Bush Asserts Israel's Right to Defense

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[sonsofliberty2000]

Bush Asserts Israel's Right to Defense

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) declined to criticize Israel Monday for its air strike inside Syria, saying Israel "has got a right to defend herself." But Bush also said he had cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) to try to avoid escalating tensions in the region.

Bush decried the "needless murder" of 19 people in a suicide attack by a Palestinian militant group in Israel on Saturday that led to the Israeli attack on a suspected terrorist camp in Syria.

Bush said that the Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) must do more to fight terror and "must use whatever means is necessary .... All parties must assume responsibility."

[Ready4Freddy]

"i guess he's trying to make a point to syria as well... if syria wont at least condemn these attacks on israel then they are no better than terrorists and should be considered that way, and dealt with."

There ya go. See, it's really pretty simple, isn't it?

[Steel Wolf]

From a cinematic point of view, I'd agree, it is a fairly mild statement. It wouldn't make a memorable Air Force One-esqe 'We will never negotiate with terrorists! Never!' scene in a movie.

As far as diplomacy goes, it's a pissed off Drill Sergeant with a bullhorn screaming in the sleeping ears of every country in the Middle East. They rely on us to restrain Israel; it's what makes their sponsoring of terrorism possible. If we are no longer willing to stop them, then they will either have to suffer the humiliation of watching their terrorist camps flattened, or go to war with Israel. Their whole way of dealing with Israel hinges on our refusal to call a terrorist spade a terrorist spade.

The timing is very interesting, as well. Iraq is mostly pacified, aside from the foriegn slapheads that Syria has allowed in to cause trouble. Between a rock, and an increasingly hard place, Syria is finding itself suddenly under an unstoppably crushing weight. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the terrorists, or to fight their way out. Otherwise, they will face humiliation after humiliation until Assad's government falls.

[Flyer]

at least consulted with syria before just launching an attack

DUCK!

Consultation over. . .

[Steel Wolf]

Since you're a newbie, let me save you from the 'DU troll police' and answer your question before you get lit up. They've been a little triggerhappy lately, but I think you are trying to ask reasonable enough questions. Here goes:

im still trying to understand the rationale for israel entering another country to destroy an islamic jihad facility...

Syria is a sponsor of Islamic Jihad, which conducts terror attacks in Israel. They offer Islam Jihad safe haven, diplomatic cover, bases, and logistical support, in return for a proxy fighting force they can use against Isreal. Isreal is too powerful for Syria to attack direcly, so they seek to weaken them using third party terrorist groups such as JI, Hamas, etc. (Iran is actually the grandmaster of this game, but Syria is close and equally guilty)

im also trying to understand bush making that comment about "defending oneself"...

The attacks against Israel would not have been possible without Syrian support. Israel is attacking the command and control center of a hostile organization, which would constitute self defense.

im also interested in knowing if syria condemned the attacks on israel and what they are doing to prevent future attacks...

Syria does not make a habit of condeming terrorist attacks. They usually make the arguement that Israel had it coming, and can expect more of the same, while denying any responsibility themselves. They have no interest in preventing further attacks permently, however Syria will often restrict their subordinate groups from action, or tell them to increase their attacks, depending on Syria's political needs.

i understand that israel was attacked in a most gruesome way, but shouldnt they have at least consulted with syria before just launching an attack in its territories?

So they could ready their air defenses? What for? The official position of the Syrian government is that there are no terrorist groups in Syria. The persons and organizations that are considered terrorists by us are not by Syria. The only terrorist organization they believe exists in the middle east is the IDF.

consistent with bush's foreign policy history, after going in and kicking afghanistan & iraq regimes out for defending terrorists, i guess he's trying to make a point to syria as well...

if syria wont at least condemn these attacks on israel then they are no better than terrorists and should be considered that way, and dealt with.

Words are words, actions are actions. Syria is clearly known to all as a sponsor of these groups, whether or not anyone agrees on the definition of 'terrorist'.

im on bush's side, but i think he's starting to lose control of the situation that 9/11 created...</>

On the contrary, he's warmed up and working wonders.

[Cobra Scott]

You don't have to be a pro-zionist to see Israel as an ally in the war on scumbag terrorists. What matters is the here and now.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually GW made a similiar state to Arafatty and the PLO a year ago last spring.

It was something like "Make the right choice and live."
I don't remember the exact response, but it really grated the left wingers in the media and congress.

Was it something like "Chose Life?"

[TheBattman]

but shouldnt they have at least consulted with syria before just launching an attack in its territories?

Just like we (the US) should have consulted the Taliban before we went into Afghanistan after Osama.....?

Syria is a KNOWN terrorist state that is one of the biggest supporters of Hamas and the palestinian terrorists, as well as terrorists around the WORLD.

As far as I am concerned, if Israel wanted to blow Syria off the face of the earth, they would have many legitimate reasons to do so. The fact that their strike killed zero tells me that they in fact did use restraint.

I also haven't heard Syria deny that the Israeli target was a Hamas training center. They are only focusing on the "unjust" violation of Syria's sovereignty.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[kjam22]

Bush had a mandate by the people in the weeks after 9-11. Bush could have really made an impact on the middle east. He could have cleaned out Hamas and all the other terrorist factions with about a 90% approval rating by voters. Issuing a statement that he supports Israel's right to defend itself is pretty lame to me.

[Grampa Dave]

I have all ways wondered how much the Opecker Princes and Thugs in Iran and previously Iraq paid Syria to have these training camp sites for Islamokazis.

[quant5]

Syria made the typical statement of "we condemn the bombing of innocent civilians but understand armed Islamic resistance against Israeli agression" -

In other words, we (Syria) support (economically and militarily) Islamic Jihad and civilian targets as long as it it called "Islamic resistance". Israel has heard enough proxy BS in the last 30 years to write a new Koran.

No, after 30 years I do not think Israel should consult. Israel is being slowly strangled to death. They should defend themselves by attacking the true source which they have know about for years.

[Moleman]

Always liked "But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned out cinder."
Yes that was a great quote. I believe you are correct that Klaatu said "...pursue your present course ..."

[priceofreedom]

I wouldnt be suprised if many were killed in the attack on the Syrian Base. The arabs of this region are known for playing down any success by "the evil Zionist entity."

[Braak]

About Time Mr President! Now, can we talk abt taking Mr Powell to the aformentioned woodshed?

[trebb]

If you say your name backwards do you disappear, or does Superman reappear?

[priceofreedom]

"And the L-rd spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, at Jericho, saying: speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: when you cross the Jordan to the land of Canaan, you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the Land before you; and you shall destroy all their prostration stones, all their molten images shall you destroy, and all their high places shall you demolish. You shall possess the Land and you shall settle in it, for to you have I given the land to possess it.… But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land before you, those of them whom you leave shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you upon the land in which you dwell."
NUMBERS 33

[Ready4Freddy]

Your quote is probably more appropriate under these circumstances. Good memory! :)

TDTESS was on AMC last Friday, friends I was having dinner with didn't understand why I wanted to watch it. Shoot, that flick was only one of about 25 films that they showed on 'Saturday Night at the Movies', back when that was the only primetime movie on TV.

[sarasmom]

#25.
Wonderfull and extremely rational reply.
Flame averted, for the moment.