US vetoes UN ceasefire call

[cal04]

THE UN Security Council has again rejected pleas that it call for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon after the United States objected, diplomats said overnight.

Washington argued in closed-door talks that the focus for Middle East diplomacy for now should be on the weekend summit in St Petersburg of the Group of Eight industrialised nations, council diplomats said.

It was the sole member of the 15-nation UN body to oppose any council action at all at this time, they said.

"We would expect much more from the Security Council," Lebanese Foreign Ministry official Nouhad Mahmoud told reporters after the council meeting, singling out the United States for blame.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19806745-1702,00.html

UN council keeps silent on Israel-Lebanon conflict
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060716/wl_nm/mideast_un_lebanon_dc

[Rex]

1. Of course we do, the BFEE don't want peace.

No profit in peace.

[havocmom]

7. How much has oil gone up this week? (n/t)

[Rex]

9. Bingo!

We have a winner!

[saigon68]

71. Gas will sell at RECORD HIGHS this week

[dansolo]

36. Ratcheting up the justification for invading Iran

The longer the conflict goes on, the more they can point the finger at Iran as the "root cause", and try and build up support for military action against Iran.

[Laotra]

45. I think you're on to something

US and Israel wan't to take Hezbollah out of picture now, first by collective punishment against all Lebanese, next step invasion of southern Lebanon, so Hezbollah can't cause problems when US air campaign against Iran starts - possibly soon after the elections.

I think Tuomioja, Chiraq etc. have been referring to this kind of scenario, in veiled words. It is most urgent that EU uses economic sanctions against Israel, but I'm afraid the spineless cowards will not do what is necessary to stop this from escalating.

Will the pro-US arab dictators stand or fall when war escalates, especially in Egypt, that is one big question if not the biggest.

[leesa]

2. And we wonder why we have groups like Hezbolla attacking our

troops...

[Igel]

76. They state clearly their reasons.

There is no justification for not knowing.

There's also no justification for reinterpretation.

[Poll_Blind]

3. The U.S. sacrifices the people of Lebanon rather than challenge Israel.n/t

PB

[AngryOldDem]

33. You said it more tactfully than I could

Unfuckingbelievable.

[lumpy]

56. Does the US government bow down

to Israel? This isn't the first time that the US governmnt has turned a blind eye to IDF operations.
It seems that the US government supports Israeli policies, military actions whether right or wrong. If so, why?

[tuvor]

4. bush has something to gain.

No other reason makes sense.

[saigon68]

10. The Bush Criminals have $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to gain

They love money

[Monkeyman]

13. shhhhhhhhhhhhhh Brother that Rove's secret

[tuvor]

14. Oh, pshaw!

Don't you know the love of money is the root of all evil?

bush is a good, God-fearin' CHRISTIAN, and would never be like that.

Now, go warsh your foul mouth out with soap.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mzteris]

11. check out the PNAC

membership roles.

I really hate for this to sound the way it probably sounds, but you have to wonder why the H#LL this admin is doing what it's doing.

We all KNOW that GW ain't running SH#T - but the people behind him ARE. And who ARE *they*? and why are *they* taking this stance? I keep trying not to connect the dots but they seem to connect themselves sometimes.

:tinfoilhat:

[mom cat]

22. I like your "self connecting dots" theory.

[ShockediSay]

32. and let's not forget AIPAC

and the roles its army of lobbyists plays

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=aipac&btnG=Google+Search

[Scurrilous]

37. A Beautiful Friendship?

In search of the truth about the Israel lobby's influence on Washington

<snip>

"All David Ben-Gurion wanted was 15 minutes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's time.

Israel's founding father, one of the indomitable political leaders of the 20th century, came to Washington in December 1941 yearning to present the case for a Jewish state directly to the American president. He took a two-room suite at the old Ambassador Hotel at 14th and K for $1,000 a month and cooled his heels for 10 weeks, writing letters and reports and making passes at Miriam Cohen, his attractive American secretary. But Ben-Gurion didn't get the meeting. Not then, not ever. Not even a pair of presidential cuff links.

