U.S. Shift Kicked Off Frantic Diplomacy at U.N.

[cal04]

When Israel began its counterattack on Hezbollah one month ago, the Bush administration backed the Israeli plan to destroy the militia and its arsenal of rockets, resisting efforts by France and other allies to call for a cease-fire.

But as the assault wore on and it became evident that Hezbollah was a far more fearsome and skilled adversary than Israel had first thought — and as Lebanese civilian casualties mounted — American policy moved more urgently toward seeking an immediate political solution.

That shift, recounted by senior administration officials, led to one of the most dramatic bouts of diplomacy that the United Nations Security Council has witnessed in years. Whether it leads to peace in southern Lebanon remains unclear. But what is certain is that negotiators in a half-dozen countries took part in a rare high-wire act.

American secretaries of state attend Security Council sessions on resolutions only after a deal has been struck. Yet last Friday, when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in New York, not only was there no deal, it was unclear whether the Council would even meet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/14/world/middleeast/14reconstruct.html

[goclark]

1. link won't open without log in nt

[KoKo]

2. It pretty much says Condi gets the Credit

along with the French for getting a Resolution that all could agree on. Says Bush left it all to Condi to negotiate and she came through.

For some reason the article seems very kind to Condi...and something doesn't quite ring true about it. But, I'm sure we will find out more from other sources in the next few days with maybe a different spin on who was responsible.

[WCGreen]

3. I was surprised at the way Bolton stood up...

I am, I hate to say it, impressed by Condi...

Maybe Bush is backing her for 2008...

He deferred to her and she went to the UN to prove how important the negotiations were...

She deserves Kudos for working out an agreement with the French and keeping the other permanent members of the security council on board...

This just goes to show you that even a blind squirrel will find a nut now and then....

I abhor the way she gave Israel Carte Blanche at the beginning of this nasty little war...

But now I see that they are indeed capable of diplomacy when backed against the wall...

Perhaps if others would have stood more firmly against the Bush administration, we wouldn't be in this situation...

[DemonFighterLives]

4. After how many years of UN bashing by the repukes

I guess they want to use them when it is beneficial.
I still can't stand Bolton and won't give Condi much wiggle room.
It doesn't sound like Hezbollah will honor the ceasefire until Israel backs out.
In other words the paperwork is done, but real negotiations is just beginning.
:dem: