BIG ‘‘A”
By this time, most of us are aware that Yasher Arafat-head of the P.L.O. is once again, seated rather tensely at his big desk in the previously pounded compound at Ramallah, on the West Bank, with Israeli tanks
leveling their guns at his office window menancingly for the second time.
No word this time that he will be without electricity as he was the last this same “set” was used. He struggled though TV interviews “by candlelight” at that time which is not at all easy to do. You may remember
him hunkered down grimly behind his desk with a giant hand-and-a half gun on the desktop at the ready and, one would assume it to have been fully loaded and ready for whatever. With his relatively small hand pictured beside
that hugh gun, it appeared to be even heavier than it might have been. I envisioned Afafat firing the piece and I pictured the normal kick-back of the monster weapon knocking his burnoose loose.
Renewel of suicide attacks in Israel this past week caused the re-entry of the I-tanks at Ramallah and Arafat ought to be reading the “righting” they may do upon his walls at any moment.
It has been evident, I think, that Y. Arafat, Esq. has not had the full gamut of control, as was claimed, over all elements of his own government for some time. From the Aabic viewpoint, he has served well, I think,
many must admit, certainly as interim leader on the way to more competent leadership. He has been the Clown Prince of much of the Arabic world long enough, however. If at all, he has not, in recent years, had control over those
individuals prone to suicide bombing attacks. I wonder, at times, if they have any true control in the government or in the ragged edges thereof.
Arafat has had many narrow escapes over a score or more of years. It seems to me that I remember, just a short time ago, when he was being ferried out of his besigned and defeated location in Lebanon, him half-standing on
a load of something in the bed of a small pick up truck ...on a safe-passage “parade” ride to freedom and all the while waving victoriously every mile of the way seeming to anyone, anywhere especially to those of us watching TV at
home thousands of miles away.
The man has been a prime self-promotion expert in so many ways. I have talked with people who have met him and liked him, in spite of previous feelings about the nature of his place in world history. He has
charmed the leaders of many nations from time-to-time and his immense popularity with the common people is not to be underestimated as we begin to think of him as being in the Past Tense.
Once again Arafat has been offered Safe Passage. This time it is for a one-way ticket out of Israel (I assume the recent offer is still valid) with all doors, gates and loopholes closed against his return at any time.
Take it, Yasher. Go. Go, now.
It is past time for you to join your or wife and child in Paris.
Get out while you still have a chance of survival, and let the rest of the world worry about who will take your place. Don’t push your luck too far.
You are leaving a pair of gunboat-size sandals behind you, too.
Knowing that should make you fell a bit smug and laughing up your roomy sleeve.
So long, Large “A.”
A.L.M. September 19, 2002 [c602wds]
