The aftermath after

Submitted by Roberta H. Simon (United States), Dec 26, 2004 at 20:39

It's unbelievable how the media are so short-sighted, have short memories, and are so revisionist in their concepts of history. In the Seventies and early Eighties Arafat was the "terrorist," the "militant", the "hard-liner," the "aggressor," etc. How quickly, with the aid of public relation firms in NY and Boston (and I'm certain elsewhere), he suddenly became the "leader", the "diplomat", the "David", to Israel's "Goliath." So few reporters chose to speak or write about the truths they must have seen.

While he was alive most in the media and, indeed most of the world's leaders kept putting him on a pedestal, saying that he was the true duly elected leader of these nomads, and THE one to deal with in order to achieve peace with Israel. They totally ignored his role in all the terrorist activities, and continued to send him billions of dollars in "aid'. Most of this money went into private Arafat coffers, Swiss bank accounts, and villas for the "palestinian" elite. Almost nothing went to the average citizen to help them help themselves, thereby moving them out of the miasma created and exacerbated by their leaders. And, after all, all the problems weren't Arafat's fault, so let's keep sending him money.

So now we acknowledge that this aid did not get used for those for which it was intended, and NOW that he is dead (thank G-d), Arafat can be blamed for all the ills, problems, money grabbing, etc. SO, now it's OK to give more money! With convoluted thinking like this, is it no wonder the world is in such a sorry state? When will we ever learn?!

Keep up the good work!

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