75 Comments

1. Charlie (Colorado):

Typekey is working.

Arafat is dead.

I’d happy dance if I didn’t have a terrible cold.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:02 am 2. chris_m:

Remember, he is not truly dead as long we remember him in our hearts.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:15 am 3. Barrett:

Do the leaders such as Chirac and the press acutally believe this stuff or are they hoping that by doing so their own corruption and the unholy ideological alliances with the MSM will give them a pass when their time arrives?

Roger, you are right. Arafat was a terrorist, a thug, a very good thief ($2 billion in the bank?) and a dictator. The continued victimzation of the Palestinian people was his means to wealth and power. He must have hated his “people”.

The wife has been paid off in the body for money scandal.

The Palestinian people must be stupid, ignorant or brainwashed (or all of the above) to have put up with this. And they send their kids to blow themselves up to gain their freedom? Only a very twisted person could respect such action.

The question is can anything good come out of the Palestinian rubble?

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:18 am 4. TmjUtah:

The passing of Yassir Arafat incites many emotions, but what I feel the need to do right this minute is clean out the litter box.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:24 am 5. Kyda Sylvester:

How much would I love it if Bush would issue a statement that goes something like this: The US will not send a representative to Arafat’s funeral. We will not dignify this terrorist’s life by honoring him in death. Instead we will honor the Israeli Olympic athletes, Leon Klinghoffer and the many others who have died directly or indirectly by Yasser Arafat’s hand. May he rest in hell.

Oh well, it’s only a dream. Perhaps instead of attending the funeral we could send a nice pigskin shroud.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:25 am 6. Peter Boston:

In a sane world Arafat would have been hanging from the end of rope decades ago. Anybody from the MSM that waxes over the departure of this scum bag should be put on your idiot shit list and forever banished from view.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:26 am 7. Bob:

Apropos Arafat’s death, take a look at this email I got this morning:

DEAR SIR:

URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL.

MY NAME IS HEINRICH ZUECHER. I AM THE CHIEF OF INTERNAL OPERATIONS OF THE ZENTRALKOMMERZBANK (ìZKBî) IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND. THE ZKBíS SOLICITORS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE PROVIDED ME YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I CONTACT YOU IMMEDIATELY REGARDING AN URGENT MATTER OF FINANCIAL IMPORTANCE.

A CLIENT OF THE ZKB, WHOSE IDENTITY I AM NOT AT LIBERTY TO REVEAL BUT WHO WAS, YOU MAY BE ASSURED, A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE MIDDLE EAST, OPENED AT OUR BANK A CONFIDENTIAL ACCOUNT THAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING ACCESSED ONLY BY MEANS OF A NUMBER KNOWN TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER. THIS IS THE TYPE OF ACCOUNT SOMETIMES DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS AS A ìSECRET NUMBERED SWISS BANK ACCOUNT.î OVER THE LAST TWELVE YEARS THE CLIENT MADE A SERIES OF DEPOSITS INTO THIS ACCOUNT TOTALING RATHER IN EXCESS OF US$ 24 MILLIARD ($24,000,000,000), MUCH OF WHICH IS IN UNITED STATES, BRITISH, AND FRENCH CURRENCIES AND ALSO IN BEARER DEBENTURES ISSUED BY EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

NOW THE CLIENT HAS RECENTLY DIED, WITH THE SITUATION THAT NO ONE OF HIS ACQUAINTANCES, INCLUDING HIS COLLEAGUES OR EVEN HIS WIFE, KNOWS THE SECRET NUMBER WHICH PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNT IN QUESTION. NOR IS THAT NUMBER KNOWN TO ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ZKB. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS LEADS TO MUCH DISTRESS, AS ABSENT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER NO-ONE WILL BE ABLE TO RECOVER THE FUNDS THEREIN. THUS NOT EVEN THE PERSON WHO SUCCEEDS TO THE HIGH POSITION THE CLIENT HELD IN HIS ORGANISATION WILL BE ABLE TO LAY HANDS ON THE VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THE ACCOUNT, FUNDS WHICH, IF ACCESSIBLE, WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO PERSONS AND ORGANISATIONS IN MANY AREAS ALONG THE WESTERN SHORES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

