American officials were reportedly not very impressed with Yasser Arafat\'s widely-covered op-ed in yesterday\'s New York Times. CNN\'s report today began and ended by noting that President Bush\'s top advisors \"welcome Arafat\'s words, but repeat the mantra that actions, not words, are needed...\" National Security Council head Condoleeza Rice was heard to say, \"Our concern with Chairman Arafat has been that he has not made 100% effort to root out the terrorist groups around him,\" and Secretary of State Powell added, \"I\'m not claiming that he has 100% control over every single bomber or shooter in the region, but I think he can do a lot more...\" The CNN report concluded, \"One Bush advisor said, \'Arafat still needs to show he is a leader, and that means sometimes making difficult decisions that are not popular at home.\'\"
Other quotes by American officials: Secretary Powell said, \"I am pleased that he condemns terrorism… But now what we need is action against terrorists… He has to do a lot more to get the violence under control… And he has to tell us about this ship, the Karine A, that was carrying weapons into the region at the same time we were trying to move forward with General Zinni\'s mission... And he also has moral authority. He wants to be a leader of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people say he is their leader. But he has to act as a leader and tell them that violence is wrong, tell them that terrorism is wrong. He has to tell it to them every day…\" Ms. Rice said that PLO leader Yasser Arafat should remain in Ramallah so that he can continue fighting terrorism.
Other quotes by American officials: Secretary Powell said, \"I am pleased that he condemns terrorism… But now what we need is action against terrorists… He has to do a lot more to get the violence under control… And he has to tell us about this ship, the Karine A, that was carrying weapons into the region at the same time we were trying to move forward with General Zinni\'s mission... And he also has moral authority. He wants to be a leader of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people say he is their leader. But he has to act as a leader and tell them that violence is wrong, tell them that terrorism is wrong. He has to tell it to them every day…\" Ms. Rice said that PLO leader Yasser Arafat should remain in Ramallah so that he can continue fighting terrorism.