Right Condi, and I'm the King of Mars

A Path To Lasting Peace

By Condoleezza Rice
Wednesday, August 16, 2006; Page A13

For the past month the United States has worked urgently to end the violence that Hezbollah and its sponsors have imposed on the people of Lebanon and Israel. At the same time, we have insisted that a truly effective cease-fire requires a decisive change from the status quo that produced this war. Last Friday we took an important step toward that goal with the unanimous passage of U.N. Resolution 1701. Now the difficult, critical task of implementation begins.

The agreement we reached has three essential components:

First, it puts in place a full cessation of hostilities. We also insisted on the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah must immediately cease its attacks on Israel, and Israel must halt its offensive military operations in Lebanon, while reserving the right of any sovereign state to defend itself. This agreement went into effect on Monday, after the Israeli and Lebanese cabinets agreed to its conditions.

Second, this resolution will help the democratic government of Lebanon expand its sovereign authority. The international community is imposing an embargo on all weapons heading into Lebanon without the government's consent. We are also enhancing UNIFIL, the current U.N. force in Lebanon. The new UNIFIL will have a robust mandate, better equipment and as many as 15,000 soldiers -- a sevenfold increase from its current strength. Together with this new international force, the Lebanese Armed Forces will deploy to the south of the country to protect the Lebanese people and prevent armed groups such as Hezbollah from destabilizing the area. As this deployment occurs, Israel will withdraw behind the "Blue Line" and a permanent cease-fire will take hold.

Errr Condi, how are you going to do all of this? France is now refusing to commit troops until other nations commit troops, and other nations are refusing to commit troops unless France commits troops. Looks like a classic Catch-22 led by the Doormats for Deutschland, the Cowards of Calais, the Pipsqueaks of Paris, the Losers of Loire.

Hizbollah has already refused to disarm, the Lebanese Army is refusing to enter Southern Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah is refusing to release the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and has already launched attacks against Israeli positions in Southern Lebanon.

You can spout as many euphemisms as you wish about this agreement, but it is an unmitigated disaster. Your diplomacy has not "helped end a war," it has helped Hizbollah achieve victory. Your pathetic faith in diplomacy has only increased the risks to Israel and her people. Your meddling has endangered, not preserved our prestige in the area.

You have proven yourself not just incompetent, but sadly naive. You should tender your resignation for signing on to this pitiful agreement. You and the President have exercised poor judgment and failed America.

Full Story: Condileeza Rice: Blowing Smoke

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