10 Years Ago - The Peace Gamble (NYT, 09/15/93)

A decade ago, I read a piece by Thomas L. Friedman, Old Warriors Now Face Task Of Building Upon Foundation about Clinton's orchestration of the Big Handshake.

(excerpts unchanged, capitalization for emphasis - mine)

"And President Clinton, who GRACEFULLY SHEPHERDED Mr. Arafat and Mr. Rabin through their awkward moment of public reconciliation, hailed them both for their 'brave gamble that the future can be better than the past.'

"Moments after the documents were signed, Mr. Clinton took Mr. Arafat in his left arm and Mr. Rabin in his right arm and GENTLY COAXED THEM TOGETHER, needing to give Mr. Rabin just A LITTLE EXTRA NUDGE IN THE BACK. Mr. Arafat reached out his hand first, and then Mr. Rabin, after a split second of hesitation and with a wan smile on his face, received Mr. Arafat's hand. The audience let out a simultaneous sigh of relief and peal of joy, AS A MISTY-EYED MR. CLINTON BEAMED AWAY.

"In an opening speech that was both eloquent and moving, Mr. Clinton described the history of the effort to make peace in the Middle East and PAID TRIBUTE TO MR. RABIN AND MR. ARAFAT. He also pledged United States support for their effort.

"Mr. Clinton seemed to see his role today as CREATING THE EMOTIONAL SPACE for Mr. Arafat and Mr. Rabin to come together.

"After the ceremony, Mr. Clinton held a brief, UNSCHEDULED 10-MINUTE, ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH MR. ARAFAT in the White House map room, urging him to work quickly with Israel to implement the new peace agreement, and to remember that ISRAELIS MUST FEEL CONFIDENT OF THEIR SECURITY IF THIS DEAL IS TO WORK."

Rabin and Arafat were obviously puppets in a larger game. Hence Rabin's embarrassment, Arafat's joy, Clinton's overt string pulling and covert instructions (and inducements) to "play to the galleries."

Bad theater and worse history. And all three knew what the eventual outcome would be.

The Clinton Presidential legacy? Deception and irresponsible actions.

After the ceremony - Tips from the Great Deceiver to the Great Murderer. I wonder what Rabin thought about during Clinton and Arafat's, unscheduled, 10-minute one-on-one?

Masada?