Posted on 07/20/2006 2:49:24 PM PDT by BradtotheBone
WASHINGTON — Officials said the Bush administration, after initial hesitation, has determined that the Israeli military campaign against Hizbullah was vital in the effort to reduce the threat from Iran and Syria in the Middle East. They said the administration would not pressure Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
Officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice initially sought to halt Israel's massive retaliation against Hizbullah, which abducted two Israeli soldiers on July 12. They said Ms. Rice, in twice-a-day phone calls, pressed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to significantly reduce the operation to prevent casualties and maintain the Lebanese government.
"Olmert politely and respectfully told Condi that the operation must continue until the rocket attacks end and the Israeli soldiers are released," another official said. "The issue eventually came to the president and Condi backed off."
On Tuesday, President George Bush displayed his greatest support yet for the Israeli war. Bush said Iran and Syria were behind Hizbullah rocket attacks as part of Teheran's campaign to undermine the West. On July 15, Bush's national security adviser said the U.S. intelligence community did not have evidence of Iranian or Syrian involvement. "It is now clear for all to see that there are terrorist elements who want to destroy our democratic friends and allies, and the world must work to prevent them from doing so," Bush said.
Officials said the administration has been pressed by Congress and conservative circles to support Israel during its war against Hizbullah. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a resolution that held Syria and Iran responsible for the "acts of aggression carried out by Hizbullah and Hamas against Israel." The House was expected to pass a similar resolution on Wednesday.
"The Senate has spoken loud and clear: Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said. "While I urge the Israeli government to act carefully, there should be no doubt as to where we stand in this conflict."
Saudi Arabia has also relayed alarm to the United States over the Iranian intervention, officials said. They said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states were concerned that Teheran plans to order a Shi'ite revolt in the region. On Tuesday, Bush spoke by telephone with Saudi King Abdullah in a discussion that focused on the Israeli-Hizbullah war.
As a result, Ms. Rice has postponed her visit to the Middle East to help arrange a ceasefire. Officials said the secretary, who had been expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday, would delay her visit until around July 25.
"A ceasefire that would leave intact a [Hizbullah] terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
On Tuesday, Ms. Rice disagreed with a call by visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Al Gheit during the start of the Egyptian-U.S. strategic dialogue. Ms. Rice dismissed Al Gheit's call for an immediate ceasefire, saying Hizbullah must first release prisoners and withdraw from the Israeli border.
"We have to make certain that anything that we do is going to be of lasting value," Ms. Rice said. "The Middle East has been through too many spasms of violence and we have to deal with underlying conditions so that we can create sustainable conditions for political progress there."
Officials said the administration has been coordinating with Israel to help evacuate the 25,000-member American community in Lebanon. They said Central Command has sent nine ships to Lebanon to evacuate at least 5,000 Americans.
"We have a changing situation [in Lebanon]," U.S. Naval Forces Central Command chief Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh told a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday. "We have a very complex environment that we're about to put a substantial number more of American citizens into, and the security and safety of those people are paramount to us, and that's our No. 1 mission."
Cute! Thanks.
I see references to Foggy Bottom around here all the time, did not know what it was.
Now... I do!
Please don't tell me that Condi is caving in to liberal think.
Officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice initially sought to halt Israel's massive retaliation against Hizbullah,
Officials said the administration has been pressed by Congress and conservative circles to support Israel during its war against Hizbullah.
Officials said the administration has been coordinating with Israel to help evacuate the 25,000-member American community in Lebanon.
****************
At least it's official.
Americans who have lowered their expectations to a realistic level will be happy with anything offered by U.S. consular staff.
Interesting take.
Doesn't she seem a little slow to get the new version? People are coming out of the woodwork to support Israel! Bolton figuratively spits out his coffee laughing at the idea of a cease-fire, and she's still hawking the old paradigm.
dunno.
And she remains on my 2008 VPOTUS list, with George Allen as POTUS.
I think she's still a bit of the academic.
She has 2 more years to learn realpolitik.
"Is Foggy Bottom another name for the State Dept.? "
Yes.
DC is built on a swamp, and State is nearly adjacent to the Potomac River. So the small landmass from State down to the Lincoln Memorial - just a couple hundred yards really - tends to be a fog (humidity) sump.
Mine too, at the moment. Also, she's been pretty unyielding, judging from the little we know, on the pro-life front. This may not be important to some FReepers, but it matters to me, and I couldn't vote for somebody who is pro-abortion.
On the other hand, there are other aspects. I just attended an event featuring Randall Terry, who is running for state senator here in Florida. His GOP primary opponent is awful and 100% pro-death (death for all, infant, ill adult, or elderly!), but I would have a lot of trouble voting for Randall because of some completely stupid, bigoted sounding statements he made about an unrelated issue. So there are a lot of things factored into my vote.
But in general, I haven't been thrilled with her performance, and combined with her pro-choice stance, this pretty much crosses her off my list.
Are you sure you aren't just infatuated with him for putting the "smack down" on Helen Thomas?
Bolton for Sec of State.
The RINO's finally said something I agree with.
As has John Bolton, Both are good men in the right place at the right time.
Most consulates make it clear that their first duty is toward businessmen dealing with the locals. As for the "ugly" types: you do understand that the media is seeking out the grouches, and will not feature anyone who does not have a good "story." to tell. Their editors will ignore them if they don't.
She has taken the position of reining in Israel from the get-go. I see no real change here.
They think terrorists and rogues can be made to change their ways through endless jabber-jawing. I don't get it.
The world has changed, war has changed, the enemy is different, the Geneva convention is out of date and doesn't seem to be relevant in today's world, FISA is out of date, The defense department, CIA, FBI and other agencies are being revamped but the State Department plods along totally unaware that everything around them has changed. Negotiation, jabber-jawing and subtle hidden hints dropped over high tea is all they know.
Bush's national security adviser said the U.S. intelligence community did not have evidence of Iranian or Syrian involvement.
They don't have much evidence on anything anymore.
Great, and we want to run this Aribist(Powell light) for President.
This should help cool all that ridiculous "Condi for President" talk.
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