U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis (NYT)

[kpete]

U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis

By DAVID S. CLOUD and HELENE COOPER
Published: July 22, 2006

WASHINGTON, July 21 — The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, American officials said Friday.

Developments yesterday in the Middle East conflict: ISRAEL The Israeli military massed vehicles near Lebanon’s border. Hezbollah rockets hit Haifa and other towns in northern Israel. LEBANON The Lebanese defense minister said the army would resist any invasion. Israeli warplanes hit targets throughout the country and at least 12 Lebanese were reported killed. WASHINGTON The Bush administration is rushing precision-guided bombs to Israel at the Israelis’ request, American officials said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would go to Israel tomorrow and then meet Arab and European envoys in Italy. GAZA Fighting continued, with Israeli tank fire killing a man the Israeli military said was a Palestinian militant.Enlarge this Image

Israeli airstrikes heavily damaged a mainly Shiite section of Beirut's suburbs.
The decision to quickly ship the weapons to Israel was made with relatively little debate within the Bush administration, the officials said. Its disclosure threatens to anger Arab governments and others because of the appearance that the United States is actively aiding the Israeli bombing campaign in a way that could be compared to Iran’s efforts to arm and resupply Hezbollah.

The munitions that the United States is sending to Israel are part of a multimillion-dollar arms sale package approved last year that Israel is able to draw on as needed, the officials said. But Israel’s request for expedited delivery of the satellite and laser-guided bombs was described as unusual by some military officers, and as an indication that Israel still had a long list of targets in Lebanon to strike.

more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/world/middleeast/22military.html?ex=1154145600&en=ea45a64fa0420d4e&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY

[boston bean]

1. Israel can do this on her own. That's what I've been hearing anyhow. nt

[CuteNFuzzy]

4. yes but when murdering innocent people is involved

the U.S. just has to get in on the action

[whosinpower]

2. Wow they can rush this but

When it comes to body armor for US troops in Iraq???????????????????????

Crickets chirping.........

[laura888]

5. Good point. n/t

[shadowknows69]

6. or evacuating our people from Lebanon

who wants to lay money that the bombs get to Israel before we get everyone out of L.

[boston bean]

3. kick

[originalpckelly]

7. The most obvious statement from the AP:

"Its disclosure threatens to anger Arab governments and others because of the appearance that the United States is actively aiding the Israeli bombing campaign in a way that could be compared to Iran’s efforts to arm and resupply Hezbollah."

Dun-da-duh (mic hits back of head) No duh dumbshit. Really the US supplying arms to Israel is like Iran and Syria supplying arms to Hezbollah, who'da thunk?

[originalpckelly]

8. I cannot believe how these people...

are so ignorant of the situation. So very truly sad.

[H2O Man]

9. This article made me ill

when I read it this morning. I was reminded of how Condi Rice seemed unusually ill-at-ease yesterday, during her press conference. I think that the stakes are about to get much higher. The implications of this article should not be underestimated.

[malaise]

10. This is deadly serious

but remember that according to Condi Lebanon is only feeling the birth pangs of America and Israel's new ME.