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Cox & Forkum: Disproportionate Response II
Cox & Forkum: Disproportionate Response II
AFP: European press warns French troop offer weakens UN force in Lebanon. (LGF)
France faced criticism in the European press for not offering more troops for southern Lebanon, which was seen as jeopardizing the UN force’s difficult task of imposing peace. …Despite expectations that France would provide the bulk of a planned 15,000 strong UN force, Paris said Thursday it would send 200 troops to reinforce the UN mission in Lebanon.
While it said France was prepared to command the enlarged force, it also called for safety guarantees for its soliders before making further commitments.
FoxNews: French Soldiers Among First Peacekeepers to Land in Lebanon.
Boston Herald: With doublespeaking France, honor gets lost in translation. (via InstaPundit)
In recent weeks, France stepped forward to act as a broker of peace in Lebanon. “Act†is the key verb in that last sentence, as it now would seem that the only other verifiable part of the sentence is “in recent weeks.â€To correctly parse that sentence, one must understand that when France suggested it wanted to broker peace in Lebanon, it did not necessarily mean “broker†or “peace†or “Lebanon†in the way we might understand those words. The same is true when France further suggested it wanted to “lead†a “strong†“multinational†“force†there.
I don’t speak French, so I have no idea what the actual French words are for those concepts or what possible nuances there may be. I’ve been relying on news reports in English, which now inform me that the French do not intend to send any significant number of troops to what is supposed to be a force of 15,000 in Lebanon, like everyone thought they said they would.
The heady moment of peace brokering having passed, uponsober reflection, the French now say they already have a general and some staff in south Lebanon ordering about UNIFIL, the U.N. monitoring entity there. That’s plenty of leadership, the French suggested: All France needs to contribute now is another 200 combat engineers.
In tactical terms, when it comes to securing a Middle East conflict zone, that can be referred to as “squat.â€
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a disaster for Israel and the United States.
Israel lost the war but the United Nations lost ALL of its credibility.
And France?
Who can ever depend upon the French for any negotiated agreement?
Technorati Tags: Cox&Forkum, UnitedNations, Israel, Hezbollah, France
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Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Kerry Calls Lieberman the New Cheney
ABC: Kerry Calls Lieberman the New Cheney
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., blasted a fellow Democrat, Sen. Joe Lieberman, for continuing his bid in the Connecticut Senate race despite a narrow loss to newcomer Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary earlier this month.
“I’m concerned that [Lieberman] is making a Republican case,” Kerry told ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” in an exclusive appearance.
Kerry accused the 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate of “adopting the rhetoric of Dick Cheney,” on the issue of Iraq.
Senator John Kerry is so full of class.
NOT
Flap would hate to be in the Democrat Senate cloakroom after Lieberman is re-elected. Of course, maybe Lieberman wouldn’t go inside.
And Kerry really expects to run for President?
Please do the GOP a favor – MORON.
But, is Joe Lieberman running against Kerry or Ned Lamont?
Lieberman can beat either or both…….
Captain Ed has Kerry Couldn’t Find Mainstream With Both Hands And A Flashlight
In case Kerry doesn’t recognize it, and there’s no particular reason why he would considering his own legislative track record, that’s the mainstream in Connecticut. And unless the state has suddenly turned into Texas, Connecticut voters see little resemblance between Lieberman and Cheney. Maybe Kerry needs to reconsider his own relationship to the mainstream instead.
Allah has the video of Kerry and Lieberman on the Sunday shows.
Previous:
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Calls for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s Resignation
The Ryskind Sketchbook: Re-post
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Leads Lamont 53 – 41 Among Likely Connecticut Voters
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Richie Rich and the Two Anti-Semites
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Latest Rasmussen Poll Has Lieberman Beating Lamont
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Karl Rove Called Lieberman On Primary Election Day To Wish Him Well
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Kicks Off Independent Campaign
Technorati Tags: JoeLieberman, NedLamont
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says It Will NOT Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran’s influential former president Ali Akbar Rafsanjani leads prayers at Tehran University. Iran insisted that a nuclear freeze was not on the agenda and showed off its latest weaponry, two days before it is to respond to an international offer aimed at ending the long-running crisis.
Reuters: Iran says it won’t halt atomic work
Iran said on Sunday it would not suspend uranium enrichment, ruling out the main demand in a nuclear package backed by six world powers that aims to allay Western fears Tehran is seeking to build atomic bombs.
Iran says it will formally respond by Tuesday to proposals made by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. The six have offered incentives for Iran to suspend enrichment, a process that has both military and civilian uses.
Tehran, which insists its nuclear aims are purely civilian, shows no sign of accepting the package.
“We are not going to suspend (enrichment). The issue was that everything should come out of negotiations, but suspension of uranium enrichment is not on our agenda,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a weekly news conference.
Well, there the world has it. A NO to the P-5-Plus-1 proposal.
What a SURPRISE?
