Posted on 07/27/2006 12:45:09 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
HALIFAX - The United States and other western countries should be pushing hard for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, along with the insertion of an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, former U.S. president Bill Clinton said Wednesday.
The Islamic group Hezbollah's tactics are at the root of the latest bloody conflict in the region, but Clinton also questioned the length to which Israel has gone to defend itself. "It's important for us to get some kind of ceasefire now," Clinton said.
"I think this idea of an international force needs to be fleshed out."
His position stands in contrast to the Bush administration and Israel, which have both rejected the idea of a quick truce.
As three days of inconclusive Mideast diplomacy broke up in Rome, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a ceasefire without conditions would allow Hezbollah to regroup and attack Israel or other countries anew.
Clinton said Israel has been looking for an opportunity to "degrade" Hezbollah's military capacity.
"The danger in this Israeli strategy is that Hezbollah attacks with rockets, then hides among civilians," he told 5,000 people at a sold-out event at the Halifax Metro Centre.
"No matter how measured the response is, if you go after them, you're going to kill innocent people."
Hezbollah has tried to do what Hamas has done in the Palestinian territories and said, "when it suits us we'll be a political party and when it suits us we'll go to war," Clinton told former Canadian ambassador to Washington Frank McKenna in a question-answer session following the speech.
Clinton also said Israel went too far in bombing the airport in Beirut.
"I understand why (Israel) wanted to degrade their military capacity, but I question whether it was worth it to wreck the airport because the airport was the symbol of the new Lebanon."
NATO is probably the only international group with the military muscle capable of fielding a peacekeeping force, said Clinton.
"If we're ever going to have a peaceful Middle East, then the peacemakers will have to be protected in a way that won't get them blamed every time they fight back," he said.
Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, is in Canada this week to talk about bilateral relations.
He's been to Canada 20 times since he left the Oval Office, mostly for speaking engagements.
In his speech Wednesday, he urged Canada to stay the course on universal health care.
He also focused his attention on the depletion of the world's oil reserves.
Last year he sent a stern message to oil-rich Alberta about the effects of global warming.
Clinton said energy-producing nations shouldn't keep their "heads in the sand" and allow the world's climate to change to the point where it could have catastrophic results.
Although organizers of Wednesday's event were tight-lipped about his speaking fee, published sources say Clinton charges $16,000 US for every engagement.
Tickets for the 45-minute speech in Halifax went for $99.
Since leaving the office he held from 1992 to 2000, Clinton has often been in the news for his efforts on behalf of victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and global poverty.
This coming from the man whose success in 2000 lead to the Intafada.
He just can't stand not being president any longer.
My God, Mr. Clinton is such a schmuck.
Speaks volumes as to the actions of our former fearless leader and the Democrat party that he still seeks to lead.
Clinton and the Clintonistas can't quite figure it out. We're engaged in a war against terrorism, and Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. We want to kill the terrorists, not negotiate with them. Klinton would have negotiated with Hitler, so now France and the UK would have Nazis controlling their governments.
Clinton running US foreign policy. Not.
Earth to Bill: Why don't you take the peanut farmer out for a beer and a cup of shaddup. What you should be calling for is the civilized world--which is apparently the United States, to finish off the murdering scum known as Hizbollah.
NO BILL!You've had your chance at playing president and you "muffed it"!(literally)
"some kind of ceasefire..."
Awesome quote, Bill, Winston Churchill couldn't have said it better
Middle America Calls on Bill Clinto to STFU.
This just goes to show you how little he gets it. Symbolism is more important than reality to these people. If they leave the airport operating, then Hezzies are re-armed ad-infinitum.
in his pants?
I thought Bubba was in a trench with a rifle
Considering the havoc the last two Demorat Presidents have caused in foreign affairs, I fear the next time the voters put another one in office.
Brother Roger told Bill the `Gaza Strip' is
a titty bar, now he wants to `investigate'.
(Rimshot. Take my wife . . . please!)
What Clinton is saying is idiocy. Hizb'allah are religious fanatics. Even if they shoulc accept a cease fire, it would only be for a short time in order to rearm and continue their jihad. According to their religion, there is no way they could accept a "peacekeeping" force (made up of infidels and apostates) to set up camp in Lebanese territory.
Bill Clinton is insane. Or stupid. Maybe both.
These "peacemakers" should have more rights than the US and Israel, huh Slick?
Yeah right. Who is he banging in Canada?
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