Secretary General Annan has replaced the US foreign policy with Folger's crystals. Let's see if the President notices.
Posted on 08/16/2006 6:57:16 AM PDT by conservativecorner
Iran must stop supporting armed groups trying to derail democracies in Iraq and Lebanon, President Bush said Monday, casting the war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas as part of a wider struggle against terrorism.
Bush added Lebanon to Iraq and Afghanistan as a front in what his administration calls the global war on terror. "The conflict in Lebanon is part of a broader struggle between freedom and terror that is unfolding across the region," he said.
Unrelenting violence in Iraq has hurt Bush's popularity and Republicans are concerned that anti-war sentiment could hurt their bid to keep control of Congress in the November election.
"It's no coincidence that two nations that are building free societies in the heart of the Middle East - Lebanon and Iraq - are also the scenes of the most violent terrorist activity," Bush said.
The president has repeatedly blamed Iran and Syria for supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, but Monday his emphasis was on Tehran - saying it must back off supporting fighters in both Iraq and Lebanon.
"In both these countries, Iran is backing armed groups in the hope of stopping democracy from taking hold," Bush said.
The United States is pressing for international action to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes.
"Iran has made clear that it seeks the destruction of Israel. We can only imagine how much more dangerous this conflict would be if Iran had the nuclear weapon it seeks," Bush said.
As a fragile truce took hold in south Lebanon, Bush again blamed Hezbollah for provoking the month-long conflict. "Hezbollah attacked Israel, Hezbollah started the crisis and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis," Bush said.
His comments came after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said his group had achieved a "strategic and historic victory" over Israel and that it was the wrong time to publicly discuss disarming it.
Bush also dismissed critics who blame American policies for the current instability in the Middle East, saying the United States launched its "freedom agenda" only after Sept. 11 and earlier attacks by al-Qaida, hostage-taking by militants in Iran, and attacks by Hezbollah.
"The message of this administration is clear. America will stay on the offensive against al-Qaida. Iran must stop its support for terror, and the leaders of these armed groups must make a choice. If they want to participate in the political life of their countries, they must disarm," Bush said.
The U.N.-brokered truce came after about 1,100 people in Lebanon and 156 Israelis were killed in the conflict. While Israel says it killed around 530 Hezbollah guerrillas, Hezbollah has acknowledged about 80 fighters killed.
I'm glad he said it. They have always listened to good advice in the past.
What ever happened to the cowboy we grew to expect?
The world continues to struggle with getting its act together against terrorism and Islamofascism. Meanwhile, the whole thing gets lip service, with the partial exception of a PC-driven war in Iraq.
"Iran Must Stop Support of Terror"
Or what? I'll bet they are quaking in their sandals after that threat...
Yeah, you big mean bully! You better stop it or we'll...we'll... take you to the UN! Just STFU unless you're willing to do something. Bluster, Bluster, Bluster, bla,bla,bla
I wish President Bush would stand his ground and tell the UN to take a flying leap. Apparently the UN and the Democrats expect this country and Israel to fight terrorists while standing on one foot, blindfolded, with one hand tied behind our back and wearing a huge "Kick Me" sign on the seat of our pants.
All hat and no cattle BUMP!
> What ever happened to the cowboy we grew to expect?
I'm afraid there was only one Ronaldus Maximus. Boy, do I miss him, more every day in these dark times.
Secretary General Annan has replaced the US foreign policy with Folger's crystals. Let's see if the President notices.
Words from our dear Sec. of State today in an interview:
"I don't think there is an expectation that this (U.N.) force is going to physically disarm Hezbollah," Rice said. "I think it's a little bit of a misreading about how you disarm a militia. You have to have a plan, first of all, for the disarmament of the militia, and then the hope is that some people lay down their arms voluntarily." If Hezbollah resists international demands to disarm, Rice said, "one would have to assume that there will be others who are willing to call Hezbollah what we are willing to call it, which is a terrorist organization."
Bush has to play his cards carefully and on his time table...he's prepping the battle field...he saw how the Iranians used the Hezzies as proxies...now he knows that capability. I hope he's merely waiting for the interim elections to be over to strike Iran.
We need to topple the Iranian governement the "very hard" way...
I was going to post my own thoughts on this..but yours pretty much summed mine up..
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
I think its time to put the word "war on terror" on the back burner and raise the stakes a bit by calling a spade a spade.
There really aren't any plain old terrorists anymore, just Jihaddis terror-killing kuffar non-believers as they struggle to force the world to submit to the Mullahs.
The "War against Islamo-Fascism" does it quite well. If non-radical Muslims are offended by this, then they should do something about it and speak out against the Jihaddis.
How can you ever galvanize public opinion with crapola like this? We need clarity and actionable statements at this critical hour, not diplomatic dancing. It's fitting that the State Department is located in Washington's Foggy Bottom area.
The "Global-except-Iraq war on terror" just became the "Global-except-Iraq-and-Hezbollah war on terror".....Soon to be the "Global-except-Iraq-Iran-and Hezbollah war on terror."
We all talk a tough game here, whining about
the Pres failing with the UN, but there is no chance of success there. Seriously. France should be considered our enemy. Germany? there certainly not our allie.
China, Russia?.
What do you expect him to do?
Will we have
the collective spine to support the President if the
proverbial manure hits the fan and we strike?.
I know the Libs will be falling all over themselves
to surrendur, thats a given.
Democrats are jokes.
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