Bush administration ``deeply troubled'' by Israel's killing of Hamas leade

After initially hesitating, the Bush administration criticized Israel on Monday for killing Sheik Ahmed Yassin, a founder of the militant Palestinian group Hamas. "We are deeply troubled by this morning's incident in Gaza," the White House spokesman said.

The criticism appeared to reflect both concern for the already troubled U.S. peace effort in the Middle East and a judgment that the Bush administration should reassure European and Arab governments that its support for Israel is not limitless.

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Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., defending Israel, said, "Just as the United States is justified in seeking out and targeting al-Qaida leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Israeli government has a responsibility to do what it can to protect its citizens against these deadly terrorists."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/22/national1713EST0705.DTL

As expected, prominent Democrats will come to Israel's defense. Bush is waffling in his support. Wonderful news. A stronger backing of Israel will give the Democrats an electoral advantage.

:shrug:

Ummm...you're kidding, right? :eyes:

Even though he was not connected to any attacks on the U.S.

God, what hypocrites.

:toast:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x62031

peace

on NPR this morning I heard a British govt official criticizing Israel also, saying it had violated international law.

Now, excuse me, is this not the pot calling the kettle black when (after what we did in Iraq) the U.S. and Britain accuse Israel of violating international law for assassinating a man they felt to be a terrorist leader?

Well, Mr. Bush, what about preemptive strikes and not needing a permission slip to go to war, hmmmm?

I thought that the man who was assasinated was a spiritual leader? Israel needs to stop assasinating Muslims, period, end of subject.

eom

cost lives big time. I am sure Stump knew and okayed the murder. On PBS the question came up "Why wasn't he arrested and tried if he were guilty of something that could be proved?"

he would have been a "sympathetic figure" on the world stage for a longer time. This will probably be gone from the news in a couple of days. Furthermore, if he is in jail his Hamas friends could have made attempts to help him escape. Although Hamas can launch revenge attacks now they won't really accomplish anything.

sanctions on Israel for endangering American lives.

There's an exist thread, albeit a long one, in LBN on this story. Please continue the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x436761

Thanks! :hi: