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Posted on 07/29/2006 10:30:17 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Israeli combat soldiers walk along the Israeli northern border with Lebanon. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is pursuing a new round of Middle East diplomacy as the Lebanon conflict moved into its 19th day, with Israel and Hezbollah exchanging firepower and threats in defiance of international moves toward a ceasefire
1,000?.......... Add what we have on our Carriers in the region and make that number 5,000
Studying Middle-East "patterns" for years won't tell you much worth knowing.
Studying President Bush, on the other hand, will.
...And President Bush doesn't cave. There's not going to be some Kerry-esque reversal of foreign policy just because France, the UN, some Democrats, and the news media are on TV squealing like little schoolgirls whose hair has been pulled.
Israel has until January of 2009 to clean up Lebanon. There's no need to rush. There's no need to pretend that victory in the Middle East must happen overnight.
I'm getting sick of all the Condi bashing lately.
Exactly. If Israel has until January 2009 to handle this situation, things look very good indeed. From the reports we've heard about Rice's peace initiative....well, let's see.
As I've said - I'll be more than happy to be shown to be wrong on this one.
"Reports" from who? The press?
Please.
President Bush outlined Rice's peace initiative yesterday morning. What he said counts, all else is spin.
And what GWB said was that Hezbollah must disarm, release the soldiers, as well as that Lebanon and an international force must move in to Southern Lebanon such that the democratic Lebanese government controlled 100% of its borders.
True prior to 9/11 and President Bush....things are different now. See Southacks' comments above......
nite all!
10:35
Olmert: Israel not in a hurry to agree to cease-fire until it achieves its goals
(AP)
Around Wednesday of this past week, IDF Generals were upset over a perceived lack of indirect supporting fires for ground operations inside Lebanon, close air support and artillery.
The Cabinet met Thursday, and decided "not to increase ground operations", but also called up 30,000 more troops. They also decided to level any buildings or areas with supporting fires before entering those areas with ground troops.
On Friday, Israel warned a broad swath of villages and cities across Southern Lebanon, running from Qlaile on the coast, east all the way to the Israeli/Lebanese border at Houla. This swath includes Qana.
We currently see heavy use of artillery, imagery of armored columns north of Shimona, are hearing reports of heavy fighing at Taibe, and the city of Qana has recveived heavy damage from airstrikes.
Although these pieces can easily be connected to form a logical and coherent pattern, discussing future or even currently ongoing operations is dangerous for the troops fighting there, and for Israel as well.
That said, certain basic conclusions ought to be obvious at this point.
Hezb'allah
with the reports coming in of heavy civy death tolls in Cana (yes, that Cana - water to wine), Hizbullah/Syria/Iran will have their causes belli to make the air raid sirens go off in TelAviv. If we don't hear sires going off in TelAviv in the next 24-48 hours then Iran isn't ready and this event will likely stayed confined to Israel and Lebanon, which will suck for Iran and Syria b/c its beginning to look like they are going to lose their proxy at least south of the Litani
Ynet reporting elements of Nahal division and the 401st armored division currently engaged around Taibe, NW of Metula, IDF making plans for larger operations:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3283335,00.html
JPost confirms, refers to the 401st as a Brigade, and is reporting the Golani division is engaged near Kfar Kila:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292030808&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Maps:
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/912/maps/mot-maps/
Think Olmert will capitulate with his Cana problem? The damn media is going to have a field day with this. Its not as if the IAF hasn't been dropping leafets over the area for the past 2 weeks warning these people . . . sheesh. Just when things were starting to move in the right direction. I hope Olmert has the fortitude to stick this out, lot of Israeli MKs making public statements
60 killed in IAF strike on Qana in southern Lebanon
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has reportedly cancelled her visit to Lebanon after an IAF strike in the village of Qana in which sixty people were killed. On Sunday morning, IAF fighter jets bombed the southern Lebanese town, destroying several houses in which dozens of people were trapped, Israel Radio reported.
Nearly half the victims were reported to be children.
Rice arrived in Israel on Saturday and was expected to continue on to Lebanon in an effort to broker a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hizbullah.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, meanwhile, demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and insisted on an investigation into the Qana attack.
After reading your thoughtful posts on this topic, I admit I am confused by your admitted confusion.
Jpost says IDF pulled out of Maroun al Ras and Bent Jbail, leaving only a small garrison in place.
I have yet to see any reports indicating which way those forces went when they left.
It is possible we will get a...more accurate count...of the casualties in Qana before long.
Remember the "Jenin massacre"?
Lebanon says Rice unwelcome before ceasefire
Lebanon told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday that it could not meet with her before a ceasefire ends a 19-day-old Israeli offensive, Lebanese officials said.
The officials said Rice, who was due in Beirut later on Sunday, was informed of the Lebanese position after an Israeli airstrike killed more than 40 civilians in south Lebanon. They said Rice's visit to Beirut has been cancelled. (Reuters)
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Sometimes it is very nice to be shown to be utterly and completely wrong.
Whatever is happening now the cancellation of the trip to Beirut will give Israel a further respite to do what they have to do with Hezbollah.
Do you think Lebanon canceled Rice's trip because they couldn't guarantee her safety?
I think Lebanan's government cancelled Rice's trip because they can't guarantee their own security if she is allowed in.
Watch.
A great howling and a great gnashing of teeth is about to begin.
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