Posted on 07/14/2006 1:17:39 PM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
US President George W. Bush rejected Lebanon's calls for a cease-fire in escalating Mideast violence on Friday, saying only that Israel should try to limit civilian casualties as it steps up attacks on its neighbor.
"The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
Lebanon's prime minister asked Bush during a phone call Friday to pressure Israel for a cease-fire. But Bush, speaking to Prime Minister Fuad Saniora while flying from Germany to Russia, said Israelis have a right to protect themselves.
"We think it's important that, in doing that, they try to limit as much as possible the so-called collateral damage, not only on civilians but also on human lives," Snow said.
Saniora's office issued a statement saying Bush "affirmed his readiness to put pressure on Israel to limit the damage to Lebanon as a result of the current military action, and to spare civilians and innocent people from harm."
Snow said that wasn't so. Bush merely "reiterated his position" that Israel should limit the impact on civilians, he said.
"It is unlikely that either or both parties are going to agree to" a cease-fire at this point, Snow said.
Bush's conversation with Saniora was part of a round of telephone diplomacy aimed at quelling the flare-up in violence. The president also spoke with allies Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II and thanked them for helping to try to ease the violence in their neighborhood, Snow said.
Bush was pleased that a number of major Muslim nations such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia "do not look on Hizbullah as being a legitimate government entity," Snow said.
Hizbullah is an Iranian-backed Shi'ite terror organization that has a free hand in southern Lebanon and holds seats in parliament. The Lebanese government has no control over Hizbullah but has long resisted international pressure to forcibly disarm the group for fears of igniting sectarian conflict.
Bush has not spoken with Israeli leaders, but US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Snow said. Snow did not provide details of the conversation.
Snow said it seemed inevitable that the G-8 members would issue some kind of a statement on the Mideast situation, but it was unclear what it would say. Rice said a three-person team sent by the United Nations to the region should get a chance to try to defuse the crisis.
Several drafts concerning violence in the Middle East were already on the table. "With the pace of events, they're going to have to redraft them," Snow said.
"It is important that everybody talk with one voice," Snow said.
In St. Petersburg, Bush's first stop was a monument honoring those who defended Leningrad - the Soviet name for the city - during the 900-day World War II siege. More than half a million people died, most of hunger. Bush and his wife paused there for a long moment of silence.
In what amounted to a gentle statement about democratic backsliding under Putin's leadership, Bush went from there to sit down with 17 representatives from civil society groups whom he called "young, vibrant Russian activists who loved their country" but who also are concerned about human conditions there. Bush said he would convey some of their worries directly to Putin.
"I assured them the United States of America cares about the form of government in Russia," Bush told reporters afterward. "I hope I was encouraging for them. It was instructive to me."
Bush spent part of the afternoon on a bike ride in a wooded area near the site of the summit, the opulent 18th century Konstantin Palace, where the Bushes and Putins were to have dinner later Monday.
"Snow said that wasn't so. Bush merely "reiterated his position" that Israel should limit the impact on civilians, he said."
Kudos to Tony Snow for keeping the truth of what President Bush is saying out there and correcting up front and immediately the misstatements and interpretations that abound from every direction.
"The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
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As he should not, he should keep quiet, stay out of it, and let Israel fight for its own security. Give 'em hell Israel !!!!
No ceasefires until all the bad guys are dead.
God bless and protect Israel. May her hateful enemies be confounded and destroyed.
I suggest Israel practice restraint while dealing with these poor hezbullah fellows...
......hold 'em down while you kick the $hit out of them!
Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.
We make no distinction between terrorists and those who harbor them.
Us and we refer to non-terrorists, in this case Israel. If we are not with Israel, we are with the terrorists - Hezbollah. We cannot draw a distinction between Hezbollah and Lebanon that harbors them saying that they can't disarm them for fear of unleashing sectarian violence. Let them come out once and for all and say that they don't care about their Palestinian 'brothers', that their first priority, perhaps their only priority is the people of Lebanon. If Hezbollah (Lebanese or other Arab) operates within Lebanon jeopardizing the well-being of the Lebanese people, then come sectarian violence or anything else, they will excise it.
I wish Tony Snow had said, "The President is not going to make military decisions FOR Israel but will support any decision that Israel makes to defend itself."
I wish Tony Snow had said, "The President is not going to make military decisions FOR Israel but will support any decision that Israel makes to defend itself."
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Agreed. But it has always been a problem with this administration to just come right out and say it. And in the face of the terrorists --- as it should be.
Nice Job! Dubya!
They'll try and blame the President that he started a war or somehow doesn't stop one.. that he didn't start.. either way ..well you know the rest.
Good job, W! Israel needs to pound the heck out of those terrorist slime. It would be a shame if we discouraged them from doing that.
These civilians we keep hearing about -- exactly who are they? Are they the same civilians who have embrace Hezbollah? Are they the same civilians who have welcomed Hezbollah into their neighborhoods to hide behind their women and children? Are they the same civilians who cheer at the death of Israelis? Are they the same civilians who cheered at the death of American marines? Well, are they?
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