War is something Arafat sends others to do for him. That is, the poor souls who believe in him. This pompous incompetent caused the failure of the Camp David negotiations, Clinton's mediation.

The quote "War is something Arafat sends others to do for him. That is, the poor souls who believe in him. This pompous incompetent caused the failure of the Camp David negotiations, Clinton's mediation." by Oriana Fallaci is a sharp critique of Yasser Arafat, the former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Fallaci, an Italian journalist and author known for her confrontational and often controversial opinions, criticizes Arafat for his leadership style. She suggests that Arafat did not directly engage in the consequences of war or conflict but instead sent others, particularly those who followed him and believed in his cause, to bear the cost of violence and political failure.

Originating from Oriana Fallaci, the quote reflects her critical stance on political leaders, particularly those involved in conflict. She describes Arafat as a "pompous incompetent", implying that she believed him to be both ineffective and arrogant in his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Fallaci goes on to criticize his role in the Camp David negotiations, which took place in 2000 and were aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She asserts that Arafat's actions directly led to the failure of these talks, which were mediated by Bill Clinton.

By calling Arafat’s leadership "pompous" and "incompetent," Fallaci implies that Arafat’s political decisions, which were often marked by intransigence and a lack of pragmatic solutions, contributed to prolonged conflict and suffering. She suggests that instead of working toward a resolution, Arafat’s leadership exacerbated tensions, particularly during significant diplomatic efforts like the Camp David summit. This failure, according to Fallaci, hindered any potential progress toward peace.

Ultimately, Fallaci’s quote underscores her belief that Arafat’s leadership not only failed to bring peace but also sent many individuals into conflict without a clear, achievable goal. It paints a portrait of a leader who, in Fallaci’s view, lacked the competence to guide his people toward a peaceful resolution and instead perpetuated the cycle of violence. The statement reflects her critical perspective on Arafat's legacy, particularly in terms of his failure to achieve a lasting peace despite international mediation efforts.