U.S. blames Syria, Iran for kidnappings

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/12/06 | AP - Los Angeles

[NormsRevenge]

ROSTOCK, Germany - The United States blamed Syria and Iran on Wednesday for the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants and the ensuing violence. The White House called for the immediate and unconditional release of the two soldiers.

"We condemn in the strongest terms Hezbollah's unprovoked attack on Israel and the kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers," National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said as President Bush flew here for a visit. He said Hezbollah had also launched rocket attacks on civilian targets in Israel as part of its offensive.

"This is a terrorist attack and it is clearly timed to exacerbate already high tensions in the region and sow further violence," Jones said.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a diplomatic trip to Paris, had been in direct contact with the parties in the region "with the purpose of holding Hezbollah accountable for its action."

"We also hold Syria and Iran — which directly support Hezbollah — responsible for this attack and for the ensuing violence," Jones said. "Hezbollah's terrorism is not in Lebanon's interest.

"This attack demonstrates that Hezbollah's continued impunity to arm itself and carry out operations from Lebanese territory is a direct threat to the security of the Lebanese people and the sovereignty of the Lebanese government," Jones said.

[NormsRevenge]

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah gestures during a news conference in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 12, 2006. Nasrallah said Wednesday that Israel's military assault in Lebanon would not win the freedom of two captured Israeli soldiers, saying they would only be released as part of a prisoner swap, but added he was open to a package deal in which the two Israeli soldiers, along with a third captured by Palestinian militants in Gaza two weeks ago, would be traded for Arab prisoners. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

[misterrob]

"We are holdinng Syria and Iran responsible...."

No we aren't. What actions has the US taken to back this up?

[Patrick1]

Firm grasp of the obvious.

[Patrick1]

Firm grasp of the obvious.

[NormsRevenge]

I'd be sweating too..

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah wipes his brow as he speaks to reporters in Beirut. Nasrallah has warned that two Israeli soldiers captured by his fighters will only be returned through a prisoner swap.(AFP/Haitham Mussawi)

[Fighting Irish]

.....and if you don't stop, George Bush will stand up!


Honest!

He's not joking....

Seriously!

[hershey]

At the very least and for the first time I can recall, we're not begging Israel to show 'restraint'. Not to mention whatever else we might be threatening the Arabs with in secret.

[joe fonebone]

and so it begins...........

[jveritas]

Time for Israel to eliminate this cancer of Islamic terrorism called Hizballah. Enough is enough.

[jveritas]

I greatly hope so. We simply cannot afford to live with Islamic terrorism. We must annihilate it from existence once and for all.

[r9etb]

This is a Very Big Deal. The Administration is essentially telling Syria and Iran to back off, and that we're on Israel's side if they choose to act.

And so much for the local FR "yeah, but we won't lift a finger to help Israel" crowd. Proving once again that our Keyboard Kommandos still haven't got the true measure of George W. Bush -- and they never will, because to be a Keyboard Kommando seems to require an inability to let reality intrude on their ranting.

[Allegra]

And so much for the local FR "yeah, but we won't lift a finger to help Israel" crowd. Proving once again that our Keyboard Kommandos still haven't got the true measure of George W. Bush -- and they never will, because to be a Keyboard Kommando seems to require an inability to let reality intrude on their ranting.

THANK YOU.

Keyboard Kommandos irritate the he!! out of me.

[zarf]

At the very least and for the first time I can recall, we're not begging Israel to show 'restraint'.

Give it a couple of days.

[expatguy]

Im afraid a strong condemnation wont work here.

This requires a EXTRA NEW IMPROVED STRONG CONDEMNATION

[veronica]

At the very least and for the first time I can recall, we're not begging Israel to show 'restraint'..."

Yet.

[nikos1121]

I think what I am waiting to see, is what the Lebanese people are going to do. Esp the women. I can't imagine that they want Hezbollah undermining their country.

[Pravious]

""We are holdinng Syria and Iran responsible...."
No we aren't. What actions has the US taken to back this up?"

Right. It's the usual government definition of holding someone "responsible." - speak the proper words, and then go back to trying to curry votes and find some bribes to take.

[ArmyTeach]

I wish these morons would stop wagging their stupid fingers in my face. I am offended. BTW, G_D bless our Israeli friends - and kin.

