Posted on 08/11/2006 2:09:20 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
In a dramatic game of brinksmanship, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered an expanded ground war in Lebanon because of dissatisfaction over an emerging U.N. cease-fire deal, but later Friday indicated he might be ready to accept an amended version.
The zigzag reflected Israel's dilemma after a month of fighting. Israel has been unable to defeat Hezbollah by force and is concerned about growing Israeli casualties and international condemnation if the war persists. However, Olmert also fears accepting a cease-fire deal that does not rein in the guerrillas could lead to another war and hurt him politically.
The day's tumultuous events began with a decision by Olmert, after consultations with his defense minister, to send troops deeper into Hezbollah territory _ even as U.N. Security Council negotiations neared an end.
Still, that order was coupled with signals from Israel that it could halt the offensive if a cease-fire arrangement meets its demands, particularly for a strong multinational force. "There is no question whatsoever that the military operation can be stopped at any time," Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisen told CNN.
Several hours later, France and the United States reached agreement on a final draft resolution, to be put to a vote later Friday. The draft would authorize the deployment of 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon to support the Lebanese army's movement into the region "as Israel withdraws."
The draft would ask the U.N. force to monitor a full cessation of hostilities and help Lebanese forces gain full control over an area that had been controlled by Hezbollah. The draft said the U.N. force could respond by "forceful means" to efforts to prevent it from carrying out its mandate.
The final version fell short of Israel's demand that the force be deployed under the U.N. Charter's Chapter 7, which would authorize troops to use force. Lebanon opposes that because of its fears such a mandate would make the peacekeepers look like occupiers.
Israeli officials said a small, weak U.N. force in south Lebanon is a deal breaker. Israel worries such a force will not be able to prevent Hezbollah guerrillas from resuming attacks on Israel.
However, Israel TV's Channel 10 quoted an Olmert aide as saying the final draft was "good for Israel," and an individual close to the government said there was a "good chance" Israel would accept it.
A decision on the offensive could come later, said the individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the high-stakes deliberations.
The fighting, which began July 12 after Hezbollah guerrillas crossed into Israel and seized two Israeli soldiers, has killed more than 800 people _ including at least 732 Lebanese and 122 Israelis.
After nightfall Friday, there were signs of troop movement on the Israel-Lebanon border. Battle-ready soldiers carrying heavy backpacks marched near the frontier as tanks assembled nearby. In south Lebanon, there were no reports of increased troop activity.
Eisen said the wider offensive had not yet begun, contradicting earlier claims by Israeli officials that it was already under way.
More than 10,000 Israeli troops are fighting Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon. In the new phase, Israeli forces will push toward Lebanon's Litani River, some 18 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, trying to capture more than twice as much territory as they hold now.
Olmert has faced growing criticism at home for the army's inability to halt the rocket barrages on Israel; Hezbollah has fired more than 3,500 rockets in the monthlong war. Polls also indicated his high approval rating was slipping.
Commentators have suggested Olmert's political career was at stake, and that he might even be forced to step down. Many Israelis believe defeating Hezbollah is essential for their country's long-term security.
Olmert's decision to expand the war came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other senior diplomats scrambled Friday to adopt a cease-fire resolution.
"We're working for a vote today," Rice said, after learning of the dramatic announcement from Jerusalem. She then called Olmert, to hear from him whether there was still room for negotiations.
In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes pounded south Beirut and border crossings to Syria, and ground fighting picked up intensity in the south of the country. In the Bekaa Valley, an Israeli drone attacked a convoy of more than 100 vehicles fleeing the occupied town of Marjayoun, killing at least one man and wounding others.
Haaretz.com - ISRAEL ACCEPTS UN CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION
Big mistake, lefty.
Awful
The only honorable thing to do would be for Olmert to swallow an automatic. However, honorable and Olmert don't exist in the same universe.
What an idiot.
Wow, the anti-Israel media is putting on a full court press. Bogus pics, false stories, and now hugely negative attacks on Olmert.
