Video: Novak calls Rice Israel-Hezbollah efforts 'a disaster'

[kpete]

Video: Novak calls Rice Israel-Hezbollah efforts 'a disaster'

David Edwards
Published: Friday July 28, 2006

On Fox this morning, conservative Robert Novak was highly critical of the Bush Administration, and Secretary Rice in particular, on the subject of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Novak contended that Israel had failed in its military plan to diminish or destroy Hezbollah. He added that the Bush Administration had thus far been "a disaster."

A partial transcript follows the video.

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpHn5lZ_ZE&eurl=


HOST: Is Rice's next visit to Mideast the first in a new round in shuttle diplomacy for the United States?

NOVAK: Well, I think it probably will be. It's been a disaster so far because the United States' position was to let the Israelis have a go at it. They thought it would clean out Hezbollah in about a week. Hezbollah turned out to be much tougher and I would say that Secretary Rice first mission was totally unsuccessful. So, The United States seems very isolated right now and they've got to reestablish their position as an honest broker in trying to reach a peace agreement.

HOST: Well, does that mean that... I mean, was it worth the attempt -- trying to clean out Hezbollah?

NOVAK: Well, if they had cleaned it out it would have been worth the attempt but if it fails... I would say that Hezbollah is politically stronger than ever. If you notice that Saudi Arabia and Egypt were both very critical of Hezbollah for provoking Israel at the beginning. Now they are supporting them. It's a matter of the Israeli military just wasn't successful because there were no troops on the ground and Israeli didn't want to send in troops. So, it's a very difficult situation both militarily and diplomatically.

more at:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Video_Novak_calls_Rice_IsraelHezbollah_efforts_0728.html

[bemildred]

1. Let the scapegoating begin.

I mean she did make a crater in the ground there, but after all she had no power and no control.

[porphyrian]

2. It's so important to know the opinion of a traitor about their own.

:eyes:

[panader0]

3. Like rats from a sinking ship.........

[porphyrian]

7. Really. - n/t

[C_U_L8R]

4. And everyone knows Novak is Rove's puppet

A little infighting anyone?

[tanyev]

5. Uh-oh. Does this mean he won't get invited to this year's

White House Christmas party?

[KoKo]

6. NeoCon Pruppet....sent out to parrot Pearle's recommendation

this week that Condi will have to go. Novak's never been a friend of Israel so this turn of events says he got some help from the NeoCons with his trouble concerning PlameGate. He must have gotten some BIG HELP..considering how deep he was into it and how he should propably have served some time with Miller but not for his "journalistic defiance," but for his "usefulness."

[Marie26]

8. Are they throwing Condi

under the bus? Sure looks like it. Novak is a neo-con stooge & is parroting their line here. I wonder what their plan is.

[Igel]

9. No. Many people can

say somebody made a mistake without downgrading them to sub-human status. People are fallible; only heroes and icons must be perfect.

[Marie26]

13. People are falliable

And I think Rice is a disaster as SOS. But when has Novak ever really criticized this administration? I don't believe he's doing this out of sincere criticism & more because his allies in the Admin. have loosed the media attack dogs on Rice. It's very similar to what Richard Perle, neocon extraordinaire, is saying right now. So, I'm wondering if this is part of a PR blitz by the neocons in the Admins. to lessen Rice's power.

[Igel]

14. Novak is a paleoconservative.

He's not a neocon, except in tangential matters, and such have always been part of the group dubbed 'conservatives'. It's a rather diffuse group, with a few movers and shakers (Novak wasn't one). At best, he was tolerant of neocons.

Novak's wholeheartedly approved of some * stuff, been against but relatively quiet about other parts of *'s agenda, and iffy on other aspects. Paleocon.

[Marie26]

15. He's in deep w/Rove & Libby, at least.

Rove has used Novak in the past to leak damaging stories. I'm not sure Novak has many personal convictions at all, & I find it suspicious that Novak is now repeating this condemnation of Rice at the exact same time that Perle & other neocons are saying the exact same thing. That looks like a coordinated PR campaign - which this Adm. has done often & well. Cheney has used Novak before to leak stories against his "enemies," & could well be doing it again. I think this signals a deepening split between Rice & Cheney. It's kind of ironic that a member of the WHIG PR bliz is now subject to one herself.

[Pathwalker]

10. MSNBC - it's Cheney's group vs. Bush's group.

Jim Vandehigh(sp?) said those on Cheney's side are very critical of Condi, but that Bush is loyal to Condi, so she won't be fired no matter what happens. It appears The Prince of Darkness speaks for Cheney.

[warrens]

11. Our rep as an honest broker is gone for good

Unless the next president makes some serious amends and appoints someone like Carter as mideast envoy. Smirk is like a bull in a china shop. Everything he touches turns to shit.

[underpants]

12. Hasn't Satan come to claim him yet?

:evilfrown: