Jul. 31, 2006 18:27 | Updated Jul. 31, 2006 18:51
Bush to Iran, Syria: Stop terror support
By MIAMI

"Iran must end its financial support and supply of weapons to terrorist groups like Hizbullah. Syria must end its support for terror and respect the sovereignty of Lebanon," US President George W. Bush said in a speech at the Port of Miami on Monday.

Bush insisted that any Mideast cease-fire be dependant on a wider agreement and said he would look to the United Nations to act to establish "a long-lasting peace, one that is sustainable."

Bush spelled out a series of what he called "clear objectives" to accompany the halt in the fighting between the IDF and Hizbullah.

Other conditions for a cease-fire included that a multi-national force be sent quickly to southern Lebanon, that Lebanon's government be "empowered to exercise sole authority over its territory," and that two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah be returned.

"As we work with friends and allies, it's important to remember this crisis began with Hezbollah's unprovoked attacks against Israel. Israel is exercising its right to defend itself," Bush said, resisting mounting international pressure for an immediate cease-fire.

"We mourn the loss of innocent life, both in Lebanon and Israel," Bush said.

Bush planned to meet later Monday in Washington with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was returning from the Middle East after cutting her diplomatic mission there short.

I have watched over the years a pattern emerge when it comes to Israel fighting back.
The pattern starts when Israel is attacked.

Depending on the severity of the attack Israel may or may not respond in a limited way.
If the attack on Israel is severe enough like the invasion of Israel and the murder of six soldiers and the kidnapping of two others combined with a wide scale rocket barrage on the north of Israel.

Israel responds in the correct way with a large amount of force that goes on for a number of days.

Then in the middle of Israel fighting back there is an incident, such as Qana, at which point in time the world starts to scream about the human toll of the fighting, never mind the world is silent for years about Jewish suffering at the hands of terrorist.

The pressure in the UN starts to boil over and the American administration and it historically has not mattered Democratic or Republican sends an envoy the higher ranked the more the Israeli governments knees start to knock together.

At this point in time in this historical pattern, Israel backs down and the larger scale fight against terror is over and we are back to the daily grind fight against terror.

When Secretary of State Rice and Prime Minister Olmert , met after the incident at Qana and out of that meeting Olmert announced a stoppage of the air campaign for 48 hours.

Who could blame me for writing the post All Is Lost, for it seemed like it was deja vue all over again.

But time has passed and two things that don’t fit the pattern have occurred, President Bush has gone on the record for not pushing for a cease fire. This combined with the Defense Minister Peretz stating that the ground war may be expanded and this statement is being followed up with the inner Security Cabinet meeting now as I write this to discuss the expanding of the ground war.

So the pattern may be broken and America and Israel may just may write the most important chapter in world history in the next few days and weeks.