Now let's fast-forward 64 years to late May and a news conference in the East Room of the White House. That tall, freckled, slightly nervous-looking man with the rust-colored hair standing alongside President Bush at matching lecterns is Ehud Olmert, 12th prime minister of Israel. The two leaders and their advisers have just spent two hours together in the Oval Office. Bush is reaffirming the "deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States" and praising Olmert's "bold ideas" and commitment to peace. Afterward, they'll adjourn for a private session without aides or note-takers and then go to dinner together. And the next day Olmert will address a joint session of Congress, whose members will interrupt his speech with 16 standing ovations. Ben-Gurion, whose remains rest in a simple grave overlooking the Negev Desert, would be stunned.

It's not that Olmert is a more commanding figure than Ben-Gurion. Far from it. No, it's about power. And not just Israeli power. It's really about the perceived power of the Israel lobby, a collection of American Jewish organizations, campaign contributors and think tanks -- aided by Christian conservatives and other non-Jewish supporters -- that arose over the second half of the 20th century and that sees as a principle goal the support and promotion of the interests of the state of Israel.

Thanks to the work of the lobby and its allies, Israel gets more direct foreign aid -- about $3 billion a year -- than any other nation. There's a file cabinet somewhere in the State Department full of memoranda of understanding on military, diplomatic and economic affairs. Israel gets treated like a NATO member when it comes to military matters and like Canada or Mexico when it comes to free trade. There's an annual calendar full of meetings of joint strategic task forces and other collaborative sessions. And there's a presidential pledge, re-avowed by Bush in the East Room, that the United States will come to Israel's aid in the event of attack."


more

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ShockediSay]

74. Can't wait til the media manipulating(imho) DC based CAMERA

the "Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America"

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Committee+for+Accuracy+in+Middle+East+Reporting%22&btnG=Search

gets to work on the WaPo for this article.

[lumpy]

57. Don't forget members of AIPAC

who have been highly involved in US government affairs and policies.

[lumpy]

58. Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle,

William Kristol, Elliot Abrams are Jewsish members of PNAC. Dick Cheney is also a member and adherent of PNAC. That's who they are and it is no mystery why Bush's government supports Israel.

[IndianaGreen]

73. Most PNACers are Christians, not Jews

and all of them are imperialists!

[lumpy]

86. I don't consider non-Jewish members

of PNAC Christians nor do I believe that Jewish members of PNAC adher to the tenets of Judaism.

[Cha]

97. Yeah, they're more like

devil-worhippers..the money god.

[madrchsod]

5. the whole world is against him

and they are against us. but that fits the agenda of all terrorist nations-make the people afraid of the family across the fence

[City Lights]

6. We need all hell breaking loose in the ME so chimpy can attack Iran.

He is the war prezident afterall and things ain't goin' so well in Eyerack. He needs a new war.

[mzteris]

8. OMFG.....

I HATE this administration with every fiber of my being!

[applegrove]

12. Everything is backwards.Didn't the USA like peace? Oh.. but the election!!

Righhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht. Nothing but nothing is more important than winning the election, wedging Israeli hawks out of the democratic party, and then passing unending tax cuts for the uber-rich. How can they have 30 year rule without everyone with social security in the stock market??? Even if the debts would be huge and the returns not any better for the middle class?

Doesn't matter who dies in the Middle East. UN? PEACE? Fuck you!

[Monkeyman]

15. Cheney Perpetual War

Larouche pub.com he got the whole thing. I all ways felt Larouche was nuts but if you read that one it all come into place every dam move they are making is there

[NYC]

20. Occasionaly LaRouche comes up with the right answer.

I'll go read the article.

[Mojambo]

16. No. No. No... We just can't have them stop shooting at each other.

That would be terrible!

I fucking HATE what's become of this country.

[ninkasi]

17. So do I, Mojambo

Why would we object to a cease-fire? It defies logic, but then, logic is not a thing which conservatives are very familiar with. As frequently as Chimp babbles about peace, you would think that a cease-fire would be a very important step toward that goal, wouldn't you?

[lumpy]

59. Use the net and read about AIPAC

and PNAC membership and you might get the picture.

[stop the bleeding]

18. .

