Condoleezza Rice Makes Surprise Visit To Lebanon

Here come the diplomats.

As Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into Lebanon in combat with Hezbollah guerrillas Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to launch diplomatic efforts aimed at ending 13 days of warfare and counting.

Rice met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, who told her his government was looking to “put an end to the war that is being inflicted on Lebanon.”

The two sat at a table with only Lebanese and American flags, but a handful of other diplomats were also on hand. The group met for roughly an hour, but afterwards Rice refused to speak with reporters before leaving for Israel and a meeting with Israeli officials. 

To date the George W. Bush administration has resisted calling for an immediate ceasefire, but it’s expected that’s what Lebanese officials will push Rice for.

The president has said he wants to see Hezbollah removed from southern Lebanon before discussing the dispatch of international peacekeepers. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay was non-committal Sunday when asked about whether Canada would be involved in such a force.

Still, the desire to end to the escalating conflict appears great, as Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said Monday his priority is to arrange a ceasefire and that his party is open to discussing ways to bring that about.

On the other hand, he also said an Israeli ground invasion would not protect Israel from Hezbollah rocket attacks. Some 95 hit Israel on Sunday alone.

So far the clash has claimed the lives of 384 people in Lebanon, including 20 soldiers and 11 Hezbollah fighters. Eight Canadians visiting Lebanon were also killed in the Israeli bombardment.

Israel’s death toll stands at 36, with 17 people killed by Hezbollah rockets and 19 soldiers killed in the fighting.

And the key to keeping all the numbers where they are seems to be Syria ending its support for the Lebanese guerillas.

Israel and the United States say a real ceasefire isn’t possible until Hezbollah is subdued, and have asked Egypt and Saudi Arabia to push Syria.

Rice has discussed the possibility of working with Syria on a solution, but says they already know what needs to be done.

“The problem isn’t that people haven’t talked to the Syrians. It’s that the Syrians haven’t acted,” she said.

Meanwhile, aid is starting to move through Beirut after Israel opened its port for humanitarian ships. On Sunday an Italian warship brought food, medicine, tents, blankets, water, electrical generators and ambulances, while a ferry carrying supplies from France also arrived.

And Canadians still stuck in south Lebanon will soon get help escaping the violence. A charted cruise ship is expected to dock in Tyre Wednesday and transport roughly 1,000 people out of the violent area.