Jake, Elwood, and George Dubya
Bryan writes:
Read the last paragraph of this article. I sincerely hope this is a complete mischaracterization of what the President said or a total fabrication. If not, it's all beginning to make sense. Who needs to tell the truth or follow the Constitution when you're on a mission from God?The last paragraph of said article (from Ha'aretz, "`Road map is a life saver for us,' PM Abbas tells Hamas") reads as follows:
According to Abbas, immediately thereafter Bush said: "God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them."Well, two things: consider the context and consider the source. I can think of a perfectly plausible scenario where Bush might have actually said exacly what Abbas says he said -- without making Bush look like a religious fanatic. Allow me to illustrate:
Abbas: My hands are tied, Mr. President. I've tried talking to them, but I can't stop Hamas from carrying out these attacks. You have to understand, Mr. President, I can't reason with these people. They honestly believe Allah is talking to them, telling them to kill as many Jews and Israelis as possible. They think they're doing the work of God.
GW: Well, Mahmoud -- you don't mind if I call you Mahmoud, do you? -- let me tell you how I see it, because I really understand how hard it is to reason with people who talk to God. See, God told me to strike at al Qaida -- and I struck them. And then he instructed me to strike at Saddam -- which I did. And now, Mahmoud, I gotta tell you: I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. Way I see it, we can play it two ways. If you help me, I will act. And if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them. I hope you understand me on this issue, Mahmoud, because it's real important that I make my position clear.
Posted by Matt at June 28, 2003 1:32 AM
