I really have to wonder, when I read something like this:
In Washington, a prominent Republican senator, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, urged President Bush to call for an immediate cease-fire and work to restore an image of U.S. fairness in its approach to the Middle East. He also recommended the appointment of an experienced statesman to serve as a special envoy empowered to lead the U.S. engagement in the Middle East.
(…)
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Hagel questioned how the “systematic destruction” of Lebanon could “enhance America’s image and give us the trust and credibility” to lead a peace effort.
“The sickening slaughter on both sides must end now,” he said in a floor speech Monday. “President Bush must call for an immediate cease fire. This madness must stop.”
Hagel said the U.S. special relationship with Israel “need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships.” It is in Israel’s interest as much as America’s that “the United States be seen by all states in the Middle East as fair,” he said. “This is the currency of trust.”
sraeli military action “will not destroy Hezbollah,” Hagel said, but it is “tearing Lebanon apart, killing innocent civilians, destroying its economy and infrastructure, creating a humanitarian disaster, further weakening Lebanon’s fragile democratic government, strengthening popular Muslim and Arab support for Hezbollah, and deepening hatred of Israel across the Middle East.”
The senator said Bush should appoint “a statesman of global stature, experience and ability to serve as his personal envoy to the region,” and he suggested that either James A. Baker III or Colin L. Powell, both former secretaries of state, could fill this role.
And, what, exactly could a special envoy accomplish under the present circumstances Senator ? Hezbollah has made it clear that they are committed to the destruction of Israel, and has proven that committment by lobbing hundreds of missiles into civilian areas. Do you really think that a cease-fire that doesn’t result in Hezbollah’s ability to threaten Israel being substantially curtailed will accomplish anything other than delaying the inevitable ?
