Posted on 07/30/2006 11:58:14 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Despite the events in Qana, the US is decided in its rejection of an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah. Minutes after speaking on the telephone with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice (who currently in Israel), US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, declared that the United States is not interested in repeating former mistakes.
"We need a sustainable ceasefire. We need to ensure that Hizbullah will not remain in a position that allows it to threaten Israeli security and we need to return sovereignty to the Lebanese government. We cannot allow Hizbullah to sit on the border and launch thousands of rockets at millions of Israelis," said Burns in an interview on ABC's show 'This Week'.
Burns emphasized that, in the event of an immediate ceasefire, "Hizbullah will keep firing on Israelis and Israel will stay in Lebanon." He added that efforts to create a multinational force will continue, stating that several nations expressed willingness to participate in such a force, but refraining from naming them explicitly. Earlier, ynet reported that these states were France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, and India, who had been approached by the US.
Rice to return empty-handed?
Despite the fact the Secretary Rice did not visit Lebanon on Sunday, she conducted a number of telephone calls with Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, in order to advance political initiatives. However, NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, who accompanied Rice to the Middle East, said that the incident in Qana shattered American diplomatic efforts. According to Mitchell, Rice may return to the US empty-handed, causing Israel to pay a heavy price to revitalize a diplomatic process.
In the meantime, Israel has intensified its PR campaign in the US. Senior Israeli spokespersons were sent to appear opposite Lebanese and Syrian representatives on Sunday talk shows. Vice Premier Shimon Peres appeared on CBS's 'Face the Nation' program, along with PM Lebanese Fouad Siniora. Minister Isaac Herzog appeared opposite the Syrian minister of public relations on CNN, while Israeli UN representative, Danny Gillerman, and Israeli ambassador in Washington, Dan Ayalon, spoke on ABC.
Gillerman stated that "it is important to recall that Hizbullah uses civilians as human shields. It shoots from the midst of the population, which proves the need for disarming the organization. They are holding the Lebanese people hostage."
Ayalon argued with Siniora's security advisor, who labeled Israeli operations, "not a war…(but) war crimes," and called for an immediate and sustainable stop to the killing. Ayalon agreed that 'war crimes' was an applicable term: war crimes undertaken by Hizbullah "who position their forces and their rockets in the midst of civilians."
So much for all the hysterical Rice bashers of this morning who accused her of caving in and surrendering!
As it should be. Judgement day is far from over.
So much for all the hysterical Rice bashers of this morning who accused her of caving in and surrendering!
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It would be good for Bush and Rice if they would take a position early-on, and not appear to be brokering a faux peace. Communications has been short-coming of this administration since 2000. There can be no faux peace, not any more. We know that both Bush and Rice know this. Let us hope they stick to their "guns" -- and show support Israel as the nation fighting for its existence, and its right to exist, that it is.
I'll just bet I can't figure out WHO those were? As predictable as heat in the desert.
Encouraging.
And just WHAT produces the "appearance" that they have any interest in a faux peace? Why not that lil ole Treason Media that we all hate so well?
Even Fox's coverage is piss poor and more of the same as CNN with the hysteria factor turned down slightly.
How does the repeated statement that there will be no call for a "cease fire" which leaves Hizbolla capable of acting militarily get translated into a "faux peace"? Bush could not be any clearer.
So, was Quana a Hezzie attempt to gain sympathy for a cease fire?
She tried and was unsuccessful. It got thrown back in her face.
Rockets were coming from Qana. Israel owes no apology.
Every civilized person hates the loss of human life, but that is what war is. Hezbollah wanted war, and Lebanon allowed this to start on it's own soil. Attacks on Israel had to be met with force. A kiss just will not do.
Is there a rational explaination as to why when hezbollah targets ANYTHING, no one says a word.
When Israel targets a missle launch site, and civilians who had been warned, get killed, it's a huge problem?
Why the glaring double standard?
Then what was she doing Continent hopping if not trying to broker a PEACE DEAL...sampling their local cuisine?
Considering that 85-percent of Lebanese support Hezbollah (according to mainstream media polls), then I am hardly traumatized when and if 85-percent of the Lebanese population is killed in defending those same butcher terrorists.
Either Lebanon is hostage to Hezbollah, or complicit. They can't have it both ways. If they are hostage, then Israel is their liberator. They should be out in the streets doing everything they can to help drive Hezbollah from their stronholds.
If they are complicit, then they are complicit in Hezbollah's crimes, and complicit in their own destruction. Israel warned them to vacate the zone. They didn't. Decisions have consequences.
Rice has stood tall against Appeasing Eurotrash. Meantime, anyone who thinks that the Hezzies didn't know that the Qana thing wasn't going to happen ought to ask how this big Condi poster, mentioning the Qana "massacre", got published so fast.
Fix is in, folks.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
What a totally stupid thing to say.
Any "ceasefire" with those Islamo-Nazis will only benefit Iran, Syria and their terrorists cohorts. Israel, the US, the UK & other allies are combating the same jihadic enemy no matter the location.
Could it be that the Secretary was trying to negotiate a position where Lebanon agrees to a no hezzies allowed or tolerated?
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