"But didn't I always tell you that if I just kept my mouth shut and didn't say anything, good things were bound to happen?"
Posted on 08/12/2006 3:41:30 PM PDT by radar101
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Israeli radio she hoped a Lebanon ceasefire would take effect in "a day or so" after approval of a UN resolution by the Lebanese and Israeli cabinets.
Her comments came shortly before Lebanese Finance Minister Jihad Azour told AFP that his government, which includes Hezbollah representatives, unanimously had voted in favor of the UN resolution calling for an end to hostilities with Israel.
He said the approval came "despite some reservations."
Rice said she expected Israel's cabinet to approve the UN resolution Sunday. It provides for the deployment of a robust international peacekeeping force but allows Israel to withdraw gradually from Lebanon and respond to attacks by the Hezbollah militia.
Israel's cabinet is expected to meet Sunday but has already indicated it was also ready to endorse the ceasefire.
Rice said she expected hostilities to end shortly after then.
"I would hope that within no more than a day or so of that, that there would be a cessation of the hostilities on the ground," she said in an interview with Israel's Radio One.
Rice said "the hostilities have been most difficult for civilians, both Israeli and Lebanese."
She added that the widened Israeli offensive did not mean that the Jewish state would halt its military operations once the Lebanese and Israeli governments reach agreement to do so.
"My understanding is that this is part of the normal operations that were contemplated," Rice said of the Israeli push up to the Litani River.
"But that when the ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities comes into being, Israel will stop," Rice said.
Israeli military and political officials said they believed their widened offensive launched overnight would wind down on Monday once Israeli troops have taken control of most of south Lebanon.
Rice explained that since the adoption of the resolution by the UN Security Council late Friday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been discussing a ceasefire timetable with Israel and Lebanon.
She added that she expected the resolution to introduce "an enduring ceasefire."
Rice further defended the much-criticized US position of refusing to urge Israel to accept an end to hostilities before now, saying that the conditions were simply not right in the previous weeks.
"One reason, as much as we wanted an immediate stop to the hostilities, that the United States refused to just call for an immediate stop to the hostilities, was that we needed to have in place some conditions that might give us a chance to have an enduring ceasefire," Rice said.
She said the new force operating in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah is based will have more than 15,000 Lebanese soldiers and about 15,000 international troops operating under the existing United Nations UNIFIL team.
Israel launched a massive offensive in Lebanon following a July 12 border attack by Hezbollah in which eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two captured.
This was the first thought on my mind when I read the headline.
I honestly dont know whether to do a mega hurl or fall on the ground laughing at the sheer stupidity & barefaced lying in those words!!
Sadly, methinks Dr. Rice isn't as bright as I thought she was, or she is an altruist.
Bingo. See my other post here.
"But didn't I always tell you that if I just kept my mouth shut and didn't say anything, good things were bound to happen?"
"Keep the faith baby!"
/sarcasm
I'm sure Condi did a great job. I have more faith in her than I ever did with Colin Powell. I have liked her since the 1980s when I read a piece she wrote for the book "Makers of Modern Strategy". Thought of her as someone who knew what's what in the world since then. I'd just hate to hear the likes of Hillary Clinton & Howard Dean criticising her when Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire.That's why I wish she wasn't put on point for this situation.
"Condi, you're delusional. Take the NFL Commissioners Job. You're a failure as SECSTATE, lady."
Sheeeit. Three months ago Freepers were promoting Condi for Pres!
Not me. Never considered her for running for the President.
You make good points. She is out front on this.
But the folks you mention would criticise her regardless. If she wasn't out front, if she is...
thanks for your reply.
"US expects Lebanon violence to end in the End of Days."
Not me, l. She's never been presidential timeber, IMO.
Nice lady, probably very good NS Advisor, bad SECSTATE, never presidential, though.
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