NEVERTHELESS, CERTAIN ENQUIRIES BY OUR SOLICITORS HAVE REVEALED THAT THE ACCOUNT NUMBER, P.I.N. NUMBER, OR OTHER IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTIC OF AN ACCOUNT HELD BY YOU, OR CERTAIN OF THE DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, PRECISELY MATCH THE ACCESS NUMBER OF OUR CLIENTíS ACCOUNT. THE ZKB, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CLIENTíS WIFE AND CERTAIN OF HIS TRUSTED COLLEAGUES, THEREFORE REQUESTS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GAINING ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNT. WE PROPOSE THAT AS CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER, YOU WILL RECEIVE A NET 10% (TEN PERCENT) OF THE CONTENTS OF THE ACCOUNT, IN THE TOTAL SUM OF JUST OVER US$ 2.4 MILLIARD ($2,400,000,000). YOUR COMMISSION WILL, AT YOUR REQUEST, BE DEPOSITED BY WIRE TRANSFER INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BANK ACCOUNT OF YOUR DESIGNATION.

THE ZKB WILL, OF COURSE, BE PLEASED TO ASSIST YOU IN THIS MATTER, BUT IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THE PROCESS WE WILL NEED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCOUNT INTO WHICH YOU WISH YOUR COMMISSION TO BE TRANSFERRED. PLEASE E-MAIL THE ACCOUNT NUMBER TO ME, AT THIS ADDRESS, IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE; I WILL THEN CONTACT YOU BY RETURN E-MAIL TO OBTAIN THE FURTHER INFORMATION THAT THE ZKB WILL NEED TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE FUNDS IN THE CLIENTíS ACCOUNT. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT TIME IS OF THE STRICTEST ESSENCE, AS UNDER SWISS BANKING LAW IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE GAIN ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNT WTHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER THE ACCOUNT-HOLDER’S DEATH.

THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER, I REMAIN

YOURS VERY TRULY,

HEINRICH L. ZUECHER

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:45 am 8. scaramouoche:

Arafat did want a Palestinian state. It was called Israel.

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:59 am 9. David Thomson:

“MY NAME IS HEINRICH ZUECHER. I AM THE CHIEF OF INTERNAL OPERATIONS OF THE ZENTRALKOMMERZBANK (ìZKBî) IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND.”

Too late! You waited too long. I also received the same letter. They already have my account information—and I will soon own a home in Alcapulco.

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:19 am 10. juiceejayne:

Lets bury the mofo upside down so the world can shove things up his ass… after all, thats what he was into when alive.

A great movie for you all to watch and pass on- appropriately entitled ‘Arafats Dark Legacy’

http://www.honestreporting.com/m/legacy.asp

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:24 am 11. Fausta:

Don’t miss out how CNN’s at the hipocrisy game, with their coverage http://www.spectator.se/stambord/index.php?p=325

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:26 am 12. thedragonflies:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Palestinian terrorism died with Arafat? Isn’t it wonderful that Arafat died a total failure? His last intifada failed and the Palestinians actually seem to be wondering about the wisdom of intifada.

I agree with Kyda, I would love it if Bush sent nobody to Arafat’s funeral.

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:48 am 13. thedragonflies:

On second thought, if Bush sent no one, Jimmy Carter would go and do the eulogy, blaming Bush for all of Arafat’s killings.

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:50 am 14. Richard Nieporent:

Bob,

Unfortunately, this one is real with respect to the money deposited in Swiss bank accounts by Arafat. Of course, good luck in getting your 10% fee.

Nov 11, 2004 - 9:59 am 15. Matt Evans:

I read somewhere today that Suha agreed to some kind of extragavant stipend on a yearly basis. Does anyone else think she is not long for this world? Its not like the PLO are folks who would balk at saving themselves millions by putting a bullet in Miss Piggy.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:13 am 16. Keith_Indy:

So what was the conclusion of CSI: New York??

I was ENRAGED, that they would break into the last 5 minutes of a program to have “BREAKING NEWS”

They couldn’t have waited those 5 minutes and let the story lead at the top of the hour?

Anyway, an evil man is dead. That some still choose to praise the man is telling. The father of modern terrorism is revered, while the liberator of 25 million is reviled.