NOT
The international community has wasted months waiting for Iran to respond to a non-starter proposal – as the Iranian centrifuges enriched uranium at Natanz. Now it is time to move onto economic and diplomatic sanctions.
But, will any meaningful sanctions ever be imposed?
Doubtful……
Why?
The Europeans are afraid of an oil crisis precipitated by Iran. The Russians need oil currency from Iran to bolster their sagging economy – remember they are selling Iran military materials and nuclear technology to build nuclear reactors. The Chinese need Iran’s oil to drive their growing populations need for energy.
So, who is left to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?
The United States and Israel
In the meantime, Iran is making military threats to thwart any thoughts of United Nations sanctions.
AP: Iran test-fires 10 short-range missiles
Iran test-fired 10 surface-to-surface short-range missiles on Sunday, a day after it launched a series of large-scale military exercises throughout the country, state-run television reported. The Saegheh missile had a range of between 50 and 150 miles, the report said. It did not specify whether the missile was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, but it was not believed to be.
State-run television said the missile was built based on domestic know-how, although outside experts say much of the country’s missile technology originated from other countries.
Iran said it launched the new military exercises Saturday to introduce a new defensive doctrine.
“We have to be prepared against any threat and we should be a role model for other countries,” local newspapers quoted army spokesman Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, as saying earlier this week.
A TV grab taken from Iran’s state television shows the test firing of a new short-range missile. Iran test-fired a short-range missile during the second day of nationwide military exercises in a demonstration of its readiness to “respond to any threat,”
Iran, make no mistake about it, is playing the “OIL CARD.”
President Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Mullahs are telling the world that they will disrupt the flow of oil if United Nations sanctions are imposed on them. So, will the United Nations have the WILL to prevent Iran from continuing to enrich uranium and manufacture a nuclear bomb?
Probably NOT
Iranian military forces alight from a helicopter during a training exercise in Zahedan, in the southeastern province of Sistan va Baluchistan, Iran, on Saturday Aug. 19, 2006. Iran on Saturday launched a series of large-scale military maneuvers aimed at introducing, what is being called, the country’s new defensive doctrine, state-run television reported.
The question is WHEN NOT IF the United States and Israel bomb Iranian nuclear facilities?
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Military Exercises to Test Asymmetrical Warfare Combat Doctrine
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Information Blackout – Police Destroying Satellite Dishes in Tehran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Discuss Suspension of Uranium Enrichment?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
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Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Calls for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s Resignation
Sen. Joe Lieberman , D-Conn., appears on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’ in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006.
Sen. Joe Lieberman on Sunday called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and backed an international conference to find a way out of the crisis in Iraq.
Lieberman, who is seeking a fourth term as an independent candidate after losing the Democratic nomination to newcomer Ned Lamont on Aug. 8, also criticized some fellow Democrats. He said several Democrats are trying to impose a “litmus test” on the party.
“I think it’s still time for new leadership at the Pentagon,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Lieberman, an early supporter of the Iraq war, said he called for Rumsfeld to step down in 2003.
“With all respect to Don Rumsfeld, who has done a grueling job for six years, we would benefit from new leadership to work with our military in Iraq,” he said Sunday.
JoeMentum has got the BIG MO. Lamont’s position on the Iraq War is so radical/irrational that Lieberman’s measured/calculated policy recommendations will look palatable to most Connecticut voters.
Flap does not necessarily agree because this is the President’s call. But, if Flap were Commander in Chief, he would consider ALL policy options, including a Rumsfeld retirement.
An international conference on the Iraq War?
No Way
Look how well the United Nations is doing with Israel and Hezbollah.
He also accused Lamont of distorting his stance on Iraq.
“He made me into a cheerleader for George Bush and everything that’s happened,” Lieberman said. “And the record shows that, while I believe we did the right thing in overthrowing Saddam Hussein, I’ve been very critical over the years, particularly in 2003 and 2004, about the failure to send enough American troops to secure the country, about the absence of adequate plans and preparation to deal with post-Saddam Iraq.”
Liberman knows that there is nothing like a good OFFENSE in politics and Ned Lamont is now playing defense.
The Lamont campaign issued a statement Sunday criticizing Lieberman for trying to “paint himself as courageous for clinging to the failed ‘stay the course’ policy in Iraq and not listening to the voters of Connecticut on the need to change course.”
“His new found ‘criticism’ of the war won’t convince Connecticut voters after so many years of stubbornly rubber-stamping Bush’s failed policies,” the statement said.
Lamont issued a “WEAK” response but besides “cut and run” he has NO plan to change American policy in Iraq.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
The Ryskind Sketchbook: Re-post
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Leads Lamont 53 – 41 Among Likely Connecticut Voters
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Richie Rich and the Two Anti-Semites
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Latest Rasmussen Poll Has Lieberman Beating Lamont
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Karl Rove Called Lieberman On Primary Election Day To Wish Him Well
Senator Joe Lieberman Watch: Lieberman Kicks Off Independent Campaign
Technorati Tags: JoeLieberman, NedLamont
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Day By Day by Chris Muir August 20, 2006
