US: Israel Must Do Whatever Necessary to Protect Itself

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalnews ^ | 7/12/6

[SmithL]

The Bush administration said Wednesday afternoon that “Israel must do whatever necessary to protect itself.”

The terse response came in the wake of an IDF incursion into south Lebanon following multiple attacks by Hizbullah terrorists on northern Israeli communities and soldiers. Two soldiers were kidnapped and three were killed in the early morning attacks.

[TexasPatriot8]

Thank God. Something that Bush said that makes sense. After this travesty of him progicing GC protections to the terrorists in Gitmo, it's nice he says something that makes sense and is actually conservative ideologically. Now if someone will give him a copy of the GC to read through, he can make a correction of his decision, and say that the terrorists are illegal combatants, captured while in violation of the GC committing acts of war as civilians against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and American and Coalition forces, and have no GC protections, and as outlined by the GC, will be executed. He'll never do it, but that would be the right thing to do. Our military needs to just execute these terrorists and take no prisoners if the President is going to just give in to the Democrats and world libs who demand things that the GC do not provide or require from signatory nations.

Thank God he at least got this right with Israel. Israel is an example of how you deal with terrorists. You keep rolling in on them and keep attacking and never back off or back down. THAT is how you fight a war on terror. God bless Israel!

"Who's more irrational? The guy who believes in a God he can't see? Or the guy who is offended by a God he doesn't believe in?" Brad Stine

[DAC21]

"Sounds like the simmering in the Middle East is quickly approaching the boiling point"

It's an inevitability, better now than later.

[jw777]

I'm actually impressed w/Olmert. I didn't think he'd have the guts to take it to them.

[Dog Gone]

The McCormick statement in Post 43 wasn't about the Lebanon situation. In fact, it sounds like it might have been made a day or two ago and incorporated into that editorial.

Something else was said this morning, either by him or by the White House.

[Sabramerican]

Some here are getting excited about this nothing statement from the Administration.

Imagine if Britain was attacked, or even France. Or just remember what occurred when Kuwait was attacked.

The President would be in the Rose Garden making an unequivocal statement in support of a friend and ally. Siding 100% with that friend and wishing them luck in whatever they must do. Giving their, and our enemies, clear notice and warning.

But I guess not from Israel's Best Friend Ever. Nevertheless I will check today's Bush's day in picture thread to see if he was busy doing something else that was of vital importance.

[Sabramerican]

How sad that just the fact that some infrastructure is bombed, with obviously no great concern to the enemy, is now impressive.

[rogue yam]

Imagine if Britain was attacked, or even France. Or just remember what occurred when Kuwait was attacked.

Yes, Israel is treated differently. But within the current political and diplomatic context, this statement by the Administration is the strongest expression of support that Israel will ever get, and Israel's enemies and others will hear it as such. Be happy.

[SeaBiscuit]

Then stop handcuffing them..

[jw777]

How sad, that that is all you see or have been told.

[sdk7x7]

Israel doesn't need to be told to use restraint. Like the US, it drops leaflets to warn civilians of air strikes, etc.

I wish American officials would call on Palestinians to use restraint...or altogether eliminate their attacks on innocent civilians and IDF troops who aren't even engaged in combat.

[section9]

No, we understood that Hezboallah is the local Catspaw of the Pasdaran in the area. We told the Israelis that we would understand if they would have to go in and bat cleanup in the area. The Hezboallah strikes have their genesis in Teheran. We know this. Quit bashing the State Department here. Everyone knows that talk/talk fight/fight is part of the Iranian game plan. Through this announcement, we just told the Iranians that we're not playing their game. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we've decided to knock Hezboallah out of the game altogether, a decision that won't go down well in Teheran.

Now counting the seconds till the Condi bashers show up...

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Sabramerican]

But within the current political and diplomatic context,

The current political and diplomatic AND MILITARY context is that the US is at this minute at war with these same people.

That makes an insignificant statement like this so much more shameful....and telling. And both ominous and foretelling of our future success or failure against this enemy.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Common sense from the State Department? Are there pigs flying outside today?

[Ancesthntr]

This situation with Hezbollah will, IMHO, end in a massive war, with Israel re-entering Lebanon with tens of thousands of soldiers and possible Syrian and Iranian involvement. Why? Because Hezbollah has over 10,000 rockets capable of hitting Israel, they are dug in and trained very well, they have the "protection" of a sovereign nation (2, actually, since Syria is involved) and they are funded by Iran. In short, they think that they are untouchable, so they are unrestrained. The mere fact that they sent their people across the Israeli border to grab 2 soldiers is indicative of their mindset. To do this when Israel is involved with the Gaza situation is a very purposeful and calculated provocation, intended to put Israel in a tough position.

What Hezbollah doesn't seem to understand (or care about) is that Israel CANNOT back down. Olmert's government will fall if he does, so he cannot (and one would hope that Olmert has some vestige of patriotism and moral sense, rather than just a viewpoint of "how does this help/hurt my political career?"). Maybe this is what Hezbollah and/or its master, Iran, want...because this will take the world's attention away from Iran while it continues to enrich uranium and get new missiles from the escaped mental patient in North Korea.

Iran is pulling strings here, and Iran's leader has made it clear that he expects and wants war by 2007 - its the only way, in his twisted view, to bring the Islamic Messiah. There must be, according to this view, a vast conflict with the infidels going on at the time, with much devastation.

I am not optimistic. There hasn't been a general war between the Arabs and Israel in over 30 years, and in the interim Israel has withdrawn from South Lebanon under fire and given away territory to the Paleswinians in exhange for exactly nothing...so the Arabs think that Israel can be pushed further. However, like the Germans and Japanese in WW2 vs. the US, the Arabs don't know that there is a point at which the Israelis will be forced to push back - HARD.

[jschwartz]

You have said it all, with one exception. No doubt this happens because of the expectation of feeble consequences. We see it with Shalit and now in the North, controlled by Syria. This is a pivotal moment for Israel. They need to go back to 1967 borders, especially in greater Jerusalem and do it now, with acceptance of war declarations of Syria and PA.

Iran, on the other hand, is unlikely to embark on a "MAD" policy with geographically distant Israel (which, by the way, may have missile defense system) nor hand over weapons that important to a renegade proxy.

[b4its2late]

Isreal ought to bomb Lebanon back 50 years...and make it a Christian nation once again.

And make Syria a parking lot or give it to the Palis, that'll teach the Syrians......

[Sabramerican]

Did you hear? Abbas bashed Rice.

He called her clueless. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who requested that he use his authority to help free Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Abbas responded that he no longer had any authority.

Who knew I would ever agree with Abbas.

[veronica]

Rice is about as intimidating as a rag doll. Clearly the Arabs have sized her up and found her wanting. As do I. She hardly exudes American power and influence. At least Powell had been a soldier, was battle-tested.

I'll say it again. Sec. of State is A MAN'S JOB, unless a female has the gravitas of a Jeanne Kirkpatrick or Golda Meir.

[piperpilot]

Not that I would EVER advocate violence, but sometimes seeing the tension build year after year like a volcano makes some want for the Top To Blow Friggin' OFF!

My sentiments exactly. Watching the build-up is excruciating because, to me, having to hear the left carp about there not *really* being a war is intolerable. We all need there to be an unmistakeable sign that, yes, there *really* is a war going on and it's a war for our very civilization. That's going to be what's needed for all but the most hardened moonbats on the left to wake up and smell the gunpowder.

[veronica]

They need to go back to 1967 borders..

Never. Not negotiable.