SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WROTE IN THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY THAT THE U.N. RESOLUTION ADOPTED LAST WEEK TO END THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD ESTABLISH A “LASTING PEACE” IN THE REGION IF THE “CRITICAL TASK OF IMPLEMENTATION” IS EXECUTED SUCCESSFULLY. RICE SAID THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES THREE ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCKS TO PEACE: THE IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE AND RELEASE OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS; THE EXPANSION OF LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY TO ITS BORDER; AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLITICAL PRINCIPLES NEEDED TO “SECURE A LASTING PEACE,” INCLUDING “NO FOREIGN FORCES, NO WEAPONS, AND NO AUTHORITY IN LEBANON OTHER THAN THAT OF THE SOVEREIGN LEBANESE GOVERNMENT.” RICE CALLED THE RESOLUTION A “VICTORY FOR ALL WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MODERATION AND DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST-AND A DEFEAT FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO UNDERMINE THOSE PRINCIPLES WITH VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY THE GOVERNMENTS OF SYRIA AND IRAN.”