:cry:

[IndianaGreen]

19. I guess this means that the Lebanese people and government

can not expect any help from Bush despite Prime Minister Siniora's pleas for help today. This will bring down the anti-Syrian faction that controls the government and open the door to Islamic radicals to take full power.

Who is running American foreign policy, Bin Laden?

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scurrilous]

23. Israel to Lebanon: No to ceasefire

Senior state official says, 'only if two goals Israel has set for itself – removing and disarming Hizbullah and returning kidnapped soldiers – are realized, there will be point to discuss Lebanese offer.' Government set to convene Sunday morning for first time since deciding on IDF's operation in Lebanon

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276269,00.html

<snip>

"The Lebanese prime minister offered Saturday evening to deploy his army on Lebanon's southern border in exchange for a ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not plan to accept his offer.

Fouad Siniora offered to deploy the forces along the international border with Israel according to UN Resolution 1559, but Israeli officials reject the offer claiming that Israel will continue its operation against the kidnappers in Lebanon until the two kidnapped soldiers are released.

On Sunday morning, the government is expected to discuss the developments in the Lebanon operation, which is now called Operation Change of Direction.

The ministers are also set to discuss Siniora's offer. If the situation does not change, the prime minister is expected to explain to his ministers that at this stage it is still early to declare a ceasefire."

[lumpy]

60. Hell, Lebanon might be smart

to hoist the white flag. What would be the results if Lebanon just surrendered? Wouldn't Israel have to respect a surrender? Or Not?

[Igel]

77. Lebanon already surrendered.

Hezbollah is no friend to much of Lebanon. They have their own agenda, based on Islamic supremacy and Arab honor; 'honor' subsumes all 'solidarity'. No Western interpretation quite works here.

Lebanon is to Hezbollah as Vichy France was to Germany. The comparison fails in many ways. But both avowed disagreement and loathing, both cooperated fully and allowed their resources and facilities to be used, and both beg weakness as an excuse for cooperation. And neither feel any sense of culpability for cooperating and exculpating their occupiers as their soil and their facilities are used for attacks on others.

Except in the case of the Lebanese, when Hezbollah attacks, there are far more supporters.

[High Plains]

83. Oh, give it a break. Hezbollah is "occupying" Lebanon?

[Endangered Specie]

79. Lebanon ought to fight back...

ceasefire isnt an option
surreneder isnt an option

leaves only one thing left don't it?

[MGD]

24. Perhaps America would be more inclined to support such a measure

if there was a little more support for halting Iranian/North Korean nuclear ambitions?

[tabasco]

39. Deluded Bush supporters

watching Faux News are the only ones losing sleep about getting nuked by Iran.

Stupid fucks.

The same ones who believed Iraq was ready to attack us with WMD.

Stupid asses.

The huge number of gullible people is the Nation's #1 problem.

[MGD]

80. It's not as simple as that

"Deluded Bush supporters watching Faux News are the only ones losing sleep about getting nuked by Iran"

I'm not really worried about Iran nuking America (openly and with a missile at least). I'm more concerned with the shift in power that a nuclear Iran will create especially when partnered w/ China. I also think that the instability we see in the oil markets today would be greatly increased by a nuclear armed Iran tomorrow.

"The huge number of gullible people is the Nation's #1 problem."

If by "gullible" you mean "blindly partisan hate filled party hacks" I tend to agree. The permanent two party system is the real enemy but what can you do?

[tabasco]

94. Tell me about it.

This country is swirling down the craphole because of those who are loyal to a party, not the country.

There is outright support for traitors, simply because they have an (R) next to their name.

This is a brownshirt mentality that has destroyed other nations.

It will be a fight to save real democracy, if it still exists here.


www.goarmy.com

[lumpy]

62. No

x

[MGD]

81. yes

x

[High Plains]

84. No. The US always vetoes resolutions condemning Israel.

Good try, though.

[MGD]

90. There might not even be a need for a UN resolution in this matter

If Russia and China were more enthusiastic about stopping Iran from gaining nuclear weapons which was my whole original point. The same with North Korea. How much help has China been in defusing that situation?

