The Arab Umbrella: Can Syria Tell Hezbollah to 'Knock it Off'?

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

By Bill Hemmer, Fox News

July 17, 2006

Transcript

Bill Hemmer: What you’re watching is new video tape, as the Lebanese stream into Beirut now and they too are looking for an evacuation route out of their own country. New video, the first time that we have seen it. As I mentioned the death toll is significant in Lebanon so far. Close to two hundred killed, and mostly civilians to-date. With me now, Tim Roemer, former member of the 9/11 Commission, former congressman as well. We heard President Bush earlier today in St. Petersburg basically say that if Syria told Hezbollah to knock it off, that Hezbollah would do it. Is it that simple do you believe?

Tim Roemer: I don’t know that they have the leverage and the access to accomplish that Bill. I think there are three things that President Bush and the United States should be trying to do. One, as you just mentioned, is trying to get our people out in a safe and secure fashion by helicopter onto passenger ship. Two, we need to make sure that this does not escalate into a regional conflict. As Dennis Ross said, “work with the Arab umbrella.” We have seen in unprecedented fashion, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt actually condemn Hezbollah’s action in this. I don’t think that has ever taken place when an entity has been engaged with the Israelis. And thirdly Bill, I think this is critically important, the third step. I think the Bush administration has had an Iraq-first-and-only policy, and that has cost us in terms of the Middle East peace process being engaged. We need to get to place sometime in the next week, hopefully before a mistake is made, so that we can get an envoy in place and get this peace process engaged again.

Bill Hemmer: Well the U.N. members are coming here tomorrow to Israel. Their delegation will be here and it’s quite likely that we may be talking tomorrow about some sort of international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. Would that even work?

Tim Roemer: Well it could work. I don’t think you’re going to find a U.N. or an international peacekeeping force that can force its way in militarily. But if there is a political ceasefire, and that structure is put in place then maybe we can get the ground set for that as a first step and maybe a U.S. envoy can help with that process with the U.N., and then you can move toward a reengagement of the peace process. I think the other part of this Bill, and you’re seeing it first hand over there, is trying to make sure that we have a policy annunciated by the United States, the difference between individual punishment and collective punishment. The Israelis have the right to defend themselves. That offense should be at Hezbollah, it shouldn’t be at the Lebanese people. That can result in a mistake which could cost us in terms of a regional conflict.

Bill Hemmer: Tim, I’m out of time I’m sorry. Tim Roemer, thank you for your time.

Tim Roemer: Thanks Bill.

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