The illusory ceasefire
I didn't post last night on Israel's "suspension" of air attacks because of the lack of clarity, the strange way the statement came out through Adam Ereli, a US State Dept spokesman, and the fact that Israeli statements seemed pretty shaky on the whole thing.
Whatever the US was trying to put together, it didn't hold. (AP) Israeli air force continues Lebanon strikes. "The airstrikes near the village of Taibe were meant to protect ground forces operating in the area and were not targeting anyone or anything specific, the army said."
Also, I ran across this collection of photos from Qana. (Very Graphic.) If you want to know why the Arab world is outraged, take a look. It impacted me. The NYTimes also has a pretty good montage with a voiceover using alot of the same, less graphic, pictures.
(And, Condi's still pushing for a ceasefire by Bush's vacation.)
(And, Lebanese Army firing on Israeli helicopters?)
Israeli officials said nothing publicly about the suspension early Monday, and Mr. Ereli noted that Israel reserved the right to strike at militants preparing attacks against it.
Whatever the US was trying to put together, it didn't hold. (AP) Israeli air force continues Lebanon strikes. "The airstrikes near the village of Taibe were meant to protect ground forces operating in the area and were not targeting anyone or anything specific, the army said."
Also, I ran across this collection of photos from Qana. (Very Graphic.) If you want to know why the Arab world is outraged, take a look. It impacted me. The NYTimes also has a pretty good montage with a voiceover using alot of the same, less graphic, pictures.
(And, Condi's still pushing for a ceasefire by Bush's vacation.)
(And, Lebanese Army firing on Israeli helicopters?)
posted by mikevotes at
7:41 AM
7 Comments:
A 24 hour lull was a nice thought. I get the impression the hawks would prefer to keep pushing and turn world opinion by force.
I guess that's what happens when you isolate yourself, you lose the ability to read the wider situation.
By
Cartledge, at 9:52 AM
I think the hawks do want to push because I believe the US plan is a ceasefire by the end of the week. And if that's the case, they have very little time left to try to inflict damage.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 10:14 AM
Mike,
Maybe you would know. When Bush and Blair spoke the other day, they often talked about Lebanon "securing its borders."
I'm guessing this was meant to be in reference to Hezbollah, but technically isn't this a green light for them to engage the Israelis?
How did you read the message they were putting out there? Is Lebanon to receive international suppport to fight Israel and disarm Hezbollah simultaneously or what?
It was very unclear to me what they were saying.
By
Praguetwin, at 10:25 AM
Off that press conference I was mainly focused on the freedom defeats terror mantra.
Without rereading it, I would guess that the overt reference was to clearing out Hezbullah, but the subtext of what they're after would be policing the Syrian border. The idea that you could cut off Hezbullah's supplies by patrolling that border.
(Although they patrol the US Mexico border for drugs and immigrants, so how effective?)
Without rereading, that's my guess is that they're obliquely talking about the Syrian border which could also help formalize the current Shebaa farms line.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 11:06 AM
Thanks.
I didn't even think about Syria for some reason. When I heard "secure borders" I immediately thought about the invading force. Go figure.
By
Praguetwin, at 1:45 PM
Can't blame ya. It's just the way things are going. For instance, the US proposal calls for a "buffer zone." Needless to say, that's all coming out of Lebanon's side.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 3:05 PM
Now THAT I managed to pick up on. I wouldn't even dream of Israel even being asked to give up some "buffer zone" from their side.
By
Praguetwin, at 4:13 PM
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