Word: rice
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...Lebanese army would take full control of security in southern Lebanon, where Hizballah currently runs a state within a state. This would be a key step towards Hizballah eventually disarming, and limiting its role to that of a political party. According to one Arab source, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's surprise visit to Beirut Monday was intended to send a signal of strong support to the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who would have to request the deployment of the NATO force - and persuade Hizballah, which is also part of the government, to accept...
...Arab governments are said to be studying the proposal, and to have responded positively to most of its elements. It is expected to be refined in discussions in Rome on Wednesday between Secretary Rice and Arab, UN and European diplomats...
...negotiating partner in Lebanon. After all, the leader of the Shia Muslim Amal party became Speaker of the Lebanese parliament with Syria's forceful backing in 1992, a post he still holds. And Monday, he minced no words in calling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's fly-by in Beirut a failure because she wasn't willing to support an immediate ceasefire...
...When she meets with Israeli officials, Rice will have another message: "We fully understand the need of Israel to defend itself," she said. "We also understand that the means of its defense will be to have a strong and sovereign Lebanese government on its border that is democratic and friendly to Israel in the long run." So, she said, the U.S. wants Israel "to use restraint and to be concerned about civilian populations, innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure but also to be concerned about the effects on the Siniora government...
...fully prepared to return to the region if that would be necessary and helpful," Rice said while traveling to the region Sunday night. But that's a big if, and her schedule is open-ended for a reason. Nobody knows for sure whether anything the U.S. does over the next week can make much difference...