Bush: Cheney to Press for Mideast Peace

WASHINGTON — President Bush, dispatching Vice President Dick Cheney to the Middle East, said the goal is to get Israelis and Palestinians to hold firm to the promises they've made toward peace.

Bush said Monday in the Oval Office that Cheney would "reassure people that the United States is committed to a vision of peace in the Middle East."

As Cheney tries to help hold together fragile negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, Bush says he's still optimistic that a peace deal can happen before he leaves office.

Cheney departs Sunday for a trip to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey. Oil is also on his agenda, as the White House _ coping with high energy prices that have socked American consumers _ continues to push for greater oil production in the Mideast.

The vice president's visit comes on the heels of a brief troubleshooting mission to the Mideast by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She was able to pressure the moderate Palestinian leadership to resume peace talks with Israel, which broke off after a deadly Israeli military incursion into Gaza.

"I'm optimistic that we'll be able to achieve a vision that shows a way forward, and I'm optimistic leaders will step forward and do the hard things necessary so people don't have to live in deprivation and fear," Bush said, addressing reporters after a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

In his final year in office, Bush has turned a Mideast peace deal into a signature foreign policy goal. But violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel has hampered the peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Cheney will meet with both men.

Palestinians have also condemned Israeli plans to build more housing in disputed east Jerusalem _ an area the Palestinians hope to make the capital of a future independent state.

Bush made clear he expects Cheney to prod the leaders to stick to their obligations under the U.S.-backed road map, which calls on the Palestinians to disarm militants and for Israel to halt settlement construction. "Those obligations are clear," Bush said.

The United States blames recent violence on Hamas, which took over the Gaza Strip last July and is deemed by the U.S. to be a terrorist organization.

Without naming Hamas, Bush said: "There's one force in the Middle East _ and some suspect that they're funded from outside governments and outside movements, all aiming to destabilize democracy, all aiming to prevent the vision where people can live side-by-side in peace, all wanting to destroy Israel."

Bush said the key question is whether enough will exists to reject those extremist forces.

"Our mission is exactly along those lines, and I'm optimistic," Bush said.

On Monday, Olmert instructed his army to halt airstrikes and raids into the Gaza Strip in response to a serious drop in rocket fire from the territory, allowing Egypt to proceed in its role as a mediator. Israeli defense officials and the Hamas rulers of Gaza said there was no formal truce in place.

Comments

[Colmore]

He is only going to check on his property in Dubai. He plans on moving there after he gets out of office, unless McCain wants him to be VP. (!!!!) Do they have an extradition policy? Maybe he could take Barbara Bush along, she could scare the bejebus out of those "tourists" No wonder the US is the laughingstock of the world. It will be nice to have ADULTS take over when this nightmare ends.

[JohnCochtosten]

He can teach the Israeli's and Palestinians to just wear orange if they don't want to get hurt. ...oh wait...

[rcampbell]

This artcle contains a single sentence that includes both the words "Cheney" and "peace". Now THAT'S funny!

[johnpherson]

This is a terribly troubling omen. Cheney and peace? I'd say he is making appearances to the various house of power in the region like the "personal" visits he made to the house of congress during the build up to Iraq War. He laying down the law such as it is.

[Clinton]

They better bring lots of cash, that's the only way they can influence anything over there. What a waste of time, they must think the Israelis and Palestinians are stupid.

[sawdustinhershoes]

well,..., look how that worked out when they thought the American people were stupid. Eight years later and we're still doing their bidding.

[DRPike]

Just what the Israelis and Arabs need, Americas Dick.

[PierreLeClerke]

He must have thought he was still at the Gridiron Journalist diner doing his standup routine.

There is nothing funny about these criminals.

[PierreLeClerke]

Here is what the Declaration of Independence has to say about what this government must face. Torture is only on of a plethora of grievances addressed totally insufficiently by Congress, the Executive, the Justice Department, and the Supreme Court: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. " That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, " That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Borrowed from an old and Trusted but tattered Sacred Text. Thank you contributor X

[NotMyPrez]

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. "

And that's why we have elections every four years, but unfortunately the Founders never saw PACS, religious fundies, and a SCOTUS that is essentially a squawk box for the administration and 527 groups in their day.

[fact finder]

pierre; The Bushites have already said that the Constitution was an archaic out dated object. However we the people have not so we should enforce it.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Better late than never!
Bert08

[forpeace]

*

"Bush: Cheney to Press for Mideast Peace"

What??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL, .......

The Funniest news I have heard in such a long time.

Sorry but f***** Bush / Cheney.

*

[Lonw]

This mission will just prove that Cheney is no better than Rice at doing anything that could cause an outbreak of peace.

[NotWaldo]

I think Cheney is the right man for the job. He has a lot of experience. If necessary he can apply some pressure and threaten to shoot Abbas or Olmert in the face!

[paixa3]

joking right....oxymoron....Mr. evil and peace? WTF?

[Bobby]

What? Is he bringing a shotgun?

[Xander]

Dick Cheney and peace: Those two words go together about as well as peanut butter and fish bait.

[NickOhio]

Just another in a series of blunders by Bushco. Cheney has no political capital left in his body. He's squandered and sold it all to the Devil long ago, when he began his work as Chief Puppeteer.

Using hard line talk and threats of violence or whatever else he may use in a 'carrot/stick" approach, will lead nowhere. True, honest, caring concern and diplomacy will be the only way to solve this issue. He will have to see both sides of the fence and not allow either side to lose sight of the objective everyone wants to see... peace in the Middle East. And, without peace in Iraq, the Palestinian issue will be without end and the revengeful attitudes and actions will continue.

The Dems wish peace, as Bill Clinton was working on it for years before it finally took some step in the positive direction. Unfortunately, he was not able to continue the work as Bush came in and squandered everything Clinton had accomplished. Obama wants peace and will work with the opposing sides as a broker. It will be easier to accomplish with any Dem (save for Lieberman, who still considers himself a Dem) than any Republican (especially McCain).