[ZULU]

The AXIS of Evil - still alive and functioning less one.

We need to destroy the other three.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Iamjihadmad, the Iranian president, has been spewing a lot lately about how there is going to be an explosion of war in the middle east. He wants the apocalypse so it will bring the arrival of the 12th Iman.
I would not be surprised if Iran is the one telling the palestinians and hizbollah to attack Israel so his war of armagedon can begin.

[TheDon]

We shall see.

[joe fonebone]

Doing Iraq first, from a strategic military standpoint, was the best thing we could have done. we can now prevent the syrian army from escaping the attacking IDF, while keeping iran at bay, or outright invasion. they are starting to fall like domino's...........and for those of you who think that Iran will be a terrible battle, remember, saddam had the worlds 4th largest army....we literally walked right over him.... Israel will take out the trash, and we will cover their flank.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

""I would not be surprised if Iran is the one telling the palestinians and hizbollah to attack Israel so his war of armagedon can begin."

Apparently, he (abberjabbermad), hadn't read the rest of that Bible chapter to see how the battle at armagedon ends.

[txflake]

Please God, let you be right. And soon. I want this BS settled and oil back below $40/bbl.

[livius]

We've been taking actions for quite some time - those actions we can take without setting off WWIV. It may get set off yet, but we'll be much more prepared for it (despite the best efforts of the New York Times) than we were a few years ago.

That said, I don't think WWIV is going to start now. I think Syria and Hizbollah will back down, and that Iran will continue to maintain its cloak of invisibility.

[quesera]

And so much for the local FR "yeah, but we won't lift a finger to help Israel" crowd. Proving once again that our Keyboard Kommandos still haven't got the true measure of George W. Bush -- and they never will, because to be a Keyboard Kommando seems to require an inability to let reality intrude on their ranting.

I am curious, what is the true measure of George W. Bush?

[SlowBoat407]

In the name of Allah, pull my finger so I can rip a good one and add to my already wonderful smell!

[r9etb]

I am curious, what is the true measure of George W. Bush?

That he takes action. Not only that, he takes well-considered action.

Any honest observer can see that. Keyboard Kommandos are either not observing, or they're not honest. Or both.

[r9etb]

I consider that high praise from a strong woman who has voluntarily taken her keyboard right to the heart of the action.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From Marketwatch:

*********************************************************

U.S. condemns Syria, Iran for latest kidnappings

E-mail | Print | | Disable live quotes

By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch

Last Update: 2:04 PM ET Jul 12, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The United States blamed Syria and Iran on Wednesday for the kidnappings of two Israeli soldiers along the Israel-Lebanon border by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

"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," a White House spokesman said.

"We also hold Syria and Iran, which directly support Hezbollah, responsible for this attack and the ensuing violence." said a White House spokesman.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan called for the immediate release of the soldiers and cautioned against an escalation in violence similar to what has occurred in the Gaza since the kidnapping of Israeli solider Gilad Shalit last month. About 71 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli response to the kidnapping.

"We would not want to see an expansion, an escalation of conflict in the region," Annan said, according to news reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the latest abductions an "act of war" and promised a "very, very painful" response.

Israeli radio said Israeli forces had entered Lebanon to search for the soldiers.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she had spoken with Annan, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. "We are united in our determination to achieve the release of the Israeli soldiers," Rice said in a statement.

"Syria has a special responsibility to use its influence to support a positive outcome," Rice said.

Syrian officials said they were not responsible for the kidnappings by the "resistance" in Palestine and Lebanon.

Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of MarketWatch.
 

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[bybybill]

How dare you use common sense in your posts? What do you think you are, an adult or something?

[CougarGA7]

This is ramping up incrementally. Options are decreasing with each move that these nutbags make. In the end what this will lead to is a wholesale destruction of Amadgonad, Ferret Face and their ilk. I dont even thing they have a clue at the strategic disadvantage they are in.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"In the name of Allah, pull my finger so I can rip a good one and add to my already wonderful smell!"



Excellent! You made my day, Slowboat, thanks! Hilarious!

[hershey]

Reading tea leaves, but Bush's silence, his leaving for Germany and the G-8 meeting, business as usual, is telling. (Want to know what's up with Hezbollah and Lebanon? Ask Israel.) And at the UN, Russia and China today swung closer to the US/UK position on Iran and nukes -- they won't vote against sanctions.