[JackNewtown]

25. US, the UN, and Israel

Just out of curiousity, when is the last time the US supported or abstained on a UN resolution regarding Israel that Israel opposed?

[lumpy]

63. Can't think of any

v

[MGD]

89. And why exactly would we want to do something like that?

just out of curiosity

[Pachamama]

26. Remember the days when it was the USSR that vetoed everything?

Well, we have become them...the Authoritarian State that is feared and hated....

[MGD]

28. Yeah, what was it, all of a week ago that Russia was threatening to veto

sanctions against Iran?

[JackNewtown]

29. Veto usage in recent years

From wikipedia: Between the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of 2004, vetoes were exercised on 19 occasions. For that period, usage breaks down as follows:

- the United States used the veto on 13 occasions (11 regarding Israel, 1 Bosnia, 1 Panama)

- Russia used the veto on 3 occasions (2 regarding Cyprus, 1 Bosnia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_Security_Council_Veto_Power#Most_Common_Users

[Rex]

30. 11 regarding Israel kinda says it all.

nt

[MGD]

38. How very selective of you

to fail to mention the USSR vetoes. What's more, you're throwing out red herrings as I only stated that Russia was threatening to exercize veto power over sanctions against Iran a short while ago.

[JackNewtown]

40. Ok, here is more from wikipedia

Usage of the veto can be split into two periods <1>:

- between 1946 and 1972, the most frequent user was the USSR

- since 1972, the most frequent user has been the USA.

Analysis by country

Russia (previously, the Soviet Union)

In the early days of the United Nations, the Soviet Union commissar and later minister for foreign affairs, Vyacheslav Molotov, said no so many times that he was known as "Mr. Veto." In fact, the Soviet Union was responsible for nearly half of all vetoes ever cast--79 vetoes were used in the first ten years. Molotov regularly rejected bids for new membership because of the U.S. refusal to admit the Soviet republics. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russians have used their veto power sparingly. (see Soviet Union and the United Nations).


United States

The USA first used the veto power in 1970, regarding a crisis in Rhodesia, and first issued a lone veto in 1972, to prevent a resolution censuring Israel. Since that time, it has become by far the most frequent user of the veto, mainly against resolutions criticising Israel (see Negroponte doctrine). This has been a constant cause of friction between the General Assembly and the Security Council

[Pachamama]

42. Thank you for answering my point as originally posted!

These facts about the vetoing by the former USSR (and then in comparision to the now "Russia") is not the same, and the roles have been reversed, with the US becoming the new "Mr. Veto".

:hi:

Welcome to the DU by the way! We love newbies around here, especially ones who come armed with facts and base their decisions and opinions on those facts!

[lumpy]

64. Yes, I remember the days

Pleasant, wasn't it. Not.

[Gregorian]

27. Go...to...hell, Bush, Bolton, Cheney!

I don't care what their excuse is.

[Reckon]

31. They need a new place to rebuild. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... nt

[IndianaGreen]

34. Lebanon blames US for UN silence (Al-Jazeera)

Lebanon blames US for UN silence

Sunday 16 July 2006, 5:08 Makka Time, 2:08 GMT

Lebanon has accused the United States of blocking a Security Council statement calling for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, and said the impotence of the UN's most powerful body sent wrong signals to small countries.

Nouhad Mahmoud, the Lebanese special envoy, said: "It's unacceptable because people are still under shelling, bombardment and destruction is going on ... and people are dying."

Qatar, the only Arab nation on the council, received widespread support during closed council consultations for a press statement calling for an immediate cease-fire, restraint in the use of force, and the protection of civilians caught in the conflict, council diplomats said.

But Cesar Mayoral, Argentina's UN ambassador, said the United States objected to any statement and Britain opposed calling for a cease-fire.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6C062C97-F8D0-42B9-89A1-1C4D6963D512.htm

[Solly Mack]

35. ah...so Bush wants credit and if the UN gets a cease fire

Bush can't claim "world leaders - to include himself, of course...solved the problem."

