Posted on 07/27/2006 3:58:16 PM PDT by bnelson44
President Bush declined Thursday to criticize Israel's tactics in its continuing offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon, and gave a sharp condemnation of Iran's role in the bloody fighting.
"Hezbollah attacked Israel. I know Hezbollah is connected to Iran," Bush said tersely at the end of Oval Office meetings with Romanian President Traian Basescu. "Now is the time for the world to confront this danger," Bush said.
The president was responding to statements from top Israeli officials that fighting could continue for several weeks more. Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon said world leaders, in failing to call for an immediate cease-fire during a Rome summit, gave Israel a green light to push harder to wipe out Hezbollah.
Bush said he hoped to see the violence end "as quickly as possible" and repeated his call for Israel to try to limit the impact on civilians. But he suggested that the Israeli campaign has his support for as long as it takes to eliminate Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon and its ability to attack neighbor Israel.
"Now is the time to address the root cause of the problem and the root cause of the problem is terrorist groups trying to stop the advance of democracy," he said. "Our objective is to make sure that those who use terrorist tactics are not rewarded."
The Israeli offensive, which began after Hezbollah crossed the border and captured two Israeli soldiers, continued Thursday as Bush spoke. Israeli jets pounded suspected Hezbollah positions across Lebanon on Thursday, and guerrilla rockets continued to hit northern Israel.
In response, the al-Qaida terrorist network threatened new attacks, its first comment on fighting now in its third week. The videotape by Osama bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahri also was the first sign that al-Qaida aimed to exploit Israel's two-pronged offensive — against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas-linked militants in Gaza — to rally Islamic militants.
"I'm not surprised people who use terrorist tactics would start speaking out," the president said. "Here's a fellow who is in a remote region of the world putting out statements basically encouraging people to use terrorist tactics to kill innocent people to achieve their political objectives. And the United States of America stands strong against Mr. Zawahri and his types."
The United States is isolated on the crisis from most of its allies, who want an immediate cease-fire to end the fighting. Washington is willing to give Israel more time to weaken Hezbollah, whose principal backers are Syria and Iran.
Talks are continuing about the makeup of an international peacekeeping force with State Department counselor Philip Zelikow working in Brussels with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and his staff, White House press secretary Tony Snow said. The United States believes the Lebanese army also should be strengthened so it can disarm Hezbollah.
Amid plans for consultations at the United Nations, two U.S. Middle East envoys also were continuing diplomatic talks in the region. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may return to the Middle East this weekend.
"Whatgever is done diplomatically must address the root cause and the root cause is terrorist activites," Bush said. "I view this as a clash of forms of government."
When are the "good people" of Iran going to throw off their leaders? You know the ones the media has been telling us about for 30 years now?..../s
This will be over when all the radical muzzies and their progenitors are dead.
How many nations cried out for an immediate, IMMEDIATE, I say, cease fire during the eight years Iran and Iraq were at war?
The list of similar events is as long as nations have been at war. Those calling for ISRAEL to cease firing (they know Hez isn't about to) are transparently against Israel having the right to exist and to self-determination.
Thank God Bush states a position and refuses to be pushed off of it.
The AP write up was actually halfway decent in its presentation.
President Bush is a difficult man to fugure out. I think I really respect him. It's absolutely clear that he is telling the world, "It's time to get off your dead asses and act like the World Leaders and Protectors of Freedom that you claim to be." But, he seems a bit wobbly at times....the stresses of it all...the uncertainty that any leader feels....his rhetoric a bit awkward at times. I just wish (as does he, I'm sure) that Europe and the left would rally behind him. It truly is a job that needs to be done and the fact that he's willing to take it on says a lot about his character. In spite of the resentment that any 'out' political party naturally feels, it sure would be nice if they would put their partisanship away on this one.
In any case, Bush will sacrifice the GOP controlled congress and Senate, but he will not let Hizbollah out of the noose he has prepared for them. Say what you will but, this man called out the terrorist and their supporters back on 9/11 and well......he absolutely meant it. Just ask Hizbollah...you know... the guys shaking in their boots right now wondering what happened to the 'Bill Clinton' US that used to save their asses when Israel got too mean.
Hold onto your hats. We're going to war again, very soon.
Reagan wouldn't have been so bland. He would have said something memorable.
My guess is another Iran-Iraq war, but with the U.S. solidly behind Iraq this time with logistics, weaponry and support troops. Oh, and lots and lots of airpower. Don't know when, but I think it's coming.
The AP and other "news" organizations like to find ways to phrase things to make their point, but on the whole I think they did a much better than usual job of actually quoting Bush, and putting the reasonable arguments (he makes) into the article.
I don't mean to imply I think the AP did a really good job, just that it's less snarky and biased than usual.
I accept the simple truth that Bush is not Reagan, and I like living with that truth. Not much Ronnie could do about it now anyway.
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