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Bush Urges Crackdown on Palestinian Militants

(Washington Post) - President Bush Wednesday called for an aggressive crackdown on Palestinian militant groups, saying the dismantlement of those groups is "probably the most important condition for peace to prevail." Bush's remarks suggested the administration will not publicly try to dissuade Israel from targeting groups or individuals responsible for a recent wave of suicide bombings. The job of the newly appointed Palestinian prime minister "is to consolidate power within his administration, to get the security forces under control - all security forces - and then to unleash those security forces against killers," Bush said. Administration officials are deeply frustrated by Arafat's ability to thwart gains in the U.S.-sanctioned peace process, even after the administration has cut off contact with Arafat and attempted to marginalize him. But they have also privately warned Israeli officials not to act on the growing sentiment in Israel to exile Arafat, believing that would unleash anger across the Arab world that would complicate U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq.
2003-09-11 00:00:00
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