Rumor: Israel Tells Condi Rice to "Back Off" (Steve Clemons)

[kpete]

Rumor: Israel Tells Condi Rice to "Back Off"


Headlines throughout the American media read:

MAJOR ESCALATION

as Israel has intensified its bombing campaign of the Beirut Airport and highways.

45 Lebanese civilians are reported dead.

Although I do not have independent confirmation, I heard the rumor from a well-placed source that Secretary of State Rice attempted to increase pressure on Israel to stand down and to demonstrate "restraint". The rumor is that she was told flatly by the Prime Minister's office to "back off".

Rice is not one to be told to back off without the other party paying a price. Israel's outrageous, over-the-top military escalations were exactly what the most militarist fanatics of Hamas wanted and exactly what Hezbollah wanted to prompt. Those in the middle of the extremists on all sides are getting crushed.

And it may take this kind of out of control danger that FINALLY wakes up some tough-minded strategists in the White House, Defense Department, and State Department to compel Israel to back off and all other parties to wind down their militant elements.

More later.

-- Steve Clemons
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001533.php

[Terran1212]

1. It's always an interesting question:

Is Israel a pawn of the US or is the US a pawn of Israel?

[DELUSIONAL]

I've seen persuasive arguments on both sides

I don't have enough data to decide.

The rapture right are excited -- would someone get it over with and beam them up?? Please.

[Sal Minella]

6. I've been wondering exactly this for some time -- we give them

$3 billion a year, they give us the back of their mailed hand (mail we paid for btw). You think that's not a fair trade? No?

[Corgigal]

2. I can believe this

Condi was never qualified to be Sec Of State. At this point I would take Colin Powell back.

[tanyev]

7. But, but, she's an expert Sovietologist.

Surely that counts for something. (And she's a sharp dresser.)



:sarcasm:

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Well then where's the Decider?

I guess he dicided he'd rather have another piece of pork, instead of bothering his beautiful mind with the mess in the ME.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Flied Rice

Condi's increasingly irrelevant.. she's an awful poor
excuse for a statesman/stateswoman. I do believe
she's a phony who's risen above her level of competence

[Cha]

5. You mean con rice is a

vindictive little #^*!#?

[sendero]

8. You are more optimistic than..

... I am. Israel has been doing this same stuff for over a decade, and the US hasn't called them on it yet. Israel is going to do whatever it wants, and we are following in their footsteps.

Why we owe this fucked little country so much I'll never understand.

[New Government]

9. Israel has ALWAYS called the shots

Under Bushie, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter..........Israel's influence is such that the United States has no power to stand up to the state of Israel, their client representatives AIPAC, and their traiterous partners in crime the neo-con PNACers.

In THIS case, it's not Rice - it's just the facts: Israel calls the shots. Period.