White House Statement on Hizballah Kidnapping //Rice: All sides must act with restraint

IMRA/White House/State Dept ^ | 7-12-06

[Sabramerican]

So you want a SoS that encourages violence

You've convinced me. Violence is bad.

We need to bring our troops back from Afghanistan and Iraq immediately. I do believe they are encouraged to be violent.

But how do we apologize for our violence and resurrect Zarqawi?

[Old_Mil]

I know she can't really say anything other than this, but wouldn't it be nice if she could really speak out? Being Secretary of State must be torturous.

I'm not entirely sure if it would be nice if she could really speak out. Assuming that these statements are at least partially influenced by what she truly believes, I think I'd have some severe disagreements with foreign policy conducted according to a Rice doctrine.

Calling for restraint on Israel's part is idiocy at this point.

[SJackson]

Hillary and Condi? Like night and day. Hillary as president wouldn't have rat's @ss clue of what to do in a situation like this, where Condi sharpen's her teeth with these kind of situations. To her it's like a football game.

Absolutely. Hillary vs Condi, I'd vote for Condi in a heartbeat.

In fact I prefer her to Carter.

And Madeline Albright.

She may be James Baker's equal, superior in the sense that she's not openly owned by the Saudis.

And yes, she's a very mediocre Secretary of State.

[SJackson]

But how do we apologize for our violence and resurrect Zarqawi?

Apologize and pay his family reparations.

Impeach Bush?

[SJackson]

You know, a straight message and clear well defined policy can be the best diplomacy: it won't make any illusions and can achieve political goals better than a message that needs to be deciphered on multiple levels with a good probability of a mistake (like a message to Saddam before his attack in Kuwait).

Funny, I've mentioned that brilliant piece of diplomacy a couple times the last few days.

You want to invade Kuwait? We'll be restrained, we don't want to hurt any feelings.

[goldstategop]

This is why Condie Rice must never become President. "Restraint?" Dear Condie, when your country is attacked in an act of war, you do not react with restraint. (At least have the temerity to acknowledge Israel is at war - and not just with Hezbollah, who are proxies of Iran, whose dictator is sworn to wipe Israel off the map). You fight back and defeat the enemy! I don't know what it is in the State Department water that causes her to spout such nonsensical bupkis. I know diplomats are paid to lie for their country but this borders on the grotesque. What is it about being at war our Secretary Of State does not understand? Israel was attacked wantonly from another country, its soldiers were killed and abducted. That Ms. Secretary, is an act of war. And now as the Bible says, its a time not for restraint, but a time for war!

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[SJackson]

Dear Condie, when your country is attacked in an act of war, you do not react with restraint.

Jimmy Carter did

Bill Clinton did.

[goldstategop]

Yes, they did. The State Department though, is truly infested with moral equivalence leftists and those who want to accomodate the jihadist onslaught upon Israel and the West. Instead of cleaning house, Condie Rice has become their captive.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[Centurion2000]

I don't envy Rice's job right now.

I'm waiting for the day when Rice just comes out and says. "Ya'll just need to fight it out to the death and to the voctor the spoils."

I can dream anyway

[bnelson44]

Then we should fire her as Sec. of State.

[Old_Mil]

Jimmy Carter did

Bill Clinton did.

...and look what that did for us as a nation.

[rintense]

I want someone to post actual proof that Colin Powell did any better.

[Old_Mil]

I want someone to post actual proof that Colin Powell did any better.

He didn't. That's the point - Condi is basically Powell with different plumbing. We need a guy like Macarthur at State.

[SupplySider]

What could be more "restrained" than vacating Gaza altogether? Now when terrorists respond by tunneling under their national border to murder and kidnap, they are supposed to "restrain" defending themselves? Then Hezbollah capitalizes on the situation by a naked act of war and aggression, and Israel is called upon to restrain herself again?

The mind boggles. I suppose Dr. Rice thinks currying favor with antisemitic Europeans and Russians will yield some imagined benefits to the US. If so, it would be a first.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Rice: All sides must act with restraint"

[trisham]

You know, a straight message and clear well defined policy can be the best diplomacy: it won't make any illusions and can achieve political goals better than a message that needs to be deciphered on multiple levels with a good probability of a mistake (like a message to Saddam before his attack in Kuwait).

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

I admit it's the kind of message I'd personally like to see.

[trisham]

Calling for restraint on Israel's part is idiocy at this point.

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

I agree. Israel must do what is necessary to survive.

[trisham]

Alternatively, if restraint is the GWB position, it should come from the White House. Confusion isn't always a positive thing.

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

I haven't seen any sign of conflict between Rice and President Bush, which leads me to believe that he approves of her performance so far.

[groovejedi]

gimme a break! it's useless to talk to you

[ZULU]

Yes.

The Israelis should act with the same kind of restraint our State Department has exercised over the Mexican government sponsored, aided, abetted, directed, and financed violation of our southern borders by its nationals.

Our State Department is continuing along the lines of its earlier traditions under its new, more attractive, but no more adept, spokeswoman.