NO TO UN CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION

**UPDATED SCROLL***

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE U.S. WOULD AGREE TO A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. WHY WOULD THE U.S. GIVE IRAN MORE TIME TO REARM THEIR FOREIGN LEGIONS?

IT IS NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT IT WILL BE THE  STATE DEPARTMENT INFECTED CONDI NOT BOLTON CASTING THE VOTE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

From LGF: According to the New York Times, State Department officials are working to delay arms shipments to Israel: 

A CEASEFIRE IS WRONG WRONG WRONG. OUR ONLY HOPE IS HEZB'ALLAH WILL REFUSE AND SAVE THE FREE WORLD FROM OURSELVES (like Yasser Arafatbastard saved Jerusalem for the Jews by refusing it when Barak offered it in the Cliton White house.) 

UNIFIL? UNIFIL? They have been there for 28 years for Gd's sake. They were having tea with Hezb'Allah. Raising the Hezbo flag on the UN flagpole. WTF?

And who, btw, is signing for Nasrallah?

DO NOT PASS THE RESOLUTION! Why is Abu Dana (Olmert) agreeing to the resolution?

Irvine, CA--"Israel should continue to expand its offensive in Lebanon, not wait for a worthless U.N. resolution," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.

"All a U.N. agreement will do is tie Israel's hands while an ineffective U.N. peacekeeping force fails to stop Hezbollah from regrouping, rearming and preparing for its next campaign of destruction.

"What else can be expected of an organization that claims to be concerned with Israel’s security, while its own Human Rights Council is issuing condemnations of Israel for actually taking action to achieve that security?

"No wonder Ayn Rand referred to the U.N. as 'that contemptible citadel of global hypocrisy.'"

Vital Perspective exclusive: VP has obtained a copy of the draft Security Council resolution to be presented for a vote in New York, possibly as early as tonight. This, to my knowledge, is the first outlet to present it publicly.

Vital Perspective Exclusive: Leaked Copy of the Security Council Resolution

Vital Perspective exclusive: We have obtained a copy of the draft Security Council resolution to be presented for a vote in New York, possibly as early as tonight. This, to our knowledge, is the first outlet to present it publicly. It is presented below

UNSC DRAFT RESOLUTION LEBANON / PROJET DE RESOLUTION LIBAN

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) 1680 (2006) and 1697 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17) of 23 January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35),

Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hizbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons,

Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers,

Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at urgently settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel,

Welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese Prime Minister and the commitment of the government of Lebanon, in its seven-point plan, to extend its authority over its territory, through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon, welcoming also its commitment to a UN force that is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, and bearing in mind its request in this plan for an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon,

Determined to act for this withdrawal to happen at the earliest,

Taking due note of the proposals made in the seven-point plan regarding the Shebaa farms area,

Welcoming the unanimous decision by the government of Lebanon on 7 August 2006 to deploy a Lebanese armed force of 15,000 troops in South Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws behind the Blue Line and to request the assistance of additional forces from UNIFIL as needed, to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese armed forces into the region and to restate its intention to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces with material as needed to enable it to perform its duties,

Aware of its responsibilities to help secure a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict,

Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

1.  Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hizbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations;

2.  Upon full cessation of hostilities, calls upon the government of Lebanon and UNIFIL as authorized by paragraph 11 to deploy their forces together throughout the South and calls upon the government of Israel, as that deployment begins, to withdraw all of its forces from Southern Lebanon in parallel;

3. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon;

4.  Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line;

5.  Also reiterates its strong support, as recalled in all its previous relevant resolutions, for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949;

6.  Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours, consistent with paragraphs 14 and 15, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon;

7.  Affirms that all parties are responsible for ensuring that no action is taken contrary to paragraph 1 that might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, including safe passage for humanitarian convoys, or the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons, and calls on all parties to comply with this responsibility and to cooperate with the Security Council;

8.  Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:

• full respect for the Blue Line by both parties,
• security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11, deployed in this area,
• full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state,
• no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government,
• no sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as authorized by its government,
• provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession;

9. Invites the Secretary General to support efforts to secure as soon as possible agreements in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 8, and expresses its intention to be actively involved;

10. Requests the Secretary General to develop, in liaison with relevant international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms area, and to present to the Security Council those proposals within thirty days;

11. Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an increase in the force strength of UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978):

a. Monitor the cessation of hostilities;

b. Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon as provided in paragraph 2;

c. Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel;

d. Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;

e. Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment of the area as referred to in paragraph 8;

f. Assist the government of Lebanon, at its request, to implement paragraph 14;

