Abracadabrah

I create as I speak

Clinton and the Art of the Lie

Clinton: I would be prepared to shake hands with Hamas

As the United States on Friday ordered its representatives in Israel and throughout the world to cut off all contact with any members of the PA, Ex-President Clinton gives Hamas some free political advice. To lie through their teeth, just like Arafat did.

Clinton, whose eight-year presidency ended in 2001, said he would be prepared to support dealing with the Islamist group if they agreed to negotiate and turn their backs on terrorism.

Asked if he would shake hands with Hamas in the name of negotiation as he did with Arafat in 1993, Clinton said: "If they made the same assurances that Arafat did.

"He had made private assurances, and he made public assurances, that he did not support terror any more and would try to restrain it.

"So if Hamas would say, suppose they say, OK, look, we can't change our theory, we can't change our document, we can't change our history, but we're in government now and the policy of the Palestinian government is no to terror and yes to negotiations. As long as we're in government, we'll honour that policy.

"If they did that, I would support dealing with them."

And that led to such an impressive outcome, when KGB trained Arafat lied through his teeth.

It's nice to know that, even as the world changes around him, it's business as usual for Bill Clinton. The only business that matters, his bank account, as he angles for big Arab bucks, and his ego, as he prepares to be stroked by everyone who thinks his approach is reasonable and brave. He's no doubt angling here to be considered a "wise" elder statesmen, whose policies succeeded in the past, so pressure will mount to send him to negotiate.

Well, no one could ever accuse Clinton of failing to know his constituency. And to playing up to them for all it was worth.

I guess - how odd! - Clinton has forgotten this moment of truth:

Clinton, too, did an about face on Arafat at the conclusion of his presidency. In his last conversation with Clinton, three days before his term ended, the PA Chairman told Clinton that he was "a great man."

"The hell I am," Clinton said he responded. "I'm a colossal failure, and you made me one."

[Hat Tip: Jihad Watch]

posted by Alcibiades @ 11:22 AM