Best news in the last decade?

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » February 8, 2005, 12:16 pm

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/ ... index.html

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a cease-fire Tuesday, hailing it as a new opportunity for peace in the Middle East.

"We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharon to cease all violence against the Israelis and against the Palestinians, wherever they are," Abbas said after talks at their summit in Egypt.

The historic summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh -- hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II --is the first upper-level meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in more than four years.

"A new opportunity for peace is born," Abbas said.

Sharon said Israel will cease its military operations in all locations in return for Palestinians' ending violence against Israelis.

"We really hope this day will be the day that marks the relaunching of the process for a better future that will lead us towards mutual respect and peace in the Middle East," Sharon said.

'We can move forward'
Details of the agreement were not made available, but on Monday, Sharon adviser Raanan Gissin said the Palestinians would declare an end to "violence, terrorism and incitement" against Israel.

In return, Gissin said, Israel will refrain from military action "to the extent that the Palestinians will fulfill their pledges and their commitments."

"It will be their responsibility to stop terrorists," Gissin said. "To the extent that will be fulfilled, we can move forward."

Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erakat said Israeli and Palestinian officials have agreed to revive committees set up to deal with prisoners, the redeployment of troops, Palestinian fugitives and deportees.

Sharm el-Sheikh was the site of a Palestinian-Israeli summit in October 2000.

About 100 people -- mostly Palestinians -- had died in three weeks of violence, and President Bill Clinton mediated marathon peace talks at the Egyptian resort.

That summit -- between Israel's Ehud Barak and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat -- yielded an unsigned "statement of intent" to end the violence. But clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza and the West Bank continued.

President Bush met with Arab leaders at the venue in June 2003 during a trip that also included a meeting in Jordan with Sharon and Abbas, then the Palestinian prime minister.

Tuesday's summit is the first time Sharon and Abbas have met since the Palestinian Authority president was elected to succeed Arafat, who succumbed to an unknown illness in November.

After Abbas' election, Israel and the Palestinian Authority took confidence-building steps regarding security, Palestinian prisoners and a proposed Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.

Abbas has deployed security forces within the Palestinian territories to prevent terrorist attacks, and Israeli officials have approved the release of some Palestinian prisoners.

Last week, an Israeli Cabinet committee approved an end to targeted killings of suspected Palestinian militants and a military withdrawal from five West Bank cities, sources in Sharon's office said.

Items expected to be taken up at the summit include the status of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories and the West Bank barrier under construction by Israel, Erakat said.

Also Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- after talks with Sharon and Abbas -- announced the two leaders have agreed to meet separately with President Bush in the spring.

"This is the most promising moment for progress between Palestinians and Israelis in recent years," Rice said. "I depart the region confident of the success of the meeting tomorrow between President Abbas and Prime Minster Sharon."

Rice also said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William Ward will act as a security coordinator and will visit the region in the next few weeks. Ward also will work on Mideast security issues with Egypt and Jordan, she said.

Ward's responsibilities will include helping the Palestinians train and equip their security forces. Among his duties, Rice said, would be monitoring compliance with Israeli and Palestinian security agreements.

Bush 'impressed'
During his weekly Cabinet meeting on Monday, Bush said he looked forward to meeting with Sharon and the Palestinian leader. "I've been impressed by Prime Minister Abbas' commitment to fighting off terror," Bush said.

"I've also been impressed by the fact that Israel helped the Palestinians have an election, went out of their way to make sure that people were allowed to go to the polls."

A senior State Department official said future international meetings linked to the Mideast peace process are being discussed. Sponsors of the so-called Mideast road map -- the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union -- may gather soon, the senior State Department official said.

The road map calls for an end to Israeli-Palestinian violence, followed by a "final and comprehensive" settlement of the conflict and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Bush has asked Congress to provide the Palestinian Authority with $350 million in U.S. funds to help rebuild infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the Palestinian territories after four years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 8, 2005, 12:21 pm

Israel will cease its military operations in all locations in return for Palestinians' ending violence against Israelis.

I predict it will rain beer tomorrow.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » February 8, 2005, 12:28 pm

and if we weren't involved?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 12:32 pm

good news.

far too preliminary to break out hte stogies. not exactly the first time we've seen a handshake or a cease-fire.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · February 8, 2005, 1:11 pm

Fash wrote:and if we weren't involved?

Time is the greatest argument. They'll understand someday.

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » February 8, 2005, 1:24 pm

Forgive my ignorance on this subject, but how is the US involved in these talks right now? I wasnt aware of any.

Back on topic, this is a great first step.

Kaldaur · Post by **Kaldaur** » February 8, 2005, 1:36 pm

We are not involved in the talks. Rice has stated that for this to work, the Middle East must hold the reins, and no US involvement at the negotiating table will allow the parties involved to come to an agreement without US interference.

The US is giving 40 million in aid to help Palestinian police forces, if my memory serves me correctly.

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » February 8, 2005, 1:52 pm

what is this? cease fire #425?

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 8, 2005, 1:54 pm

Cease fires normally only last as long as it takes for the fastest side to rearm.

But it won't hurt to hope.

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » February 8, 2005, 2:33 pm

with that headline, I was expecting this link:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/ ... index.html

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 8, 2005, 2:39 pm

Kaldaur wrote:We are not involved in the talks. Rice has stated that for this to work, the Middle East must hold the reins, and no US involvement at the negotiating table will allow the parties involved to come to an agreement without US interference.