12. Acting in support of a request from the government of Lebanon to deploy an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;

13. Requests the Secretary General urgently to put in place measures to ensure UNIFIL is able to carry out the functions envisaged in this resolution, urges Member States to consider making appropriate contributions to UNIFIL and to respond positively to requests for assistance from the Force, and expresses its strong appreciation to those who have contributed to UNIFIL in the past;

14. Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel and requests UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11 to assist the Government of Lebanon at its request;

15. Decides further that all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft,

(a) the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories, and

(b) the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above,

except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material, training or assistance authorized by the Government of Lebanon or by UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11;

16. Decides to extend the mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2007, and expresses its intention to consider in a later resolution further enhancements to the mandate and other steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution;

17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within one week on the implementation of this resolution and subsequently on a regular basis;

18. Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions including its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;

19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

UPDATE: Bush Administration Betrays Israel and America

Irvine, CA--"By pressuring Israel to accept the U.N.'s cease-fire agreement, the Bush administration is betraying Israel--and America," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.

"In the wake of a plot to kill thousands of westerners, our administration is doing nothing more than having Americans throw out their toothpaste and shampoo. Meanwhile, our leaders are forcing the one country that is actually taking serious action against Islamic totalitarianism to back down. We should be helping Israel to destroy Hezbollah, not urging it to hold back.

"This moral travesty is a betrayal of Bush's so-called war on terror."

President Bush and Secretary of State Rice Discuss the Middle East Crisis

Raising the issue of the Sheba’a Farms in the proposed American-French Security Council draft resolution for ending the fighting: background information and significance 

UPDATE: UNSC adopts cease-fire resolution unanimously 15 - 0

Ceasefire Plan Does Not Eliminate Hizbullah Threat

UPDATE: Islamic Terror Threat blog has a good overview of the US cave in here

UPDATE: UN rights council sets up probe of Israeli attacks in Lebanon

The UN Human Rights Council voted to set up a commission of inquiry into "systematic" Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon, despite fears that it could upset diplomatic moves to end the conflict.

Israel is going to entrust it's safety to these Jew haters? Hezb'Allah has been using women and children as human shields, holding whole towns hostage -- not allowing them to leave while they fire rockets into Israeli towns and cities. At the same time, Israel is dropping leaflets warning civilians to leave their homes, homes were Hezb'Allah is hiding their weaponry and the UN is probing Israel?
This is sick and twisted.

UPDATE: Statement from the President on the Resolution (hat tip Lopez at NRO)

I welcome the resolution adopted yesterday by the United Nations Security Council, which is designed to bring an immediate end to the fighting sparked last month by an unprovoked terrorist attack on Israel by Hizballah, a terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria. The United States and its allies have been working hard since the beginning of this conflict to create the conditions for an enduring ceasefire and prevent armed militias and foreign-sponsored terrorist groups like Hizballah from sparking another crisis. 

Yesterday's resolution aims to end  Hizballah's attacks on Israel and bring a halt to Israel's offensive military  operations. It also calls for an embargo on the supply of arms to militias in Lebanon, for a robust international force to deploy to southern Lebanon in conjunction with Lebanon's legitimate armed forces, and for the disarming of Hizballah and all other militia groups operating in Lebanon. These steps are designed to stop Hizballah from acting as a state within a state, and put an end to Iran and Syria's efforts to hold the Lebanese people hostage to their own extremist agenda. This in turn will help to restore the sovereignty of Lebanon's democratic government and help ensure security for the people of Lebanon and Israel. 

The loss of innocent life in both Lebanon and  Israel has been a great tragedy. Hizballah and its Iranian and Syrian sponsors have brought an unwanted war to the people of Lebanon and Israel, and millions have suffered as a result. I now urge the  international community to turn words into action and make every effort to bring  lasting peace to the region.

UPDATE: Winter Soldier asks, Does Hezb'Allah sign the ceasefire agreement?

UPDATE: Just as I surmised in the beginning of this post, CNN announcer said the Lebanese parliament was 'shocked' by the announcement that Hezbollah would not lay down its weapons for a UN ceasefire.

Comments

[Harcourt Fenton]

How can we in the US call for, and support, this resolution, and still be able to say that we have a right to be in Iraq? If Israel is not allowed to defend itself against missile attacks and terrorists on its border, why are we bellyaching about potential airline plots or justifying our position in Iraq? How can we agree, with a straight face, that Israel's defense is an act of "offensive" war, when we are daily shooting in a war that is halfway around the world from our hometowns?

