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Bloviating Zeppelin: Negotiating For What And With Whom?

Bloviating Zeppelin

(in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Negotiating For What And With Whom?

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Beirut today and met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. She went to Jerusalem next.

In a meeting that appeared tense, Saniora told the U.S. diplomat that Israel's bombardment had taken his country "backwards 50 years," the prime minister's office said. And Nabih Berri, a veteran Lebanese politician who is Lebanon's parliament speaker and Hezbollah's de facto negotiator, rejected proposals brought by Rice almost as soon as she left.

Berri told Rice that a cease-fire must precede any talks about resolving Hezbollah's presence in Lebanon, an official close to the speaker said. Rice, reflecting the U.S. view that a quick cease-fire would not be sustainable, had proposed that the fighting stop at the same time that an international force deployed in southern Lebanon, the official said. Rice also proposed that Hezbollah weapons be removed from a buffer zone extending about 18 miles from the Israeli border, said the official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

This I suppose is all very well and good -- but is it?

I refer once again to the title of my post: for what is Secretary Rice negotiating, and with whom?

"Negotiating" with the Lebanese prime minister achieves what, precisely, when Lebanon has little or, truly, no control over Hezbollah?

In my opinion, this visit is solely a photo op for nothing and will achieve nothing. There will be no cease fire on any side, and Israel should be completely let alone to achieve its ends.

The fundamental problem is Iran. It is supplying the missiles, the money, the guidance. Intelligence experts believe that Iran is solely responsible for Hezbollah's raining missiles down on Israel in order to take world focus off the fact that Iran is moving forward with its nuclear weapons programs. This is, in truth, the Opening Act of Iran vs. The West. Syria is likewise a problem but taking its orders from Iran. Were Syria to be the subject of an incursion by Israel likely no one save Iran would come to its aid -- certainly not Egypt or Jordan or Saudi Arabia.

The larger and, yet, "smaller" problem is that the only way to attack Militant Islam or Islamists and specifically, in this case, Hezbollah, is to make seemingly-offensive step up in our determination to do what needs to be done and that, because of the nature of their cowardice insofar as their hiding weapons and firing from civilian apartments, homes, edifices, etc., and frequently hiding behind and firing from behind innocent civilians, there necessarily must be resulting civilian casualties.

"As long as people keep talking, people won't be dying," I've heard recently. In this ages-old case, I don't believe that to be true. Only actions will suffice.

We or Israel or other western nations either make this step or we shall surely fail. It is the nature of these heinous persons and of terrorists in general. "Negotiating" is NOT an option. There is no middle ground. We shall either win, or we shall lose. Israel either wins in this struggle or it loses its sovereign soil.

I am uncertain where this will all go. But as I've written before we are clearly at a crossroads; however, attempting to negotiate with Hezbollah, in this case, by way of the Lebanese PM will achieve positively nothing. The Lebanese government is a government in name only and it lives in fear of Hezbollah. How does one "negotiate" with such a loose, antiquated and dysfunctional "government" such as this?

In my opinion Israel has been very careful -- perhaps even too careful in its application of force. This "war" will be at a high cost to Israel -- and it appears Israel is hesitant to really pull off the gloves and apply heavy and overwhelming force. As it should. As we should.

At its base, the religion of Islam desperately needs a complete reformation. And it needs to have the discipline to achieve this reformation from within -- or it will have reformation forced upon it in ways it cannot imagine, and it will not be pleasant for the inflicter(s) or the recipient.

BZ

6 Comments:

Blogger Bushwack said...

Very well written post BZ, Correct in all aspects, We need to allow our troops to finish this thing with over whelming force, and
let Israel deal with it the way they should, No holds barred and negotiate with the winner. that would simplify things a lot

Mon Jul 24, 03:34:00 PM PDT  
Blogger Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Kinda like pit fighting. . .but with guys in beards and robes.

BZ

Mon Jul 24, 03:54:00 PM PDT  
Blogger Rivka said...

Blo,
you are correct sir. All this politicking and power play crap is going to go no-where. I like Tony Snow's response to a foolish reporter.. he said something like.
"Negotiate with who?" I don't think Hizbollah has a prime minister, they are terrorists".. I thought that was sooo true.

I don't feel like being nuked and then being forced to wear a Burka and maybe get my hands chopped off for writing my opinions about the Islamic government on my computer.

Mon Jul 24, 04:42:00 PM PDT  
Blogger Bloviating Zeppelin said...

And ya know Rebecca -- those things WOULD occur should we become the USI.

History has proven: a people, an organization, any given group, will do WHAT it can WHEN it can.

BZ

Tue Jul 25, 06:28:00 AM PDT  
Blogger A Jacksonian said...

Why we do not decide to play a bit of hardball now is beyond me. Since Hezbollah has declared itself a de facto government, all we should be doing to Lebanon is let it know that if it wants to stay around, then it should ask for HELP in getting rid of Hezbollah. That will fall on deaf ears, of course, as that government has no power and the Sunni and Christian militias are re-arming and joining together to fight the Shia Hezbollah. Back to the 1970's with Lebanon...

A brief stop in Israel to offer condolences and such, and to ensure that Israel gets all the supplies we can give them...

Then onto Egypt, and to hammer home that Hezbollah and Iran want to rule the Arab world via Syria and use Lebanon as a launching pad so as to strike ALL of the major Arab Nations. Was that an Egyptian ship the Hez sank or just an Egyptian owned and crewed one? Makes no difference as Egyptians were targeted with disdain by Hezbollah and their Iranian instructors teaching them how to fire those missiles. Yes, that was 'target practice'.

From Lebanon they can reach to the head of the Suez with Iranian missiles sent via Syria, but can intimidate shipping out to some distance with what they already have. And as a large amount of Egypt's trade comes from its deep water ports in the Med, the suggestion that they help the US take out this threat is credible. And backed up by removing our few Billion dollars in aid a year FROM them. So the short term threat is very bad... the long term is strangulation of Arab states.... by Persians and Alawite allies in Syria.

Syria is the weak link, break it and Hezbollah falls and Iran is isolated with NO outlet.

I do not expect that from this Administration... and so we are all hurt by inaction when action, now and finally, needs be taken.

Tue Jul 25, 12:05:00 PM PDT  
Blogger benning said...

There is little point in negotiating with a government that may well be in league with Hezbollah if not a partner in their machinations. Beyond that: What talk of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers? Did Condi forget them?

Thu Jul 27, 12:05:00 PM PDT  

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