Posted on 07/27/2006 12:45:09 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
HALIFAX - The United States and other western countries should be pushing hard for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, along with the insertion of an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said Wednesday.
The Islamic group Hezbollah's tactics are at the root of the latest bloody conflict in the region, but Clinton also questioned the length to which Israel has gone to defend itself. "It's important for us to get some kind of ceasefire now," Clinton said.
"I think this idea of an international force needs to be fleshed out."
His position stands in contrast to the Bush administration and Israel, which have both rejected the idea of a quick truce.
As three days of inconclusive Mideast diplomacy broke up in Rome, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a ceasefire without conditions would allow Hezbollah to regroup and attack Israel or other countries anew.
Clinton said Israel has been looking for an opportunity to "degrade" Hezbollah's military capacity.
"The danger in this Israeli strategy is that Hezbollah attacks with rockets, then hides among civilians," he told 5,000 people at a sold-out event at the Halifax Metro Centre.
"No matter how measured the response is, if you go after them, you're going to kill innocent people."
Hezbollah has tried to do what Hamas has done in the Palestinian territories and said, "when it suits us we'll be a political party and when it suits us we'll go to war," Clinton told former Canadian ambassador to Washington Frank McKenna in a question-answer session following the speech.
Clinton also said Israel went too far in bombing the airport in Beirut.
"I understand why (Israel) wanted to degrade their military capacity, but I question whether it was worth it to wreck the airport because the airport was the symbol of the new Lebanon."
NATO is probably the only international group with the military muscle capable of fielding a peacekeeping force, said Clinton.
"If we're ever going to have a peaceful Middle East, then the peacemakers will have to be protected in a way that won't get them blamed every time they fight back," he said.
Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, is in Canada this week to talk about bilateral relations.
He's been to Canada 20 times since he left the Oval Office, mostly for speaking engagements.
In his speech Wednesday, he urged Canada to stay the course on universal health care.
He also focused his attention on the depletion of the world's oil reserves.
Last year he sent a stern message to oil-rich Alberta about the effects of global warming.
Clinton said energy-producing nations shouldn't keep their "heads in the sand" and allow the world's climate to change to the point where it could have catastrophic results.
Although organizers of Wednesday's event were tight-lipped about his speaking fee, published sources say Clinton charges $16,000 US for every engagement.
Tickets for the 45-minute speech in Halifax went for $99.
Since leaving the office he held from 1992 to 2000, Clinton has often been in the news for his efforts on behalf of victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and global poverty.
Take a hike between the warring factions, Mr. President.
Previous Presidents who screwed up on their watch should STFU.
Western Leaders tell Bill "Get out of the way Stupid"
"In his speech Wednesday, he urged Canada to stay the course on universal health care"
Well folks, there ya have it... BJ is now fully committed to carrying on the proud traditions of Clinton first ladies.
Well, Bill-bo certainly knows flesh!
Besides, I thought he said he would grab a rifle and jump in a ditch to defend Israel. What is he waiting for?
Oh, shut up!
Take your Monica pictures and go back into your locked bathroom!
Real men are in charge now!
Please do - it makes for good business for doctors here in the States!
It's good to see Clinton hasn't lost his magic touch, when it comes to international screw-ups. A ceasefire brokered before Israel has cleared out the wasp nest, would leave wasps in place.
It's really painful when Clinton runs out of girls less than half his age to bother.
..that depends on what the meaning of IS IS
Doogle
There's that ol' Bob Clinton again.
And while you are STFU, watch and learn how the adults conduct foreign policy you lying sack of shiite....
Yes....we are allowing the earth to do what it wants.
He's campaigning in Canada for unpublished contributions to his wife's campaign coffers.
Its called "fees" his agenda is run by a lobbyist in California who has a multi-million dollar bankroll from "investors" in the Middle East, from which he has already paid BJ millions (for speaches).
If slick wants to be head of the UN he should go to some of those "observation" posts and observe.
..and if you do nothing,like you, then expect to lose 3,000 innocent people in an hour
Doogle
Hey Perv, just pocket the $200,000 or so you are getting to unwittingly talk about your utter faliure as a President, and SHUT THE F*** UP.
this just in......
Clinton to offer nuclear weapons to hezbollah in exchange for cease-fire. Sends Madelaine albright to broker terms of Israeli surrender.
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