United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 authorizes the deployment of an international force to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel. George W. Bush says, "an effective international force will help the Lebanese army meet its responsibility to secure Lebanon's borders. . . .and stop Hezbollah from acting as a state within a state":
"An effective international force will help give displaced people in both Lebanon and Israel the confidence to return to their homes and begin rebuilding their lives without fear of renewed violence and terror."
Mr. Bush says, "the need is urgent":
"The international community must now designate the leadership of this new international force, give it robust rules of engagement, and deploy it as quickly as possible to secure the peace. America will do our part. We will assist a new international force with logistic support, command and control, communications and intelligence."
The U.S. has led efforts to establish humanitarian corridors so that relief convoys can deliver fuel for Lebanese power plants and automobiles. Deployment of U-N troops to Lebanon, says Mr. Bush, will help speed delivery of assistance:
"Our nation is wasting no time in helping the people of Lebanon. . . .We're acting before the force gets in there. We've been on the ground in Beirut for weeks, and I've already distributed more than half of our fifty-million dollar pledge of disaster relief to the Lebanese people who have lost their homes in the current conflict. I directed twenty-five-thousand tons of wheat be delivered in Lebanon in the coming weeks."
Hezbollah terrorists, and their state sponsors – Iran and Syria – are, "working to thwart the efforts of the Lebanese people, to break free from foreign domination, and build their own democratic future. The terrorists and their sponsors," continues President Bush, "are not going to succeed. The Lebanese people have made clear they want to live in freedom. And now it's up to their friends and allies to help them do so."
The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.
