Please Ma'am, Can We Kill Some More?

The United States rejected suggestions on Wednesday that talks on Lebanon had failed after a joint declaration stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.

In a meeting involving the UN and 15 foreign ministers, Condoleezza Rice (who co-chaired the talks), beat off concerted international demands for an immediate ceasefire. Out of all the countries that took park in the meeting only the Arab countries, Italy and the United Nations wanted to seek a declaration for an immediate ceasefire without preconditions.

It is very strange that only a few weeks ago in a G8 meeting (chaired by Russia) the leaders of the world’s top countries agreed for immediate cease-fire yet in a meeting chaired by the Americans in Rome they agreed following long discussions over the wording, instead agreed in their declaration to "work immediately to reach with the utmost urgency" a ceasefire.

Israel says Wednesday's decision by key world powers not to call for a halt to its Lebanon offensive has given it the green light to continue. And so they did. Israeli bombardment of Lebanon has continued throughout the day, with air strikes in many parts of the country, killing innocent people and damaging Lebanese infrastructure.

The US and Saudi Arabia have promised to send millions of pounds in aid to Lebanon. The US also promised to send Israel more weapons. I'm just waiting to hear from the US that they will send US contractors to repair Lebanon - Now that would put the icing on the cake!


Lebanon damage report (from BBC)
Summary of the main Lebanese infrastructure damaged by Israeli bombing in the two weeks since the conflict began on 12 July, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs.



Airports
Beirut International, Qaleiat domestic, Rayak militaryPorts, Beirut, Tripoli, Jounieh

Other transport
Lighthouse, Beirut, Bridges: 62, Fuel stations: 22, Overpasses: 72, Dams: 3, Roads: 600km

Military
Radar installations: 4, Army barracks: 1

Civilian
Private homes: 5,000

Commercial
Tissue paper factory, Bekaa, Bottle factory, Bekaa, Other businesses: 150

Communications
Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station, Haret Hreik, Beirut, MTC mobile phone antenna, Dahr al-Baidar

Utilities
Jiyeh power plant, Sibline power station, Sewage plant, Dair al-Zahrani