Britain signals official split with Bush on Israel's assault on Lebanon.

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British split with Bush as Israeli tanks roll in

Ned Temko, Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv and Peter Beaumont in Beirut
Sunday July 23, 2006
The Observer

Britain dramatically broke ranks with George Bush last night over the Lebanon crisis, publicly criticising Israel's military tactics and urging America to 'understand' the price being paid by ordinary Lebanese civilians.

The remarks, made in Beirut by the Foreign Office minister, Kim Howells, were the first public criticism by this country of Israel's military campaign, and

Downing Street sources said last night that Blair still believed Israel had every right to respond to the missile threat, and held the Shia militia responsible for provoking the crisis by abducting two Israeli soldiers and firing rockets into Israel. But they said they had no quarrel with Howells's scathing denunciation of Israel's military tactics.

Speaking to a BBC reporter before travelling on for talks in Israel, where he will also visit the missile-hit areas of Haifa and meet his Israeli opposite number, Howells said: 'The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people: these have not been surgical strikes. If they are chasing Hizbollah, then go for Hizbollah. You don't go for the entire Lebanese nation.' The minister added: 'I very much hope that the Americans understand what's happening to Lebanon.'

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1827078,00.html

[joemurphy]

1. Uh-oh, another blow to the "Coalition of the Willing" n/t

[xultar]

3. They should call it the "Coalition of the Hoodwinked" or

the "Coalition of the Fool me once shame on you fool me twice can't be fooled again." :rofl:

[WiseButAngrySara]

2. So, Britain minus B* buddy Blair, huh? What is happening is heinous! n/t

[rodeodance]

4. whow. I never thought I would see this!!

[CoffeeCat]

5. Pretty soon...the "Coalition of the Willing"...

...will be able to hold their weekly meeting in a phone booth.