From YNetNews:
The United States stood by Israel and pointed an accusing finger at Syria and Iran Wednesday night following the difficult Hizbullah attack in the north. Meanwhile, following an emergency meeting in Beirut, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the government was unaware of the attack, and therefore rejected any responsibility.
Standard governmental incompetence, or plausible deniability?
A spokesperson for the National Security Council, Frederick Jones, said, "The United States condemns in the strongest terms this unprovoked act of terrorism, which was timed to exacerbate already-high tensions in the region and sow further violence."
"We also hold Syria and Iran, which directly support Hizbullah, responsible for this attack and the ensuing violence," Jones added. He noted that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in touch with both sides, and she was bearing the message that Hizbullah is responsible for the offensive, and Syria and Iran, who directly support Hizbullah, are also responsible.
According to Jones, Hizbullah terrorism hurts Lebanese interests and only proves the organization refuses to disarm and intends to continue its aggressions. "This is a direct threat on Lebanon’s security and the sovereignty of the Lebanese government."
Rice, meanwhile, spoke with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni regarding the grave developments in the north. Rice expressed support for Israel, condemned the Hezbollah attack, and said the US would support the demand to release the kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting, Tourism Minister Yitzhak Herzog met with US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones. The ambassador condemned the Hizbullah attack and backed Israel’s accusation towards the Lebanese government that it was responsible for the attack which was carried out from its territory.
Foreign Ministry launches PR campaign
Meanwhile, senior officials in the Foreign Ministry expressed satisfaction with the European presidential statement censuring the Hizbullah’s attack which killed seven IDF troops and their kidnapping of two more soldiers. With that, the EU called for restraint on both sides.
The Foreign Ministry readied itself for an uphill diplomatic battle in the next few days, and prepared a PR onslaught to communicate Israel’s stance on the matter to the world community. Israel is expected to charge that Hizbullah, as part of the sovereign Lebanese government, instigated the escalation. Israel will emphasize that it completely withdrew from Lebanon to the internationally recognized border years ago, and will claim its right to self defense and to defend its soldiers and citizens.
Israel was expected to demand the dismantlement of Hizbullah, which is recognized as a terror organization according to the international definition. Israel will further demand the international community must insist on the organization’s dismantlement.
Israeli Ambassador to the US, Danny Ayalon, said in an interview with CNN that Israel would continue its military operation in Lebanon until the soldiers are found. He clarified that in the absence of a Lebanese government that can control the situation, Israel is forced to act in Lebanese territory against Hizbullah terrorist infrastructure.
Ayalon rejected Hizbullah's proposal of negotiations to exchange prisoners. "They are the aggressors, and then they want to talk," he remarked. If we negotiate, he added, they will attack again and ask to negotiate again. This attack comes after we retreated completely from Lebanon according to the UN charter, Ayalon said.
Glad this thing is now working. The Jihadi hackers chose a fine day to bring down the site.
the only fear of jihadist is the knowledge of the cult of islam. when non muslims know the enemy we are better prepared to protect our way of life, freedoms cannot be taken for granted.. may bird droppings fall on the prophet's head.
Why do we even have UN anymore? All UN can do is to condem something and urge the both parties to excercise restrain. If this is all UN Is good for then why do we have such an entity which is consuming so much money. That money could be spent in much better ways than to pay the likes of Kofis to issue the same comments over and over. Looking what he does, I think I can perform the job of UN chief.
Infidel Pride,
Probably no accident it seems to have happened about a half hour of the Paleo foreign ministry building getting rocked.
Israel says that she will turn the clock back to 20 years for Lebanon. I think turning it back to 30 years would be more appropriate.
Israel voted for Kadima. Israel didn't take a suicide vow.
Yes, Israeli voted(mistakingly)that disengagement would yield peace. The hangover from the Gaza withdraw is brutal.
Israel can attack with measured steps--as it is now, it can do the slam bam approach and bomb with abandon in Gaza and Lebanon, but to what regard; are there any good targets? bomb them up to the stone age to paraphrase Rush?
Or, it can realize the Jihad at its doorstep. Bring Likud into a national unity government and step back; plan big.
