Via AP [1]:
UNITED NATIONS – The United States and France agreed Saturday on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for a halt to the fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, but would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked.
The draft, sent to the entire Security Council for consideration, “calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations.”
Israel, backed by the U.S., has insisted it must have the right to respond if Hezbollah launches missiles against it. France and many other nations had demanded an immediate halt to the fighting without conditions as a way to push the region back toward stability.
The agreement broke weeks of deadlock as the U.N. Security Council had failed to take any significant action to stop the violence, primarily because of opposition from the United States, Israel’s closest ally.
The US and France, agreeing on anything? Hard for me to wrap my brain around. Even though the greatest US ambassador to the UN in, well – forever*, John Bolton, is touting the agreement, I’m finding a hard time finding anything to jump for joy on regarding the particulars. I mean, again – the US and France agreeing?
Atlas [2] gives the draft resolution a thumbs down, while Captain Ed [3] points out the positives. Me? I’m not sure what to think about it at this point.
I will say this, though: in the end, it’s all about what Israel feels is right and necessary to do to protect its interests. The US shouldn’t expect Israel to bide by the will of the UN anymore than we did over the issue of Iraq.
*Disclaimer: There is a blogad running on this site from a group that supports John Bolton. I am not being paid to voice a positive opinion on John Bolton.
Read more via: Right Wing Nut House [4], Bryan at Hot Air [5], Flopping Aces [6], Seixon [7], Riehl World View [8], James Joyner [9], Mac [10], Tom Maguire [11]
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As always, check Memeorandum [12] for a roundup on the latest developments on the conflict in the Middle East.
Prior:
- A ‘civilian casualty’ in Lebanon you won’t hear much about in the MSM [13]
- Media milks Qana building collapse for all it’s worth [14]
- Lawsuit filed against Rumsfeld and Rice is really about Jew & US hatred, not ‘faulty’ Lebanon evacuations [15]
- Lawsuit filed against Rumsfeld and Rice is really about Jew & US hatred, not ‘faulty’ Lebanon evacuations [15]
- As Israel/Hezbollah war rages on, Arab sentiment is turning to Hezbollah [16]
- No wonder Carter was such a fan [17]
- Is Howard Dean an anti-Semite? [18]
- Israel being blamed for UN’s failure to get UN observers out of the line of fire [19]
- He’s not right very often, but when he is … [20]
- Kerry echoes Dean talking point on Israel/Lebanon conflict: This wouldn’t have happened had he been president [21]
- Showing gratitude to our troops for helping evacuate US citizens in Lebanon [22]
- Question of the day [23]
- Bush makes crystal clear where he stands on the issue of Israel versus Hezbollah [24]
- It’s a bird, it’s a plane – it’s SuperDem! [25]
- Larry “small wonder Rove’s mother killed herself” Johnson doesn’t think Hezbollah is a terrorist organization [26]
- More on the Israel/Lebanon conflict [27]
- The latest developments in the Israel vs. Lebanon conflict [28]
- Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers, kills at least seven other Israelis – Israel says it’s an act of war [29]