With a heavy heart, the New York Times sadly admits that the world might be a better place if their favorite terrorist were put out to pasture: The Arafat Problem. (Hat tip: SoCalJustice.)

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.

Showing once again the amazing ability of the left to hold two utterly contradictory ideas at the same time with no outward sign of discomfort, the New York Times says 1) the Palestinians are unfortunately stuck with a terrorist as their leader, and 2) this terrorist was a legitimately elected democratic leader.

Saying that it’s time for Mr. Arafat to go is not the same as saying it is time for Mr. Arafat to be removed by force. He is, after all, a democratically elected leader, though the term he won in 1996 was never meant to be this long. Any Israeli or American-sanctioned move against him - or even an internal coup - would probably backfire. Ideally, Mr. Arafat’s exit would be dictated by the Palestinian electorate at the polls, but there is nothing ideal about the Palestinian quandary, and it is unlikely that new elections can be organized in the occupied territories anytime soon. The dire situation calls for Mr. Arafat’s immediate retirement.

The Times rules out the options for removing Arafat that might actually work (an internal or external coup), hallucinates about a Palestinian fantasy “election,” and reaches the conclusion that the only possible solution is for Arafat himself to voluntarily resign. It would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.