What does that tell you about the state of the world. I’d rather be castigated as wrong then praised as right by these folks.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:13 am 17. Hermie:

Jimmy Carter rewarded terrorism by giving Arafat political legitimacy.

That ‘legacy’ has resulted in more terrorism and more suffering by Palestinians; as Arafat became the only ‘legitimate leader’, and no dissention was allowed.

Carter’s foolishness was compounded by Clinton, who tried to save the Carter ‘legacy’ by turning Arafat into a ’statesman’, without getting one real concession from the king of terrorists.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:16 am 18. Matt Evans:

Somewhat off topic but apparently, Michael Moore continues to assert that we were simply unuinformed about the president. Also, he suggests maybe Tom Hanks (?) should run for president. \

There’s links to all this on Drudge.

Can no one rid me of this miserable (cough) “filmmaker” ?

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:18 am 19. juiceejayne:

Matt-

You are correct.. The PLO dont exactly have ‘much love for the hoe’ especially after she accused them of burying arafat alive- as if we would ever get that lucky?!

Meanwhile, looking at Suha I can see why he passed her around to Barghouti- if I was arafat I would also rather fool around with my bodyguards than do anything with her.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:21 am 20. Barrett:

Bob and David,

This sounds like identity theft or robbery of some kind. YOU are the intended victims.

I hope you didn’t give out personal information. There are more scoundrels out there than you would like to imagine.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:46 am 21. nikita:

been waiting to post this…(and go see that dead fish graphic over at LGF!!)

The Arafat I Knew

He hasn’t changed since his days as a KGB-backed terrorist.

BY ION MIHAI PACEPA, the highest ranking intelligence officer ever to have defected from the former Soviet bloc.

The KGB’s Man

By ION MIHAI PACEPA

September 22, 2003

And one more thing. It is clear Arafat died of AIDS. The MSM will of course not even raise the possibility, b/c they know it would do wonders to discredit him in the gay-hating Arab/Muslim world.

AP actually went out on a limb to say this:

“Zoning in on a diagnosis for Arafat should be a fairly straightforward task, medical experts say. Tests can diagnose the majority of diseases within 48 hours. Since no diagnosis has been revealed, the most likely explanation, experts say, is that doctors know what’s wrong but aren’t being allowed to disclose it. ”

But of course no mention of the A-word in a laundry list of possible ailments.

So let me contribute this:

1978 conversation between Constantin Munteaunu, a general assigned to teach Arafat and the PLO techniques to deceive the West into granting the organization recognition, and Lt.-Gen. Ion Pacepa, the deputy chief of Romania’s intelligence service under Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, recounted in “Red Horizons,” Pacepa’s memoirs, published in 1987:

“I just called the microphone monitoring center to ask about the ‘Fedayee,’” Arafat’s code name, explained Munteaunu. “After the meeting with the Comrade, he went directly to the guest house and had dinner. At this very moment, the ‘Fedayee’ is in his bedroom making love to his bodyguard. The one I knew was his latest lover. He’s playing tiger again. The officer monitoring his microphones connected me live with the bedroom, and the squawling almost broke my eardrums. Arafat was roaring like a tiger, and his lover yelping like a hyena.”

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:53 am 22. Jim:

Roger: Anyone who says anything good posthumously about this man is morally deranged.

There is a sickness in Carter and Chirac. These emperors have no moral principles. Will they go to pay their respects at OBL’s funeral? After all he had certain aspirations against The Man, too.

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:55 am 23. PeterUK:

Nikita,

Thank you for that,I was just contemplating what to have for my tea,you have assisted my diet enormously.The vision of Arafat in rut is more efficient that the Atkins diet.

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:07 am 24. Charlie (Colorado):

I hope you didn’t give out personal information. There are more scoundrels out there than you would like to imagine.

We’ve really got to work on that typographical convention for sarcasm.

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:10 am 25. Kevin P:

Roger;

It is cold comfort but at least the families of Arafat’s victims will never have to see that demonic troll lie to the world again. The LA Times devoted two and half pages to his life and spent a grand total of two small paragraphs to his terrorist activities. In those two paragraphs they have the nerve to repeat the propaganda that maybe he did not controll the more outrageous murders his Fatah and PlO forces unleashed upon the world. The whitewashing of this horrid man’s life would make Pravda proud and Orwell vomit. We learn from the Times about his charisma, his dedication to his cause and the love his people have for him. There is more criticism of Israel in this story then there is of this murderer. These writers are so committed to the illusion of Arafats’ desire for peace that they have decided to ignore the true history of this evil, evil, man.

