U.S and Turkey Collaborate to Stabilize Lebanon

Hope springs eternal that moderate islamic nations such as Turkey can broker a coalition of the willing arab nations to intervene and help reduce the violence. Pressure needs to be placed on both Syria and Iran to reign in Hezboulah while the U.S. moderates Israel. No doubt Israel will plan at some point to withdraw but would prefer that a buffer zone up to the Lativ river be occupied by multi national forces. This will only happen after the kidnapped soldiers are returned to Israel dead or alive. The next move will be from Damascus and Tehran.

ZAMAN DAILY (Turkish Newspaper):

US President George W. Bush telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday in order to consult him regarding the current crisis in Lebanon.

White House official Dana Perino told the press that Bush telephoned PM Erdogan from his Texas ranch on Saturday.

He said that the two men discussed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's upcoming Middle East visit, the Lebanon crisis, and also the issue of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacks in Turkey.

"They continued their consultations on Lebanon, discussing ways to address the humanitarian needs of the Lebanese people," US official Perino said.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has had talks over the phone in recent days with the leaders of Iran, USA, Syria, Russia, Britain and Lebanon, seeking support for a cease-fire in Lebanon.

Tags: middle-east, hezboulah, turkey, bush, ZZ News and Satire