Monday 6 May 2002

U.S. Pulling Out of Tribunal Treaty. The United States plans to tell the United Nations it is renouncing formal involvement in a treaty creating the first permanent war crimes tribunal, Secretary of State Colin Powell says. [AP World News] I know this was flagged at the time the treaty came into effect, but a public statement of this nature only serves to reinforce the international view of the US as being isolationist and fundamentally opposed to participation in international agreements. The list of withdrawals and refusals to participate since Dubyoo came into office gets longer and longer, and must make other governments wary of US credibility in any negotiations it may become involved in. Trust is being fatally eroded, I fear. 1:22:02 PM  Your view

Arab Nations Cool to U.S. Idea of Mideast Peace Conference. The still vague proposal from Washington for a Middle East peace conference has elicited only tepid enthusiasm from Arab governments. By Neil Macfarquhar. [New York Times: International] Bush Team Readies For Sharon Visit. The United States is committed to a Palestinian state with Yasser Arafat as its likely leader, President Bush's foreign policy advisers said Sunday, heading off opposition expected from Israel's prime minister at his White House meeting this week. [AP World News] Israel Presents Arafat-Terror Link. Israel on Sunday presented documents it says prove Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was personally involved in terrorism. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is taking them with him to Washington to show President Bush. [AP World News] (a) Perhaps one of the reasons for Arab coolness to the proposed international peace conference is the talk of going ahead without involvement by Yasser Arafat. (b) Let's hope this report of Bush commitment to Arafat as leader of a Palestinian state is accurate. (c) I am deeply suspicious of this '100-page document' and its supposed proof of personal involvement by Arafat in terror attacks. The way Isreal climbed on the bandwagon of 'being opposed to international terrorism' is too cynical for words, while this attempt to produce justification after the event beggars belief. Repeat after me: Ariel Sharon is the bed guy here, not Arafat. 1:06:19 PM  Your view

		© Copyright 2002 Jim MacCormaic . Last update: 29/09/2002; 06:02:52 am .