Leaders Bush & Merkel Get it Right

This latest escalation of tensions started with the kidnapping and killing of soldiers by Hezbollah, nothing else. They were repeatedly warned and chose this path themselves.

(Emphasis' mine) My Way News - Bush Backs Israel's Right to Self Defense: "STRALSUND, Germany (AP) - President Bush said Thursday that Israel has the right to defend itself, as it launched fresh attacks on Lebanon after the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.

Bush laid the blame for the escalation of violence along the border on Hezbollah, whose guerrillas mounted a cross-border raid earlier in the week and captured the two soldiers. He also said that Syria 'needs to be held to account' for supporting and harboring Hezbollah.

'The soldiers need to be returned,' the president said. 'It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life in order to stop that progress (for peace). As a matter of fact, it's pathetic.'

Bush's comments came during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as Israel intensified attacks in Lebanon.

In response to Wednesday's kidnappings, Israel bombed Beirut's airport and the southern part of the country in its heaviest air campaign against its neighbor in 24 years. Israel also imposed an air and naval blockade on Lebanon to cut off supply routes to militants.

The violence comes at a delicate time in the Middle East - and for the United States and its European allies, which are trying to preserve a coalition to confront Iran over suspected nuclear ambitions.

Merkel appealed for restraint from both sides in the Mideast. But she suggested they do not share equal blame, repeatedly noting that the violence began with the kidnapping. "I think that one needs to be careful to make a distinction between the root causes and the consequences of something," she said. " more

UN Condemnation Of Israel Vote Vetoed By US

UNITED NATIONS - The United States cast the firstU.N. Security Council veto in nearly two years Thursday, blocking an Arab-backed resolution that would have demanded Israel halt its military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The draft, sponsored by Qatar, accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of force" that endangered Palestinian civilians, and it demanded Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza

But nowhere does it condemn the Hezbollah terrorists for starting this conflict by entering Israel and capturing soldiers to hold hostage for thousands of terrorists in the 1st place, or launching hundreds of rockets into Israel.. Typical Arab world blather propogated by the useless United (Arab) Nations.

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