[Update] From Euphoric Reality, her friend Carl in Jerusalem is relaying to her that “tonight”, Israel time, war will be declared. She reacts with this:

When/if Israel formally declares war, then the United States will very soon thereafter have to declare intent. There will no longer be time for us to dally around mincing words and calling for negotiations. This will be where the rubber meets the road. We are Israel’s ally. When Israel goes to war…we go to war.

Or do we?

Good question. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, in Paris for meetings on the Iranian nuclear situaiton, is quoted as saying the following:

“I condemn today’s kidnapping by Hizbullah, a terrorist organization, of two Israeli soldiers. Hizbullah’s action undermines regional stability and goes against the interests of both the Israeli and Lebanese people[.]”

“Syria has a special responsibility to use its influence to support a positive outcome[.]”

“All sides must act with restraint to resolve this incident peacefully and to protect innocent life and civilian infrastructures[.]“

I’m gettin’ the feeling that Israel has finally had it with “restraint” and “protecting civilian infrastructures”, and I sure can’t blame them. Hate to see this become all out war, but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do! Unless, of course, you’re Slick Willy, who said yesterday (free, reg. req.):

I’d still talk to them if they wanted to talk

Sure you would, Bill. That’s what Liberals to — talk . . . talk . . . talk . . . that’s why we find ourselves in such a nasty mess.

[Original post follows:]

From the AP:

2 Israeli Soldiers Captured by Hezbollah

Hezbollah militants crossed into Israel on Wednesday and captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel responded in southern Lebanon with warplanes, tanks and gunboats, and said seven of its soldiers had been killed in the violence.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the soldiers’ capture “an act of war,” and his Cabinet prepared to approve more military action in Lebanon – a second front in the fight against Islamic militants by Israel, which already is waging an operation to free a captured soldier in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said three soldiers were killed in the initial raid, and four others were killed when their tank went over a land mine in southern Lebanon.

Olmert said he held the Lebanese government responsible for the two soldiers’ safety, vowing that the Israeli response “will be restrained, but very, very, very painful.”

If a full-fledged, all-out war with the Israelis is what Hamas and Hezbollah want, looks like they are gonna get their full share of wish fulfillment! You can’t continually throw stones at the lions and get away with it, especially when there really isn’t a fence between them and you. If Israel rolls through southern Lebanon and up to Damascus, guess we’ll get to see if Iran and Syria come out to play. This could escalate very rapidly, and guess who gets caught in the middle? U.S.

I pray for the IDF to be successful in getting their two soldiers back from Hezbollah, and for them to meter out some “punishment” for the audacity of yesterday’s attack, and then for them to pull back and let the situation diffuse. Not sure if my wish fulfillment will be as successful as that of the terrorists.

Hugh Hewitt has much more and excellent links to info resources.

Allahpundit at Hot Air has even more, with continual updates.

(db)

Technorati Tags: Israel at War, Hezbollah, IDF

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 12th, 2006 at 9:33 am and is filed under G.W.O.T., Israeli Military. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.  |   Print This Post  |   Email This Post

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