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:13 am 26. Barrett:

Charlie,

I know but you would be surprised. If I offended anyone, I apologize for my caution.

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:14 am 27. Kevin P:

Roger:

John Edwards has a lot of time on his hands, I bet you he could get you a million or two from Typekey for your pain and suffering.

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:15 am 28. Keith_Indy:

And now for an important update:

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=2552931

CBS NEWS interrupted the final minutes of Wednesday night’s episode of CSI: NEW YORK in order to air a special report about the death of Yasser Arafat. CBS has apologized and says it will rebroadcast the episode, in its entirety FRIDAY at 9PM CENTRAL TIME.

“An overly aggressive CBS News producer jumped the gun with a report that should have been offered to local stations for their late news. We sincerely regret the error. The episode of CSI: NEW YORK will be rebroadcast Friday, Nov. 12.”

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:38 am 29. Lefty:

Separated at birth: a Young Arafat and Sal Mineo.

Young Photo of Arafat:

http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/reports/Yassir_Arafat3_1929-2004.asp

Nov 11, 2004 - 11:52 am 30. Lola:

Lefty, thanks for this link. This website looks like a good one and I’ll certainly bookmark it.

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:05 pm 31. scaramouoche:

The Christian Science Monitor calls Arafat “the man who forged Palestinian identity”.

I must say “forged” is an appropriate word for a man whose other criminal activities were said to include extortion, robbery, bribery and murder.

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:10 pm 32. Terrye:

It is just amazing that the press and the left find it so easy to call Bush Hitler, but can not bring themselves to call Arafat a terrorist when we all know he was one.

Matt, I refuse to read those stories on Drudge that deal with the inability of the Democrats to face reality. I like Tom Hanks as an actor but I pity him if he runs against Rudy G. I think this is just more of Moore being stupid. I know it is difficult for the tub of lard to understand that the rest of us do not say how high when he says jump but I think he is about to turn into a fat Nader.

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:35 pm 33. maria horvath:

OZYMANDIAS

I met a traveller from an antique land

Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown

And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words appear:

`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:36 pm 34. Kyda Sylvester:

It’s rumored that Jimmy Carter has been tapped to represent us at the funeral. Actually it’s an inspired choice if true. Works on a number of levels.

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:36 pm 35. Mark Poling:

Want to see something to curl your hair?

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s coffin, draped with the Palestinian flag, carried by a French military honour guard

If Carter attends the funeral, I hope it’s strictly as a private citizen. I’d prefer the United States government to continue the policy of ignoring The Toad.

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:49 pm 36. Keith_Indy:

Doesn’t look like they know who to send…

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_5.html

WASHINGTON ñ The United States has decided to send a mid-level representative to the funeral of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Officials said President George Bush has agreed to U.S. representation at Arafat’s funeral. They said the State Department was granted authority to decide who would be sent to the funeral, expected to take place in Cairo on Nov. 12.

“There will probably be a mid-level representative at Arafat’s funeral,” a State Department official said. “The official could be Assistant Secretary of State William Burns.”

Since 2001, Burns has been responsible for the State Department’s policy on the Middle East. He has not met Arafat during most of Bush’s first term in office, Middle East Newsline reported.

U.S. government analysts have regarded Arafat as the main financier of the Palestinian insurgency against Israel, which led to the killing of at least a dozen Americans, including U.S. embassy personnel. But over the last decade Arafat has not been cited as a terrorist or terrorist financier by the United States.

“The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinian history,” a White House statement said. “For the Palestinian people, we hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors.”

Officials said National Security Council analysts recommended that Bush limit U.S. representation at Arafat’s funeral to the level of ambassador. On the other hand, the State Department was said to have urged Secretary of State Colin Powell to consider accepting an invitation to the funeral.

Powell was urged by PA International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath to attend Arafat’s funeral, officials said. They quoted Powell as replying that the issue would be examined.

