Yes, I was speaking though of the majority of the Clinton Administration, though not from the negative. I think that it was a good move by both Clinton and his predecessors to try and negotiate middle eastern peace.

Yes, the people who I've talked to, while hating Israel, also seemed to feel that Arafat was a major stepping stone towards meaningful negotiations with Israel and the US. I have no doubt that he was probably poisoned by one of his own people, to let someone who actually wanted to achieve peace and a reasonable Palestinian state take over, rather than that terrorist.

DT, This seems to be the initial step. First the govt says it is willing to talk, then it yields, one by one, relaxing all its conditions. Man, this is familiar road. Whoever thought Iraq was different :rolleyes:

Wasn't George W. Bush one of Bin Laden's great friends?

Yup!

Back in Afghanistan. Bin Laden fought against the SU, and for some reason (stupid fear for commies), the CIA/Bush decided to help the military extreme-Islamic group around Bin Laden.

It was bipartisan. Bin laden got help from the Carter, Reagan, and Bush I administrations. I am not at all surprised to see that the Iraqis will meet with one another sooner or later, and my prediction that Al Quaeda will be at a conference table one day stands.