Rice heads to Mideast to try to save peace plan

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for the Middle East on Monday to try to salvage U.S.-sponsored peace talks derailed by Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli towns and Israel's military response in Gaza.

With U.S. credibility at stake, Rice faces an uphill battle to revive peace talks suspended over the weekend by pro-Western Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Washington wants those talks to result in a peace treaty by the end of the year but that hope seems increasingly unrealistic.

While Israeli troops pulled out of the Gaza Strip on Monday in response to international appeals, a senior Israeli official described it as just a "two-day interval" during Rice's visit.

More than 100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza offensive, which followed rocket attacks by the Islamist group Hamas on Israeli towns. The U.S. reputation as an honest peace broker is under the spotlight again because of Washington's close ties to Israel.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080303/pl_nm/palestinians_israel_rice_dc

---

White House faults Hamas in violence By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The White House on Monday blamed the Palestinian militant group Hamas for causing the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians that has killed dozens and put a halt to peace talks.

"The Palestinians have a choice to make," Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for President Bush's National Security Council, told reporters traveling with the president back to Washington. "It's a choice between terrorism or a choice between a political solution that leads to a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel."

Israeli troops on Monday completed the first extended sweep in a new offensive against Palestinian rocket squads in the Gaza Strip that have ben targeting southern Israel. The days of fighting killed dozens and led the Palestinian president to call off peace talks, just as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice headed to the region for a weeklong trip aimed at boosting the search for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080303/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_mideast

[C_U_L8R]

1. Peace plan? There's a plan?

Who knew ?

[Kikosexy2]

8. Still trying ...

to sell that old road map to nowhere...why bother Kinda-Sleaza? No one pays attention to you anymore...

[gateley]

2. Rice needs to turn around and go home

and send those who actually know what they're doing...

Biden, Kerry, Hagel, and poor 'ol Lugar if he can make it.

[leftofcool]

3. Oh, that'll work

Ms Ineffective

[Purveyor]

4. "With U.S. credibility at stake..." - Credibilty? What credibility? eom

[gratuitous]

12. Did that assault your eyes, too?

I can't think of anywhere that the U.S. has less credibility than in refereeing the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine, and that's saying quite a lot after seven disastrous years with George W. Bush squatting in the Oval Office.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. Oh my gawd. More condi effect coming in the near future.

everything she does turns to crap.

[Kolesar]

6. buffalo beast

[Magleetis]

7. Condi

talks peace. :rofl: Good one.

[lpbk2713]

9. Trump was right ... CONdi's just a 'waver'.

[Hulk]

10. Wow...somebody woke her up?

This wench is the most pathetic excuse for a Sec. of State we've ever had. But then considering this administration as a whole, she fits right in.

Worthless!!!!

[Javaman]

11. dr. condi to the rescue with her bullshit shovel...

don't you all recall how moron* stated that there would be peace in the middle east by the end of this year?

They are all dancing as fast as they can to try an put lipstick on a pig.

They didn't give a shit about that area for the past 7 1/2 years (Iraq war anyone?) now they are trying to leave a "legacy" for our fucking moron* in charge.

expect nothing more than duct tape, bubble gum and a few paper clips all of which will become unglued by the time the next prez is in.

more of the famous moron* white wash.

[lonestarnot]

13. WTF!

:wtf: :rofl:

[eringer]

14. Condi Should Stay Home and Practice her Piano for her Next Job

The USA would be better off by conserving the jet fuel that will surely be waisted hauling her and her buddies halfway around the world.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. Peace Plan = "Stop Or We Open Fire"

What's to fail? :shrug:

[Demeter]

16. Road Trip!

Any excuse to get out of town and out of the country right now is a GOOD one!

[trthnd4jstc]

17. A True Peace Plan

We need a Regional Conference to cover all of the Mid-Easts, and Near Easts problems.
Then we need an Armistace.
Never ending war will bring us to a depression, if we don't fall into one already.
Peace can be had. The majority of the Peoples of the World wish for it.
Those that capitalize off of war, wish for never ending war.
These people should not run any country.
Impeach Bush and Cheney!