by Andrew L. Jaffee

At least the U.S. Congress and President Bush are standing with Israel in its fight against Hezbollah and Hamas. From AIPAC:

Congressional Resolutions Back Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

With major Israeli cities being hit by rockets fired by Hamas and Hizballah, the House of Representatives and Senate are expected to vote Tuesday on bipartisan resolutions reaffirming Congress’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense. The resolutions strongly back the Jewish state’s right to take steps to beyond its borders to deter further aggression by the terrorist groups and their state sponsors, Iran and Syria. They demand complete implementation of U.N. Security Council 1559, which requires the disbanding of Hizballah and the departure of all foreign militias–including remaining Syrian personnel and Iranian Revolutionary Guards–from Lebanon. The measures also call for the full weight of U.S. financial, diplomatic, and economic sanctions to be imposed on Syria and Iran.

From ABC:

President Bush said Thursday that Israel has the right to defend itself, as it launched fresh attacks on Lebanon after the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.

Bush criticized Hezbollah, whose guerrillas mounted a cross-border raid earlier in the week and captured the two soldiers, for thwarting efforts for peace in the Middle East.

He said Syria “needs to be held to account” for supporting and harboring Hezbollah.

“If you really want the situation to settle down, the soldiers need to be returned,” the president said. “It’s really sad where people are willing to take innocent life in order to stop that progress. As a matter of fact, it’s pathetic.”

From the BBC:

US President George W Bush has meanwhile accused Syria of trying to use the crisis to return to Lebanon.

“Syria is trying to get back into Lebanon, it looks like to me,” Mr Bush said in Washington.

“It’s essential that the government of Lebanon survives this crisis. We’ve worked hard to free - and we meaning the international community - worked hard to free Lebanon from Syrian influence.”