America is normally a “can-do” country, but not when it comes to Middle East policy. As a result of two “do-nothing” diplomats, one at the UN, the other in the State Department, Lebanon is burning. Though a recent CNN poll reveals most Americans favor robust US diplomatic intervention leading to a cease-fire, the Bush administration continues to reject wielding its considerable influence over Israel to discontinue an unrelenting campaign of “collective punishment” across Lebanon. The acceleration of “bunker buster” bomb deliveries to Israel leaves no doubts that top neoconservatives along with Bush administration officials welcome a confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon planned since 1996 in spite of the drastic civilian consequences. International law is again being undermined.
The Bush administration’s failure to intervene could have dire future consequences. A new regional “Nakba” may begin to produce refugees and retaliation-driven radicals who have no doubts as to the origin of the bombs and artillery shells exploding across Lebanon. They are “made in the USA”.
7/25/2006 Imad Moustapha “Bombs or Blankets?“
7/25/2006 Saudi Arabia “Who pays for the Israeli Mess?“
7/25/2006 AFP Official Israeli Pretext for Attack on Lebanon Unraveling
7/25/2006 Bankok Post UN Now Taking Direct Casualties from Israeli Pounding