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U.S., Israel Aim to Weaken Hizballah, Region's Militants

[Washington Post] Robin Wright - Israel, with U.S. support, intends to resist calls for a cease-fire and continue a longer-term strategy of punishing Hizballah, which is likely to include several weeks of precision bombing in Lebanon, according to senior Israeli and U.S. officials. For Israel, the goal is to eliminate Hizballah as a security threat - or altogether. For the U.S., the broader goal is to strangle the axis of Hizballah, Hamas, Syria, and Iran, which the Bush administration believes is pooling resources to change the strategic playing field in the Middle East. Whatever the outrage on the Arab streets, Washington believes it has strong behind-the-scenes support among key Arab leaders also nervous about the populist militants - with a tacit agreement that the timing is right to strike. There is a "unique moment" with a "convergence of interests" among Israel, some Arab regimes, and those in Lebanon who want to rein in the country's last private army, a senior Israeli official said. "We'll have to go for the kill - Hizballah neutralization," said Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon. White House spokesman Tony Snow said Friday that President Bush "believes that the Israelis have a right to protect themselves....The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel."
2006-07-16 01:00:00
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