Officials said Arafat’s death could spark renewed attacks against U.S. interests in the Middle East. On Thursday, the State Department issued an advisory for U.S. nationals in the Middle East to take precautions.

So far, the State Department has not said who would represent the United States at Arafat’s funeral. But department spokesman Richard Boucher did not deny that a U.S. envoy would attend.

“I don’t think we know exactly what arrangements will be made and therefore, we can’t decide who might represent the United States,” Boucher said on Wednesday before the announcement of Arafat’s death. “But I’m certain that we’ll express ourselves appropriately at the time.”

Nov 11, 2004 - 12:55 pm 37. Patrick Tyson:

Assistant Secretary of State William Burns will represent the United States.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:03 pm 38. Mark Poling:

“On the other hand, the State Department was said to have urged Secretary of State Colin Powell to consider accepting an invitation to the funeral.”

The State Department: When Good Bureaucrats Go Bad

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:09 pm 39. John Lynch:

LeMonde has a bit on our elections that helps illustrate how out of sync we are with their reality.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:16 pm 40. Vexorg:

Not surprisingly, Kofi Annan has ordered UN flags flown at half-staff.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:21 pm 41. Matt Evans:

I’m a bit baffled by this. Why would we send a representative to the funeral of a terrorist ? Would we have sent a US representative to the funeral of Sadaam Hussein? How bout the funeral of Ghadaffi ? Or Kim Jong Il ? How is Arafat any different then those persons ?

*Not surprisingly, Kofi Annan has ordered UN flags flown at half-staff*

Vex, its my understanding Kofi also ordered this when Bush was re-elected.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:37 pm 42. Charlie (Colorado):

Can no one rid me of this miserable (cough)….

Yeah, exactly.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:44 pm 43. Roberts:

I won’t object to a mid-level State dept official going to the funeral on one condition.

He poke the corpse with a stick at least once to make sure he’s dead.

Nov 11, 2004 - 1:55 pm 44. Bruce W.:

This may have been identified earlier in this or another thread…but if you want to read at least one U.S. news article that “tells it like it is [was]” regarding the deceased Islanimal-in-Chief, cut and paste the following into your browser (or go to DrudgeReport and click on “The Monster” in the right column).

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/11/11/arafat_the_monster/

It’s an article by Jeff Jacoby that is spot on.

P.S. Maria H. thanks for Ozy; took me back to High School for a moment.

Nov 11, 2004 - 2:06 pm 45. Kevin P:

Roger:

As much as sending anyone to Arafat’s funeral disgusts me we have to send someone. Not out of respect to the murderous dwarf but to signal to the PA that if they drop Arafat’s methods we might be able to deal with them. I doubt that they will but there is an outside chance. Sending a mid-level functionary sends the message that we hold this pig in little respect but that we are not closed to PA reps that choose to act like human beings and not like their animalistic former chief. Do not send Carter!! That ego-maniac will use the platform to bash Bush and to feed at the trough of European disdain for the US to burnish his undeserved reputation. All he will do is fool the PA into thinking that Carters anti-Israel thinking still counts for something in this country. He is addicted to attention so he will probably show up anyway but lets not spend a penny of government money or prestige to send him there.

Nov 11, 2004 - 2:42 pm 46. Matt Evans:

Mark my words, Carter will go on his own.

Nov 11, 2004 - 2:47 pm 47. ajf:

There is a special place in Hell reserved for Carter. I hope he moves in soon.

Nov 11, 2004 - 3:25 pm 48. kynna:

I was wondering about who we would send today. Nobody’s going to want to go. Maybe, since he’ll be there anyway, we could ask Carter to be the US rep.

Then don’t let him back in the country.

Nov 11, 2004 - 3:26 pm 49. BeckyJ:

I hear that Carter wants to go anyway. Maybe he’ll stay!

I had an interesting discussion (read: ballistic blow-up) in my intro foreign gov’t class today. One of my students is an Iraqi immigrant. While she has just become a citizen (6 months ago) and truly loves being able to voice her opinion without fear, she still holds many of the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic views that she picked up while growing up. Our discussion today centered (originally) on leaders, leadership, and executives & legislatures. I brought up Arafat since he’s considered a leader of the PA. My Iraqi student voiced the opinion that Israel has no right to exist and added that she thinks there will come a time when it doesn’t exist. As you can imagine the discussion went downhill from there.

