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A Forward Strategy for Freedom for the Middle East

(White House)Condoleezza Rice - U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice addressed the U.S. Institute for Peace on Thursday about policies to deal with the long-term challenge of confronting Islamic extremism. The war on terror is as much a conflict of visions as a conflict of arms. True victory will come not merely when the terrorists are defeated by force, but when the ideology of death and hatred is overcome by the appeal of life and hope, and when lies are replaced by truth. America has adopted a forward strategy for freedom for the Middle East. We must work to dispel destructive myths about American society and about American policy. We must also expand dramatically our efforts to support and encourage the voices of moderation and tolerance and pluralism within the Muslim world. There is a small minority of extremists in the Muslim world who, indeed, hate America and will always hate America. When that hatred is expressed through terrorist violence, there is only one proper response. We must find them and defeat those who seek to kill our people and to harm our country. We stand these days with the Palestinian people who seek democracy and reform. Because America supports Israel's desire for security, many in the Muslim world seem to believe that America opposes the Palestinian desire for freedom. This is a misconception that we must take head-on and dispel, because the truth is that our policy insists on freedom. The President believes that the Palestinian people deserve not merely their own state, but a just and democratic state that serves their interests and fulfills their decent aspirations. For its part, Israel must meet its responsibility under the road map and help create conditions for a democratic Palestinian state to emerge. Israel must take steps to improve the lives of the Palestinian people and to remove the daily humiliations that harden the hearts of future generations. Americans realize that there can be no lasting peace for either side until there is freedom and security for both sides. Cynics allege that Arabs and Muslims are somehow not interested in freedom, or aren't yet ready for freedom's responsibilities. Yet, time and truth are on the side of liberty. In response to questions, Dr. Rice added: As to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I think there's a general understanding on all sides that you have got to have two partners in order to make this work. It is our belief that the disengagement plan which Prime Minister Sharon has put on the table could provide an opportunity to give a new spur to the possibility of a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as long as that disengagement plan from Gaza is followed by further steps, which the Israelis have said they're prepared to take. Now, in order to do that, we do need leadership on the Palestinian side, as well. In the Palestinian territories there is growing discontent with a leadership that has not been prepared to deal with the best aspirations of the Palestinian people. Our policy on settlements is very clear. We believe that the Israelis should live up to their obligations under the road map. By the way, the dismantlement of settlements comes in the third phase of the road map. If you get the disengagement plan from Gaza, you will have dismantlement of settlements early in the process. And we've been very clear that settlement expansion is not consistent with our understanding under the road map. The fact is that we had, in 2000, an opportunity for a resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the Palestinian leadership, for one reason or another, was unable to take that opportunity. We have not been able to get back to that place since. Yes, the Israelis have obligations. But the Palestinians have got to give them somebody to work with. And they've got to embrace a leadership that does not believe that terrorism is a means to an end.
2004-08-20 00:00:00
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