Go IDF!!!! All the way to Tehran and Damascus! Hammer-down and don't stop till they squeal!
I have amended my tag line to include AP, Reuters, and Haaretz (however you spell that traitorous, leftist Israeli rag).
Olmert may or may not be losing his nerve, wait and see.
What an a**hat! He killed off hundreds of his people and kept many, many more in bomb shelters for weeks only to end up where they started!
It'll free fall now. Like my opinion of Condi.
Hesbos will end up running Lebanon for their masters in Iran.
Isreal will be signing its own death warrant if it goes along with this.
Reuters - ISRAELI FORCES EN ROUTE TO LEBANON - ISRAELI TV REPORTING FROM BORDER
ROFL
The tenth thread today on this subject? Do we need 10 threds :)
One says it is on
One says it is off
One thread says this and one says that.
Nobody knows what Israel is going to do. Do you think they are going to announce to everyone their strategy? Doubt it.
Why don't we wait and see what happens next. Everyone getting pissed off because they think the man can't lead. Maybe you are right but maybe you are not.
These roller-coaster threads are becoming a dime a dozen :)
But that is just my opinion...
...and missles will still rain down on Israel.
That's the impression a ceasefire leaves now.
Olmert's mismanagement of this war would make a liberal Democrat proud. Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria will be emboldened by it. We'll all pay the price for it.
Jeez... was there ever a worse war-time leader than Olmert? It would be like having President Daschle here. Now that I mention it...
WAIT, STOP THE PRESS, DID ANYONE ASK LEBANON IF THEY APPOROVE OF THE ISRAELI WITHDRAW???
I'll see it when I believe it.
I know, I know your right but I lose my temper when I think the terrorist scum, this includes our MSM, will win this one!:) I should always remember this: The MSM lies and lies and lies!
Discussed here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1682049/posts
Well it might need be the MSM - it could just be a lot of misinformation on purpose from Israel.
Patience...
If Olmert accepts anything other than a total defeat and destruction of hezbo then he is cutting the throat of Israel. Please, LORD in Heaven don't let this be true. If he really accepts it I hope the military stages a coup and throws the coward and his men OUT.
I have lived 64 years without being patient! I see no reason to smarten up at this late date!:)
I've been waiting. Olmert is very good at making war on his own citizens, and Lebanese civilians, but not much for fighting people with guns. Israel is finished.
"Olmert may or may not be losing his nerve, wait and see"
Olmert lost his nerve a month ago when he changed war plans and didn't mobilize. He thought he could win the war by bombing Beirut and bridges.
I don't care a fig about Olmert's political fortunes.
A cease-fire that leaves Hezbollah armed and in control of Lebanese territory is a cease-fire that guarantees continued bloodshed. Guarantees it.
The whole world is jumping through hoops to save the lives of Hezbollah terrorists, and Olmert seems as anxious as anyone to keep them alive for another day. This is a party dedicated to murdering Israelis and Americans both; we both have accounts to settle with them, and yet we seem to be conspiring to save them from their well merited destruction.
I'm not a very good chess player, and I entirely accept that there may be a long game I'm not seeing. What I see is a prime minister who needs to retire to pursue his hobbies and leave the hard problems to harder men.
Um, they seem to be kicking the crap out of them. Isn't that all I see and hear from the news? How meanie Israel is killing all these innocent people and blowing up buildings?
As I've posted elsewhere:
This is just totally ticking me off. Now those *ssholes at the U.N. are going ahead with a vote on the latest draft resolution that is now pro-Lebanon and Hezbollah and anti-Israeli interests, and the U.S. is going along with it. Condi Rice should be ashamed of herself. My guess is that she has muscled John Bolton into going along with this (with Bush backing her up) as Bolton is pro-Israeli interests. Condi is not. I am actively starting to dislike her. She is weak. She's just a female version of Colin Powell.
