# Arafat is Dead **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144 "2004-11-11T03:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/61 "2004-11-11T17:06:14Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > They did, but the Italian government declared jurisdication and _released_ him. Just another in a long line of appeasements for terrorists. To be fair **Sam** the Israelis did much the same thing, issuing him a special pass to travel in Gaza in the 1990’s I believe since he was seen as backing peace negotiations at the time. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/62 "2004-11-11T17:13:25Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > (they didn’t kill him - he was in poor health for years, and already in rough shape when they found him, which probably explains why he didn’t hightail it to Syria when the invasion started). Well, he also may have had enemies in Syria. His was not the pro-Syrian branch of the PLF - indeed the PLF originally split from the PFLP-GC over opposition to Syria during a phase of the the Lebanese civil war ( even so there was later a pro-Syrian PLF faction, but it wasn’t Abu Abbas’ ). If you were a faction based in Baghdad, you were pretty much there for a reason as Damascus is the more optimal base. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/63 "2004-11-11T17:22:53Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I was Abul Abbas, a Palestinian terrorist and a member of the PLO… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/64 "2004-11-11T17:28:25Z")
This update just in: Chairman Arafat’s condition remains stable, according to [informed sources.](http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Miscellaneous/ThreeStooges_3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/65 "2004-11-11T17:33:57Z")
**Tamerlane:** Thanks for the info about the various factions of the PLF. To quote Johnny Carson, “I did not know that!” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/66 "2004-11-11T17:36:24Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Are we sure he’s dead? > > Maybe we need the Munchkin coroner to investigate, to make sure that he’s not only merely dead, he’s really most sincerely dead. “As Coronor I must state that I did examine Arafat. To make sure that he’s really dead, I shot the bastard in the head.” ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/67 "2004-11-11T17:42:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You gotta like **Abbie** ’s rationalizations, though: because giving Carter an award for promoting peace was an insult to George W. Bush and his war, Carter should have turned a Peace Prize down. What kind of fucking sense does that make? Carter worked for peace and won an award for it. Bush hasn’t, and he didn’t. What the fuck do he and his supporters care about the Nobel Peace Prize anyway? That would be **Roseworm’s** rationalizations. ---
**Author:** ![Roseworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@Roseworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roseworm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/68 "2004-11-11T17:44:07Z")
To **Eve** : Brilliant, simply brilliant. The Pit is at its best when people make jokes like that. Love it. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/69 "2004-11-11T17:57:04Z")
So, let me get this straight, we’re not allowed to wish death on someone, but we can celebrate their death once it has happened? So a big woo hoo for Arafat’s death, but am I allowed to eagerly anticipate the ‘Arial Sharon death’ thread though? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/70 "2004-11-11T18:02:07Z")
The news stories I read yesterday said that Arafat’s wife was raised Christian but converted to Islam when she married Arafat – which was several years after they started their relationship. Also that he first hired her as his secretary, then made her minister of economic affairs even though she had zero qualifications for the post. Also in the stories: She’s been living in Paris for the last four years, ever since the latest intifadah got rolling. She’s being paid $100,000 a month :eek: to support her and their daughter. The news stories indicated that Arafat’s organiztion controls something like FOUR FREAKIN’ BILLION DOLLARS, that somehow hasn’t been making its way to the level of the poor suffering Palestinian people. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/71 "2004-11-11T18:34:47Z")
**Eve** said: > [@](#): > > “As Coronor I must state that > I did examine Arafat. > To make sure that he’s really dead, > I shot the bastard in the head.” Reminds me of a joke: A 911 operator gets a call from someone who’s frantic: Caller: “My husband isn’t breathing! I think he might be dead!” Operator: “Okay, calm down. First, make sure he’s really dead.” Caller: “Okay! Hang on!” Caller: \ Caller: “Okay! Now what?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/72 "2004-11-11T18:37:44Z")
This just in folks, Arafat has remained undoubtedly void of life for at least an entire day now. I will be promptly report any changes in his condition. My coworker claims that a Palestinian newspaper (I have no cite, sorry) ran a headline stating **Arafat clings to life. Funeral on Friday"** Apparently they weren’t fucking around. “We’re having this damned funeral, he better not fuck it up, we’ve already sent out the invitations! It would be just like Arafat to be late to his own funeral” Because I don’t want any bad juju, I’m not going to revel in his death but my eyes are dry. good riddance ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/73 "2004-11-11T18:38:19Z")
> [@Roseworm](#): > > Good riddance to the most undeserving Nobel Peace Prize winner of all time. Did you think Yitzhak Rabin, who shared the prize with Arafat, was undeserving too? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/74 "2004-11-11T20:44:52Z")
Poor Yasser. I guess now that Yasser is dead, [Joey Bishop](http://imdb.com/name/nm0084086/) is the only original member of the [The Rat Pack](http://www.allposters.com/IMAGES/GLOP/IDL509.jpg) left alive. Well, at least he and Sammy and Dean and Frank are all making music again (though I doubt anybody told Peter where to find them). I know his death his seen as a tragedy by many, but my main pain in the death of [Yasser](http://www.thehourwelivein.com/arafat10.jpg) is for his family, particularly his little daughter and his middle aged son [Ringo](http://www.virtualtahoe.com/playground/Entertainers/RingoStarr.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/75 "2004-11-11T20:54:20Z")
😛 They really need to add an “oh my god I’m going to pee!” smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Roseworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@Roseworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roseworm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/76 "2004-11-11T20:54:24Z")
Here are some nice opinions on Mr. Arafat: “Arafat Gets the Di Treatment” - by Tom Gross: [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gross200411110927.asp](http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gross200411110927.asp) “In Chaos, Opportunity” - by Jed Babbin: [http://www.nationalreview.com/babbin/babbin200411110045.asp](http://www.nationalreview.com/babbin/babbin200411110045.asp) “Terrorism’s Godfather” - by Aaron Mannes [http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/mannes200411110933.asp](http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/mannes200411110933.asp) The sad fact is, Arafat is largely responsible for destroying Beirut, Lebanon, and the Palestinian people. ---
**Author:** ![Roseworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@Roseworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roseworm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/77 "2004-11-11T21:06:06Z")
To **The Chao Goes Mu** : “Arafat clings to life. Funeral on Friday.” That tends to lend credence to the rumor that Arafat actually died two or three days before they officially announced his demise. In any case, it is a \*hysterically \* funny headline. To **Sampiro** : Just _too_ funny. Kudos to you, sir. I submit that the best way we can react to Arafat’s death is to simply laugh the murderous old bastard into his grave. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/78 "2004-11-11T21:28:28Z")
Arafat’s wife kept saying “They are going to bury him alive” like it was a _bad_ thing. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/79 "2004-11-11T21:52:48Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Partisan Carter haters? Are there any? > > Carter is without a doubt a good, well-intentioned man. The damn shame of it is that no matter how well-intentioned you may be, if what you do fails you’re a failure. Has anything the man has done stuck? The Camp David accords? Nope. The North Korea issue? Nope. > > The man is one of the world’s greatest peace advocates, without question. Too bad nothing he has done has done anything to further the cause of peace. I’ve not heard any complaints about his work with Habitat for Humanity. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144/80 "2004-11-11T22:14:41Z")
[Bette Davis] “My mother always said that it was polite to say something good about the dead. Yasser Arafat is dead. Good.” [\Bette Davis] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafat-is-dead/274144.md?page=5)