Tell Israel violence must end: Armitage

[Karmadillo]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19936735-601,00.html

A FORMER top envoy in the Bush administration has said President George W.Bush should change course on the Lebanon conflict, call for a ceasefire and send US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Damascus to open talks with Syria.

Richard Armitage, the deputy secretary of state in Mr Bush's first term and assistant secretary of defence in 1982 in the Reagan administration when Israel invaded Lebanon, said Israel's military campaign would embolden Hezbollah and was working against the US's wish for democracy in the Middle East.

"I think it's about time for us to call for an end to the violence," Mr Armitage told The Australian in an interview, noting it was innocent civilians in Lebanon who were bearing the brunt of Israel's response to Hezbollah's provocation.

"I think the President needs to rethink this. Perhaps the best way to be a friend of Israel is to tell when we think the present course is not working."

He said Israel's response was counterproductive because Hezbollah had great cachet in southern Lebanon thanks to the social services it provided and the simple vision of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"I think in the short term, and perhaps in the long run as well, Hezbollah is seen as empowered," he said. "The Arab streets are starting to pick this up a bit."

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[Fozzledick]

1. Hey, tell Hezbollah to stop that shit!

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Yet another all- time historic blunder by jr & friends.

As expected.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. He always did strike me as one of the sane ones. n/t

[Strelnikov_]

5. Which Is Evidence Of How Skewed Our Foreign Policy Has Become

Dick Armitage, Peacemaker.

[Sherman A1]

4. Question

Has this comment by Armitage been reported in the U.S. Media?