US helped plan offensive, says New Yorker magazine

The Australian ^ | August 14 2006 | Abraham Rabinovich

[jmc1969]

THE US Government was closely involved in the planning of Israel's military operations against Islamic militant group Hezbollah even before the July 12 kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, The New Yorker magazine reported in its latest issue.

The kidnapping triggered a month-long Israeli operation in southern Lebanon that is expected to come to an end today.

But Pulitzer Prize-winning US journalist Seymour Hersh writes that US President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney were convinced that a successful Israeli bombing campaign against Hezbollah could ease Israel's security concerns and also serve as a prelude to a potential US pre-emptive attack to destroy Iran's nuclear installations.

Citing an unnamed Middle East expert with knowledge of the thinking of the Israeli and US Governments, Israel had devised a plan for attacking Hezbollah - and shared it with Bush administration officials - well before the July 12 kidnappings.

The expert added that the White House had several reasons for supporting a bombing campaign, the report said.

If there was to be a military option against Iran, it had to get rid of the weapons Hezbollah could use in a potential retaliation against Israel, Hersh writes.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Seymour Hersh ...

I have another theory...Iran directed hEbola to to attack Israel so the world can divert attention from Irans nuclear weapons....

[Uncle Hal]

Lets all agree. Everything and I mean everything is Bush's fault. Every MSM article will have that caveat automatically inserted into the story. There, it is done. End of discussion.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

And you know what else will be Bush's fault?


If Bush does not attack Irans NW, the Dems will say he should have.

If bush does attack the dems will say "this creates more terrorists"

It is ALL bush's fault...the drought in Africa, all the worlds war, global warming, Sudan, OIL prices up, Stock down, Interest UP....Every thing is Bush's fault!

What a great party at a time of WAR...these dems...
what a party...the brainwashing of the MSM...what a time we live in...

unbelievable

[avital2]

yes, i believe we all have hundreds of contingency plans. what's the big deal?

[Billthedrill]

Seymour Hersh again. His only comfort is that he hasn't any credibility left to destroy.

[dighton]

You see the headline and just know, “Crap, him again.”

[OSHA]

Citing an unnamed Middle East expert with knowledge of the thinking of the Israeli and US Governments,

At least they have an unimpeachable source.

[goldfinch]

It doesn't matter who planned it because Olmert did not allow the IDF to execute it.

[libstripper]

It doesn't matter who planned it because Olmert did not allow the IDF to execute it.

A nuclear chicken that's just eaten a whole bottle of Ex-Lax and will come home to roost on our shoulders and Israel's. After this fiasco, how much credibility is any threat from us or Israel likely to have with the Iranians as they proceed pell mell to develop nukes???

[hermgem]

There was a plan reveals Mr. Hersh...
There better be a plan for all kinds of situations, including an attack scenario on Hezbollah.
Nothing wrong, except one needs leadership for every one of these plans if and when a situation arises.
Sorry to say this plan goes back based upon Sharon who as we know is no longer in charge.
What Israel has is a career politician named Olmer, a favorite of the media, but a typical political waverer, hesitator, negotiator.
Olmer went about it trying to bomb Hezbollah into submission (similar as Clinton in Serbia) against the urging of his generals who demanded strong ground forces.
Olmers failure in executing, then belatedly he wants to go with ground forces, then pulls back again, then announces forward but hesitates, and in the final stretch starts a run.
Result: Hezbollah will claim victory based on damage and retreat they inflicted on Israel's army.
Outcome: Hezbollah knows they can stand up against this type of leaderless force, expect them in regrouping with additional strength and concerted multiple actions.
As soon as Iran is atomic weapon ready, pressure on Israel will mount, including provocative attacks.
Israel is hemmed in, go nuclear you get it right back.
As planned by Iran, namely for Islam to expand from the Middle East to Spain is achieved and realizable.
Will the U.N. with support from Russia, China, France, come to the help Israel during and after hostilities or just offer help in relocating Israeli refugees?

[MHGinTN]

IF the following is not a typical media lie made up by the agitprop Hersh, the 'expert' needs to meet a firing squad at dawn: "Citing an unnamed Middle East expert with knowledge of the thinking of the Israeli and US Governments, Israel had devised a plan for attacking Hezbollah - and shared it with Bush administration officials - well before the July 12 kidnappings." ... time to start weeding the democrap operatives out of the garden. These operatives are the weeds the degenerate clinton chuckled he'd left behind for surprises to the Republicans. These same are traitors and need to be expelled from any responsibilities with clearances. This sort of traitorous behavior touted as 'patriotic dissent' needs the excising done to rid a body of cancerous growths. Democrats will gladly sacrifice you and your family if it appears to hold empoweremnt potential for democrats. They proved it over the deacdes with their ardent promotion of abortion on demand, sacrificing tens of millions of alive unborn children in the democrat empowerment scheme.

[zook]

Didn't Hersh once claim that the US intentionally sent that KAL jetliner to its doom over Soviet airspace?

Of course, I'd be thrilled to know we helped Israel.