Rice says Carter was warned against meeting with Hamas

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

KUWAIT CITY - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday the Bush administration explicitly warned former President Jimmy Carter against meeting with members of Hamas, the Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip and which is regarded by the U.S. as a terror group.

Rice, attending a regional meeting on Iraq's security and future, contradicted Carter's assertions that he never got a clear signal from the State Department. Rice told reporters that the U.S. thought the visit could confuse the message that the U.S. will not deal with Hamas.

"I just don't want there to be any confusion," Rice said. "The United States is not going to deal with Hamas and we had certainly told President Carter that we did not think meeting with Hamas was going to help" further a political settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Carter said top Hamas leaders told him during seven hours of talks in Damascus over the weekend that they are willing to live next to Israel, but a top Hamas official said the group would never outright recognize the Jewish state.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080422/ap_on_re_mi_ea/rice

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Hamas says will accept Gaza cease-fire
posted 8:28 am Tue April 22, 2008 - GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip

Hamas is prepared to agree to a cease-fire with Israel that would begin only in the Gaza Strip, a senior representative of the militant group said Tuesday, dropping a demand that any agreement also immediately include the West Bank. The move marked a concession by Hamas as Egyptian mediators try to halt fighting between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army in Gaza.


Israel regularly carries out airstrikes and military incursions against Palestinian rocket squads in Gaza, a strip of land bordering southern Israel where Hamas violently seized control last June.

While Israel is conducting peace talks with the moderate Palestinian government in the West Bank, rivals to Hamas, the Israeli army continues to regularly carry out arrest raids in that territory, as well.

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said Hamas has agreed to a cease-fire that "would begin in Gaza, and then move to the West Bank," rather than include both areas simultaneously. Hamad said his group has relayed its position to Egypt, and was now waiting for Israel's response.

more:http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0408/513359.html

[saltpoint]

1. As president and post-president, Jimmy Carter has worked consistently

and impressively for peace in the Middle East.

Condoleezza Rice hasn't done jack shit.

[yardwork]

15. Well, she's accomplished some things....

but they are shit.

[saltpoint]

17. True.

[ihelpu2see]

26. Where does she get off saying anything about Carter. He goes and gets stuff done.

She goes to Iraq and gets ZERO results and basically baits M. Al Sadiar (SP) about starting an all out WAR in Iraq...
She has never been qualified for any job in this administration...

[Virginia Dare]

2. Who gives a shit Condi?

lead, follow or get the fuck out of the way.

[hobbit709]

3. And what is her moral authority to tell Jimmy Carter anything?

[tanyev]

4. "I just don't want there to be any confusion," Rice said.

Oh, yeah, Condi's all about sorting out the confusion. Like, is "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States" an actual threat or a historical perspective? Or, were the warnings about people wanting to fly planes into buildings something a National Security Advisor should look into further, or were they something that no one (at least a certain National Security Advisor) could have anticipated?

Give it up, Condi. Resign and go find some nice shoe sales somewhere.

[Benhurst]

5. Condoleezza (sic) Rice is a war criminal. She ought to be issuing

her statements from a jail cell in the Hague.

[liberal N proud]

6. Jimmy did what she couldn't so now they must condemn him

She belongs in jail

[Supersedeas]

29. another acknowledgement of incompetence

[Dr.Phool]

7. So is Dick Cheney going to shoot him in the face, or what?

What never gets mentioned in these articles, or by the administration, is the fact that Hamas is the ELECTED government of the Palestinians. Yeah, these guys support democracy, but blow it up when it doesn't turn out to their liking.

At least somebody is trying to do some talking. It's where all peace starts.

[tabasco]

8. Go buy some shoes and STFU, Condi.

The adults are trying to save some lives here, so kindly get out of the way.

[rateyes]

9. Now, who is telling the truth? Carter or Rice?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Proletariatprincess]

10. Carter denies it.

President Carter denied that he was warned or urged not to talk to Hamas or make the trip to the middle east. It is a shame and a scandal that peacekeeping is a supversive activity in the eyes of this corrupt administration.

[goclark]

30. I believe Carter,yes I do

Who is this WE Condi and when did they talk to President Carter?

Out with the facts

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. And thank goodness he has

the balls to ignore this illegal regime that resides in washington now.

[louis-t]

12. "He was warned"

Yeah, I'm sure he's shakin' in his boots. Yer husband is a maniac Condi.

[TeeYiYi]

27. "Yer husband is a maniac...

TYY... :rofl:

[The Traveler]

13. "He who fears to lose his life shall lose it"

Carter has a hold on life ass clowns like Rice and Bush will never understand. He has never been ruled by fear. Bullies and sadists like Rice and Bush will never comprehend guys like Jimmy Carter.

[xchrom]

14. time for a new pair of pumps, isn't it -- Kindasleazy? nt

[msongs]

16. obama disses carter for talking about peace with warring factions. obama & condi agree! nt

[Javaman]

18. Carter warned...

rice: if you go over there and peace breaks out, we will be sooooooo pissed!!!

Carter: isn't the whole point of opening talks, is to achieve peace?

rice: well, yeah, but only if we say what kind of peace it is....

Carter: kind of peace?

rice: the kind that keeps the industrial military complex making money.

[truebrit71]

19. Condi was too busy calling Sadr a coward to deal with any actual diplomatic efforts..

..in the region...

How long until these war criminals are out on their asses?

[navarth]

20. Let's see...believe Jimmy Carter...or believe Condi Rice....hmmm

That's a tough decision!!

NOT

[cyberpj]

21. And Carter brushed off his shoulders -

and went ahead and did the right thing.
I hope history gets it right about Carter.
He's SO not the slow and stupid man so many try to make him.
I'll take a Peacemonger ANY day.

[LynnTheDem]

22. "I'm proud to be American, cause at least I know I'm ...ummm..."

Never mind.

[NoFederales]

23. Advice for Ms Rice: Go.Away, Let.Better.People.Act nt

NoFederales

[greiner3]

24. Do you think?

That bush will instruct TSA to restrict Jimmy's reentry back into the US? How about when Jimmy's Secret Service agents open up on those rent a cops they have carrying guns in La Guardia?

[fasttense]

25. I was thinking the same thing.

The bushes could declare President Carter an enemy combatant and whisk him away but his own SS will fight off the bushes SS. Will there be a Shoot Out at La Guardia?

[Felix Mala]

28. She planned to mess this one up later in the year. Now Carter has something half-way working...

How can she possibly screw it up now!!!

You're doing a heckuva job, Condi.

[daleo]

31. Bush, Rice, et al don't want peace

So Carter's efforts for peace bother them.