Bush Ensures Legacy Of Failure

So, it turns out the lofty anti-terrorism rhetoric of Bush was little more than what some speech writer wrote to be read from a screen. He's caved into International pressure to sign on to another empty Middle Eastern agreement, assuring nothing but more and worse fighting in the future.

The man has looked over his head for much of his second term. Now, it's becoming more clear just how far. This will embolden the opposition in Iraq and could lead ultimately to the destruction of Israel.

In a year, or five, or ten, Hizbollah's rockets will simply fly further and contain more deadly, if not ultimately deadly payloads. Olmert was weak when he started. It looks like both he and Bush are content to end that way.

Our war President has turned out to be a disgrace. At this point in world history, the Islamofascists look like they deserve to win. In fact, they might.

Comments

[Peg C.]

I can't help but agree. The enemy has a take-no-prisoners attitude. We don't seem to be able even to agree our civilization is worth fighting for.

I hope we smarten up before we're all wiped out. If we don't, we don't deserve to win.

[Yaeli]

Bush sold us down the river on this one. Olmert may just have caused the swinging door of elections to swing him right out and quite soon. I'm a liberal lefty and I'm going to join the horde of voices calling for a new election (ours aren't at set intervals and can be called early if enough people demand it) and a new election soon. When even the liberal lefties are screaming that he is weak and wishy washy and handled this completely wrong you _know_ the rest of the country is going to scream. And personally, at this moment, I'm hoping the door does hit him on the way out. Hard.

[Bill Faith]

Linked from Old War Dogs "Peace in our time (Updated and bumped"). -- http://www.oldwardogs.us/2006/08/peace_in_our_ti_1.html -- Today the Sudaten, tomorrow Poland.

[Sarah]

Totally agree. I'm from Jerusalem and we had such hope in President Bush. Many here call him "Israel's best friend". All may be well, but our future here is terrifying.

[old trooper]

The UN Security Council just issued Resolution 1701, another non-enforcable POS, like 1559 before it, a Chapter VI action requiring no noe responsible for disarming Hezbollah, no return of prisoners on either side and no robust force to move in to assure that Hezbollah does not resume hostilities at whim.

The UN has become a forum for despots, third world thugs and terrorist sponsoring states. The UN has wasted $100 million or more a year for the past 20 + years on UNIFIL, a toothless tiger. The same UN that issued strongly worded statements and did nothing while genocide is ongoing in Darfur, Sudan. The same UN that now awards Hesbollah, an illegimate Terrorist State, a symbolic victory.

Now all of you armchair Generals, Strategists and Amateur Diplomats can blame Bush, who controls neither the UN or the Israeli PM for the results. And wager on when Hezbollah violates the agreement. The Lebanese Government is irrelevent. The Lebanese Army is irrelevent. Neither entity held up their end of 1559. Hezbollah was not disarmed and instead took the following years to resupply, courtesy of Syria and Iran.

Resolution 1701 is a BUST. Israel should take this time to stockplie arms and train up special counter terrorism units. It will be only a couple of months before they will be buying South Lebanon real estate a third time. Hopefully next time with overwhelming force and no concern for 'civilian' (non-uniform wearing guerillas) casualties.

Hezbollah got their asses thumped and the Media and the worthless UN handed them a victory. This one is not over. The next time will be more destructive and more lethal. Res. 1701 guarantees it!

[Rick]

I have to admit, I'd love to see Pelosi and the Hildabeast in a Bhurka and Murtha having to bow and scrape.

[Dan Riehl]

Murtha having to bow and scrape

All you need for that is to seen him at dinner with a defense industry lobbyist holding a checkbook!

[old trooper]

http://beirutbeltway.com/beirutbeltway/2006/08/unsc_draft_reso.html

UN Resolution 1701. The same old tripe and weasel words found in most others.

It will be loudly cheered in Beruit, Damascus and Tehran and NOT enforced by the very same UNIFIL (Pensioners and Tourists) that kept a keen eye on Hezbollah`s last build up. The Lebanese Army will be in a subordinate role again. A couple of units from the French Army will get a few months at the beach on "peace keeping" duty and the 'usual suspects', American Democrats will shake Kofi`s hand and re-affirm their confidence in the corrupt and worthless UN.

Billions of US Aid Dollars will flood Lebanon, to be frivolously spent, much like the taxpayers funding post Katrina and best yet Hezbollah claims victory.

Whats not to like about this deal?

[DC]

Dan,

I am disappointed that the Israelis accepted, too, but come on. At some point, this is Israel's decision.

Think you are being a bit harsh on the Bush Admin. Also, to say that the jihadis "deserve to win". Well, that's frustration talking, but nothing our govt. could do would result in that.