It's just another way to marginalize the UN as well...if Arab states can seek and get UN cooperation then what does that do to the balance of American power...

my my

[OneBlueSky]

41. George W. Bush just LOVES war . . . it's his aphrodesiac . . .

propbably for the first time ever, we have a true warmonger for president . . . his whole identity is tied up in being a "war president," and he doesn't much care about -- or even consider -- the casualties and the damage . . . learned from Mom not to clutter his "beautiful mind" with such trivia . . .

the only sane persons who can become warmongers are those are who have never experienced war first-hand . . .those who HAVE experienced it -- people like Eisenhower -- never want to see it again . . . and they don't want others to see it, either, much less be caught up in it . . .

warmongers, on the other hand, relish war . . . the thought of new or expanded conflict gives them the only hard-ons they can achieve these days . . . casualties among military personnel and civilians worry them not in the least . . . these are, after all, merely "little people" . . .

[Eugene]

43. At the summit, Bush is blaming Hizbollah.

Bush repeats Israel has right to self-defence

Reuters
Sunday, July 16, 2006; 1:35 AM

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Bush repeated on Sunday that Israel had
the right to defend itself in the Middle East, and did not back Lebanese calls for an
immediate ceasefire.

"Our message to Israel is defend yourself but be mindful of the consequences, so we
are urging restraint," said Bush, who has refused to call on Israel to halt its
offensive on Lebanon to punish Hizbollah guerrilla attacks across its border.

Bush, speaking after bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a Group
of Eight summit, was replying to a reporter's question about a Lebanese proposal for an
immediate ceasefire.

Referring to forthcoming discussion of the Middle East by G8 leaders, he said: "I think
most leaders are beginning to recognize the root cause of the problem." Bush has pinned
blame for the upsurge in violence on Hizbollah.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600038.html

[HuffleClaw]

44. and bush shows his true colours

this is part of a PLAN. it won't be long before he's calling for the security council for action, 'united action in the face of TERRA', with iran and syria being the villains of the week. very transparent of him i must say.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CHIMO]

47. Lebanon blames US for UN silence

Lebanon has accused the United States of blocking a Security Council statement calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and said the impotence of the UN's most powerful body sent wrong signals to small countries.

Nouhad Mahmoud, the Lebanese special envoy, said: "It's unacceptable because people are still under shelling, bombardment and destruction is going on ... and people are dying."

Qatar, the only Arab nation on the council, received widespread support during closed council consultations for a press statement calling for an immediate ceasefire, restraint in the use of force, and the protection of civilians caught in the conflict, council diplomats said.

But Cesar Mayoral, Argentina's UN ambassador, said the United States objected to any statement and Britain opposed calling for a ceasefire.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6C062C97-F8D0-42B9-89A1-1C4D6963D512.htm

[IndianaGreen]

48. When Civilians Become Targets

When Civilians Become Targets: The Israeli Destruction of Lebanon and Gaza

By Remi Kanazi

The military onslaught against Lebanon has only intensified and expanded. The Israeli strikes have devastated Lebanon’s infrastructure, destroying most of country’s bridges – including bridges in the South that connect villages to their main roads. The entrances and exits of many villages in the South have been destroyed by Israeli forces – leaving civilians as prisoners in their villages. The widespread incursion has left most of the country without electricity and operating land lines. Many Lebanese have cell phones and rely on them as a means of communication, but with cell phone antennas knocked down in most parts of the country, cell phones are useless, further strangulating the population’s means to communicate. The majority of inhabitants in Lebanon are without communication to the outside world.

By 3 am Eastern Time on July 14, my cousin in Beirut indicated that power had been down for nearly an hour. Typing to me through instant messaging, (her electricity is supplied through a generator) she explained that she ‘couldn’t sleep last night because of the planes.’ By the time I contacted her the next morning she said, ‘It’s horrible. It’s almost comical now. I feel like I’m in a dream. A bad dream.’ The Israeli Air Force has been bombing the suburbs of Beirut throughout the morning and afternoon of July 14. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Israeli Air Force has struck ‘a bridge in the southern suburb of Beirut, and the fuel stores of the Jiyyeh power plant south of the city early Friday, witnesses and security sources said.’

