Bush orders humanitarian aid to Lebanon

Ron Burgundy · 07-24-2006, 02:45 PM

Bush orders humanitarian aid to Lebanon (AP)

AP - President Bush has ordered helicopters and ships to Lebanon to provide humanitarian aid, but he still opposes an immediate cease-fire that could give relief from a 13-day-old Israeli bombing campaign.

WASHINGTON -
President Bush has ordered helicopters and ships to Lebanon to provide humanitarian aid, but he still opposes an immediate cease-fire that could give relief from a 13-day-old Israeli bombing campaign.
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Announcing the assistance program, White House press secretary Tony Snow said Monday there was no reason to believe an immediate cease-fire would stop violence in the Mideast and said instead the world should confront the destabilizing force of Hezbollah and its practice of using the Lebanese people as "human shields."

Israel's bombardment has demolished Lebanon's infrastructure and killed hundreds. It began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers.

"At the order of the president, humanitarian supplies will start arriving in Lebanon tomorrow by helicopter and by ship," Snow announced at the White House. "We are working with Israel and Lebanon to open up humanitarian corridors."

Snow said that Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice discussed the assistance with officials during a surprise visit to Beirut Monday and would talk about further about the U.S. commitment later in the day as she continued on to Israel. Snow did not give any more details about what the United States would send, other than to describe it as "a significant U.S. commitment."

At the
Pentagon, spokesman Bryan Whitman said the assistance will include tons of medical equipment and other supplies that will be delivered from Cyprus to Beirut. He said the U.S. military is nearing completion of the evacuation of American citizens and can switch its focus to the humanitarian mission.

The announcement came a day after officials from U.S. ally Saudi Arabia came to the White House to personally request that Bush help press for an immediate end to the violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But Snow said that could be a "fool's errand."

"Look, we would like a cease-fire tomorrow," he said. "We would like a cease-fire immediately. But it has to be a cease-fire that is going to stand the test of time so the people in that region and people in Lebanon particular, a country that has been hard hit by occupying forces and by frustrations of its democratic aspirations, deserve a shot at having the freedom and democracy its people deserve. And the only way that's going to be possible is if there is no longer an internal threat of the sort that we've witnessed in recent weeks."

Snow said the humanitarian aid is not designed to mute criticism of the U.S. in the region but is strictly to aide innocent people who are being hurt.

Asked why the aid has taken two weeks to deliver, Snow said, "The fact is, that we're first to the scene." And he said the U.S. was calling on other allies to send help as well.

Whitman said it is likely that some of the faster moving ships, such as the Italian fast ferry Vittoria M. and the Navy's high speed catamaran HSV-2 Swift, will be used to carry the supplies to aid agencies operating in Lebanon. He said it is not likely that the military will be transporting the supplies, including blankets and large medical kits, over land to other locations in the country.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said 12,600 Americans have been evacuated from Lebanon, including about 2,000 on Sunday and Monday. Several hundred others have crossed the border into
Syria.

Snow said the U.S. has been discussing the aide with Israel to make sure the supplies will get to Lebanon safely. But he no one in the United States has discussed specific targets with the Israelis.

In an Oval Office meeting Sunday, Saudi officials gave Bush a letter from Saudi King Abdullah, asking that the U.S. president intervene in Israel's military campaign to stop the bloodshed.

For years, the Saudis have been among the United States' closest allies in the Arab world, despite strains from U.S. pressures aimed at increasing democracy in the conservative kingdom. Reflecting their influence, Bush cut another night off a weekend stay at his Texas ranch where he spent time fishing and biking to attend the meeting with Rice and the Saudis.

"The U.S. has the authority, it has the clout with Israel," said Nail al-Jubeir, a Saudi Embassy spokesman. "For us to go and talk to the Israelis isn't going to do anything."

IminWonderland · 07-24-2006, 03:22 PM

I don't understand this.

Why is it that we are going to let them get bombed, and then give them money?

