Condi backed down after Bush backed Olmert plan

World Tribune ^ | Wednesday July 19, 2006

[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."

[Ecliptic]

Does Condi not see the big picture?
This brings her down a couple of notches in my view....why wasn't she on the phone to Iran, Syria or Lebanon??

[Cecily]

"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 needs to take the phone off the hook, or maybe use the old PeeWee Herman "what?, what? We have a bad connection" line.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Yes, I know she is pro-life and that is another of the reasons I'm not fond of her for any higher position.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Neither one is warm with me, thought I like the concept of Allen for Veep.. he needs more experience before making the big leap.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I was away cooking dinner, see you received an answer.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I thought it was pretty cool, the look on his face as he let her dig a big hole for herself and then made his comment.

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks, you really are nice.

Sometimes, names really fit.

[La Enchiladita]

She's having to shed some of the Albright anti-Semitism. It's reflexive in mainstream international studies.

Wow, I always wondered where it came from. Because I swear Condi looked PALE when Israel commenced to defend herself. Israel is our FRIEND, Condi, not our enemy.

IMO, Dubya may tend to trust his appointees too much, giving too much autonomy, and Condi's like a member of the family. I'm glad somebody pulled his coat to her wrong approach re Israel.

[La Enchiladita]

Bolton for Sec of State.

YESSS!!! NOW!!!

[Salem]

Remember, Condi has been immersed in that Arabist rat's nest, the State Department for a number of years now. Those entrenched bureaucrats have not doubt had a negative effect on her.

---

Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.





If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me ~
High Volume During IDF offensive operations!
    
MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

"The West has given more significance to the myth of the genocide of the Jews, even more significant than God, religion, and the prophets...."—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Holocaust Chronicle ~



" ... It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world."—FReeper Retief
"Palestine is the wrong name for their State. It should be called Anarchy."—FReeper sgtbono2002
"Then let's wait and see what the Arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."—FReeper Noachian
A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."
The Nature Of Bruce ~

[Arizona Carolyn]

I agree with your assessment Dita.. it also dawned on me when I saw this happening that it's not necessarily a good thing to have someone you and your wife are personally close to in a sensitive position. Makes slapping wrists a little more difficult.

[La Enchiladita]

I briefly entertained Condi for President but that was very early in her SECSTATE position. I've been forced to think more carefully about her and she's gone as high as she should go. She's an academic at heart, and academia is thoroughly, intrinsically liberal.

[Arizona Carolyn]

You nailed it....

[section9]

I have a hard time believing a source like "World Tribune", especially given the fact that the entire intelligence apparat going into Condi and the President indicated that the Iranians and the Syrians were working hand in glove with the Hezzies. Condi was out front, with the President, supporting Israel from the beginning. The only caveat was that the Lebanese weren't supposed to get trashed. Sucks to be them, I guess.

This is one of the oldest tricks in the book. This article was floated by people who wanted to make Condi look indecisive and weak. I'm not buying it. Too bad too many of you are buying into an unsourced article.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[familyop]

"On July 15, Bush's national security adviser said the U.S. intelligence community did not have evidence of Iranian or Syrian involvement."

We don't need anti-Israel, anti-American religious identity people or Democrat holdovers in our intelligence offices. This is the USA--not old Europe. We don't need any more Robert Hanssens in our government offices at all.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Someone said the US taxes Americans wherever they may be on the globe. When the British Beatles sang about the Taxman, not even they envisioned this.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Thank goodness Bush finally gets it regarding what needs to be done in the Mideast, and that Hizbullah has to be wiped out to achieve any real possibility for peace in that area of the world.

That seems crystal clear from how the Hezzies are acting. Let he who casts the first missile...

[MikefromOhio]

Neither one is warm with me, thought I like the concept of Allen for Veep.. he needs more experience before making the big leap.

Unless you are picking Romney or Sanford for your Presidential pick, no one else, and I mean NO ONE else is more experienced in the candidate poll than Allen. Successful term as Governor in Virginia, successful terms as a Senator from Virginia. He'd probably still be gov without term limits in the state.