[hershey]

Just now, breaking on Fox, Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah bases 10 miles south of Damascus, an escalation.

[txflake]

Israel did characterize its response as to be 'enormous'.

[quesera]

That he takes action. Not only that, he takes well-considered action.

Any honest observer can see that. Keyboard Kommandos are either not observing, or they're not honest. Or both.

My apologies, I was reading your post the other way. I am glad to see that we are now telling it like it is and putting the pressure on Syria and Iran and we're not asking Israel to back off, THANK GOD!.

Israel seems to be setting up the stage for something big and we're letting it happen, it's about time. I am sick and tired of this PC stance we've taking lately because we don't want to anger the muslim community or the arab street, but where is the outcry from muslim community when innocent people are being blown up or beheaded in the name of their religion, so forgive the my french when I say frack the muslim community and let Israel defend herself against Hezbollah and let us stand ready to send in the bombers over Syria and Iran and deal with this ME cesspool once and for all.

Sorry I misread your post. My prayers for our troops and the IDF.

[RouxStir]

"We condemn in the strongest terms...." Any statement coming from our state department with this prelude means: "We ain't got the balls to stand up to the muslims..."

I'm really sick of our lack of support for Israel. Our state department should have issued a statement saying that Israel should use whatever means needed to PERMANENTLY solve this problem and that we will support them diplomatically, militarily and financially.

Our government has been castrated by the libs and the UN.

[RouxStir]

"This requires a EXTRA NEW IMPROVED STRONG CONDEMNATION"

With Color-Safe Bleach?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Just now, breaking on Fox, Israeli warplanes attack Hezbollah bases 10 miles south of Damascus, an escalation.

Bush let them take the gloves off. This could get interesting.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

"And at the UN, Russia and China today swung closer to the US/UK position on Iran and nukes -- they won't vote against sanctions"

I can only wonder what extortion demands the US/UK had to agree with to get the Asian mafia to go along with this.

[Edgerunner]

"We also hold Syria and Iran — which directly support Hezbollah — responsible for this attack and for the ensuing violence," Jones said. "Hezbollah's terrorism is not in Lebanon's interest.

Bomb 'em to oblivion!

[quesera]

I can only wonder what extortion demands the US/UK had to agree with to get the Asian mafia to go along with this.

A $2 bil deal on spent nuclear fuel with Russia just a few days ago I think might have been part of it. I hope it was worth it.

[quesera]

Bomb 'em to oblivion!

Works for me.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

In the breaking News there is this:

Israel airstrikes 10 miles south of Beirut

Not Damascus ..... but Beirut....

[SJackson]

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

Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.

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

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

********************************************************

Today: July 12, 2006 at 12:30:52 PDT

Israelis Attack Just 10 Miles From Beirut

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -

0712dv-gaza-violence Israeli warplanes and gunboats struck a Palestinian guerrilla base 10 miles south of Beirut late Wednesday, Lebanese security officials said, in the closest raid to the Lebanese capital since fighting erupted in southern Lebanon after guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers.

Warplanes flew over the Naameh base in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Beirut. Gunboats sailed facing the position, and explosions rang out across the area.

The base is run by the Syrian-backed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and was a frequent target of Israeli attacks in the past.

The latest attack comes after Israeli warplanes pounded more than 30 targets in southern Lebanon and Israeli leaders promised Lebanon a painful response for the capture of the soldiers.

There was no immediate word on casualties at Naameh.

Hezbollah said its guerrillas destroyed two Israeli tanks that attempted to cross the border into Lebanon on two different occasions Wednesday.

Israeli ground troops entered southern Lebanon on Wednesday to search for two soldiers captured earlier in the day by Hezbollah guerrillas, Israeli government officials said.

--

[4woodenboats]

Right. It's the usual government definition of holding someone "responsible." - speak the proper words, and then go back to trying to curry votes and find some bribes to take

Oh, don't stop there, please tell us who we're going to get the bribes from - Syria, Iran, the palestinians, or just hezbollah?

[Pravious]

I was speaking generally, and, of course, THAT was an exaggeration, based on my general dissatisfaction with our elected officials. I regret if that offended anyone, as, in fact, I don't honestly believe that ALL politicians are corrupt.