Am I hearing right? Blair wants to, essentially, invade the Middle East?

[Roland99]

Blair spoke of sending international troops to help squash the violence that's erupted between Israel and Lebanon.

I can't help but think this would be throwing gas on a burning fire.

[marmar]

1. "I can't help but think this would be throwing gas on a burning fire."

Exactly. Has the world spun completely out of control?

[bigtree]

2. I think if they can negotiate with the Lebanese govt. it could work

If the troops are imposed then it's nothing but a provocation. However, I think Blair's proposal makes sense if the intent is to replace Israel's assault with a buffer between Lebanon and Israel. It doesn't have to be a contingent of Western forces. The troops can be regional. There should be enough countries in the region that would offer to help. The majority of Gulf states pledged aid to Lebanon today.

The notion behind Blair's proposal is to halt the escalation of violence by lessening the prospect of rockets launched from southern Lebanon. It's not ALL of what's needed, but, I think it can be constructed in a way that makes sense.

[slide to the left]

3. did you know

that england is who screwed up the place in the beginning

[displacedtexan]

4. I thought he was calling for UN peacekeepers, but...

I could be wrong.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. Incorrect.

It was Blair and Kofi Annan:

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called Monday for the deployment of an international force in southern Lebanon, in order to end the spiraling conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

But Israel reiterated Monday its opposition to the initiative. The Prime Minister's Office said Sunday night that Israel would not agree to the deployment of any troops in south Lebanon, save for the Lebanese army.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/739352.html

[Roland99]

9. Ok,thanks. I'd just caught a portion of the news as I was leaving for work

[spinbaby]

6. Sure sounds like it

I was only half awake this morning when I swear I heard the BBC say that he wants to send troops into Lebanon to keep them from firing missles at Israel, but first Israel wants to finish the job of bombing the C*** out of Lebanon.

[bigtree]

7. that was my first thought when I heard their response

Israeli warplanes pummel Lebanese infrastructure amid diplomatic efforts for cease-fire

July 17, 2006 6:09 AM

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Israeli warplanes pummeled Lebanese infrastructure Monday, killing at least 17 people. Hezbollah-patron Iran said a cease-fire and a prisoner swap were possible and the international community signaled willingness to send peacekeepers to back a diplomatic solution.

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=564771522334819262

[Recursion]

8. Didn't the Lebanese PM ask for that?

I think Lebanon would prefer to have British, Belgian, etc. peacekeepers there than have
1) Israel occupy them (again)
2) Syria occupy them (again)
3) Israel and Syria fight a war on Lebanese soil