Daniel J. Pipes

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The doubtful ultimatums of the American State Department

Reader comment on item: Signal to Syria: Straighten Up

Submitted by Ken Besig (Israel), May 13, 2003 at 13:25

Colin Powell is the most elastic man around and the perfect choice for running the US State Department. With help of experts and diplomats like James Burnes and Martin Indyk, individuals who, when dealing with brutal Arab dictators like Arafat, Assad, or Mubarak, can seem to see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. Colin Powell thus has continued the Albright/Christopher tradition of encouraging the radicalism, xenophobia, and anti Semitism rampant in the Arab world as well as the ignorance and poverty of the Arabs as a result of their failed governments.
Treating Arafat or Assad junior with kid gloves doesn't earn their respect or gratitude, it just further convinces them that you are stupid and weak. However this seems to be an entirely accurate assessment as regards Colin Powell. To me it is truly hard to believe that Colin Powell was once head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the American government.

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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