Bush, Blair Agreed Israel/Lebanon War BEFORE Kidnaps?

[kpete]

The claims that he knew of Israel's plans to destroy Hezbollah before the guerilla group kidnapped two Israeli soldiers are made in today's edition of the New Statesman, a respected Left-wing journal.

A Downing Street spokesman responded by saying: 'We don't recognise the story.' But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: 'If these allegations were proved to be correct they would go right to the heart of the Prime Minister's credibility and the legitimacy of his Government. Serious questions would arise about his lack of candour to Parliament.'

Mohammad Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Central, said: 'There will be widespread anger among the people of Britain if our Prime Minister knew in advance what Israel was going to do.' Israel bombed southern Lebanon on July 12 in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah fighters. But the Israelis were said to have planned a military campaign weeks before the soldiers were kidnapped.

Israel had briefed Washington about its concerns before and London was 'kept in the loop', according to one insider. MPs also seized on the revelation that Mr Blair's Middle East envoy - and chief fundraiser - Lord Levy had met senior Israeli ministers dozens of times in the run-up to the conflict.

more at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=399005&in_page_id=1770

[acmavm]

1. I'll say it yet one more time. All this is going on now because

they (bush**, blair, ohlmert) are shaking in the boots worried that the landscape in the House and Senate may be radically different come November. So they're attacking everything and everyone they can in the event that they lose the upper hand and have to face dems in the House and Senate.

[JackNewtown]

20. Why would Olmert fear Dems?

The Democrats are as supportive of Olmert as the Republicans. The rank-and-file differ, but the leaders don't.

[acmavm]

21. Because he just might be afraid that they won't be accomplices in

wholesale slaughter of innocent civilians.

[JackNewtown]

22. Why? That is precisely what the Dems are now!

Only one Democratic Senator has called for an immediate cease-fire and no prospective Democratic presidential candidate has called for an immediate cease-fire. On Israel, there is no real difference between the two parties. Just look at the votes on Israel in Congress. The Senate vote on a recent AIPAC written resolution was 100-0 via unamious consent and the House vote was 410-8...

[bryant69]

2. That would be pretty bad if the story gets confirmed

Not much short term consequences here (although another reason to be pissed at Bush), but could be very bad elsewhere.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Horse with no Name]

3. Nothing surprises me anymore.

The Downey Street Minutes (or memos if you prefer), tipped their hands that they would do ANYTHING to get their wars.
The man behind the curtain has been shown...however, many still think he is the clever Wizard who admittedly, was a very bad wizard but conversely, a very good man.
Will be interesting to take the mask off the Wizard for the sheeple and find none other than the Wicked Witch of the East.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Kept in loop does not mean green light

but I am sure everybody knows this... of cousre there are a bunch of likudists in DC and Neo Cons in Tel Aviv and Israel acts liek a well trained puppy :sarcasm:

Intellectual laziness that is what this is

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Emotional yes

left wing antisemitims has to be fought including the jews control the government cannard transformed into Israel controls US policy.

Don't worry, Randi got a long email today as well, for just as many here, she has swallowed from one side, hook, line, sinker and shoulder

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. I'm glad you didn't leave.

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Still tempted at times

it is hard to read the just under the surface, I doubt very conscious, antisemitism... that is why I decided to finally confront it. That said, I am ready to leave this country on a moment's notice. I no longer feel comfortable... and I doubt I will ever be comfortable again.

[Name removed]

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[jonnyblitz]

11. so being anti-war is leftwing anti semitism?

NICE. :puke:

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. No, but swallowing the canard

that Israel controls US policy is, for there is no evidence, IN fact the Lebanon operation should prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

How many times have you read that Israel is a neo con state? Apart of the fact that is intellectual laziness, that is a code word. It has become a code word


here is a section of what I sent randi for it is relevant

Now what is the US gaining out of this experience? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The whole experience is exposing the truth anybody who has been paying attention already knows. The American Empire has no clothes, and is a paper tiger on a good day. So we have seen a shift in US Policy pressuring Israel into a cease fire... really? What we are seeing is Israel getting the pressure from OTHER national actors. The way I read this is... why Bush has not called PM Olmert even ONCE? Junior does not like to be told no and guess what? The Israelis were going to tell him to go pack sand. In fact I suspect Signora was not the only national leader to tell Condy precisely that.

