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July 14, 2006
UPDATE - MIDDLEAST
10/14/06 1521 hours: While on a visit to Germany about 15 hours ago, President Bush blamed Syria and Iran for new Middle East violence, saying Hezbollah was just a contracting agent doing Iran's dirty work. There is growing evidence that members of the Iranian military have been directly assisting Hezbollah in launching missile strikes on Israel.
They don't want Israelis to defend themselves: Russian President Vladimir Putin said, ``No hostage-takings are acceptable, but neither is the use of full-scale force in response to these, even if unlawful, actions. We will demand that all sides involved in the conflict immediately stop the bloodshed.'' French President Jacques Chirac accused Israel of going too far. Chirac quipped, ``One could ask if today there is not a sort of will to destroy Lebanon, its equipment, its roads, its communications.' He said Israels response was totally "disproportionate". ( Sure, its not like the terrorists in Hezbollah that totally intimidate the weak government of Lebanon were shooting hundreds of missiles at your cities or invading your sovereign territory and killing your soldiers. )
Leftists Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain, who took over after the train bombings to appease the terrorists, warned Israel it was "making a mistake" to attack Lebanon. ( I am sure you are aware taht Spain is very much afraid of terrorists since the train bombing and they are prepare to make any concession necessary in the name of peace! )
The Vatican echoed that remark.
"In fact, the right to defense on the part of a country does not exempt it from respecting norms of international law above all for that which concerns the safety of the civilian population," said a statement by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's No. 2 official.
Bush next heads to Moscow for a meeting with Putin. It's doubtful that will be helpful as Putin has turned away from democratic reforms in favor of an old hardline Communists startegy and Russia has a vested interest in Iranian oil and other trade agreements, including providing nuclear reactor assistance for Irans nuclear weapon program.
Posted by Post Scripts at July 14, 2006 03:03 PM
Comments
"While on a visit to Germany about 15 hours ago, President Bush blamed Syria and Iran for new Middle East violence, saying Hezbollah was just a contracting agent doing Iran's dirty work."
And the next few days may reveal who is our contracting agent for dirty works.
Posted by: Libby at July 14, 2006 06:59 PM