US: Israel Must Do Whatever Necessary to Protect Itself

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalnews ^ | 7/12/6

[SmithL]

The Bush administration said Wednesday afternoon that “Israel must do whatever necessary to protect itself.”

The terse response came in the wake of an IDF incursion into south Lebanon following multiple attacks by Hizbullah terrorists on northern Israeli communities and soldiers. Two soldiers were kidnapped and three were killed in the early morning attacks.

[kinghorse]

Hamas and Fatah were about to get into a civil war and then the soldier gets kidnapped. Methink the enemy is very very stupid at creating an economy/govt but very very good at political power plays. Now Fatah and Hamas are hand in hand united against the common enemy. Israel's being played.

[Old Grumpy]

Excellent! Couldn't agree more.

[piperpilot]

Finally! The coming all-out battle between the Israelis and the Palestinians et al. is long overdue, in my estimation. Is this the flashpoint for an all-out world conflict (dare I say WW-III)? The stars seem to to be aligning in that direction.

[Dog Gone]

We're assuming this statement originated from the State Department, but the article doesn't say. It might have come directly from the White House.

[Cecily]

No, the enemy is just plain stupid. If it weren't for all the handwringers and Wahabi sock puppets telling Israel for decades to "exercise restraint," all these terror gangs would have been wiped out by the IDF years ago.

[LibWhacker]

No mercy for the merciless!

[RobFromGa]

Now Fatah and Hamas are hand in hand united against the common enemy. Israel's being played.

No worry, Israel can send them all the hell together, and they can finish their civil war there.

[Pox]

And Olmert is going to do what?

Again, I would like nothing more than to see the Israeli's pound the living shi'ite out of them, but this "restrained" horse manure is simply not going to cut it.

If the arabs didn't see Israel's government as being weak and hesitant, they wouldn't have tried this crap in the first place, IMO.

President Bush says one thing. SoS Rice calls for restraint. That's certainly a clear message to Israel. Not that it matters anyways, as Olmert is still a pussy, IMO.

Assad was in the residence that Israel overflew a while back and rattled his windows. The proper response would have been all four jets dropping ordnance on that house in an effort to eradicate Assad, IMO.

No, the current Israeli government is too "moderate" (read: leftist) to actually do what should have been done already, IMO. And Tehran should be a smoldering ruin by now if the Israeli government had the stones to do what is necessary, but no, Olmert will do nothing and Iran will soon have nukes.

I want to be proven wrong. I fear I am right.

[zook]

Great. Now PLEASE do not backtrack!

[InvisibleChurch]

that certainly opens the door ....... a lot

[SJackson]

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..................

Cited in only one publication thus far. The Wall St Journal version, more widely distributed.

"This is a very dangerous but important moment, when the responsibilities of all those who are sincere about finding a path toward peace will be tested."
--David C. Welch, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

I'm sure there'll be a statement this PM.

[txhurl]

Rice need to go on a two-week vacation where she's not allowed to call in, check email, anything.

[ZULU]

If you ever get a chance, read a book on the war with the Pirates of Tripoli and a forgotten American hero named Eaton and his brave band of U.S. Marines, and their foreign supporters - and how the U.S. State Department screwed them. Nothing has changed with those vermin in 200 years.

I think the Pentagon should run the State Department, them or FreeRepublic.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Oh yeah, this is gettin' good.

[Pox]

I simply don't understand the BS that comes out of the State Department on a regular basis anymore, regardless of who is in charge. It's utterly baffling to me, unless it's some kind of "good cop/bad cop" understanding between State and the WH.

It's certainly not a bad idea you have. :)

[Convert from ECUSA]

I hope for once the administration really means it!

"wow no talk of restraint ? Im stunned"

Maybe someone at the White House shut down the Defartment of State's email server.

[Real Cynic No More]

Now Fatah and Hamas are hand in hand united against the common enemy. Israel's being played.

Methinks you're correct. The last few weeks have all the earmarks of trying to draw Israel out and incease conflict in the area. The real question is: what is the ultimate goal? And the Iranian president traveling lately is but a mere smokescreen.

[rock_lobsta]

The ball's in Olmert's court now. Let's see if he has the stones to do what's necessary to defend his nation.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Somebody in the State Department apparently has gotten the message - FINALLY."

I sure hope so, but I'm not holding my breath. Foggy Bottom is riddled with anti-US/anti-Israel serpents.

[Sabramerican]

This has a shelf life of 48 hours. Hopefully it will last a little longer.

Less if the media shows a little Arab girl with her arm in a sling.

For the pool, I have Saturday afternoon when the first call for restraint appears from State.