Posted: 4/11/2002 12:48:40 PM EDT
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After interceding in a food fight in the Knesset dining room between Arab Members, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was asked whether he supported the Prime Minister's ministrations. "Listen," he said, wiping some hummus from his brow, "I'm an old soldier, and recognize peaceful people better than most. Despite what you see on the television, the Afghanis are a peaceful people. So are the more moderate elements of the Taliban. After all, 'Islam' means 'peace'. America's sending troops thousands of miles simply to humiliate and inflict misery on these peaceful people is a reckless military endeavor and, more important, does nothing to further the cause of peace. Indeed, it is more likely to provoke the militants. Prime Minister Sharon is correct - if America does not withdraw immediately, the cycle of violence will continue to spiral out of control."
The Taliban remnant in Afghanistan seems to be paying attention to Sharon. There has not been a single shot fired against American troops - who continued their assault on suspected Taliban positions - in the twelve hours since the Prime Minister's directive.
But there is far from unanimity on Sharon's position within Israel. Prime Minister-wannabe Benjamin Netanyahu issued a counter-statement that Israel should continue to give America the green light to rout terrorism "by whatever means necessary." The reactionary hard-line right-wing former PM warned that "terror is an evil that knows not negotiation" and urged "my good friend, President Bush, to stay the course."
Reached at his ranch in the Negev, Prime Minister Sharon was asked today whether he stands by his remarks of the previous night. "The situation speaks for itself. Aside from the incidents on September 11, there has been no terrorist activity in the U.S. And yet America seems intent on stirring up the pot in a very dangerous part of the world. Not only are innocent lives being lost because of America's actions, but what if Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Kuwait, or Berkeley, California get involved - it's a powder keg."
When challenged by what authority he would presume to order the U.S. to do anything, Sharon said that he answers to "a higher authority."
God?
"Well, Him, too, but I was referring to the Arab 'street', and, boy, are they meshugge!"
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- Forwarded by a GOP News & Views reader. Original author unknown. [NOTE: For you Palm Beach Democrats on the list, this is called "satire". It didn't really happen.]
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