World Reaction

World Reacts To Middle East Crisis Updated: 13:47, Friday July 14, 2006 The world has been reacting to the escalating trouble in the Middle East as Israel and Lebanon intensify their attacks on each other. The European Union: "We consider the situation to be very bad and there is the continuing possibility that it could worsen; that the conflict could expand, especially to Syria. This is in no way desirable, and the consequences could be truly uncontrollable." No, not desirable, but inevitable if Syria is help pulling the strings. Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda: "We deplore the unilateral acts conducted by Israel which have left many victims, including innocent civilians. What we have witnessed in the past few weeks are certainly disproportionate reactions using Israeli military might." I don't suppose it occurred to this guy that perhaps Israel is fed up? French President Jacques Chirac: "One could ask if today there is not a sort of will to destroy Lebanon, its equipment, its roads, its communication." Hezbollah is the actual target, not Lebanon, Jackie. British Prime Minister Tony Blair: "The most important thing is that there is support now for the United Nations' mission to try and get some restraint into this situation. I want to emphasise just how serious I think this is. I entirely understand the desire, and indeed need, for Israel to defend itself properly and I also understand the plight of Lebanon and the Lebanese government, not to say the many Palestinians that suffer as well." Where has the U.N. been in the past, when so many innocent Israelis died? Totally useless. In a White House statement, the US said: "President Bush affirmed his readiness to put pressure on Israel to limit the damage to Lebanon as a result of the current military action, and to spare civilians and innocent people from harm." Yeah, and he also said he wasn't going to tell Israel how to run it's military. Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said: "A deep instability can occur in the region. The first thing to do is to cease fire immediately and calmly seek ways out of this." And this region has been SO stable thus far.