In addition, there are many foreign nationals stuck in the South without a route out, while the expansive bombing is now putting all foreign nationals throughout the country at risk. The Lebanese in the South can’t flee up north towards Beirut because the roads and bridges leading to Beirut have been bombed by Israeli forces. During the civil war, many residents of the South would flee up north during intense periods of fighting to stay out of harms way – but because of the intensity of Israel’s collective punishment and killing, this measure has been impossible to pursue.

Israel continues to pound areas in and around Beirut and is further blasting densely populated Shia areas in the South and in the suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli Air Forces has struck multiple army bases in Lebanon and has bombed Al Manar, the Hezbollah run television station. Since the start of the offensive, Israel has killed at least 60 Lebanese civilians, including ten members of one family. It is yet unknown what humanitarian implications this offensive will have. Without electricity in the second hottest month of the year, it may have a serious effect on the population. The most affected will be young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those in need of medical care. Israel has warned that the military blockade debilitating Lebanese society will continue. The operation is likely to broaden, including more suburbs in Beirut and other heavily populated areas. Nearly 1.2 million people live in Beirut, while another 2.1 million people live in surrounding areas.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/3827/1/198/

[Erika]

49. Not one more U.S. taxpayer dollars should be given to Israel

Until they seek peace. If W and Blair want to keep the war going let it come out of their family holdings.

[High Plains]

85. That is the only concrete step we, as Americans, can take.

It is long past time to organize a campaign to end military funding for Israel. If they want to light them Middle East on fire, they can do it on their own dime.

[IndianaGreen]

50. Lebanon: Red Cross braces for further attacks

Lebanon: Red Cross braces for further attacks

By irinnews.org

BEIRUT, 13 Jul 2006 (IRIN) - The Lebanese Red Cross and other aid agencies are readying themselves to provide humanitarian assistance in the case of further attacks by Israel in Lebanon.

The Red Cross has so far sent 350 first aid workers and 36 ambulances to the impoverished south. “The situation is very bad because there’s been a lot of bombardment and some bridges have been destroyed,” said Red Cross spokesman Ayad Mounzer. “We’ve been meeting to discuss the situation and a plan of action, including a new appeal”.

<snip>

The overwhelming Israeli military response has so far killed 47 and injured 100, most of them civilians, the Ministry of Public Health announced on Thursday. Most casualties were reported near the border in the south of the country, with the Israeli army continuing to launch artillery fire and air strikes at Hezbollah positions and at civilian infrastructure.

Roads, bridges and the Beirut International Airport were all targeted within the last 24 hours . While the Israeli army has amassed thousands of soldiers on the border, no Israeli ground troops have been reported within Lebanese territory so far, according to Richard Morzynski, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Many Lebanese fear that Israel will reinstall a buffer zone along the border, as it did from 1982 to 2000. “UNIFIL is in the process of establishing facts on the ground,” said Morzynski. “We’ve been trying to establish a ceasefire, but for that you need two parties. The Israeli position is clear: no discussion until the two soldiers are freed.”

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/3825/1/198/

[Erika]

51. But Israel is tying to free the Lebanese? Right?

As a poster claimed.

[HuffleClaw]

52. bush WILL be screaming for a cease fire soon enough

the MOMENT that syria gets involved, he'll suddenly be concerned about the 'loss of innocent israeli lives'.

[Laotra]

53. I doubt

This is part of the PNAC-AIPAC anti-Iran campaign.

[Behind the Aegis]

54. i don't think so.

Syria is not going to put their asses on the line. The cowards are more than willing to sacrifice the peoples of Lebanon, while using their puppet, Hizb'allah!

[lumpy]

65. Quite possible Israel would

be able to involve Syria if they and Bushco so desired.

[Behind the Aegis]

66. .

:eyes:

actually...this is better...:tinfoilhat:

[lumpy]

67. Do you believe that the Bush WH

and Israel leadership is incapable of doing anything that is not in their best interests?

[Behind the Aegis]

68. Do you really believe they are that powerful?

:tinfoilhat:

[muriel_volestrangler]

69. You regard Israel as a mortal danger to the Lebanese population, then?

Shouldn't Israel stop attacking these innocent Lebanese people, then?

