Ever get the impression that the world’s going to hell in a handbasket? As if the North Korean missile crisis and the terrorist bombings in India aren’t enough, these are the headlines from the New York Times website as the G8 Summit in Moscow gets underway:
Nations Sending Iran to Security Council
Israeli Forces Enter Lebanon After 2 Soldiers Are Seized
Iran and the Security Council
The five permanent members of the Security Council have kept their word. They had demanded that Iran provide evidence of an intent to enter into serious negotiations by today. Iran didn’t, so it will face the music before the Security Council. Of course, it remains to be seen what kind of music will be played.
On behalf of the other Council members along with Germany and the EU, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said “The Iranians have given no indication at all that they are ready to engage seriously on the substance of our proposals.”
Today’s decision came after the foreign ministers reviewed a report by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on his meetings with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.
According to the Times,
Any real punishment or coercion at the Security Council is a long way off, but the group said it will seek an initial resolution requiring Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment. Debate could begin as soon as next week.
If Iran does not comply, the group said it would then seek harsher action. The group’s short statement did not give any specifics, but it cited a section of the world body’s charter that could open the door to economic or other sanctions.
Israel and Lebanon
It keeps getting worse. In response to a border raid by Hezbollah that resulted in the deaths of at least seven soldiers (the Jerusalem Post says eight) and the abductions of two, Israel has launched a major military offensive on a second front, sending armored forces into southern Lebanon. At the same time, the Israeli army further expanded its two-week-old operations in the Gaza Strip. Now, Israel is engaged in limited wars on both its southern and northern borders.
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert called the attack an “act of war,” ruled out negotiations for the release of the soldiers taken hostage, held the Lebanese government responsible for the assault by Hezbollah and said he wanted
to make clear that the event this morning is not a terror act, but an act of a sovereign state that attacked Israel without reason. The government of Lebanon, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake the stability of the region.
The Jerusalem Post reports that Hezbullah’s “spiritual leader,” Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, praised the attack. At a press conference, he warned Israel that the Hezbullah would only release the captives in exchange for security prisoners.
For its part, the U.S., in addition to blaming Hezbullah for the attack, stressed the role of both Syria and Iran in harboring the terror group. Fredrick Jones, spokesman for the National Security Council, said “We also hold Syria and Iran, which directly support Hizbullah, responsible for this attack and for the ensuing violence.”
Syria, of course, denied any responsibility. In a further widening of Mideast tensions, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak “implicitly” accused Damascus of wrecking his attempts to mediate a deal for the release of Cpt. Cpl. Gilad Shalit, snatched by Hamas-linked militants on June 25. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit has flown to Damascus to meet with President Assad.
Not to be left out of the action, Ali Larijani, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, was also in the Syrian capital, where he said “When the Zionist entity attacks and slaughters the Palestinian people … resistance is necessary.”
In Rome, U.N. Secretary-General Annan condemned the Hezbollah attack “without reservation” and demanded that the captive soldiers be released.
[...] American Future Sister Toldjah linked with Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers, kills at least seven other Israelis – Israel says it’s an act of war… [...]
what great day for imperialism and world socialism via the UN. How about Israel goes back to it’s borders and Iran be left alone to enrich uranium as they are allowed to do under the NPT?
Do you understand the concept of Dhimmi, Lester? No thanks, we’ll protect and defend our own interests and those of our allies.
The NY Times should have a warning to stay away from sharp objects when reading its headlines.
An alternative title for your post could be:
The Human Condition, Unchanged.
Or of a cheerier note:
Marc Shulman lives another day to blog.
Sure it won’t appear on the NYT website but that doesn’t make any less true.
Cheer up! It could be a lot worse.
Ah, yes, because there’s so much to gain by imperialism in Palestine. The land is filled with small concrete ‘rocks’ and filth left over by the glorious reign of Yassir Arafat. That is, you know, what imperialism would mean Lester.
As far as socialism . . . that came from left field.
[...] American Future [...]
[...] Trying to make sense of a world in turmoil Prev/Next Posts « What a Day This Has Been | Thursday, July 13th, 2006 at 3:28 am [...]
chad- well george bush has certainly embraced socialist concepts like big government and world government. he isn’t the President of Iran and has no say in what they do.
doug- this site is called “american future” not israeli or european future. We aren’t on any border with any muslim country. so I don’t CARE about dhimmis.
And yet you advocate becoming Dhimmis, Lester. Pardon the rest of us if we desire to keep our independence and self-control.
you are the one who would advocate the US being “dhimmis” of another nation
No conception of the meaning of the term…
yees it means you are part of a group that is subserviant to the dominating group. In your case that is Israel
Typical, Lester. You attempt to redefine the term to mean what you want it to mean, just like all the other leftists. According to Bat Ye’or, “Dhimmi was the name applied by the Arab-Muslim conquerors to indigenous non-Muslim populations who surrendered by a treaty (dhimma) to Muslim domination.” Read this:
The Status of Non-Muslim Minorities Under Islamic Rule
Maybe you’ll learn something. We can always hope.
Yes. I know. but in your case israel is the…oh never mind
Lester, no amount of hand-waving on your part will make supporting an ally when it’s attacked into surrendering to that ally and being treated like a slave. Try to sell that kind of illogic to your leftist brethren; it won’t play here.