It's been the misfortune of the Palestinian people to be stuck with Yasir Arafat as their founding father, a leader who has failed to make the transition from romantic revolutionary to statesman. All he seems capable of offering Palestinians now is a communal form of the martyrdom he seems to covet. Mr. Arafat should accept his limitations and retire as president of the Palestinian Authority.[Bolding mine]
If you replaced the name Yasir Arafat with Fidel Castro, it would be an equally valid observation, although only the New York Times with their love of despots could describe Arafat as a romantic revolutionary. They must have a thing for rough men with beards. Come to think of it, given their political consistency and social advocacy, we probably should refer to them as the Pink Lady rather than Grey Lady of more refined tastes.
The Times makes the case that Arafat ought to voluntarily retire. Immediately. This, they insist, "would allow the creation of a more credible Palestinian government that could garner international support and claim the moral high ground in the confrontation with Mr. Arafat's equally stubborn nemesis, Ariel Sharon."
You mean Arafat doesn't have international support or the moral high ground?!! What are those billions the EU gave him? The support of friends like Bill and the Pink Lady?
A novelist like Roger Simon could probably do something with this story. A coded message for an assassination perhaps? An internal coup, the Pink Lady warns, would probably backfire. ("But, then, maybe not.") However, it's unlikely he will be booted by the electorate. The romantic revolutionary isn't going to allow elections anytime soon. ("So, there's only one choice, as excited as we are about rough, bearded men.)" Even the title suggests a rubout. "The Arafat problem." ("Will no one rid of us of this man?")
No wonder newspapers like the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun have been stepping back for the last few days. They're trying to avoid the ricocheting bullets.
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