This student is interesting, because while she readily admits that Arafat was/is a corrupt, vile thug and she wishes him to hell, the UN is a corrupt organization, she also views Irael and Jews as the source of most of the problems with US foreign policy and most of the strife in the world. Even on less emotional issues, discussions in this class get interesting!

While I get tired of listening to my colleagues try to justify evil creatures like Arafat, my students, even in their sometimes rote reponses, provide endless fascination and, of course, wonderful teaching moments. I don’t think any minds were changed today, but I do think that everybody was thinking hard (I don’t allow ad hominem attacks so arguments had to be logical and fact-based) which is always a good thing.

With all that excitement…time for a beer!

Nov 11, 2004 - 3:51 pm 50. scaramouoche:

Maria Horvath–I am very fond of that poem, and have been able to recite it by heart since Grade Eight. However, I think the tyrant it describes is far too pumped up and grandiose to fit Arafat. Ozymadias is more of a Saddam Hussein, opening his veins so a Koran could be written in his blood or building colossal eponymous mosques. Yasser Arafat was more of a small-time tinpot dictator whose grandest–and most telling–gesture was speaking in front of the UN General Assembly with a holstered gun. He presided over a crumbling “kingdom” that fell even before it could muster the will to rise.

The symbol of Arafat’s personal “stature” is not “two vast and trunkless legs of stone”, but the crumbling bunker–the Muqata’a–where he spent the final years of his life, and where, fittingly, he will be permanently entombed.

Nov 11, 2004 - 4:03 pm 51. Jamie Irons:

Bruce W. quoted Jeff Jacoby’s Arafat the Monster, in which Jacoby opines:

In a better world, George Bush would not have said, on hearing the first reports that Arafat had died, “God bless his soul.”

Did Bush really say of Arafat, “God bless his soul”?

Unless this was just an unthinking reflex borne of the general principle De mortuis nihil nisi bonum, it is the most idiotic thing Bush has ever said.

Jamie Irons

Nov 11, 2004 - 4:17 pm 52. Terrye:

Jamie:

I saw the press conference with Bush you spoke about. It was a few days ago when the first reports of Arafat’s death were being bandied about and I can not remember Bush’s exact words, but I took it to mean something like God have mercy on his soul. The obvious reference was to Arafat’s ultimate fate as he meets a judge far more critical than world opinion. It did not seem idiotic at the time.

Nov 11, 2004 - 4:40 pm 53. David Thomson:

ìDid Bush really say of Arafat, “God bless his soul”?

Unless this was just an unthinking reflex borne of the general principle De mortuis nihil nisi bonum, it is the most idiotic thing Bush has ever said.î

Nothing could be further from the truth. Christian theology emphasizes Godís forgiveness. Asking God to bless somebodyís soul is merely the minimum one says after someone dies—regardless of how evil they were during their lifetime. I am a theological modernist and do not consider Jesus as my personal savior. Still, I do remember the lessons of my Roman Catholic catechism classes.

Nov 11, 2004 - 4:45 pm 54. Jamie Irons:

Terrye

Thanks for your clarification.

I will withdraw the modifier “idiotic” from my statement; maybe I should replace it with “unnecessary,” or, to sound more learned, “jejune” or “vapid.”

Let G_d judge Arafat.

But I must say I am puzzled by Bush’s even mentioning Arafat. He had done so well by just ignoring him, and had thereby set such a good example for the less resolute and less admirable world leaders who inhabit such backward states as, oh, I don’t know…say, France.

I have thought that continuing to ignore Arafat even, or perhaps especially, in death, might be the best policy.

Jamie Irons

Nov 11, 2004 - 5:03 pm 55. Dylan:

Maybe it’s an evangelical reflex. Jesus said that we are to bless our enemies — thereby heaping burning coals upon them.

God bless his soul. How is that a personal commendation of Arafat? I think it’s telling that Bush has to resort to asking God to bless Arafat, because there is no way that Bush could find anything to merit a blessing.

In a better world, what Bush said would not be taken as pandering or triteness, but as an act of humble grace. I wish I could be that full of grace to those that annoy me, let alone those that are a thorn in my side.