It can bomb the Iranian governmental structure and nuclear program. Why isn't now a good time. why cannot Israel use reality as a pretext? Is there a better time? Next, it can wait for the media exhales a bit, and hit the heads of both Hammas and that nice little Shia boy who heads the Hizbullah organization of peace. Then it can declare a 15 km security barriet in Lebanon and Gaza, move the nice little Shias and Palis a few miles back and hit them hard with 100 to 1 casualties for every rocket hurled into Israel.
Problems with this approach? The US will be hated. Israel will be hated. Jews will be compared to Nazis. The French will fart and shake. Tony and Cherrie Blair will go into hiding. The French will shake some more. The Arab street will protest. Arab protests will occur in London, Paris and every other dhimmi stronghold. Bush and the US flag will be burned in effigy. The UN will condem Israel. Jews will no longer be compared to Nazis; they'll be labeled as much worse than Nazis. Bush and Condi will call for calm, measured steps. Kabul will erupt in protest. Islamists will kill each other in frenzied protests everywhere. Bombs will go off in London. Youths will find more cars to torch in Paris. CAIR will issue faxes and appear on CNN. What's new with any of this?
But, look at the bright side. Zogby polling will declare a new low for polls of the US in the Muslim world. How can they get lower? never you mind--we will start to poll below zero. Condi will sweat and declare in a firm voice, "Israel must examine the consequences of their actions; we urge restraint." Olmert will go off the wagon and binge drink in earnest--perhaps going AWOL.
But we can strive to improve our image in the Arab world. That's the bright side. Karen Huges will go on another listening tour of the Muslim World. This time with thousands of armed FBI to protedct her. She may even kiss the Koran this time. Maybe we can invite every able bodied 'youth' from Saudi Arabia to live amongst us for a few college. This might assuage Arab opinions. I'd LOL if it wasn't so depressing.
For those who don't usually read the 'freemuslims' site, you need to go and take a look at Nawash's newest essay. The essay is crap, no surprises there, but some of the comments really surprised me:
http://freemuslims.org/blog/index.php?id=1257#comments
Some of the comments by Muslims condemning Hamas just left me speechless.
Oh, and anyone fasting tomorrow, have an easy fast.
As a rationale for the level of their military response, Israel should just quote back the line- that the Muslims stole from them- about "one life is worth the whole world" when it comes to the value placed on their kidnapped soldiers.
And then make the terrorists pay according to that pilfered equation.
One Israeli soldier kidnapped near the border of Gaza = the entire "world" of Hamas. Return him, or be destroyed.
Two Israeli soldiers kidnapped on the border near Lebanon = the entire world of both Hezb-allah and their Syrian/Iranian backers. Return these men, or also be destroyed.
World opinion is like a castrato singing about the price of condoms.
Ignore it.
Kill the terrorist bastards until they are too weak to ever strike again.
The U.S. will never abandon Israel, because we know the value of the only free state in the region.
India needs to clean house of its Muslim pestilence with as much vigor and spine at the same time.
Enough of this pussyfooting march to the grave.
Make the other son of a bitch die for his beliefs.
While we are still strong enough to.
It is only our will that is wavering.
How many have to die to galvanize it?
ISRAEL-"GO GET THEM"
Terrible news about the Israelis cratering Beirut airport. Apparently down in Saudi and the Gulf it gets unbearably hot at this time of year and they rely on on going on holiday in Lebanon to be somewhere cooler. Now all the poor things' holiday plans are in tatters.
"...in Saudi and the Gulf it gets unbearably hot at this time of year and they rely on on going on holiday in Lebanon to be somewhere cooler..."
Hahaha! Never hot enough by the looks of it! Let the bastards stew in their own juices...!
Go Israel, go!
C'mon Wally. The toffs will just sail up on their yachts, won't they?
"If the Zionist regime attacks Syria, this will be considered like attacking the whole Islamic world and this regime will receive a very fierce response," ---- ? ----
the way i see it ,........Ahmadinejad is just a scared rat ,......afraid that Israel will attack him ,.................... it is clear to me ,..that all he is trying , through his enfeebled speech ,....is a half whitted attempt to get other Muslim nations to come to his aid . -------- he truly is the proverbial 'paper tiger ',........ with out the 'bomb' Ahmadinejad , has very little clout , all BARK and no bite ---- thus reinforcing the fact that we can NEVER allow Iran , EVER obtain nuclear weapons