by James Phillips

About the author: James Phillips is a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a public policy, research, and educational organization.

Editor’s note: At the time of publication, Yasser Arafat was the leader of the Palestinian Authority. Should Arafat be deposed, the issues discussed in this viewpoint would still be timely. Arafat’s causes are inextricably related to his office.

In June 2002, the Bush Administration dispatched CIA Director George Tenet to the Middle East to assess how to reform Palestinian intelligence and security agencies in order to make them more effective in fighting terrorism, rather than in supporting terrorism. It also dispatched Assistant Secretary of State William Burns to the region to explore ways to create a more democratic Palestinian Authority. Both of these missions can be...