Post-Qana II Thoughts

1- Following the Qana II massacre (coincidental?), Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora said he would not have Condoleezza Rice visit the country until the war issue is settled. Rice's spokespersons immediately issue a statement saying She (capital S) had not intended to visit Lebanon in the first place. Why do politicians act like kids?

2- Rice's press conference in the wake of the massacre was quite humorous. Despite the fact that some 65 civilians (27 children) were killed in Lebanon, Rice was focusing on the rockets that were dispatched by Hezbollah in Israel. Every time Rice answered a question from the reporters, she emphasized that the US was trying everything possible to end the war: She said that US efforts allowed humanitarian aid to enter Lebanon. She forgot to say that US missiles delivered to Israel were responsible for the massacres. She said Israel was bent on seeing that Lebanese civilians are unharmed in the clashes. She forget to say that Israel ordered Lebanese citizens to evacuate the villages and then shelled the civilians as they escaped in buses.

3- The Lebanese protesters should not have attacked the UN headquarters in downtown Beirut. It undermined their demonstration. I'm sure the protests really pleased many western viewers, who are naturally biased against Arabs.

4- Sunday was a very quiet day in Beirut. I think the birds have migrated, except for the vultures, who have found south Lebanon to be an abundant feeding ground.