Nov 11, 2004 - 5:19 pm 56. skeeziks:

Bush was giving his first press conference after the election (I believe it was Nov. 4 and Bill Sammons asked him to respond to the news that was being reported that Arafat was dead. Bush said, to the best of my recollection, “My response is God rest his soul.” He did not bring Arafat up of his own accord.

Nov 11, 2004 - 5:36 pm 57. Kevin P:

Jamie:

President Bush was asked directly about Arafat’s death. I saw how he said “God Bless his soul” and I guarantee you that it was not said to somehow give blessing to Arafats life. It was said in fear and in anticipation of the awful fate that awaits Mr. Arafat when he meets his maker. To those of you who do not share president Bush’s religous faith I can tell you that he believes that Arafat is know suffering the torments of hell and most Christians believe that they too could end up sharing the same fate if not for the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. To those who don’t share this belief it may seem odd, but I saw fear and relief that he will not suffer the same fate as Mr. Arafat.

Nov 11, 2004 - 5:44 pm 58. Bob:

Barrett –

Uh, David understands, as Charlie apparently does as well, that the ZENTRALKOMMERZBANK letter was (as Heinrich L. Zuecher might say, if he existed) a Witzchen, a little joke. I wrote it myself. “Ozymondias” it ain’t, but hey — it ain’t bad.

Nov 11, 2004 - 6:08 pm 59. ricpic:

Charles Krauthammer is to my knowledge the only, THE ONLY! commentator who has said it flat out: Arafat was dedicated to one thing and one thing only: KILL THE JEWS!

Obscene.

The creature was obscene.

And every comment by every commentator that in any way whatsoever “understands” is an obscenity. Which is to say most of the “civilized” world.

Bury the creature and be done with it.

Nov 11, 2004 - 6:46 pm 60. promoguy:

BeckyJ

Flunk her and teach her a lesson. At the same time look out for the ACLU

Nov 11, 2004 - 6:51 pm 61. Patrick Tyson:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I know you haven’t had a chance to learn this, but it appears that Yasser Arafat has passed away.

THE PRESIDENT: Really?

Q And I was just wondering if I could get your initial reaction? And also your thoughts on, perhaps, working with a new generation of Palestinian leadership?

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that. My first reaction is, God bless his soul. And my second reaction is, is that we will continue to work for a free Palestinian state that’s at peace with Israel.

….

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

—Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Nov 11, 2004 - 6:52 pm 62. richard mcenroe:

KevinP ó If we HAVE to send anyone, how about an overflight of F/A-18’s?

A LOW overflight…

Nov 11, 2004 - 6:54 pm 63. BeckyJ:

Promoguy:

I can’t flunk her for her opinions! And, I can’t flunk her because she spent the first 18 years of her life living under Saddam Hussein and absorbed all sorts of twisted information. I just make sure the facts get out. And, I make sure students know how to make a cogent argument. She’s not doing so well at that, as her classmates pointed out to her today.

Nov 11, 2004 - 7:14 pm 64. promoguy:

BeckyJ

I know you can’t. Guess that’s why I couldn’t do what you do for a living. But hey, do it anyway, LOL.

Can’t find your original remarks but if I remember your a prof teaching a liberal arts course. How do you do it given your ideas vis a vis the uber libs in the department. It must be lonely where ever you are. Or you drink a lot!!!!

Nov 11, 2004 - 7:50 pm 65. Bruce_W:

“…God bless his soul”

This reminds me of one of my favorite Jewish jokes (which in itself is peculiarly satisfying given the circumstances):

A crabby old man, with no living family members, dies.

At his funeral, the Rabbi pleads to the crowd for someone who knew him well to come forward and say a couple nice words about the deceased.

Uncomfortable seconds go by as nobody heeds this call.

Finally another old man shuffles up to the podium, stands in silent thought for a few seconds, and then says:

“His brother was worse!”

————

Our President was responding in as human a way as he could. In life, he made absolutely clear of his feelings about Arafat, so there is no need to do so in death. It was dignified. Initially, I thought I’d have preferred the words “have mercy on his soul” instead of “bless”, but on reflection I now feel it was kind of a stroke of genius (unintended though it may have been). That’s because the thinking people know he meant “may God have mercy” (i.e. because no one else could do so for this murderer of children), and the remaining people cannot accuse of him being insulting or insensitive at such a sensitive time.

