`A former top American diplomat says the US deliberately resisted calls for a immediate ceasefire during the conflict in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. Former ambassador to the UN John Bolton told the BBC that before any ceasefire Washington wanted Israel to eliminate Hezbollah’s military capability. Mr Bolton said an early ceasefire would have been “dangerous and misguided”.’
From the Beeb. Just in case anyone was in any doubt about the extent of U.S. complicity in the destruction of Lebanon.
You’ll no doubt remember that last year, during the height of the slaughter in Lebanon, when Siniora and Nasrallah were begging for a ceasefire, Bush and Blair conspired to block a ceasefire in Rome that would have prevented much of the killing.
(the front page of The Independent illustrates exactly who stood in the way of a ceasefire, via Mash)
When Bolton says he is “damned proud of what we did”, he’s talking about this and this and this and this.
And, courtesy of Amnesty International, this:
“Israeli forces pounded buildings into the ground, reducing entire neighbourhoods to rubble and turning villages and towns into ghost town, as their inhabitants fled the bombardments. Main roads, bridges and petrol stations were blown to bits. Entire families were killed in air strikes on their homes or in their vehicles while fleeing the aerial assaults on their villages. Scores lay buried beneath the rubble of their houses for weeks, as the Red Cross and other rescue workers were prevented from accessing the areas by continuing Israeli strikes. The hundreds of thousands of Lebanese who fled the bombardment now face the danger of unexploded munitions as they head home?The Lebanese government estimates 31 “vital points”, for example water and sewage treatment plants, power stations, airports etc., have been totally or partially destroyed. More than 25 fuel station and 900 commercial enterprises were hit. The number of residential properties, offices and shops completely destroyed exceeds 30,000. Two government hospitals – in Bint Jbiel and Mais al-Jebel – were completely destroyed in Israeli attacks and three others were seriously damaged.” [my emphasis]
Cross-posted at The Heathlander
(Updated to include the Amnesty International stuff and add a few links).
FWIW, Amnesty concluded:
In other words, the IDF engaged in a deliberate stategy of targeting civilian infrastructure. That’s what John Bolton is “proud” to have facilitated.
Not a surprise, but sickening! I’ve also read that Cheney egged Ohlmert on to do this to poke a stick at the resistance and test the potential for our ground troops to be hit from the flank if they tried to move into Iran. An utter failure at all fronts.
Proves two things: We will NEVER win minds and hearts in the Arab world with this administration and Bolton is a bloomin’ idiot.
Yeh that’s one theory – that Hizbullah was seen as a proxy arm of Iran, and would be Iran’s first line of defence in any future war. Therefore, they had to be destroyed. The aim was to wipe most of them and their equipment out within a few days – obviously, that didn’t happen.
Incidentally, I’ve also read that Iran was pissed off that Hizbullah chose to capture the two soldiers when they did. Iran was well aware of the deterrence power Hizbullah posed to those wishing to attack Iran, and wanted Hizbullah to save itself for when it was needed.
So much for Hizbullah being a mere proxy of Iran…
“Iran” is not a coherent government. The factions within the government and the independent groups acting under their benevolent neglect are not always coordinated. Witness the capture of the British soldiers yesterday. Totally screwed up the UN address.
Fine – by “Iran” I meant all those factions not wanting to see Iran (the country) invaded.
As an American, I find it very tiresome, this constant need to wash the blood of my hands, it just never stops.
We knew this, but is surely a surprise to hear him saying it outright.
Can we send him to the Hague to stand trial now, please?
So our government may now take credit for the death tolls of innocent civilians and children in Lebanon. How proud we should be that our government stood up with its great ally, Israel, who dealt all of the death blows. It is not insignficant that Olmert recently confessed before the Winograd Committee that it had planned this invasion for several months before it occurred and was only looking for a pretext. The US not only knew about it but concurred with the devastation that resulted.
It may bring up the National Debt still further, but I do believe that the US should pay reparations to Lebanon.
Absolutely as to paying….there was a reason for huge banners going up in Lebanon on apartment buildings that were complete rubble, clinics destroyed etc that said ‘Made in the USA’…we were/are blamed for that travesty more so than Israel almost.
like to see the mindless slaughter of innocents continued for as long as possible to insure the humiliation of their lovechild ally was even greater. Yes lots of sense in that one.