Video: Novak calls Rice Israel-Hezbollah efforts 'a disaster'
David EdwardsPublished: Friday July 28, 2006
On Fox this morning, conservative Robert Novak was highly critical of the Bush Administration, and Secretary Rice in particular, on the subject of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Novak contended that Israel had failed in its military plan to diminish or destroy Hezbollah. He added that the Bush Administration had thus far been "a disaster."
A partial transcript follows the video.
HOST: Is [Rice's next visit to Mideast] the first in a new round in shuttle diplomacy for the United States?
NOVAK: Well, I think it probably will be. It's been a disaster so far because the United States' position was to let the Israelis have a go at it. They thought it would clean out Hezbollah in about a week. Hezbollah turned out to be much tougher and I would say that Secretary Rice first mission was totally unsuccessful. So, The United States seems very isolated right now and they've got to reestablish their position as an honest broker in trying to reach a peace agreement.
HOST: Well, does that mean that... I mean, was it worth the attempt -- trying to clean out Hezbollah?
NOVAK: Well, if they had cleaned it out it would have been worth the attempt but if it fails... I would say that Hezbollah is politically stronger than ever. If you notice that Saudi Arabia and Egypt were both very critical of Hezbollah for provoking Israel at the beginning. Now they are supporting them. It's a matter of the Israeli military just wasn't successful because there were no troops on the ground and Israeli didn't want to send in troops. So, it's a very difficult situation both militarily and diplomatically.
[..]
NOVAK: So, we're at a point right now which is very difficult. As I say, politically, I think Hezbollah -- whatever losses they've suffered -- are at a stronger position than they were two weeks ago.
HOST: Well, the administration's position has been that it's pointless to call for a ceasefire if nothing has changed... Wasn't the administration's approach worth trying?
NOVAK: Well, again -- let me repeat it -- if the Israeli military had been successful it would have been worth trying but right now the position is untenable... We have to set down at the table with Syria. Syria has influence over Hezbollah. Syrians are not very nice people. We don't like them but they want to be involved in this and it seems that you can't have a negotiated settlement, you can't have a ceasefire by saying, "We want a ceasefire. There has to be negotiations and, that, I think is going to be the test for Secretary Rice in the next weeks to come.
On Fox this morning, conservative Robert Novak was highly critical of the Bush Administration, and Secretary Rice in particular, on the subject of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Novak contended that Israel had failed in its military plan to diminish or destroy Hezbollah. He added that the Bush Administration had thus far been "a disaster."
A partial transcript follows the video.
HOST: Is [Rice's next visit to Mideast] the first in a new round in shuttle diplomacy for the United States?
NOVAK: Well, I think it probably will be. It's been a disaster so far because the United States' position was to let the Israelis have a go at it. They thought it would clean out Hezbollah in about a week. Hezbollah turned out to be much tougher and I would say that Secretary Rice first mission was totally unsuccessful. So, The United States seems very isolated right now and they've got to reestablish their position as an honest broker in trying to reach a peace agreement.
HOST: Well, does that mean that... I mean, was it worth the attempt -- trying to clean out Hezbollah?
NOVAK: Well, if they had cleaned it out it would have been worth the attempt but if it fails... I would say that Hezbollah is politically stronger than ever. If you notice that Saudi Arabia and Egypt were both very critical of Hezbollah for provoking Israel at the beginning. Now they are supporting them. It's a matter of the Israeli military just wasn't successful because there were no troops on the ground and Israeli didn't want to send in troops. So, it's a very difficult situation both militarily and diplomatically.
[..]
NOVAK: So, we're at a point right now which is very difficult. As I say, politically, I think Hezbollah -- whatever losses they've suffered -- are at a stronger position than they were two weeks ago.
HOST: Well, the administration's position has been that it's pointless to call for a ceasefire if nothing has changed... Wasn't the administration's approach worth trying?
NOVAK: Well, again -- let me repeat it -- if the Israeli military had been successful it would have been worth trying but right now the position is untenable... We have to set down at the table with Syria. Syria has influence over Hezbollah. Syrians are not very nice people. We don't like them but they want to be involved in this and it seems that you can't have a negotiated settlement, you can't have a ceasefire by saying, "We want a ceasefire. There has to be negotiations and, that, I think is going to be the test for Secretary Rice in the next weeks to come.
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 4:41 AM
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