————-

P.S. And let’s all thank God that the twisted cretin didn’t have a brother!

Nov 11, 2004 - 8:12 pm 66. richard mcenroe:

Bruce_W ó I heard that as an Irish joke. Hey. look, we’re multicultural!

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:14 pm 67. richard mcenroe:

So let me get this straight ó Arafat killed the people in the diner on CSI:NY last nite?

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:18 pm 68. Michael B:

Arafat’s epitaph: nihil ex nihilo.

Arafat represents an abyssal descent that was furthered – via an ideologically induced blindness in some ways reminiscent of Western post-Tet propaganda – by the Left and the Western MSM. (His ascendancy dovetails rather well with the advent of the New Left and that’s no mere coincidence). How many decades will it take, even projecting some best case scenarios, to reverse the inter-generational malignancies and detritus he has left in his wake?

(And yes, the overall situation is more complex than that, but contrast Arafat with an MLK, a Gandhi, those who led the fight against the slave trade, etc., and Arafat doesn’t merely come off as a conspicuously bad second, he comes off as a wastreling malevolence who has engendered and fostered his nihilistic ethos into successive generations and generations yet to come. The Left and the MSM love to play the Palestinians off against Israel, but rarely do they play them off against other Arab states who commonly treat them as virtual untouchables – that is especially true vis-a-vis Jordan and Egypt, but holds true for other Arab states as well. That’s why other states in the region are so often willing to continue to treat them as political pawns, but not as equals within their own societies.)

Nov 11, 2004 - 10:59 pm 69. Matt Evans:

My reaction to the Bush comment was similar to Jamie’s, on first blush. But in retrospect, Bush will still have to reach out to the Palestinians (methinks this is going to be the quid pro quo Blair wants) and by not condemning Arafish publicly, he does the diplomatic thing necessary to leave the door open to peace talks. Statescraft typically requires people to do and say what they normally wouldn’t do or say.

God Bless John Howard, however. The man has some serious cajones. I have to say, when considering our allies, I would much rather have one Tony Blair and John Howard then a 100 Jaques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeders.

Nov 12, 2004 - 5:02 am 70. Mikey:

My dad always referred to Arafat as “that snake.”

The old man was right once again.

Nov 12, 2004 - 5:36 am 71. Keith_Indy:

I thought President Bushs response was perfect…

What do you say about such an evil vile man on his death?

He certainly wasn’t going to praise Arafat.

And he has to maintain some positive relationship with who ever succeeds Arafat, so cutting the man down wouldn’t do. And it’s not a very Christian thing either, bad mouthing the dead.

Nov 12, 2004 - 7:44 am 72. Knucklehead:

Jamie Irons,

I am unqualified to comment on the Christianity angle of Bush’s “God bless his soul” comment I did hear of the comment a couple days ago and found it, ummm…., meaningful in its minimalism. Any POTUS would have had to say something and what Bush said was… appropriate.

I also had this vision of this and this on loop for a while.

Nov 12, 2004 - 8:53 am 73. Buddy Larsen:

“Arafat didn’t live to see his dream of an independent Palestinian state become a reality.”

Oh! There is just SO much, So wrong, with that statement. Oh! Oh, oh, oh !!! I can barely STAND that horrid bunch over there. When will they die?

Nov 12, 2004 - 12:14 pm 74. Charlie (Colorado):

I can’t flunk her for her opinions!

Why not? It happened to me.

I know, you mean “I can’t ethically flunk her for her opinions….”

Nov 12, 2004 - 12:23 pm 75. BeckyJ:

Promoguy: I drink, and until I get tenure, I bite my tongue…a lot! I teach political science which isn’t as bad as some fields such as sociology or criminal justice in terms of far-left liberal leanings.

Charlie (CO): yeah, ethically is what I meant. And I do know people who have given low grades for opinions that differ from the prof. I find that disgusting.

Nov 13, 2004 - 12:18 pm

Write a Comment

Name:	(required, displayed)
Email:	(required, not publicized)
URL:	(optional, displayed)
Comments: