 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his Jerusalem residence Saturday night; Rice reveals initial plans for international peacekeeping force: France, Lebanese army to take part, and will also guard Syria-Lebanon border. Leaders agree diplomatic agreement dependant on release of kidnapped soldiers
The French and Lebanese armies will take part in the multinational peacekeeping force expected to take position along the southern Lebanese border, it was revealed following a meeting between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.
| Let's see if the Frenchies have learned any lessons from their first operations in Bosnia. Not permitting their officers to be handcuffed to a tree would be a useful demonstration. |
The two met at the Prime MinisterÂ’s official residence in Jerusalem late Saturday night for nearly two hours, most of which was spent in one-on-one talks. OlmertÂ’s office said that during the entire meeting, Rice did not at all press the issue of a ceasefire. The two leaders agreed that any diplomatic arrangement to end the fighting would be dependent on the release of kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev .
| "Until then Ehud, you do what you gotta do," Sec. Rice was overheard to say. |
Regarding the establishment of a multinational peacekeeping force, the conditions for its establishment, the length of its mandate and its responsibilities were not yet finalized, although Rice expressed optimism that it would be set up very soon.
| Shouldn't take more than two or three months. |
Olmert and Rice did not discuss the size of multinational peacekeeping force to be established. Likewise, the question of which countries, other than France and Lebanon, would partake in the force was not confronted.
| We'll need lots of consultations. The 511th Heavy Belgian Barbershop Battalion should be deployed. The 239th Austrian Tyrol Yodeling Dragoons, likewise. I'm sure if we talk with them long enough they'll be reasonable. |
However, Rice did note that the Lebanese and French armies would deploy along the Syrian-Lebanese border to the east, as well as along the southern border with Israel.
| The French will escort the Syrians back and forth, and the Lebanese will politely avert their gaze. |
The two also did not discuss Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad SinioraÂ’s proposal for a ceasefire. However, Rice did request of the prime minister that Israel avoid striking Lebanese infrastructure.
| Unless the Hezbies are using it. |
The Prime MinisterÂ’s Bureau noted that Rice expressed her appreciation to Israel for its actions towards easing the humanitarian crisis for Lebanese citizens by opening channels for the transport of aid. According to Rice, IsraelÂ’s cooperation in enabling aid delivery via the Beirut airport, seaports and by land greatly contributed to the USÂ’s stance during the Rome summit last week in which representatives from 15 nations convened to brainstorm solutions for the Israel-Lebanon crisis.
| There's your cover for the next couple of days, Ehud, make the most of it. |
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