re: #119 Prononymous, rogue demon hunter

If Arafat was quietly seeking to become part of a peace process, as documents show including this one, then that would indeed make him a moderate in comparison to the factions that wanted no negotiation whatsoever.

So you and I have to argue what the author meant by moderate. Did the author even address the point of view that some feel that comitting murder disqualifies one from being called a moderate? That would be our discussion, right? It shouldn’t. The author should have taken the time to define it more clearly. Which was my original point.

The fact is that the US has had a hot/cold relationship with the PLO. For a long time we refused to recognize them and avoided contact with them. And at other times we have secretly met with them. Not exactly the face of consistent diplomacy.

Then you do agree that there were talks. That was also my original point. It seems as though the author wasn’t so clear on that. After all, the issue in the article wasn’t about how well the US conducted diplomacy.