I'm shocked. It seems that Rice is actually trying to do the right thing...There must be more to it, but trying to restore ties to europe and trying to get end this conflict is important.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 8, 2005, 4:03 pm

It's a nice start. The next step is hoping the more radical factions don't start suicide bombing to provoke more conflict.

I wonder if Israel's eventual bombing of Iran's nuclear power plant will impact this or if the Palestinians will consider that a separate problem.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 8, 2005, 4:10 pm

Winnow wrote: I wonder if Israel's eventual bombing of Iran's nuclear power plant will impact this or if the Palestinians will consider that a separate problem.

I'm really hoping we don't need to attack Iran. That would undermine a lot of peace efforts.

Can't we just be done with Iraq? =P

nobody · Post by **nobody** » February 8, 2005, 4:16 pm

i would support invading iran if they are actually as close to having nuclear weapons as the US believes. however, b/c of the whole iraq thing, it has now become not such a good idea anymore. even if the US invades for the right reason we look like jackasses. sort of a catch-22.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 8, 2005, 4:23 pm

I don't think it would be an invasion. It'd be more like the Israeli attack on Iraq's nuclear plant years ago and maybe shooting down some old Iranian jets if they get upset over it.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 8, 2005, 4:35 pm

So it's okay for Israel to attack Iran but not okay for them to retaliate??

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 8, 2005, 5:21 pm

Lohrno wrote:So it's okay for Israel to attack Iran but not okay for them to retaliate??

No, they can retaliate : ) They'll get worked over but they can retaliate. I'm sure Israel (and the U.S.) strategists would weigh the value of eliminating a imminent nuclear threat vs a small conventional conflict after taking out the plant.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 5:52 pm

If Israel bombs Iran, we are in deep deep shit.

If Iran is bombed it will be by the US.

Read Seymour Hirsch's new piece in "The New Yorker". He had some of the best reporting on the Iraq War, and has been proven right almost across the board.

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050124fa_fact

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » February 8, 2005, 6:01 pm

The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

Lohrno · Post by **Lohrno** » February 8, 2005, 6:02 pm

Raistin wrote:The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

You sound so sure...

Rivera Bladestrike · Post by **Rivera Bladestrike** » February 8, 2005, 6:19 pm

This may sound naive, but why can no other country in the world have nuclear power? Its a great way to get electricity without burning fossil fuels, much better on the environment (with exception for waste). Why must we assume that every country that wants to find a way to get electricity aside from fossil fuels, are seeking nuclear weapons as a means of destroying their enemies? Nuclear energy would be a huge help to developing nations.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 8, 2005, 6:26 pm

Rivera Bladestrike wrote:This may sound naive, but why can no other country in the world have nuclear power? Its a great way to get electricity without burning fossil fuels, much better on the environment (with exception for waste). Why must we assume that every country that wants to find a way to get electricity aside from fossil fuels, are seeking nuclear weapons as a means of destroying their enemies? Nuclear energy would be a huge help to developing nations.

cause they might set up us the bomb!

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 6:30 pm

there is a big difference between building nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons, and there are ways to have nuclear power plants that do not yield fissile material for weapons from my understanding.

The United States would have no problem if that was the scope of Iran's activities.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » February 8, 2005, 6:33 pm

What would Jesus do?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 8, 2005, 6:39 pm

drop the love bomb

Rivera Bladestrike · Post by **Rivera Bladestrike** » February 8, 2005, 6:39 pm

Teenybloke wrote:What would Jesus do?

Bejesush

Nick · Post by **Nick** » February 8, 2005, 6:41 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » February 8, 2005, 7:29 pm

Raistin wrote:The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

Who is the monkey here.....the guy who sends his MILITARY to war or the idiot that joined said military for a free ride to college thinking that militaries don't get sent to war zones?

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » February 8, 2005, 7:33 pm

Have you seen Bush? He's the missing fucking link. I've seen a picture of Raistin, he doesn't look like a monkey.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 8, 2005, 7:37 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:
Raistin wrote:The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

Who is the monkey here.....the guy who sends his MILITARY to war or the idiot that joined said military for a free ride to college thinking that militaries don't get sent to war zones?

Thats a pretty strong accusation you are making just because he doesn't like Bush and doesn't agree with some of the policies of this administration. What happened to being respectful to those who served in the military? Oh I see, you apply that philosophy when it suits you...

Midnyte_Ragebringer · February 8, 2005, 8:27 pm

Lalanae wrote:
Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:
Raistin wrote:The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

Who is the monkey here.....the guy who sends his MILITARY to war or the idiot that joined said military for a free ride to college thinking that militaries don't get sent to war zones?
Thats a pretty strong accusation you are making just because he doesn't like Bush and doesn't agree with some of the policies of this administration. What happened to being respectful to those who served in the military? Oh I see, you apply that philosophy when it suits you...

Well said Lalanae

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » February 8, 2005, 8:41 pm

Who is the monkey here.....the guy who sends his MILITARY to war or the idiot that joined said military for a free ride to college thinking that militaries don't get sent to war zones?

Last I checked I never went to college during the time I was enlisted. And all the other times my unit was called up for some type of duty, I asked to be one of the first ones to.Nor did i ever complain about any such things you said.

Play again another time.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » February 9, 2005, 3:10 am

Raistin wrote:The best news Ive heard the past 10 years, is that at the end of these 4 years, we will no longer have a monkey as the leader of our country.

And if we're even luckier, he'll make his entire staff quit like his daddy did.. that way we can get even more ass clowns gone at once.

VeeshanVault

Best news in the last decade?

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