Stop, dammit

Mr. Bush “believes the Israelis have the right to protect themselves, and that in doing so they should limit as much as possible so-called collateral damage, not only to facilities but also to human lives,’’ Mr. Snow said.

Asked specifically if Mr. Bush would call for a ceasefire, Mr. Snow said, “No. The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel.’’

Yes, but Israel is the largest recipient of American foreign aid (largely military). That aid equals leverage.

In Lebanon, 61 people have been killed in Israel's bombardment, mostly Lebanese civilians, including 3 who died Friday in bombing of south Beirut, the police said. On the Israeli side, eight soldiers and two civilians have been killed by Hezbollah rockets on northern towns. (IHT)

I honestly have very little to say. We have a complex network of concerns and interests here. Iran's support for Hezbollah, Lebanon's anti-Syrian government's ostensive support for Hezbollah, Israel's further incursions into Palestinian Gaza, Hamas' anger and retaliation, Israel's bombing of just about everyone, Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli towns. Oh, and the US' and UN's ineptitude, allowing the disaster to unfold.

What else but the cycle of irresponsibility and death?

If you want to read a couple nice pieces, see Billmon here (via Tattered Coat) and this article in the WaPo.

UPDATE:

Pat Lang summarizes the obvious:

With its foreseeable offensive in Gaza and its vigorous efforts in the Lebanon the Olmert government in Israel demonstrates the indifference to the possibility of a peace with its Muslim neighbors that has characterized its short history.

In general, there is a certain disingenuous quality to the statements made by many Israelis to "outsiders" concerning their real attitudes toward the Arabs. Having been on the scene by chance a few times while the IDF "shot up" rock throwers with steel cored riot ammunition and then "ball" ammunition I can only say that indifference to maiming and severe injuries inflicted on the "natives" seems to be a "motif" of Israeli exercise of power in the "territories." On one occasion I heard an IDF officer in command of troops in the field tell a foreigner who had given first aid to a dying teen aged rioter, "you are lucky, we usually shoot people giving them first aid." He was an honest man. On the other side of the scales, I would have to say that I rarely meet Muslims who are in any real way resigned to the long term existence of Israel. They, also, are relentless in their refusal to accept the legitimacy of any sort of "rights" on the part of the "other."

There are now three Israeli soldiers in the hands of Hamas and Hizballah. This has been declared by PM Olmert to be an "act of war" for which the Palestinian and Lebanese governments will pay, and pay, and pay. In the case of the Palestinians, this will inevitably lead to the destruction of the Hamas government. This has been an Olmert goal from the time the Hamasniks were elected. The principle is clear. The Arabs are free to elect governments, but only those which are compliant with the goals of the Israeli state. In the case of the Palestinians, the election of a government which is inherently hostile to Israel triggered an automatic response leading to the present situation. The Bush Administration follows the Israeli "line" in this and so the outcome is and was inevitable. Hey, folks, this ain't rocket science.