Word: arafats
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Many of the original founders of the P.L.O. began their careers and formed their revolutionary strategy in Kuwait in the late 1950s, including Yasser Arafat, who was a civil engineer in Kuwait's public-works ministry while organizing Fatah on the side. It was Kuwait that arranged the infamous meeting between the P.L.O.'s United Nations representative and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young; Kuwait that refused the nomination of an American ambassador because he had previously served as consul in Jerusalem; Kuwait that broke diplomatic relations with West Germany in 1965, when Bonn recognized Israel; Kuwait that dutifully deducted a tithe...
...P.L.O.'s support of Iraq? I would not deny that some Palestinians have looted and done despicable things in Kuwait, but most of us are against what Saddam did. That won't matter, of course. We will be punished for the stupidity of our chief of state -- and Arafat will continue his life as a celebrity. The Kuwaitis will say that they will look at each of our cases one by one" -- which indeed is what the Kuwaiti leadership says -- "but in the end I am sure that almost all of us will be kicked...
...Arafat sees it, he is covering his bets. Whether there is war or peace, he reckons, the Palestinian issue will have to be addressed. Moreover, if a peaceful solution is found in the gulf, he figures he will share the credit as a mediator. "I am sure some will reward us for helping avoid a catastrophe," says Arafat adviser Bassam Abu Sharif. That may be wishful thinking. The peace package Arafat is touting directly links Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait to Israel's surrender of the West Bank and Gaza -- an unacceptable proposition for the U.S. And in the unlikely...
...Arafat also faces internal threats. By tilting toward Baghdad, he has bolstered radicals within his organization who would like to depose him. Should Saddam emerge from the gulf crisis stronger, he might challenge Arafat's position. Some tensions surfaced shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, when Saddam wanted to arm Palestinians there, but Arafat instructed them to decline. For Arafat, the task, as always, is to ride the tiger without being devoured...
...might overhear him. "Listen to me," he demanded, urgently tapping a Westerner on the knee. "Any time an independent Arab leader looks strong," he boomed, "the West beats him down. They did it with Nasser. They have run a vilification campaign against Assad. And look what they did to Arafat. It dates from the Crusades, and it will never change." The man, a retired printer, paused. "Saddam will not win this war," he said, "but we hope he gives the West a hard time trying...