U.S. Directs Criticism at Israel

AP ^ | 8/9/6 | NEDRA PICKLER

[SmithL]

The White House said Wednesday neither Israel nor Hezbollah should escalate their month-old war, a pointed comment after Israel decided to widen its ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Although White House press secretary Tony Snow said the message was for both sides, his remarks came as Israel's Security Cabinet voted to expand the war effort in an attempt to deal further blows to Hezbollah. The criticism was among the administration's strongest concerning longtime ally Israel since the fighting began.

"We are working hard now to bridge differences between the United States position and some of the positions of our allies," Snow told reporters in Texas, where President Bush was vacationing. "We want an end to violence and we do not want escalations."

Meanwhile, rifts over a plan to stop the fighting delayed approval of a resolution at the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. and France were offering competing versions.

France proposed new language on a total cease-fire and Israeli pullout, but the Americans rejected it

[MaineVoter2002]

We still involved in fighting the War On Terror?

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Anybody has Tony Snow's email address?

[subterfuge]

It's just the PC thing to say.

[No Blue States]

Thats pretty mild...especially in light of the last sentence:

"France proposed new language on a total cease-fire and Israeli pullout, but the Americans rejected it"

[Personal Responsibility]

With any luck there was a conversation with the Israelis beforehand that said something like "Disregard anything we say publicly. Do what you have to do. Go kick their ass."

[calex59]

I think we should butt the he** out. We kill terrorists that kill us, so why can't Israel? Double standard I guess, and I guess Bush didn't mean what he said when he said they were either for us or against us. Well, Israel is for us, although I don't know why, but hezbullsh** wants to kill us all. We should just shut up and let Israel run with it.

[MaineVoter2002]

It's just the PC thing to say but the arabs that were neutral a couple of weeks ago are getting a message that...just maybe 'the jews are not so innocent as we thought last week'.

Their media will sell it as such...coming from the White House.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The White House said Wednesday neither Israel nor Hezbollah should escalate their month-old war, a pointed comment after Israel decided to widen its ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

I'm increasingly coming to believe that the half-hearted battle of the West against terrorism is just the latest historical example of civilization falling to barbarism.

[The Blitherer]

Hey, "White House", get the hell out of Israel's way!

[tobyhill]

Required public talk but behind the scenes talk is the only ones that count.

[oldleft]

The White House said Wednesday neither Israel nor Hezbollah should escalate their month-old war

And By escalate, we mean nuke Beirut. On second though, go ahead. But be restrained about it.

[The Blitherer]

Required public talk but behind the scenes talk is the only ones that count.

But, see, that's the problem. In this war, public talk DOES count just as much, if not even more so than private talk. This is a war of hearts, minds and ideology.

[MaineVoter2002]

I agree but still Im not surprised. Our troops now think 2 or 3 or 4 times before defending themselves out of new fears that they mau be charged for murder by our own government for doing so. That's wrong. If we cant fight this war without this PC crap and without tying the hands of our troops. BRING EM HOME!

We have Iran and N. Korea watching us...and they are liking what they see, Im sure.

[SmithL]

nuke Beirut.
...But be restrained about it.

And proportional, too.

[tobyhill]

Politicians use double talk all the time but Israel is going to do what they need to and regardless what is said publicly we will let them.

[MaineVoter2002]

behind the scenes talk is the only ones that count

Depends on if the public talk is enflaming the arabs against the jews. When the US publically scolds Israel, then some will draw a conclusion that the Hezbos must be the good guys.

[slowhand520]

Yeah here it is:

SMcClellan @whitehouse.gov

[sandbar]

>>>We still involved in fighting the War On Terror?>>>

Apparently, according to the WH, we are the only ones who are supposed to fight it. Anyone else should just bend over and take it.

[lilylangtree]

Just take the restraints off Israel and let her get the necessary job done.