the entire column is rather eye-opening...<snip>
The initial Israeli reason given for the devastating bombing of Lebanon's infrastructure that day was "Hezbollah plans to transfer the kidnapped soldiers to Iran" (The New York Times, July 14, p.1). Next step: action against Iran.
But action against Iran would entail economic disruption – gas prices would shoot up to $4.50 a gallon, easy. Bush needed G8 support for such disruption. He came to the G8 with a very large carrot for Vladimir Putin, something Putin has desired very much: Russian entry into the World Trade Organization. For weeks, reports from all quarters signaled that the U.S. was ready for Russian entry to the WTO. According to The Christian Science Monitor (July 14, p.5): "Analysts say this 'carrot' that the White House is dangling is really more about Iran and winning Russia's support for a tougher stance." A much tougher stance. Action of some sort.
Putin turned Bush down flat. As much as he's wanted membership in the WTO, whatever Bush was planning for Iran was too high a price. That is the only way to make sense of Putin's statement after Bush blocked membership: "We will not participate in any crusade, in any holy alliances." Putin made a point of calling the Iranians "our partners." Russia has oil. Lots. That oil could have mitigated the effects of an attack on Iran. Putin said no. In no uncertain terms. By his language he said clearly that anyone attacking Iran is attacking "our partners."
Then Bush "pressed to cite Iran and Syria in the joint
statement with the other leaders and suggested that both countries were involved, if indirectly, in the attacks on Israel" (The New York Times, July 17, p.10). Putin blocked that. And told the world that he blocked it. The U.S. would have no statement from the world's major powers that excused any action against Iran. Like magic, Israel published no more statements about kidnapped soldiers being whisked to Iran. Bush thought he could buy Russia's collusion on Iran with a WTO membership. It didn't work. And Israel and Lebanon are left holding the very bloody bag. Palestinians, too.
Poor Israel. So foolish as to trust the United States – not that, at this point, it has any choice. "Property of the United States" is engraved on its rifles, and now no one else has any interest in giving it more rifles. Or anything else.
Meanwhile, the U.S. had defended the ludicrous position of denying accountability for Israel's actions. In a press conference, White House spokesman Tony Snow declared, "We're not engaged in any strategy session with the Israelis, we're not cooperating, we're not conspiring" (CNN, July 19). The very same hour, in Tel Aviv, The Christian Science Monitor's Rafael Franco told MSNBC that high Israeli officials "told me they're in close conversation with the U.S. ... It's coordinated at the very highest levels." High levels of government, yes. High levels of behavior – ludicrous.
Or it would be, if it weren't so terribly bloody.
<snip>
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A392270
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