"Listen, Syria is trying to get back into Lebanon, it looks like to me"

Bush Meets with Bipartisan Members of Congress on the G8 Summit in the Cabinet Room :



I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.

Q In trying to defuse the situation in the Middle East, is the United States trying to buy time and give Israel a chance to weaken Hezbollah militarily?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we have made it very clear that Israel should be allowed to defend herself. We've asked that as she does so, that she be mindful of the Siniora government. It's very important that this government in Lebanon succeed and survive.

Listen, Syria is trying to get back into Lebanon, it looks like to me. We passed United Nations Resolution 1559, and finally this young democracy, or this democracy became whole, by getting Syria out. And there's suspicions that the instability created by the Hezbollian attacks will cause some in Lebanon to invite Syria back in, and it's against the United Nations policy and it's against U.S. policy.

Q There's a Deputy Army Chief of Israel who said that for this offensive to reach its goal will take weeks. Are you comfortable with that kind of time frame? Are you comfortable with letting the offensive go on for weeks?

THE PRESIDENT: I want the world to address the root causes of the problem, and the root cause of the problem is Hezbollah. I also -- and we've been, of course, in touch with Israel. Condi spoke to Prime Minister Olmert yesterday on the airplane flying back. And we're never going to tell a nation how to defend herself, but we are urging caution when it comes to the survival of the Siniora government. It's essential that the government of Lebanon survive this crisis.

We've worked hard to free -- and we being the international community -- worked hard to free Lebanon from Syrian influence. And there's a young government there. And it's in our interest that Syria stay out of Lebanon, and this government survive. And so in our consultations with countries in the neighborhood, we have urged all to address the problem -- that would be Hezbollah, and its terrorist attacks on Israel.

Remember, this started, this crisis started when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers. They were unprovoked -- Hezbollah were unprovoked, and they then took hostages. Imagine how the United States would react if somebody provoked us with that kind of action. And secondly, started firing rockets. And it's this provocation of Hezbollah that has created this crisis, and that's the root cause of the problem.

All right, thank you all.


Where did this come from?

Think about it. Bush wants to spread the view that Israel, in attacking Lebanon (and killing so many civilians), may cause the Lebanese to invite Syria back in. He's probably correct that many in Lebanon are thinking hard about their choice to break away from Syria, now that Israel has reemerged as such a threat to their lives and livlihoods.

That's what Hizbollah offered to their supporters; a way to drive Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in the past, and perhaps the same hope now from some.

Why shouldn't Syria's legitimate interest be in preserving the integrity of the Lebanese government to the extent that Israel doesn't extend their influence any farther than the actual threat to their security. All of the talk from the Bush regime about addressing "root causes" of the violence has little to do with the oppression of the Palestinians or the Lebanese, as much as it concerns their ambition to punish and intimidate Syria for their 'suspicions' about the level of influence and complicity with whatever element is threatening Israel.

But, the problem is still Hizbollah lobbing rockets into Israel. The Israeli strategy of destruction and intimidation has the same built-in folly that all invasions and attacks across borders is cursed with. More often than not, the wanton use of the devastating power of our military forces ends up alienating the very individuals and groups that could make a positive contribution to security and stability.

Our nation has been a pupil to this lesson in the past. Only the arrogant ignorance of Bush and his cronies could overcome all of the knowledge and history that kept us from supporting and engaging in the type of military muckraking they seem so enamoured with in the WH.

Who is Lebanon's protector? Who is there to insure that neighboring countries don't massacre and overrun Lebanon and destroy the new sovereignty that Bush claims he wants to protect? If he was serious about preserving Lebanon's new government, he would be insisting on an immediate cease-fire instead of directing his State Dept. to block such a resolution from the UN Security Council.

Bush is coasting through this crisis and letting Condi feed him rhetoric to pop off in front of the cameras. He's full of himself from his outing with the rest of the heads that lord over us. He's back home, where there are no responsible parents to be found who will hold him accountable for his actions. He spit in the faces of the congressional boobs who gathered to hear of the edicts he's contrived along with his foreign cabal of 8. He bounced around like a spoiled child, screaming about what he wants and how he intends to get it.

He's a blustering fool, but he's the leader of a fool's parade of legislators who will likely egg him and Israel on until there is no government in Lebanon to protect. Any student of history (again) would be mindful of the succession of assassinations of leaders that have marked Lebanon's past. Their survival is 'essential'. But, in Bush's hands, they may as well resign themselves to capitulation or elimination. Israel signalled today that they aren't done with the destruction and intimidation of Lebanon, as Bush urges them on.

Has he ever gotten one thing right? What an idiot.

Is it possible that Syria IS trying to get back into Lebanon? Or at least that Hezbollah members upset about Syria leaving are trying to bring that about?

violent reprisals against the Lebanese will cause them look for a protector, as in the past. That's why the civilian deaths are so counterproductive. I saw an interview with a Lebanese woman today who told of the unspoken regret some are having for demanding independence. They feel vulnerable, as they should.

I'm still learning about the dynamics and history of the situation but it does seem as though Hezbollah trying to provoke the situation you described above could be a possibility. If that's the case, it's too bad that Israel apparently "fell" for it. Maybe they could have had a peaceful neighbor they could work with eventually.

hoping Syria will engage in the conflict, much like Israel. They will likely engage, directly or by agent, if Israel gets too close.

But it still doesn't excuse Bush's complete disregard for the country.

Oh sure, he and the rest of the right were wanking each other of Lebanon's embrace for democracy last year. It made good press and made it look like Bush knew what he was doing. But did they do anything to actually help push this change besides taking credit? Nope. THey left it as a nice PR article and left it at that (Back to Iraq, everyone!)

And now that Lebanon is in trouble once again, the conservative attitude is back to "Fuck'em all".

I wasn't excusing him or thinking that he actually has any extensive knowledge about the situation, and certainly no concern for Lebanon. I was just trying to better understand the situation and figure out what may be motivating this insanity.

Honestly, it wasn't a dig at you. If it sounded that way, I apologize. It was just something I had to get off my chest.
Last year the Freerepublic was filled with glee because the democracy of Lebanon showed Bush to be the great leader they wished for. That liberty was on the march and Lebanon even had their full support (Freeper: "I support Lebanon! See! I even have a banner saying so on my blog!")

Now that the country is in real trouble again, the attitude is back to "kill'em all". Even towards the Americans stranded there (Whom one freeper considered "Collateral damage")

It took him only a week to realize that his preciouss cedar revolution was in shatters because of Israeli action and US betrayal of Lebanon - what the not-so-slow class realized from the beginning. And he still don't get it. Go suck the bottle and shut up.

:nopity: