Bush: Israel Has Right to Defend Itself

[Khephra]

Bush: Israel Has Right to Defend Itself
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 18, 2004


Filed at 10:52 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cheered with chants of ``four more years,'' President Bush told a Jewish audience Tuesday that Israel ``has every right to defend itself from terror'' and that Palestinians must renounce violence and reject failed leaders.

Bush made only a passing reference to violence in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli helicopters pounded a refugee camp Tuesday and killed at least 12 Palestinians. ``The unfolding violence in the Gaza Strip is troubling and underscores the need for all parties to seize every opportunity for peace,'' he said.

The president got two dozen standing ovations in an address before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group whose political support has been courted by the administration, particularly as Bush faces re-election.

snip.....

The president used the occasion to reflect on the war against terror and U.S. efforts in Iraq in the face of increased bloodshed. He said violence would increase as the June 30 deadline approaches for the transfer of power from the U.S.-led coalition to an interim Iraqi government.

Bush said insurgents were trying to undermine the will of the coalition and drive it out before democracy takes hold in Iraq.

``It's a historic moment,'' he said. ``The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness. We will answer every challenge. Iraq will be free and Iraq will be a democratic nation.''

more..............

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bush.html

[burythehatchet]

1. My favorite pResident

speaking to my favorite PAC. How special.

[Wind Dancer]

7. Cheney was in Boca Raton

last week with the same message. Unbelievable!

[keithyboy]

2. Israel has a right to defend itself. But Israel is NOT defending itself

with the attacks on refugees. These people have no weapons, Israel is occupying their land, destroying their homes, their livelihood, killing their children. I think the Palestinians have a right to defend themselves also, but they have no real weapons with which to do that and virtually no support from anyone except those we and Israel label as "terrorists." This is a world tragedy unfolding before our eyes and no amount of spin, will cover the sin. May God have mercy on all our souls for allowing this to happen. But I must say, I feel helpless to do anything that is what is so damned frustrating.

[CWebster]

3. Oh no, we are anti-semites

even on self-identified "progressive" boards. Like you would see CommonDreams or the Progressive or the Nation taking some sort of pro-likud stance...

Has Israel earned my contempt? Only to the extent that the US has.
What does being Jewish have to do with the crimes committed under that cover?

[Poiuyt]

4. Why is it that some countries have a right to defend themselves

and others don't?

[rebellious woman]

5. Depends on what country!

[duvinnie]

6. does Palestine

have any rights? to hear these people talk, you would
think an impoverished and brutalized community completely
surrounded by the most powerful armed forces ever assembled
in the ME has no rights at all, only an obligation to
perpetuate Israeli dominance. geez

[BiggJawn]

8. I like Chimpy's idea of "defending myself"...

So that means that if somebody bumps into me in public, or say, robs my house, or kills a member of MY family, I can have them killed, have their FAMILY killed, have their DOG killed, and then have their house and the 15 houses closest bulldozed, for good measure?

Yeah, that's what *I* call "defending myself"!