[Behind the Aegis]

70. yes!

I see that because the cowards hide among civilians.

Shouldn't the "brave freedom fighters" come out in the open?

Shouldn't the Syrian puppets stop fighting from a land other than Syria?

[termo]

72. World minus US embargo

EU, middle east contries should stop all business with Israel and Syria and close borders (sea, air, land) as long as all UN resolution are not respected (including 67 border) ... and OPEC should fix the oil price at 300$ for the same period.

That is how peace can be imposed diplomaticaly and very shortly :O)

[Spazito]

75. In order for that to happen, the UN needs to suspend the US right

to veto and, given their crimes against humanity in Iraq, I wish they would suspend their veto. Sadly the US has proven how impotent the UN is given it cannot stand up to the US.

[springhill]

78. War Crimes.................

The statutes of The Hague tribunal say the court has the right to try suspects alleged to have violated the laws or customs of war in the former Yugoslavia since 1992. Examples of such violations are given in article 3:


Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity
Attack, or bombardment, by whatever means, of undefended towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings
Seizure of, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion, charity and education, the arts and sciences, historic monuments and works of art and science
Plunder of public or private property.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1420133.stm

[termo]

87. forget UN

I didn't mention UN, EU doesn't need UN to decide an embargo.

[President Kerry]

88. those with the guns (i.e. US and Israel) make diplomatic rules.

I'm sad to see the UN rendered powerless in the face of war-mongering governments. The cease-fire in itself is an obvious resolution to save human life on both sides of the border, and buy time to negotiate. Anything else is reckless endangerment of your citizens' lives, and goes against the government's primary responsibility. Stop fighting and negotiate. It ain't no rocket science. Why Israel and US don't want it is beyond me.

[Spazito]

95. Well said, I totally agree n/t

[Scurrilous]

82. "...the cowards hide among civilians."

You know where Hezbollah is 'hiding?'

Maybe you ought to get on the phone and call Olmert with this information, because he seems quite clueless on how to locate Hezbollah and stop them from raining rockets on Israel.

Who knows, he might even give you a little medal for helping out.

[confludemocrat]

92. Cowards? I will contribute funds to your hunt for these "cowards"!

send me your receipts when you get back from hunting down Hezbollah cowards, big guy or gal.
No excuses if your logo or avatar is true. You will be able to volunteer with the Israeli Offense Forces for the front lines.
Syrian puppets? Bring us back the heads of some cowardly "puppets".
Oh I forgot, you'll need to be able to fly a bomber to do any "good" for Israel, since Israelis own form of "bravery" does not include other than bombing civilian targets, water, power and transportation.

[confludemocrat]

91. No, Israel will next attack Syria-they (Israel) have promised a wider war

US and Israel want chaos in the middle east under the guise of "self-defense" so they can continue to grind the Palestinians into the dust, grab more land but this will seal their own doom sooner. All this reminds one of the latter desperate days of apartheid, when the SA gov turned more vicious and out of control then than ever in the face of a watching world. They had been at least as vicious and ruthless previously when many fewer were paying attention. Signs of terminal desperation in both cases.

[54anickel]

93. Great. The focus should be on the G-8 (a friggin economic summit)

Nice way to "promote" the UN and it's Security Council as immaterial. :eyes: Sure sounds like Bolton is doing a heck of a job. Meanwhile the G8 leaders can't agree on anything regarding the ME either and want to toss it back to the UN. The timing of all of this to happen the week of the G8 summit seems "otherworldly". :hide:

http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/15061-g8-leaders-urge-mideast-restraint-split-ceasefire.htm
G8 leaders urge Mideast restraint, split on ceasefire

snip>

Divisions on the Mideast in the elite club have dimmed hopes of any strong initiative to halt the bloodshed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to dampen expectations by insisting the G8 could not replace the United Nations Security Council as the primary body for dealing with the Middle East.

Lavrov said G8 leaders would issue a statement on Lebanon but he was unsure what form it would take.

[Spazito]

96. Hmmm, in reading the article, it seems it is the US that is against

a ceasefire and only the US yet this article says the G8 is "split", pathetic, truly pathetic.