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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
United States to Israel: you have one more week to blast Hizbullah
2006-07-19
The US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, European and Israeli sources. The Bush administration, backed by Britain, has blocked efforts for an immediate halt to the fighting initiated at the UN security council, the G8 summit in St Petersburg and the European foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. "It's clear the Americans have given the Israelis the green light. They [the Israeli attacks] will be allowed to go on longer, perhaps for another week," a senior European official said yesterday. Diplomatic sources said there was a clear time limit, partly dictated by fears that a prolonged conflict could spin out of control.

US strategy in allowing Israel this freedom for a limited period has several objectives, one of which is delivering a slap to Iran and Syria, who Washington claims are directing Hizbullah and Hamas militants from behind the scenes.
I'd think our objective would be to see Hezbollah wiped out. But if they Israelis have another week, and they've taken out 40 percent of Hezbollah's command structure, maybe another week's all they need.
Posted by:Fred

#14  That would be really helpful---though I don't expect it to happen, is for US Congress to pass a law saying Lebanon gets zero US aid intil compliance with 1559 is achieved (and verified).
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-07-19 17:59  

#13  Good to know, liberalhawk. Thanks!
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-07-19 17:23  

#12  Rantburg eyewitness report

There was a rally for Israel in Freedom Plaza, Penn Ave and 13th St NW, at noon today. Speakers included Israeli Amb Daniel Ayalon, Senator Sam Brownback (R- Kansas), Gov Robert Erlich (R-Md) and several congressmen of both parties, Rev Jim Hagee of Christians for Israel (or something) and various local Jewish leaders.

Organizers estimated the crowd at four to five thousand. Looked like a bit less to me, but Im not experienced at estimating crowds.

As Amb Ayalon said, the goal of the current operation is to restore a free Lebanon, to free the hostages, to break Hezbollah, and to keep Syria and Iran "at bay".

Reminder, that one quarter of the population of Israel is living in bomb shelters.

Children and elderly from the north have beeen relocated to central Israel. To provide humanitarian aid, check out Shalomdc.org

Thanks were expressed to President Bush and to Congress, and to the American people, for their support.

Posted by: liberalhawk   2006-07-19 13:49  

#11  If and when this conflict spins out of control, it benefits us, not Hezbollah, not Syria or Iran.
Further, I assume that spinning out of control means a broader war involving Hezbollah's supporters. What's not to like ?
Posted by: wxjames   2006-07-19 11:34  

#10  Talking out his ass.

1) we don't control the Israelis. We support them, most times, but ist's a mutual relationship.

2) 220 dead marines. Choke on it, bitch.
Posted by: mojo   2006-07-19 11:11  

#9  as for the dance, by which US diplos delay a ceasefire while Israel achieves its military objectives, that wasnt invented by Bush or Rice. It was done by the Johnson admin in June of '67, and by the Nixon admin in October 1973.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2006-07-19 09:57  

#8  today in Haaretz Israelis say it will take 10 to 14 days more. Ground troops have crossed the border in the south, but i very much doubt Israeli ground troops will go all the way to south Beirut, which is what it would take to hunt down every last Hezb terrorist. They are not going to eliminate Hezb with this operation. The material and political costs would be too high. They are going to weaken it severely however. This will make it harder for Hezb to attack across the border for some time, but more important it will weaken Hezb in Leb politics, since their power is based so much on force. It will also, as a bonus, humiliate Syria and Iran.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2006-07-19 09:54  

#7  Al Guardian, Heaping pile of Salt. And it contradicts what the WH has been saying so far.
Posted by: Charles   2006-07-19 09:46  

#6  Hmmm....whatcha said about setting deadlines for withdraw in Iraq ought to apply to deadlines elsewhere, dontcha think?
Posted by: Thrainter Hupinenter1535   2006-07-19 09:26  

#5  If it is true, then I think Condi is going to be sick next week.
Posted by: gorb   2006-07-19 07:30  

#4  Maybe it's British, European and Israeli sources advised by renegades at DoS who are seeking to make U. S. policy. We'll find out in a week.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-19 07:26  

#3  Mebbe its a week till the US starts talking about ending it.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats   2006-07-19 07:03  

#2  I would not put too much stock in what the Guardian has to say.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-07-19 05:54  

#1  I understood that the 40% referred to assets such as missiles, launchers, etc. throughout the country. Am I wrong here? I also thought that Israel was going to launch a ground offensive after they had pushed out all the "civilians" and pinched off the major routes for retreat, and that this offensive was aimed at wiping out Hezballah fighters. One week would then be too little time to accomplish this with anything like a minimum of casualties.
Posted by: gorb   2006-07-19 02:59  

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