It's like, we aren't going to stop Isreal from destroying you, but here's a box of chocolates to make you feel better.

motivez · 07-24-2006, 03:43 PM

We'll probably earn more money through the sale of munitions and fuel and bombs and planes to Israel than we'll give them in aid..

Ardentfrost · 07-24-2006, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

We'll probably earn more money through the sale of munitions and fuel and bombs and planes to Israel than we'll give them in aid..

Man, why didn't we listen to Eisenhower.

IminWonderland · 07-24-2006, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Man, why didn't we listen to Eisenhower.

Why, what did Eisenhower say?

TekDragon · 07-24-2006, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

I don't understand this.

Why is it that we are going to let them get bombed, and then give them money?

It's like, we aren't going to stop Isreal from destroying you, but here's a box of chocolates to make you feel better.

Lebanon != Hezbollah. Lebanon is sitting pretty, smiling and nodding, while Isreal handles what they wish they could have done long ago.

Donkey® · 07-24-2006, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by TekDragon

Lebanon != Hezbollah. Lebanon is sitting pretty, smiling and nodding, while Isreal handles what they wish they could have done long ago.

No, no they are not.

kinggovernor · 07-24-2006, 08:22 PM

Somehow this aid will fall into the wrong hands

archangel003 · 07-24-2006, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

Somehow this aid will fall into the wrong hands

See: Food shipments to North Korea resold on the black market.
See: Food shipments to Somalia seized by Islamofascists.
See: Aid money to "Palestinians" rerouted to Fatah's Swiss bank accounts.

6SpeedTA95 · 07-24-2006, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

I don't understand this.

Why is it that we are going to let them get bombed, and then give them money?

It's like, we aren't going to stop Isreal from destroying you, but here's a box of chocolates to make you feel better.

Thats not it at all.

It's called Israel has a right to defend itself and it should do just that. However there are civilian casualties and infrastructure casualties that affect all persons of lebanon. The Hezbollah terror group has infiltrated much of the country using vital infrastructure to support terror activities. The result is Israel is forced to take out railroads, airports, roads and highways along with in some cases neighborhood houses. Helping bridge the gap till vital services can be restored is not the same thing as a box of chocolates.

thomez · 07-24-2006, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by TekDragon

Lebanon != Hezbollah. Lebanon is sitting pretty, smiling and nodding, while Isreal handles what they wish they could have done long ago.

No.. not really.

kinggovernor · 07-24-2006, 10:56 PM

Israel should really be supporting the Lebanese government as well

Kytro · 07-24-2006, 11:02 PM

The aid is a political move to reassure people they don't support civillians suffering.

thomez · 07-24-2006, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

Israel should really be supporting the Lebanese government as well

that would be great but I don't think many Lebanese have gotten over that whole occupation thing...

kinggovernor · 07-24-2006, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

that would be great but I don't think many Lebanese have gotten over that whole occupation thing...

well this is what happens when Israel doesn't occupy

Ardentfrost · 07-24-2006, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Why, what did Eisenhower say?

That we needed to stop the military industrial complex (ie. getting in a situation where industries promote war so they can sell more stuff)

thomez · 07-24-2006, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

well this is what happens when Israel doesn't occupy

sadly true

but the Lebanese govt still won't be working with the Israelis anytime soon

thomez · 07-24-2006, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

That we needed to stop the military industrial complex (ie. getting in a situation where industries promote war so they can sell more stuff)

and governments let it or help it happen because it's good for the economy...

Ardentfrost · 07-25-2006, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

and governments let it or help it happen because it's good for the economy...

No it's not. It costs SOMEONE money when shit gets blown up.. money they COULD have spent elsewhere.

If we provide munitions to foreign wars, then we benefit while they suffer, but I still like peace over war

thomez · 07-25-2006, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

No it's not. It costs SOMEONE money when shit gets blown up.. money they COULD have spent elsewhere.

If we provide munitions to foreign wars, then we benefit while they suffer, but I still like peace over war

I wasn't talking about it being good for those gettin blasted (obviously not good), but those that supply both sides and cash out