Bush arrives in Israel 'optimistic' about peace

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: MSNBC

TEL AVIV, Israel - President Bush, seeking to pull Israel and the Palestinians toward serious negotiations, said Wednesday he has high hopes that a Mideast peace pact can be achieved before he leaves office next year, despite ongoing land squabbles and continuing violence.

"I come as an optimistic person and a realistic person — realistic in my understanding that it's vital for the world to fight terrorists, to confront those who would murder the innocent to achieve political objectives," Bush said as he began his first presidential visit to Israel.

His first formal meeting was with Israeli President Shimon Peres, who said the peace conference Bush hosted late last year in Annapolis, Maryland, gave all parties in the difficult Mideast peace process one year to make progress. "Time is so precious," Peres said.

With Bush's days in office nearing their end, Peres said all sides must take this chance "extremely seriously."

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22561444/

[Magleetis]

1. * talking peace

The irony is almost too much to take.

[Old_Growth]

2. Must be a typo....

Optimistic about war is what it should read.

[Solly Mack]

3. "to confront those who would murder the innocent to achieve political objectives"

Quick!Hand that man a mirror!

[flasoapbox]

4. Bush has a great record making peace!!

This trip is bound to be a success!

[olddad56]

10. He has a good record of making pieces out of something whole.

[Scurrilous]

5. Bush gets GPS from Olmert

Two leaders trade gifts, discuss Palestinians and Iran at PM's Jerusalem residence

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3492403,00.html

<snip>

"US President George W. Bush met with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Wednesday and stressed his commitment to the two-state solution.

Without the full implementation of the Road Map, added the US president, there can be no peace.

After an official reception at the presidential residence, Bush headed to Olmert's Jerusalem home. Olmert and Bush quickly turned into the PM's study, where Bush presented Olmert with an orange football stamped with the US flag, a sports bag carrying the presidential seal and cufflinks.

Olmert, on his part, presented Bush with the Israeli cycling team's uniform – a tribute to the US president's hobby. The uniform's caption read "George W. 43" – indicating the president's name and his being the 43rd president of the United States.

Olmert further presented Bush with a bicycle's GPS (Global Positioning System) device fitted with special software mapping out cycling routes on the president's Texas ranch."

[Drum]

6. Ugh

:puke:

[dmosh42]

8. Two states with solution-Israel and US! Yeah! n/t

[DogPoundPup]

7. Peace Conference, Bush visit. to Israel...all a shameful,shameful sham

Israel hiding settlement facts to protect image

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz said the Israeli Defence Ministry, which rules the Arab territories seized by Israel in 1967, is resisting a petition from two Israeli rights groups for the publication of an official report showing the extent of settlement is greater than Israel has previously admitted.

The International Court of Justice and many other countries regard all Jewish settlement in the occupied territories as illegal, citing provisions in the Geneva Conventions which forbid the forced transfer of populations into lands seized in war.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/israel-hiding-settlement-facts-to-protect-image/2008/01/08/1199554655218.html

[Gonnuts]

9. Talking peace ...

... as he and Peres plan an attack on Iran ...

[rodeodance]

11. Bush: Historic chance for Mideast peace--[gotta have the Vision thing]

Source: ap

Bush: Historic chance for Mideast peace

5 minutes ago

JERUSALEM - ...........

"Both sides, I believe, are very seriously trying to move forward in order to realize the vision" of two states living side by side in peace, Olmert said.
.............
"I also believe that the process may be slow, but the progress can be sweet," he said.
....

"You know, its politics can be rough sometimes just like the politics of America can be rough," Bush said. "But nevertheless, we share a common vision of peace."

............

"I come with high hopes," Bush said. "And the role of the United States will be to foster a vision of peace. The role of the Israeli leadership and the Palestinian leadership is going to do the hard work necessary to define a vision."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bush_mideast;_ylt=AiwQ4hp51K9g7lGuDJz5EX.bOrgF

[rodeodance]

12. White House warns Iran over naval incident ("they are fishing in troubled waters here")

Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject White House warns Iran over naval incident ("they are fishing in troubled waters here")
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3130962#3130962
3130962, White House warns Iran over naval incident ("they are fishing in troubled waters here")
Posted by sabra on Wed Jan-09-08 10:11 AM

Source: AFP

JERUSALEM (AFP) — The White House warned Iran on Wednesday over a weekend confrontation between Iranian speedboats and US warships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"I think the point that that shows is this was a very provocative act by the Iranians, and it could have -- and came very close to -- resulting in an altercation between our forces and their forces," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters.

"And it's a warning to them: They've got to be very careful about this, because if it happens again, they are going to bear the consequences of that incident," he said.

"And we think the Iranians need to be on notice that they are fishing in troubled waters here.

"This is not -- this is a provocative act, not a smart thing to do, and they're going to have to take responsibility for the consequences if they do it again."

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPVCHHWQ0OyNapm9krwcJ5sUo9_g

[Demeter]

13. Seeing a (1) He Doesn't mean it & (2) He blew it years ago

this kind of posturing is a self-parody that the comics will have no chance to mock.

So kind of our Resident, to free-lance for the striking writers!

[BadgerKid]

14. Mmmm...sweeeeet. As in sweet crude? n/t

[cboy4]

15. I watched the news conference and boy oh boy was Olmert

giving * a verbal BJ.

It was practically unbearable to listen.