MsUnderestimated » 2006 » July

“Syria Doesn’t Need Dialogue To Know What They Need to Do” (VIDEO)

July 23rd, 2006 at 11:14 by MsUnderestimated

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: when all is said and done, John Bolton’s recess appointment to the U.N. will be one of THE most brilliant moves by President Bush during his time in the White House. John Bolton is a no-nonsense kind of man, and yes, he’s suggested flippantly that lopping off the top 10 floors off the U.N. building would be a good start, but I have to say… I’m not so sure that’s not a bad idea! Especially in light of the history of failure of the U.N. in the past, and in this current conflict with “peace-keepers” on the Israel/Lebanon border. Gee… can you guess whether or not they’ve been effective? Apparently not.

On Fox News Sunday today, Brit was sitting in for Chris Wallace, and Bolton was his primary interview. Bolton does not mince words, much like the Prez, and that’s one reason why I admire him. He’s got that chutzpah that we need right now to take the U.N. to task, and say “you gotta be KIDDING me?” when such a sentiment is necessary. Heck, even crying Voinovich said he now believes Bolton is doing a good job, even though he cried before Senate lamenting the possible appointment of Bolton, and will vote to consider his nomination for the permanent post at the U.N., which is coming up this Thursday. Somehow I’m not enthused. Voinovich (RINO) is not one to be trusted, so the proof will be in the proverbial pudding - time will tell. For now, we have this brilliant man-to-man, straight-talk between Hume and Bolton as some legitimate meat of decisiveness. No politicization, no talking points, just two guys talking about the way things are and the way things should be. Nothing nuanced about this encounter.

I have tremendous respect for both Brit Hume and John Bolton, and that respect was just notched up a bit more today after watching their exchange. It’s no wonder the Left is scared of Bolton. He tells it like it is.

Here is a partial transcript:

HUME: Let me ask you first about what may be a development of some consequence. The Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Meqdad says this morning, quote, “Syria is ready for dialogue with the United States based on respect and mutual interest.” He said a solution to the crisis lies in an immediate cease-fire brokered by international powers followed by diplomacy. Does that move the ball at all, Mr. Ambassador?

BOLTON: It’s hard to see. I mean, Syria doesn’t need dialogue to know what they need to do. They need to lean on Hezbollah to get them to release the two captured Israeli soldiers and stop the launch of rockets against innocent Israeli civilians. Syria, along with Iran, is really part of the problem because of their longtime support for Hezbollah and other armed groups inside Lebanon. So I don’t know what that adds necessarily, although I suppose it’s better than nothing.

HUME: Well, does it provide a — I mean, is there any reason why this message that you’ve just delivered on this program shouldn’t be delivered to the Syrians by some American representative face to face?

BOLTON: Well, we have an embassy in Damascus. And I think the Syrians have gotten the message — or they should have gotten the message unmistakably that their continued aid and support of Hezbollah, their refusal to carry out security resolution — Security Council Resolution 1559 to get all of their intelligence personnel out of Lebanon, allow the new democratic government there to function, to cooperate with the international investigation into the assassination of former prime minister — Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri — if the Syrians would do all the things they already know they’re supposed to do, that would be a major step forward.

HUME: So, to your knowledge, there’s been no direct discussions by any American officials with the Syrian government.

BOLTON: I’m not aware of any. But as I say, we have an embassy in Damascus.

HUME: Right.

BOLTON: They could pick up the phone.

Slam! Why should it be up to US to make all the efforts? Why can’t the Syrians pick up the phone to our embassy and talk there?

And on the impotent U.N.’s peace-keepers on the Israel/Lebanese border, we have this exchange:

HUME: Let me ask you about that U.N. presence. You’ve had that U.N. garrison, sort of a sad little garrison, up there on the border with Israel now since, I guess, some time back in the ’70s. There you can see the watchtower there and the U.N. flag sort of flying in the breeze. It hasn’t done very much.

Was it ever contemplated that it would be an enforcer of U.N. Resolution 1559, which, as you’ve indicated, was to police — or was a command that foreign forces of all kinds leave Lebanon and also that the Hezbollah attacks on Israel stop?

BOLTON: Well, the U.N. force that’s there now really does not have the mandate to do it, and here’s an interesting little fact. That force is called the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon. It was sent there on an interim basis in 1978, 28 years ago. So it’s been a long interim and I think, sadly, has not been successful.

That’s one reason why we need to look at the long-term possibilities of a sustained solution here, not another 28-year-long interim force, but to take the circumstances we find and see if we can’t build the foundations for a really lasting peace this time.

Read the full transcript of the entire show here, and watch the video here.

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Did I Ask You To Vacation In Beruit? (VIDEO)

July 23rd, 2006 at 06:17 by MsUnderestimated

In the Unresolved Problem segment, Laura talks with Niles Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation about the U.S. taxpayer-paid-for evacutation of Americans and others who CHOSE to go to Beirut and other places in Lebanon despite FOUR warnings from the U.S. State Department due to the level of growing hostility in the area. Granted, a large percentage of the Americans there either lived or worked there, but there were also a great many who chose to go there on vacation. What? Where next? Maybe they can go for winter vacation in Darfur. Spring break in Cuba or Venezuela perhaps? Maybe next summer instead of the Hamptons, how about the Congo or Somalia?

