Bush sees peace differently

President George W. Bush has confounded his critics with several masterful strokes since he became the head of the world's largest democracy. Indeed, the most artful and far-reaching diplomatic stroke as the American president was contained in his speech to the United Nations ("Bush recognizes Palestine," Nov. 12). The magical words from Mr. Bush's speech were enshrined in the sentiments that he expressed: "...working toward the day when two states -- Israel and Palestine -- live peacefully together within secure and recognized borders as called for the Security Council resolutions."\nSecretary of State Colin Powell pointedly confirmed his boss' aims and objectives in a timely "Meet the Press" interview. \n"If one is moving forward with a vision of two states side by side, it's appropriate to call those two states what they will, Israel and Palestine," he said. \nThe retired distinguished general added, in tandem, that "No Republican president has ever made (such) a statement." \nThe following resounding chorus from the press was "No Democratic president, either."\nEgypt's United Nations Ambassador Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke for many peace-loving men and women at the U.N. and faraway when, with regard to President Bush's Israel-Palestine sentiments in his speech, underscored: "That was music, that was outstanding." \nFor Mr. Bush's use of the name Palestine in his U.N. speech, Palestine Authority chairman Yasser Arafat, who had reportedly met with Mr. Powell at the U.N., was said to be ecstatic, as he added: "We thank him from the bottom of our heart."\nBecause Israel has fought for peace and security for many years, it was heart-warming for prime minister Ariel Sharon's adviser, Raanan Gissin, to say that his country did not have any objection to the use of the name Palestine. He also added a caveat: "The only objection we would have to the use of the term 'Palestine' would be where it is meant as an alternative to Israel, in order to undermine the Jewish State."\nAll of the foregoing sentiments toward true peace in the Middle East are worthy of note and commendation, especially President Bush's leadership role. With the exception of Bush, no American president was ever bold enough to make plain that there would never be peace in the Middle East if the Palestinians -- like Israelis, of course -- do not have a secure place that they could call home. \nSeveral former American presidents came very close to calling for a separate nation for the Palestinians, in fact short of the mention of the "magic" name, Palestine. \nFormer President Bill Clinton, in his 1998 speech to Palestinian leaders, lauded the fact that, for the first time, "Palestinian people and their elected representatives now have a chance to determine their own destiny on their own land." Still, Mr. Clinton did not call for a Palestinian nation, possibly with Mr. Arafat as its future head of state.\nCertainly, when genuine peace comes around with Israelis and Palestinians enjoying transparent neighborliness in peace on equal footing, which is enshrined in nationhood, then the thousands of lives and blood shed in Israeli-Arab wars would not have been in vain. Indeed, late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and several notable Arabs as well as Israelis have killed because of their bold efforts in seeking meaningful peace. We hope that Mr. Bush's new Middle Eastern policy for a secure Israel and a free Palestine will be pushed into reality so that the massacred sons and daughters of the age-long Arab-Israeli conflict can smile in their graves.