Calls for Peace?

No US Objections to Impending Gaza Invasion

The long-promised Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip seems set to begin at any time, some reports suggest it could be a mere matter of hours. And while in his weekly radio address tomorrow President Bush is going to claim the United States is “leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire,” the United States seems perfectly willing to stand aside as Israel launches the ground invasion, with White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe saying “those will be decisions made by the Israelis.”

Indeed, the United States has supported the Israeli attack from the start, both by providing weapons and using its UN Security Council seat to block an Arab League-backed resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. As Israel’s attacks have killed hundreds of Palestinians (scores of them children), the administration continues to insist that Hamas is solely responsible for the fighting.

Will January 20 signal a new start-a new policy? So far it doesn't seem so.