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Condi backed down after Bush backed Olmert plan
World Tribune ^ | Wednesday July 19, 2006

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."


TOPICS: Egypt; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; Syria; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2006israelwar; condeleezarice; condi; egypt; globaljihad; gwot; hezbollah; iran; islam; islamicterrorism; israel; isreal; jihad; lebanon; muslim; muslims; religionofpeace; rop; syria; terror; terrorism; trop; waronterror; wot
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To: MikefromOhio; Arizona Carolyn

"He'd probably still be gov without term limits in the state."

Probably.

He also served as a state delegate for several years.

Senator, United States Senate, 2000-present
Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia, 1994-1998
Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 7, 1991-1993
Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates, 1982-1991
Republican Nominee, Virginia House of Delegates, 1979.


81 posted on 07/21/2006 4:25:46 AM PDT by angkor
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To: Yehuda
"Man plans, G-d laughs.."



Bingo! Thumbs up!
82 posted on 07/21/2006 5:00:54 AM PDT by Convert from ECUSA (The Arab League jihad continues on like a fart in an elevator - FR American in Israel)
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To: Sabramerican

Ping! This might interest you!


83 posted on 07/21/2006 5:01:34 AM PDT by Convert from ECUSA (The Arab League jihad continues on like a fart in an elevator - FR American in Israel)
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To: BradtotheBone

GOOD NEWS!


84 posted on 07/21/2006 5:12:39 AM PDT by Fawn (BUILD A LONG TALL WALL)
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To: lexington minuteman 1775

That was a bit much. I think the USA took care of Afghanistan and Iraq....


85 posted on 07/21/2006 5:13:15 AM PDT by Fawn (BUILD A LONG TALL WALL)
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To: angkor
Isn't Condi's specialty Russia? The paradigm has changed, and I think she's a little too entrenched in the 90s.

I mean, there's quite a cultural and psychological difference between Russians/Eastern Europeans, and the pigs in the Middle East.

(I'm sorry...did I say that outloud?)

86 posted on 07/21/2006 5:32:07 AM PDT by IrishRainy
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To: Joan Kerrey

Great thoughts. The US security and diplomatic apparatus seems stuck on a Cold War model. The president has tried to change those cultures I think to reflect the new enemy and the different nature of the current threat, but the idiot Congress and the even dumber news media seem to attack him every time he tries.


87 posted on 07/21/2006 8:42:08 AM PDT by MikeA (Not voting out of anger in November is a vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House)
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To: MikefromOhio

While I think Allen is a likeable guy, I have doubts about him in a debate, I've seen him when he had questions being fired at him and faltering, he needs to learn to think quickly and firmly on the fly.


88 posted on 07/21/2006 9:37:25 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: angkor

I'm well aware of his background, could be he is just such a Southern Gentleman that he is too nice... nice will get you killed in a campaign against someone like Hillary.


89 posted on 07/21/2006 9:38:24 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn
While I think Allen is a likeable guy, I have doubts about him in a debate, I've seen him when he had questions being fired at him and faltering, he needs to learn to think quickly and firmly on the fly.

So what is your problem with his experience then? That statement doesn't jibe with your other statement about him needing more experience.
90 posted on 07/22/2006 8:56:00 AM PDT by MikefromOhio (aka MikeinIraq)
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To: Argus
And just where does this idiot think those anti-ship missiles came from?

I can just about guarantee that the tooth fairy didn't drop them off!

91 posted on 07/22/2006 8:59:32 AM PDT by Stonewall Jackson ("I see storms on the horizon.")
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To: MikefromOhio

I don't think he is a strong enough speaker (yet) and definitely now strong enough to debate Hillary. Basically, I don't think he can beat her highness and that is what I am looking at for '08, who can beat Hillary.


92 posted on 07/22/2006 11:19:28 AM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn
I don't think he is a strong enough speaker (yet) and definitely now strong enough to debate Hillary. Basically, I don't think he can beat her highness and that is what I am looking at for '08, who can beat Hillary.

I can't think of anyone off of the top of my head who isn't Rudy Giuliani. And he won't be the nominee either. So we have to go with whomever is the strongest beyond that. That's still Allen.
93 posted on 07/22/2006 5:49:22 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (aka MikeinIraq)
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To: BradtotheBone

What will Condi do when Iran announces it has nukes? You can bet that's the reason Israel made a move against Hezbollah and Lebanon now.


94 posted on 07/22/2006 5:53:03 PM PDT by hershey
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To: MikefromOhio
in all the polls I've seen so far Allen is way down the list in name recognition and he isn't catching on. He is young and I think he will make a great candidate, in the future, but if he were to be Veep first I think his odds of being elected go up significantly.

As a VP candidate I see him as a positive for whoever runs at the top of the ticket, because he is likeable and personable -- definitely not a John Edwards-type that grits on you after a very short while.

95 posted on 07/22/2006 6:35:55 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: livius
>> I thought Condi would be great, but she has turned out to be yet another State Dept. creature. I realize that I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, and it's highly possible that she's making all sorts of big changes, etc., etc., but she hasn't seemed a lot different from Powell. I've been very disappointed in her Latin American non-policy, since the region is important to us and it doesn't seem to me that she's treating it that way. And she has been very "Powellish" on the ME. <<

How dare you question Condi's job performance. The affirmative action wing of the GOP would you like to know that she's black AND female AND has an "R" next to her name, therefore she can "beat Hillary" and is automatically entitled to the 2008 presidential nomination.

96 posted on 07/22/2006 8:00:29 PM PDT by BillyBoy (ILLINOIS ELECTION "CHOICES:" Rod Bag-o-$hit or Judas Barf Too-Pinka)
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