing in this War on Terror is be absolutely clear and non-evasive on just where the problem lies. Arafat was a leech and murderer. He did more to harm and stall and derail the peace process than any human being on the planet. It will be rough and rocky in these first days and months as the Palestinians try and chart a new course, but they are certainly on a surer road to peace without their former “Godfather.” Good riddance to bad rubbish.