U.S. diplomats begin viewing Lebanon war as success

Haaretz ^ | 9/15/6 | Shmuel Rosner

[SmithL]

Foreign Ministry officials say that American diplomats' criticism of Israeli conduct during the war stems from excessively high expectations of the IDF's performance.

WASHINGTON - Far removed from the military and political squabbles rocking Israel, something has changed in the way Washington leaders are assessing the outcome of the Lebanon war.

The war is no longer seen as a "failure," but as an "achievement" and even a "success." The terms are still cautious, but American diplomats are describing the progress in Lebanon optimistically.

A senior State Department official told Haaretz on Wednesday that U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's promises to change the status quo were fast becoming a reality. There is a chance to change the atmosphere, he said.

This sentiment was echoed in Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's talks with Bush and Rice and, to a certain extent, with Vice President Dick Cheney.

On Wednesday morning, before Livni began her meetings, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch spoke optimistically about the war in the Senate Foreign Committee.

He told the senators that the new rules laid down by the Security Council in Resolution 1701 "would change the situation in Lebanon and the region for the better and would more than meet our standard of no return to the status quo ante."

The senior official said the way the Security Council handled the issue so far indicated that other resolutions would also be promoted in the next few weeks, including the release of Israeli prisoners of war.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "I was really encouraged by the seriousness with which governments are pressing ahead with implementation [of resolutions]."

[Parley Baer]

I have been thinking all along if Hamas was the winner in Lebanon I sure would not want to be the winner in that war. I thought the loser faired much better than reported.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

Sounds hopeful. Fingers crossed.

[Prost1]

What I want to know is if souther Lebanon has fresh running water, electricity and sewage operating.

Without the above, and the ability to bring food, fuel and supplies in, the land and people will whither.

Winter comes for Southern Lebanon in many ways...

Large areas were once part of the "Promised Land of Israel".

We shall see.