I support our actions in Iraq (although I would rather see an independent Kurdistan than a jumbled mess of parties who hate each other forming a government). But if we are basing our argument on the idea that we have a right to proactively defend ourselves against terrorism, we have, with CondomUser Rice's vote (which is really Bush's vote - why blame Condi if the President has given her the authority?) completely negated that argument. In fact, we have, by that vote, completely negated any argument we have to maintain an armed services for defense or offense. We are now putting the world on notice that if a terrorist entity rains missiles down on our cities, the appropriate thing to do is tie our hands behind our backs and not fight back.

PAMELA - YOU HAVE THE VOICE AND THE CONNECTIONS - CALL YOUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFICIALS AND TELL THEM TO ASK BUSH WHY ARE WE PUTTING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND? WHY ARE WE CAVING IN TO FRENCH AND RUSSIAN PRESSURE? I know the Dhimmicrats would be worse, but, if Jim Baker is involved (and this certainly smells like him), maybe even Kerry would be better!

[Pete]

I'd like to this this is a rope-a-dope to enable USA and Israel to zero in on Iran. But that's most probably a pipe dream.

Watching Kofi at the signing makes me puke.

Unless there's a lot more to this play than meets the eye, Olmert needs to go, Rice needs to go, and I'm beginning to wonder about George Bush.

We are losing the West to the terrorists.

[Queued]

Harcourt Fenton? Yeah right. I expect that name in my spam box not on a supposed pro-freedom blog.

Harcourt perhaps Kerry would be a better leader.

The better perspective is that Israel, if it feels it is being dragged around by America, needs to stand up and fight.

The bull, and that's what it is, suggesting that Israel is being castrated by America is bull.

The castrated bull is/are the Bush-America-Israel haters who simply watch, eat grass, and release methane.

[John D. Infidel]

Well, this sucks.

I doubt the Lebanese army can disarm Hezaballuh (hat tip to Charlie Rangel) even with UNIFIL's help *sarcasm*.

Most likely Hezaballuh will not give up territory = cease fire fails

John D. Infidel

[jaybird]

Israel never prosecuted this war in it's usual forthright fashion. Maybe Olmert communicated to Bush that he didn't intend to either, that it was going to continue in the same fits and starts drug out way. And the prospect of that was unacceptable to Bush. S**t or get off the pot, and Olmert opted to get off the pot. I say Israel needs a new PM, the kind we are used to, the kind that is in the tradition that made Israel great.

[MJ]

This makes no sense! The Lebanese people are standing in the streets screaming "We are all Hezbollah! We are all Hezbollah!" while the Lebanese PM is publicly THANKING Hizbollah for their "sacrifices" after Hizbollah committed the Qana atrocity, and the brain-dead sell-out UN appeasers expect Israel to allow the UN and Lebanses armies to guard the border??? I read that resolution, and neither Syria nor Iran are called to task. At the very LEAST a REAL resolution would have orderd IRAN to order Hizbollah to stand down, then the world could rightly blame Iran for every death. Hizbollah systematically murders Lebanese civilians they suspect may be IDF informants, and ISRAEL is supposed to back down. What is evil is being called good, and what is good is being called evil...this is what we get for allowing generations of children to be raised on that "truth is relative" crap...it blinds people and allows them to decieve themselves into thinking the world is the way they want it, instead of the way it really is.

In light of today's events - we HAVE to drill ANWR...we'll have enough oil for at least 10 years, we STOP all foreign aid to countries that hate us anyway, and in 10 years we'll be energy independent like Brazil...us and our friends anyway (apparently just Israel and the UK now) The head of the snake - Iran - must be cut off! What the UN did, today, however, doesn't even address the snake...much less come within 100 miles of taking off it's head.

[Guest]

It's hilarious how pissed off you are.

[brad]

The only thing better than how pissed off tits mcgee here is about the ceasefire is the fact that it might just mean fewer deaths. How dare those dastardly diplomats put human lives above giving ms. mcgee her wargasms.

[John D. Infidel]

No Brad, there will be more deaths in the near future because Israel will be attacked again by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Odds are that the Lebanese Army has been infiltrated by Hezbollah and will only exert a token effort when it comes to disarming Hezbollah in south Lebanon. Additionally, the new and improved UNIFIL with troops from France and Turkey will prove justs as incompetent as the current UNIFIL troops in south Lebanon. Both of these countries have a tendency to be anti-semetic, and, quite frankly, the French are Pussies.

In conclusion, this cease fire and meddling by the UN will only result in fighting well before the end of 2006, and the death toll will be more than if the Israelis were left to clean up the Hezbollah vermin has they had originally planned.