Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Mon, Nov 08 2004
Is He Still Just A Man Without A Country?
I've been wondering for days what kind of political spinning there would be if Yasser Arafat does not survive his illness. Blogger Sha! talked about several factors in Mr. Arafat's current position, which started me thinking. You'll pardon a writer's mind for a moment, while I imagine what would happen if an announcement came that Mr. A. had died, when in fact the whole thing had actually been a vehicle to get the leader out of a volatile region where he might otherwise have come to a violent end, the aftermath of which might be a conflict that rings with eschatological proportions.
Still, it would be hard to imagine Mr. Arafat leaving the land he loved for such a reason. I can more likely believe that he would go knowing he could accomplish something by leaving that he could never have accomplish by staying. He's always been a brazen guy with a cause. Sneaking off and pretending to be on his deathbed while he seeks some sort of geriatric asylum doesn't seem to be his style.
Whatever happens now, his opponents are actually the ones in the more precarious position, in some ways. If he rises like some Phoenix from the ashes to lead again, any negotiations will be on a new level. If he does not survive, his opponents are still going to be off-balance while they learn the stance of any new leader. If he survives, but doesn't have the good health it takes to lead, he could still inject a lot of influence in future dealings with Israeli and other world leaders.
From what I understand, the data conflicts when it comes to Yassir Arafat's birthplace. Some say it was in Cairo and some say it was in Jerusalem. It sounds as though there may be at least that much confusion about his placement now, speaking both geographically and politically.
posted at: 08:05 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
I've been wondering for days what kind of political spinning there would be if Yasser Arafat does not survive his illness. Blogger Sha! talked about several factors in Mr. Arafat's current position, which started me thinking. You'll pardon a writer's mind for a moment, while I imagine what would happen if an announcement came that Mr. A. had died, when in fact the whole thing had actually been a vehicle to get the leader out of a volatile region where he might otherwise have come to a violent end, the aftermath of which might be a conflict that rings with eschatological proportions.
Still, it would be hard to imagine Mr. Arafat leaving the land he loved for such a reason. I can more likely believe that he would go knowing he could accomplish something by leaving that he could never have accomplish by staying. He's always been a brazen guy with a cause. Sneaking off and pretending to be on his deathbed while he seeks some sort of geriatric asylum doesn't seem to be his style.
Whatever happens now, his opponents are actually the ones in the more precarious position, in some ways. If he rises like some Phoenix from the ashes to lead again, any negotiations will be on a new level. If he does not survive, his opponents are still going to be off-balance while they learn the stance of any new leader. If he survives, but doesn't have the good health it takes to lead, he could still inject a lot of influence in future dealings with Israeli and other world leaders.
From what I understand, the data conflicts when it comes to Yassir Arafat's birthplace. Some say it was in Cairo and some say it was in Jerusalem. It sounds as though there may be at least that much confusion about his placement now, speaking both geographically and politically.
posted at: 08:05 | category: /Politics | link to this entry
