Then we ask them to eliminate corruption. If they can manage to do this, and to bottle the formula, they can get in exchange for it from the Russians, Lenin's tomb, and from the Chinese, the Forbidden City. Meanwhile, the Palestinians are to get new leaders, new institutions and new security arrangements with their neighbors. (Are they to have new security arrangements with Egypt, Jordan and Syria?)
All this, it is hoped, can be accomplished in three years; whereupon the Palestine state will be born. By recent historical standards, that is a moderately fast schedule. We occupied Japan and Germany not for three years, but for 10, generating and refurbishing democratic institutions. And we had overlords in place, superintending the process, men of the character of Douglas McArthur and John McCloy. Do we propose to send someone to Ramallah to take the place of Arafat? Who? George Tenet?
What is it expected that the United States will do if Arafat is deposed tomorrow, and terrorism nevertheless goes on? The spiritual leader of the Hamas movement has been confined to his quarters by the government of Arafat, suggesting that Arafat is genuinely opposed to continuing suicide raids. But can he end them?
For all that it is our objective, strategic and emotional, to deny the stated objectives of the terrorists, it is precisely they who have moved us to new and strenuous diplomacy and to the language of ultimatums. Mr. Bush managed to say to the Palestinians on Monday that the thing they most specifically desire, which is statehood, they will specifically not achieve until there is a cultural revolution in the land.
What will come of President Bush's initiative? Probably more terrorism.