Bush May Call for Major European Role in Post-Arafat Peace Effort -NYT

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 - President Bush is expected to call on Europe to assume a key role in helping the new Palestinian leadership build and support institutions and prepare for negotiations with Israel, American and European diplomats said Thursday.

Such a call would represent a notable increase in cooperation between Washington and its European allies over the Middle East. An issue of contention until now had been the Europeans' continued communications with Yasir Arafat, who died early Thursday. The United States, along with Israel, believed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could be solved only without the involvement of Mr. Arafat.

The new role for Europe is likely to be discussed publicly on Friday after the president's meetings with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, the diplomats said.

Also on the agenda is a possible American endorsement of a conference that Mr. Blair wants to hold on the Middle East early next year in Britain, the diplomats said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/politics/12policy.html

[aquart]

1. IOW, I give up, YOU do it.

He's really busy conceding American power everywhere on the planet, gutless little worm.

[Mikimouse]

2. Europe to give Bush answer to request after deliberating...

OK, we thought about it and our answer is.......FUCK YOURSELF WITH A BARBED BROOMSTICK!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. "Dear President Bush:

Kindly blow us.

Very truly yours,

Europe"

[deadparrot]

4. I hope the European leaders don't stand for this...

and tell the creep from Crawford to fuck off.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Bush has little choice...

...having destroyed any utility the US had as an interlocutor.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Hey Karl, how ya spell "legacy"? An where's mah highball; 's past noon,

ain't it?

[countmyvote4real]

7. It's hard work and * clearly can't handle it.

Or he's not interested and is really only in the ME for their oil.

OMG, I was just shocked by the truth. Could my keyboard be a ouiga board?

[MO_Dem]

11. You did speak (type) the truth, count!

Hope you don't mind me calling you by your first name. Maybe your keyboard is a ouiga, but I'd rather think your brain is first rate and firin' on all eight cylinders. This moron is so obvious!

[goforit]

8. No way!!!........Don't give that throne to that ass.

[nine23]

9. Clearly can't handle it?

Was that an understatement? Thought so...

[TexasChick]

10. Yeah, good luck, chimptard! They'll probably give you a resounding

"Go Cheney yourself"!

[LynnTheDem]

12. Europe to bush; We're "OLD",

and FUCK YOU."

[Inland]

13. "Its hard work. Its hard. Hard. You do it.."

Bush knew there was a reason why he jettisoned all credibility the US might have had. Now he has an excuse to stay out of it.

[Stockholm]

14. Unfortunately or luckily depending on how you see it

Europe will do this.

Firstly, the EU is seeking signs of improved transatlantic relations and can´t afford politically to pass on such a signal from the US regime.

Secondly, the EU basically told Israel that the EU will be involved in the peace process whether they like it or not.

The Israel/Palestine issue is too important to Europe for them to sit on the fence.

Another way of handling this would be for the EU to tell * that "we do not need nor seek the approval of the US regime to intervene in what we think is the most important issue geo-politally today".

Will be interesting to see what reply * will receive if he presents this "generous" offer. Remember to read between the lines though.