People will say that Laura is being cold-hearted, that the United States should help ALL people in times of need, but damnit, there comes a time when personal responsibility has to kick in. And this time was one of those (as was Katrina). People were complaining about the cramped conditions of the boats and ships that were bringing their pampered, brat asses back home, whining about air conditioning, flies, and other such supercilious nonsense. They believed, and we caved, that it was the duty of the United States (read “taxpayer”) to bring them home for free, and in cushy, comfy conditions.

It’s time for the people of this world, namely spoiled Americans and Europeans, to take responsibility for their own decisions. If you choose to vacation in a dangerous place, make sure you have contingent plans to get the hell out by yourself if you have to.

But ever-the-true patriots, our military men and women did what they do best - they delivered the “Cadillac” of rescues, and all without complaint.

I guess they do this between the raping, pillaging, murdering in cold blood (per John Murtha), terrorizing “women and children in the dark of night” (according to John Kerry), and being worse than the Khmer Rhouge, Pol Pot, Stalin, or the Nazis (as noted by Dick Durbin). Yeah, our Marines are busy guys and gals.

Are they on their way to pillage here?

Look at these evil Marines!

How cruel and heartless can they be?

They should be affording these evacuees the Geneva Convention - STOP THE TORTURE!

It is just very perplexing why all of the Beirut evacuees wanted to leave and go with the AMERICAN ships! I guess our reputation precedes us. Is that a good or bad thing? Dunno… guess we better ask Mother Sheehan. I tried to get an expert opinion on rescue efforts, but Mary Jo Kopeckne was unavailable for comment; and Teddy Kennedy was, well, not qualified to comment on the subject.

Am I being mordant? You bet. But if it applies to you? Own it.

Watch the video here.

Also cross-posted to Expose the Left.

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The Continuing Education of Juan (VIDEO)

July 23rd, 2006 at 05:13 by MsUnderestimated

Well, well, well… I thought Headmaster Hume had schooled Juan enough, but apparently Juan came back for more. This time, Headmistress Laura helps to continue the education of Juan. Will Juan ever graduate? Will he ever learn that kids never win when playing with adults? Will Juan get picked on more when people find out he got his butt kicked by a girl? Who knows. But watching it is just sheer delight.

Juan Williams appeared with Laura on Friday’s edition of the Factor, and the subject was the Israeli war with Hezbollah. You’d have thought Juan would have learned his lessons before with Brit, and maybe he thought taking on “only” a talk-radio hostess, he could win. But alas… reality took hold. It starts out cordial enough, but just ramps up.

Laura: Is it too little too late from Condoleeza Rice, is that what you’re saying?

Juan: I think it’s too little, and I think it’s evidence of passivity. I mean it’s just weak, you know, people are throwing bombs over there, people are dying. I mean the pictures are just sadness. Lebanon is just being torn to shreds, and the U.S., somehow …

Laura: …and why is it being torn to shreds?

Juan: It’s being torn to shreds because of Israeli bombs at this moment, and because the terrorists, Hezbollah, started this.

Laura: So, are you blaming Israel for this? This whole situation in the Middle East? I don’t think even the Arab League is even doing that.

Juan: I’m not blaming them; I don’t know why you would say that. What I am saying is that the United States, as the world’s Super Power, has a responsibility here not to simply stand by, you know, as if it’s some Super Power that’s distracted, maybe pre-occupied. Instead, get involved and start saving lives.

Laura: Here’s my question to you: If Hezbollah’s strength is seriously degraded, is that good for America and our security interests, or bad for America and our security interests?

Juan: It’s TERIFFIC for American security interests.

Laura: So, why on earth, Juan, would we tell Israel to stop, cease fire, because a cease-fire applies to whom? It really applies to Israel. It doesn’t apply to Hezbollah, they’re not listening to anybody.

Juan: What is going on in your head? Where are you? Have you noticed lately how many people who are dying? Both on the Israeli and the Lebanese sides.

Laura: War is hell, Juan… war is hell.

Juan: War is hell? Well let me tell you something. If it is your family, if it’s someone you cared about, if you were…

Laura: Israel is unified behind their response, Juan. Did you see what Israel’s people are saying? They have never been as united as they been now since the Yom Kippur war.

Laura tries to cool things down, and wants to know what Juan would do if he were a decision-maker; specifically, what would he do if he were an advisor to President Bush?

Laura: Juan Williams advising President Bush – go:

Juan: Immediately begin diplomatic efforts… start talking… start…

Laura: What does that mean?

Juan: …start talking to the Arab states about them getting involved in Lebanon, and having them put the blanket on Hezbollah.

Did he just say that?

Laura: It’s called the U.N. temporary peace-keeping force that has been there and done nothing. I mean, is the U.N. a savior here? Has the U.N. done anything?

Juan: No, the U.N. hasn’t been able to do it. The Lebanese army is too weak to do it.

Laura: So, Egypt is going to do it for us?

Juan: No, well, you know what, you can have a group…

Laura: Israel is the only place, the only country that can clean this out, Juan. Who else is going to clean out Hezbollah?

Juan: You know what Israel can do? Israel can do exactly what you’re seeing being done; bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb. It’s not going to get rid of Hezbollah; it’s just going to, in fact, create more terrorists and possibly even reverberate here in this country by creating more terrorists who would come here to roost here in the U.S.!

The “Impact segment?” The only impact was Juan’s gray matter sloshing around in his near-empty skull. This was a total KO by Laura.

Watch the love-fest here.

Cross-posted over at Expose the Left.

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