David b. From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 3148 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 879 times:
Rjpieces From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 854 times:
And now the big question. Will Abbas follow through on his promise to crack down on terror and work with Israel, or will he go down the road of Arafat--Saying one thing in English to the Western Press, and then inciting the Palestinians in Arabic, moving his people away from the idea of co-existence. Luckilly, the US/Israel has learned the lesson of dealing with somebody like Arafat and will not repeat the mistake of trying to force peace with a terrorist who isn't interested in it.
I have very little faith in Abbas. A Sadat-like figure only comes along once in a blue moon, especially in the Arab world. But it is up to him. He will have to make the choice of where to lead his people. And the future of all Palestinians depends on him.
I truly hope and pray that he works with Israel, that he goes after the terrorist groups and helps build a democracy for his people and set a shining example for the Middle East.
Delta767300ER From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2559 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 806 times:
I hope Abbas follows through on his promises. I hope with new leadership he can work with the other nations to achieve peace for Israel and Palestine. The Palestenian people deserve peace and I think Abbas is the guy to achieve it.
LY7E7 From Israel, joined Jun 2004, 2218 posts, RR: 21 Reply 6, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 763 times:
One funny thing is that in spite all of the statements on how unpopular Abbas is within the Palestinians , he won with 63% of the votes, with number 2 getting less than 30%. (The population of the GS and WB is about 3.5m - about 50% of the entire Palestinian nation, of whom almost 1.5 m are eligible to vote).
Galaxy5 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2034 posts, RR: 27 Reply 9, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 732 times:
I thought he was the Dancing Queen.
"damn, I didnt know prince could Ball like that" - Charlie Murphy
PROSA From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5440 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 726 times:
All that I've read seems to indicate that the election process went remarkably well. Abbas not only won a convincing victory, but it looks as if he also won fairly, which is even more important.
Unfortunately, Abbas is now going to make a tempting target for Islamic fundamentalists. Whether or not he's a Sadat-like figure is yet to be seen, but he definitely is at high risk of sharing Sadat's fate.
"Let me think about it" = the coward's way of saying "no"
Rjpieces From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 713 times:
Whether or not he's a Sadat-like figure is yet to be seen, but he definitely is at high risk of sharing Sadat's fate.
Sadly, if he truly does wish for peace, he will have to turn against his own militant groups and if and when that does happen, he does risk sharing Sadat's fate.......
How many men would sacrifice their life to make peace?
LifelinerOne From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 1881 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 691 times:
How many men would sacrifice their life to make peace?
History knows many of them. And it's good that they're there!
Abbas winning the elections can be opening a whole new thing in the Israeli conflict. The Israeli's always said that they didn't want to talk with Arafat, now this obstacle is gone, so they can't stick their head in the sand anymore.
In other things, isn't it ironic, that in this officially non-existant country called Palestina, an almost democratic sort of election were possible. In the real countries around it (exluding Israel) such thing has never happened.
Rjpieces From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 688 times:
In other things, isn't it ironic, that in this officially non-existant country called Palestina, an almost democratic sort of election were possible. In the real countries around it (exluding Israel) such thing has never happened.
Udo From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 656 times:
In other things, isn't it ironic, that in this officially non-existant country called Palestina, an almost democratic sort of election were possible. In the real countries around it (exluding Israel) such thing has never happened.
YES! Ironic and amazing.
So what? I'm sick of these "we know it better"-"we tell you how to live"-"we tell you what's right and wrong"-attitudes. Shouldn't these very countries just decide themselves if they go for democracy or not?
And btw, it's better to have a country ruled by king or another leader and being stabile rather than having "free elections" with dozens of daily bomb attacks...
If many people in the U.S. think Middle East countries should become democratic as soon as possible - why not start with Buddy Abdallah first? He's more often in Washington than in Amman anyways, so best conditions for indoctrination...
Regards
Udo
Btw, next time you talk about these issues, get your facts right. Small hint: Lebanon...
LifelinerOne From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 1881 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 638 times:
Udo,
Right... Lebanon, the Syria franchise...
I do think a country should decide for itself what best for them or not. However, in most non-democratic countries, there is often only one man who decides what's good or wrong for the country... In what way does this serve the whole country? It isn't the will of the country, it's the will of the dictator.
Democracy is still the only right way of living to give everyone in the country almost the same chances. Marxism once looked like paradise on earth, but failed.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15814 posts, RR: 50 Reply 16, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 636 times:
On the bright side, congratulations to a Muslim nation on a popular election! It's as rare as seeing the Olympics AND a lunar eclipse in the same year.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11144 posts, RR: 61 Reply 17, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 627 times:
Rjpieces, you have a lot of nerve to take credit for an election held for the Palestinian people done by the Palestinian National Authority.
Israel simply observed the election as did many other nations and leaders. And the election was hardly smooth, thanks to Israel:
And it's not the first Palestinian election. 9 years ago elections were held, even though Arafat was the only candidate. That's because nobody else wanted to run.
LifelinerOne,
As a Lebanese, you could never be more misinformed.
Syria has a lot of influence in Lebanon due to a number of political parties in Lebanon that are sympathetic and pro-Syrian.
The Lebanese people are divided over the Syrian influence. Some support it, and some are against it.
Nonetheless, it is all being done in a democratic.
Just like how the US has a lot of influence in many countries around the world. I guess all those countries are US franchises? Well, it depends on how you interpret it I guess.
Lebanon is a country with many political parties such as the Progressive Socialist Party, the Kataeb Party (a party against Syrian influence), the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (a very very very pro-Syrian political party), Hezbollah, Lebanese Democratic Movement, Amal, and the Future Movement.
These are just a select few parties, all of which have the right to participate in transforming their country and pushing in what they believe in.
All done in a perfectly democratic matter.
MaverickM11,
You can never be more misinformed, and have stated an extremely ignorant statement.
Indonesia, Malaysia are two very prominant nations and they are all democracies holding regular elections.
Speaking of Indonesia, did you know the US opposed extremely popular leader Sukarno (who instated democratic reforms), and they supported a coup to overthrow him and be replaced by the extremely unpopular dictator Suharto who reigned in power from 1967 until 1998 when he stepped down after extreme pressure from people around him in the Indonesian people?
Hmm....the US undermining democracy in Muslim nations....who would have thought? Do you want me to talk about the democratically elected Iranian leader Mohammed Mossadegh, who only 2 years after being in power was overthrown by a US sponsored coup and replaced by a brutal totalitarian leader, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran?
There are also a number of Muslim nations in Africa that are democracies, Mali being a well mentioned one. But then again, nobody cares about Africa...
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
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