It should also finally dispel the myth the Israelis control our US Policy or do our bidding. Why? This operation in Southern Lebanon truly is not done for US Interest but for ISRAELI Interests. So the Israelis are acting on our behalf to get a war with Iran is bullocks, just as our going into Iraq to defend Israel is bullocks. believe it or not the Israelis are the most stubborn people on earth, and they have a reason for that... and they do not do anybody's bidding but their own. Alas this myth has gained strength, and truth be told anybody who claims that there are Neo cons in the cabinet in Tel Avid is as deluded as anybody who claims that there are likkudists in DC. It is quite plainly intellectual laziness.

And if you choose to read the whole thing, here you go

http://deistgames.com/pblog/index.php

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[malaise]

5. Blood on his hands

http://www.newstatesman.com/200608070017
<snip>
Blair knew the attack on Lebanon was coming but he didn't try to stop it, because he didn't want to. He has made this country an accomplice, destroying what remained of our influence abroad while putting us all at greater risk of attack.

At a Downing Street reception not long ago, a guest had the temerity to ask Tony Blair: "How do you sleep at night, knowing that you've been responsible for the deaths of 100,000 Iraqis?" The Prime Minister is said to have retorted: "I think you'll find it's closer to 50,000."

I am told that the Israelis informed George W Bush in advance of their plans to "destroy" Hezbollah by bombing villages in southern Lebanon. The Americans duly informed the British. So Blair knew. This exposes as a fraud the debate of the past week about calling for a ceasefire. Indeed, one of the reasons why negotiations failed in Rome was British obduracy. This has been a case not of turning a blind eye and failing to halt the onslaught, but of providing active support.

Blair, like Bush, had no intention of urging the Israelis to slow down their bombardment, believing somehow that this struggle was winnable. Israel has a right to self-defence, but it could have responded to the seizure of its soldiers, and to the rocket attacks, by the diplomatic route. That would have ensured greater sympathy. Now, growing numbers in Israel itself realise that military action will bring no long-term solution.

[chibi]

7. The required cover story is just that, a cover

the media must think we are all a bunch of dolts with memories as short as their :eyes:

it really unnerves me when i read some folks who profess that IF ONLY we had the 'guts' like we had when we NUKED civilians, we would 'WIN' :puke:

with the fucking crazies at the helm i do believe that horrid action looms on the horizon.

:nuke:

[Double T]

8. and we are supposed to surprised???????............

bush and blair have no credibility with their constituents or the rest of the world; neocons collaborating with other neocons to destroy this world. When both or ALL sides in this conflict are evil, you know you've got a real serious problem. These two (2) war whores and their disciples should be removed from office, no one needs 'this kind of destructive useless leadership'.

[Spazito]

12. It was very obvious, imo, from the very beginning that there was

pre-planning and agreement between Israel, the US and the UK prior to the start of this latest crisis. The only outstanding question that remained was how to provoke Hamas/Hezbollah into doing something, anything that would give Israel the phony pretext to initiate the plan, imo.

[Junkdrawer]

15. I've been saying this all along...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1643205

[The Magistrate]

16. That There Were Contingency Plans, Ma'am

Is not only no secret, but a thing of no importance.

Ever since Israel withdrew from Lebanon to the line specified for its retirement by the United Nations, there has been a low-level border war going on between it and Hezbollah. In such a situation, any state would prepare to attempt a decisive end to the matter eventually: it is not the sort of thing a government can tolerate indefinitely.

Perhaps the only real question is whether the Israeli government anticipated to any degree, when it took the steps it did in Gaza late last month, that there might be some action in response from Hezbollah. There is no direct connection or open co-ordination between Hezbollah and Hamas, but Nasrallah's pretentions of being the Arab champion of the Palestinians are well known, and it is classic technique to strike the rear of an enemy engaged in one direction. But even if the Israeli government did suspect there might be some action by Hezbollah, and it is by no means demonstrated that they did by any item presented so far, it remains the case that Hezbollah chose on its own to undertake the action it did, and did so on its schedule and for its own purposes.

[Junkdrawer]

17. K&R