U.S. diplomatic options limited in Israel-Lebanon conflict

By Elise Labott
CNN Washington Bureau


Saturday, July 15, 2006; Posted: 8:50 p.m. EDT (00:50 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) --
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Senior State Department officials said the U.S. has three main diplomatic goals in the Middle East: to help facilitate the release of the Israeli soldiers whose kidnappings precipitated the latest crisis; to pressure Israel to exercise restraint in its operations against Lebanon; and to support the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

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U.S. calls for Israeli restraint have been pale in comparison to those from leaders in Europe and the Middle East who see the attacks against Lebanon as disproportionate.

Not only is the United States reluctant to criticize Israel as it faces terrorist attacks from Hezbollah, officials realize U.S. influence with Israel over its military operations is limited.

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...an envoy doesn't seem to be in the cards, according to senior State Department officials, nor does a trip by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The officials say an envoy could disrupt ongoing efforts and would be unproductive without diplomatic room to maneuver. As one senior State Department official put it: "At times like this it's comforting to think of sending an envoy, but to where? We can't put Colin Powell on a plane to Damascus and Tehran."

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/15/btsc.labott.diplomacy/index.html

To wit:

"But the Bush administration, which blames Hezbollah for the current situation, has limited diplomatic options, and its capability to focus on the crisis is overstretched by the war in Iraq and nuclear standoffs with North Korea and Iran."

Translation: "We don't have enough intermediaries to stamp out every fire Bush has lit."

"U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch and deputy national security advisor Elliot Abrams are in the Middle East, engaging in intense shuttle diplomacy."

Poor choices. We need a professional interlocutor, independent of BushCo, who's a Middle Eastern scholar. Just a guess, but maybe Welch and Abrams asked the Administration not to appoint an envoy for purely selfish reasons.

"With the conflict threatening to draw Iran and Syria into a regional war, Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nebraska and a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, on Thursday joined a growing chorus of calls urging Bush to send a high-level envoy, such as Colin Powell or James Baker, to the region. Such a trusted adviser, Hagel argued, would have the respect of leaders there."

Um, no Senator Hagel, they probably wouldn't have the respect of leaders there.

Powell and Baker may be former SecStates, but they're both tied in with the Bush family and, after this Administration's misadventure in Iraq, the Arab States probably don't trust anyone connected with a Bush. Secondly, Colin Powell is a professional soldier, and soldiers don't necessary make good diplomats.

"But an envoy doesn't seem to be in the cards, according to senior State Department officials, nor does a trip by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The officials say an envoy could disrupt ongoing efforts and would be unproductive without diplomatic room to maneuver."

Is it not in the cards because Welch and Abrams are afraid that a professional would steal their thunder? No so far-fetched, if you know either one of them.

"As one senior State Department official put it: "At times like this it's comforting to think of sending an envoy, but to where? We can't put Colin Powell on a plane to Damascus and Tehran."

Here's a novel idea: Why not bring the Israeli and Lebanese representatives - with the Egyptians and the Jordanians moderating, the U.S. taking the lead - to the negotiating table at Camp David? Could it be because Bush lacks the skills of a statesman, or doesn't want them to sign a cease-fire or peace agreement?

Sheesh, this is just so unbelievable. :eyes:





(edited for additional text)

The subtext for the whole thing is that we are not going to court disfavor from a certain powerful lobbying group when so many of its supporters are up for re-election. Moreover, none of the Bush administration is able to negotiate its way out of a paper bag. Condi simply jets around. She does not command respect because she is the Great Insulter. Powell never liked traveling around to do the statesmanship thing in the first place. The two goons we do have over there are not to be trusted.

I can't add any more to what you've stated. You're right.