[Stormy70]

Hezz is told to stop fighting first, they won't. The war will continue. I will see what happens by Monday, since we have been here before and Israel will not lay down arms while Hezz is firing rockets.
The UN is just the sideshow. Israel was given a month, and Hezz was hit hard. I can't believe so many people take the spin from the freaking media that Hezz has hardly any damage. Israel took out all their banking and social headquarters and bombed the leaders' homes. Hezz took heavy casualties, but lies about it to the media. Israel has seized captives and intelligence that implicates Iran's hand in all of this. You don't think we will not exploit this intelligence coup. I think the air campaign was effective, but of course, you could listen to the people who think Israel should have just invaded willy nilly into all the little ambushes set up for them.
Hezz will face a reckoning when they can no longer pay off their population and Nasrallah may declare victory, but he looks like a weak ass punk who hid while Lebanon was decimated. Hezz is hated by quite a few Lebonese at this point. The media is spinning this like a whirly-gig.

[kate]

i have to disagree with you on this one dan. israel wanted to get rid of some hezbollah and then work with an international peacekeepers, aka the un, since day one. bush gets blamed for everything else, so go ahead and jump on. however, i'm not.

[Dan Riehl]

I understand some of the counter arguments. However, IMO, anything that allows Nasrallah to climb out of a bunker and claim victory is a loss in the grand scheme. That's precisely what will happen. In two months the rest will be forgotten by our enemies. The responses above are rational, unfortunately, our enemy is not. This also gives Iran a win. How anyone can believe the UN will do anything to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming is beyond me. Lebanon will not do it either. As for the criticism of Bush, the US stance directly impacts Israel's position. Abd besides that, he is allowing the Iraq War to become lost. I've supported this admin from the start, but it's getting time to acknowledge their incompetence. And it is ultimately Bush's decision making at fault. Instead of crushing resistance in Iraq, he opted for half measures. As he seems ill-prepared to apply the force necessary to win the war, it is coming time to bring our men home. The politicians have failed the military once, again.

[scooter]

Many opinions abound here. Mine is still forming on this one..... But the point counter point is much appreciated.

[SlimeBallofTheRealm]

Eveyone hold yer fire,

If Hezbo Lah Lah regects the terms, since Iran will force them to, everyone can say after that Bush tried Hezbos died.

Texas holdum bluffs can work wonders.

This is just the first offer to excite the weekend talking head trash and thrash agenda.

I am waiting for mod 10 rev 6

[Stormy70]

Please read the President's statement today about the resolution. I like what he says, and it does not sound like Hezz has won. Nasrallah can say he won, but he is full of it.

[DC]

Dan,

You are correct, of course, re: trusting anything to the UN. Still, with the complicated undercurrents in the region and within Islam (i.e. Sunni vs. Shia, etc.) there is a lot going on here.

Re: what the enemy says, yes, they are irrational. They think if they all die and we wipe them out then they are martyrs bound for Paradise and we are infidels bound for hell. They are liars and will do the same thing (proclaim victory) no matter what Israel does. And the MSM will help them.

If there is a failure here to do what is necessary (and there may be ... I am just not sure) then ultimately I think it lies at the feet of the Olmert govt. If they really needed/wanted extra time, they could have gotten it from the Bush Admin.

The test here, I think, is to see what Netanyahu is saying. What are his thoughts about this?

[Laddy]

Israel wimped out on their end. They've had plenty of time to thrash the Hezbos. The PM didn't have the stones to send in the IDF in force, instead relying primarily on air power. Even then they weren't able to orbit and spot missile launchers in many cases until the missiles had been launched. Israel needed to crush the Hezbos right away to make the Iranians think twice about starting something even larger. By failing to do so, the Iranians will likely be emboldened. The Israeli PM needs to go. The only saving grace is that the Hezbos likely won't honor any agreement but I still don't think the Israelis have the will to stick it to the Hezbos. Maybe they were told in no uncertain terms they were risking a wider war if they pushed too hard. I don't know. I can't imagine the Iranians have the slightest fear the Israielis can do anything to stop their nuclear development after the weak showing against the Hezbos. 'Tis a shame.

[mr man]

You guys are amazing. All I've heard from the right for 5 years is that you help the terrorists if you criticize the president in a time of war. But I guess that only means someone else besides you, right?

Amazing.

[Robert M]

How dare you question our Commander-in-Chief during a time of war!
"...in matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation's peril."
You should leave the criticism to us traitors and lefty moonbats.
Oops- forgot you guys don't understand the meaning of the word hypocrisy.

[damonic]

(::: (hypo-) crickets :::)

[billmon]

"Please read the President's statement today about the resolution. I like what he says, and it does not sound like Hezz has won."

Translation: "The Fuhrer's miracle weapons will turn the tide any day now." Or: "Peace in our time." Take your pick.