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
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
:eek:
This update just in: Chairman Arafat’s condition remains stable, according to informed sources.
Tamerlane: Thanks for the info about the various factions of the PLF. To quote Johnny Carson, “I did not know that!”
“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.”
That would be Roseworm’s rationalizations.
To Eve:
Brilliant, simply brilliant. The Pit is at its best when people make jokes like that. Love it.
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? 
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.
Eve said:
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: <gunshot>
Caller: “Okay! Now what?”
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
Did you think Yitzhak Rabin, who shared the prize with Arafat, was undeserving too?
Poor Yasser.
I guess now that Yasser is dead, Joey Bishop is the only original member of the The Rat Pack 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 is for his family, particularly his little daughter and his middle aged son Ringo.
They really need to add an “oh my god I’m going to pee!” smiley.
Here are some nice opinions on Mr. Arafat:
“Arafat Gets the Di Treatment” - by Tom Gross:
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gross200411110927.asp
“In Chaos, Opportunity” - by Jed Babbin:
http://www.nationalreview.com/babbin/babbin200411110045.asp
“Terrorism’s Godfather” - by Aaron Mannes
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/mannes200411110933.asp
The sad fact is, Arafat is largely responsible for destroying Beirut, Lebanon, and the Palestinian people.
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.
Arafat’s wife kept saying “They are going to bury him alive” like it was a bad thing.
I’ve not heard any complaints about his work with Habitat for Humanity.
[Bette Davis] “My mother always said that it was polite to say something good about the dead. Yasser Arafat is dead. Good.” [\Bette Davis]