US Senator urges restraint on Israel support (Sen. John W. Warner)

[sabra]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886002494&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

US Senator urges restraint on Israel support
By ASSOCIATED PRESS


A leading Senate Republican on Friday urged US restraint from supporting Israel's military campaign against Hizbullah, citing the problems it may cause in the war in Iraq and efforts to disarm Iran.

In response to the Wednesday cross-border raid in which eight IDF soldiers were killed and two kidnapped, and the firing of hundreds of Katyusha rockets at northern Israel from Lebanon, Israel launched its biggest military campaign against Lebanon in 24 years.

Sen. John W. Warner, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, issued a written statement Friday calling on the Bush administration to "think through very carefully how Israel's extraordinary reaction could affect our operations in Iraq and our joint diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

"This is a very critical time for the US in the Middle East, and the Israeli actions will certainly have an impact beyond Lebanon and Gaza," Warner warned.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Go To Hell Warner....

King george is your guy. He contributed to this whole mess. AND NOW YOU'RE SUDDENLY CONCERNED?

Fuck You! King george doesn't give a shit about what you think, anymore than he cares what the Amerikan people think. Go back to your hole in the senate and keep making speeches. That's all you're good for.

[SquireJons]

6. Damned Straight... Warner is way too liberal

I say get rid of him now. He opposed Ollie North, held hearings into Abu Graib, opposed Frist on the nuclear option, and wants the terrorists at Gitmo to have some human rights. What a pinko commie. He should be shot.

Only true baby eating republicans should be in congress.

Get a grip man... we are not in power. Or had you forgotten? I'll take reason where ever I can find it these days.

[karynnj]

16. I've been impressed by his civility in the Senate

Recently when the Kerry/Feingold and Levin amendments were debated, Warner opted to engage in a debate with Kerry on his (and Feingold's) bill. Although he disagreed, he spoke about the ideas within it that he thought were well thought out - and suggested it was also not the right time. What was unusual was that the two men debated the ideas for about a half an hour - showing each other respect. (In fact, Warner referring to being Secretary of the Navy during part of the Vietnam War said that he remembered reviewing Kerry's silver star which he had earned - a comment Warner had also made in 2004.)

It seemed as though Warner was embarrassed by some of the lesser lights of the Republican party who were simply name calling.

[AngryOldDem]

2. Us and our interests. It's always about US.

That's where it begins and ends anymore.

[rodeodance]

3. I do not always agree with Warner--but glad to see him do this. It is

significant that an influencial Repug is knocking Bush!

[Howardx]

4. he is probably worried

about what we might do

[Malva Zebrina]

5. Warner is asking Bush to 'think through" something?

He is not capable and that much should be obvious to such a seasoned veteran as Warner.

NOTHING Bush has done has shown that he is capable of thinking through anything.

[jwirr]

7. At least he is asking *ss to "think" before he goes out and joins

Isreal in this idiocy. Warner is for the most part and old-time pug so he is not so ready to jump in to the well after the lies, etc. of *ss on Iraq.

[VegasWolf]

8. He's probably scared shitless about what the Insane King George might do!!

[wisteria]

9. I personally think he is speaking as a wise statesman!

Bush, should be very careful about what he does and DOESN'T DO. Fox news is already heaped up for bombing Iran and Syria.

[JI7]

13. i agree, forget Colin Powell

who HAgel recommended to try to deal with the situation. John Warner would be much better.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Bush is AWOL!

The Decider is now The Undecider! He wouldn't even help his own allies in the Lebanese government, thus guaranteeing its collapse and perhaps even opening the door to Hezbollah taking over the whole enchilada!

[ShockediSay]

11. Just what has W accomplished in the Middle East?

>Iraq

>Pushing Iran to go NewQler

>Getting a Palestinian election with Hamas the winner,
then attacking Hamas with everything but air power
(OOPs! that was supplied by Israel with Bush's
implicit approval)

>Getting Oil up to almost $80 a barrel

>Getting Israel to bomb the newly democratic Lebanese
civilians and their infrastructure

>Hatred of the US w/ an increase in AlQaeda recruits

>Over 2,500 US troop fatalities

>Hemorrhaging of US National Debt to contractors like Halliburton

>AbuGhraib

[ButterflyBlood]

12. Warner may be a Republican, but he is a good man

He'll always have some respect for me for sinking Oliver North and he's right here. Nice to see some common sense.

[Harper_is_Bush]

14. Wait a second....did Lebanon fire rockets before Israel?

That's the impression this story gives.

I thought the raid happened, soldiers were kidnapped, and then Israel started bombing and THEN Hizbullah started firing rockets.

Anyone know?

[katamaran]

15. The ONLY Republican I've ever voted for...

...and due to a lot of personal reasons, I will continue to vote for unless we get an UberDemocrat perfect candidate to run against him (though I did vote for Mark Warner when he ran against him a few years ago). Probably the only Republican in the Senate with a shred of decency and common sense.