So, now with the U.N. going along with this resolution rather than the original one that had some teeth in it that Lebanon and the Arab League rejected, the onus will now be on Israel. So our *sshole gov't is selling Israel down the river, and when Israel doesn't go along w/the resolution that will be voted on that does NOTHING to solve the problem at hand, Israel will now look like the obstructionist rather than Lebanon.
With friends like us, Israel will go down the tubes sooner than later, unless they ignore "world" opinion and go it alone. Which they are in the process of doing right now by finally getting off their derrieres and invading Lebanon up to the Litani River. It's about time. Israel, in order to survive, will have to ignore the basically anti-semitic "world opinion" and do what they have to do, ignoring also our U.S. gov't which has turned on them bigtime.
Where is Bibi when you need him? Stupid Israeli voters made a big mistake by hiring a "negotiate and talk" lawyer for their PM rather than a military man who knows how to fight a war. I'm just disgusted here.
I think I'll re-read the Book of the Revelation soon. It was said in the seventies: the first war Israel loses will be the end of Israel. They take this CF they lose.
Looks like a win for the terrorists.
Yes, there needs to be a cease fire to allow Hez. to perfect
guidance systems for multi stage rockets.
Stupid, stupid, stupid appeasement liberals.
We'll have another war with greater consequences... as usual.
"The final version fell short of Israel's demand that the force be deployed under the U.N. Charter's Chapter 7, which would authorize troops to use force. Lebanon opposes that because of its fears such a mandate would make the peacekeepers look like occupiers."
Well, what is it? Is this a more robust force with more room for engagement as other articles on the ceasefire have indicated, or is it nothing more than a bunch of policemen?
I find it hard to believe this new force along with the Lebanese military is going to prove much of a deterrent for Hezbollah.
Most assuredly, and it since it now appears that Israel is no longer capable of winning wars, I'd expect the next will be sooner rather then later.
If a little Lebanonese milita can fight Israel to a stand still, think of what the combined forces of the Nation of Islam could do. Rest assured Iran is certainly pondering that and what better way to unit Islam behind Iran then for Iran to lead the war against Israel. This is a BIG BIG win for Iran.
Whatever the leanings of Rice or Bolton the ultimate responsibilty lies with the President.
He must be aware that a Hezbollah (read Iranian) victory is a disaster for the West.
In Iraq, a lot of the killing is inspired by Iran with the aim of using terrorism to defeat American aims there.
Add to that the coming nuclear threat from Iran, and it is starting to look like a major screw up.
At least consider the possibility that they know what they are doing. This wasn't a cakewalk and I think the IDF was stunned at the quality of the opposition, and of the hits it took. They may have been caught flatfooted and taking some steps back may be the best thing they can do, for now.
The problem is if Olmert goes, Israel gets Shimon Peres.
The Likud has only 12 memebers,
* Kadima 29
* Labor 19
* Shas 12
* Likud 12
* Yisrael Beytenu 11
* National Union/National Religious Party* 9
* Gil 7
* United Torah Judaism** 6
* Meretz-Yachad 5
* United Arab List 4
* Hadash 3
* Balad 3
His nerve left a long, long time ago, in hot pursuit of his betzim.
Olmert will be toast.
This was a mess from the beginning and now the terrorist hezbullies have declared victory!!
So, IOW, the only reason to do the right thing is to save your political hide? What cowardice! What lack of conviction!
I hope, and pray to G-d Almighty, that Olmert's political career is over. He is, at best, Israel's Jimmy Carter.
And if the hezbo rockets keep raining down on Israel does that mean that the cease fire is over?
In all recorded history there has never been a worse leader than Olmert. He started a war and then refused to fight it. If Israel doesn't get rid of him, it's time to throw them to the jackals.
I think Jimmy Carter is the closest analogy.
The Lebanese Military is basically Hezbullah in uniforms.
"the first war Israel loses will be the end of Israel."
They lost the last war in Lebanon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.