US opposed to halt of Lebanon's bombing

The Rome meeting today failed by ending without a call for an immediate cease-fire since the US is opposed to forcing an immediate halt to Lebanon's bombing by Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan had called for Middle East Mideast players to agree on a package to stop the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and establish peace between Israel and Lebanon.

"Urgent measures are needed to halt the violence and get humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of Lebanese uprooted by the fighting. In the long-term, there must be a cease-fire, deployment of an international force as a buffer on the border."

Annan before the failed meeting had said "What is important is that we leave Rome with a concrete strategy on how we are going to deal with this and we do not walk away empty-handed and once again dash the hopes of those who are caught in this conflict."

White House spokesman Tony Snow said today that "The status quo cannot persist in southern Lebanon. It is time to make sure that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 -- which talks about the integrity of the Lebanese government within Lebanese borders; it talks about the inadmissability of internal militias or foreign states -- needs to be fulfilled. And that is going to require Hizbullah standing down."

Snow also said "What we're trying to do -- again, the onus here goes on Hezbollah, not on Israel. But the Israelis also need to practice restraint, which we have said from the very beginning. And they understand all the ramifications of that. But in terms of patience/impatience, I'm not sure it's helpful to characterize it that way, and I'm not sure, even if I knew some way to calibrate it, I could describe it."

Snow said "Again, the violence starts with Hezbollah. And I don't -- we don't stop the violence, they do. Now, what I -- but I think -- well, I want to say that as preface, Jim. It's pretty clear now, with the G8 statement and the Rome statement, and also actions that have been taken within the region, that it is realized that Hezbollah is a threat to peace in the region. And there is also the recognition that Iran and Syria play a role in supporting and funding Hezbollah. And they now have -- it's been pretty clear that in the region and around the world, people want them to assert pressure on Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, we've said to Israel, you need to practice restraint. We've been very clear about that, as well. But the conditions for peace begin with Hezbollah's stopping the terror, returning the soldiers, stopping firing rockets. You've heard the formulation many times. That doesn't change."

Asked that Lebanon's Prime Minister Siniora, after his talks, "was clearly disappointed. He said they'd hoped to agree to an immediate cease-fire. He said his country is being brought to its knees. And he also said that every day that there's not an immediate cease-fire, more Lebanese are dying. How does that complicate the United States' position to move forward and not undermine support from Arab allies, who are looking at this policy and saying, look, this is going to cost civilian casualties the more we wait?"

Snow said that "I don't think it complicates the American situation; I think it strengthens our resolve to get it solved, and solved in the right way, so that we are not back here six months, a year, two years, three years from now talking about the same sort of thing. What we're talking about is building a sustainable and durable peace, which I think is important. And, more importantly, who cares what I think, it's what the administration thinks is important. And, therefore, it redoubles the commitment there. And, again, you're finding -- this is moving on several tracks. On the humanitarian track, the United States announced a commitment of $30 million yesterday. That was followed by a Saudi commitment of $1.5 billion. Iraq has pitched in $35 million. You had Jordan providing -- cargo planes were moving into Beirut today."

Snow added "So you see two things going on: number one, trying to address the root cause of the violence. You don't address the root cause, it doesn't go away. And Lebanon has been the victim of violence for way too long, and instability for way too long. This is a nation that deserves peace and democracy. And that is the ultimate goal, to create the conditions where that happens without having to worry about outside influence, without having to worry about groups working internally like Hizbullah, where the people can express their will and move on peacefully."

After the recent kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, reports indicate that the Israeli aggression caused 800,000 Lebanese civilians to be displaced, hundreds of civilians killed, and civilian infrastructure massive destruction. This comes as reports speak about the US supply Israel with more bombs.

Worth noting that the UN had repeatedly called on Israel to stop violating Lebanon's sovereignty, which Israel did on a near daily basis, and saw a free hand to kidnap and detain Lebanese or Palestinians as it desires. Hizbullah previously managed successfully to repatriate many Lebanon that were kidnapped by Israel, after Hizbullah managed to capture an Israelis to force a trade. Israel, an aggressive nation and brutal occupier likes to portray itself as a victim and that its actions are in reaction to "terrorists".

Many international organizations have declared Israel to be in violation of International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Convention, organizations such as the Red Cross, Amnesty international, and others. The most recent public declaration that Israel has broken the Geneva Convention came most recently ago from the neutral country of Switzerland. The UN Human Rights Council weeks ago also voted against Israel and agreed to investigate the Israeli acts. Israel frames its aggressions as defensive moves, without mentioning that it is an occupier and outlaw of international resolutions and laws.

Despite its superior military might, Hizbullah dealt Israel a major defeat and was able to eject Israel from Lebanon after Israel invaded and occupied Lebanon for 22 years. Hizbullah is seen by many Lebanese as a deterrent against Israel's aggression and constant intimidation that it has demonstrated in the past by its repeated attacks and invasions of Lebanon.

Hizbullah is seen by many Lebanese as a deterrent against Israeli aggressions and intimidation against Lebanon now,and in the future, as demonstrated by Israel's repeated attacks, violations of Lebanon, and the repeated invasions of it.