Democracy at stake, Barak says
By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
April 30, 2002

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks marked the beginning of a war in which everything open democratic societies hold dear will be at stake, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told a Denver audience Monday night.

"That is the reality. We have to face it," Barak told an audience at the Denver Auditorium in the last of this year's Distinguished Lecture Series.

"We are at war," he added. "The attacks of September 11 have changed the world forever."

"The choice is very clear," he said later. "Destroy world terrorism or be destroyed by it."

Barak's appearance was greeted by several dozen protesters who waved Palestinian flags and toted signs reading, "Sharon is a Terrorist," referring to Ariel Sharon, who defeated Barak in the most recent Israeli election.

"What's going on in Israel, in the Palestinian-occupied territories, is wrong," said Ken Seaman of Denver. "And it's funded by our government."

Some of the demonstrators passed out Swiss cheese.

"Because it's full of holes," Seaman said. "Much like the promises that are made and the agreements that are signed but never lived up to."

Inside the auditorium, however, Barak drew applause from the crowd of about 1,200 when he said that any other government would do what Israel has done to counteract a wave of suicide bombings.

He also blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the failure of the Camp David peace talks. "He's a great performer on stage, not a real statesman."

Barak also said the next target in the war on terrorism must be Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"Without toppling the regime of Mr. Saddam Hussein," Barak said, "there can be no stable world order."

Earlier in the day, Barak said he agreed with a plan to release Arafat from confinement in his Ramallah compound, saying the Israeli siege had created undeserved sympathy for the Palestinian leader.

"Under the circumstances, I think it is reasonable," Barak said during a press conference at the Brown Palace.

"It's not about him. It's about putting an end to terror and about bringing the Palestinian Authority back ... to the negotiating table, recognizing that they cannot gain anything from terrorism."
 

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