Kerry Slams US Policy in Egypt
Charles Johnson
Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 8:11 pm PST • Views: 420
John F. Kerry is criticizing the US in Egypt.
CAIRO, Egypt - Senator John Kerry, visiting Egypt Thursday during a tour of the Middle East, accused the Bush administration of neglecting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Kerry met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and said they discussed Iraq as well as the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
“I have always believed that the Middle East peace process is the critical issue of the region, and it has not been focused on for the past 6-7 years adequately,” the Massachusetts Democrat told reporters after meeting Mubarak. “I think there has been a huge loss of opportunities.”
Kerry, who narrowly lost to President Bush in the 2004 election, is also planning to visit Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel.
UPDATE at 12/14/06 8:20:02 pm:
While Kerry was agonizing over their plight with Hosni Mubarak, Hamas attacked and took over the border with Egypt: Hamas in control of Gaza border crossing.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Hamas gunmen seized control of the Gaza Strip’s border crossing with Egypt on Thursday in a ferocious gunbattle with Fatah-allied border guards after Israel blocked the Hamas prime minister from crossing with tens of millions of dollars in aid.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was eventually allowed to cross without the estimated $35 million cash but on the Gaza side of the border, his convoy came under intense fire from Fatah gunmen and one of his bodyguards was killed. Hamas said the gunmen had been aiming to kill the prime minister.
“The bodyguard to Ismail Haniyeh was killed during an assassination attempt,” said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
Frank says: