Jackson Asks Hezbollah for Proof of Life

[Judi Lynn]

Jackson Asks Hezbollah for Proof of Life
By TODD PITMAN
Associated Press Writer

September 4, 2006, 5:57 PM EDT

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson met Monday with Hezbollah officials in Lebanon and called on them to show proof that two captured Israeli soldiers are still alive.

Jackson spoke with the officials, who told him the soldiers were alive, in the hopes of jump-starting negotiations between Hezbollah and Israel. He said he feared the soldiers' continued detention was "becoming a magnet to attract a second round" of war.

Jackson had been hoping for a response from Hezbollah later the same day, possibly with video evidence, but by Monday night he had made no announcement of a reply.

Hezbollah guerrillas seized the two Israelis and killed three others in a July 12 cross-border raid that sparked an Israeli invasion and a month of fighting.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-mideast-jackson,0,3910799.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[davidinalameda]

1. it's nice to know that Jackson is on the scene

:sarcasm:

[habitual]

2. I guess he *69'd hezbollah

for those that can remember the snl skit about how he got in touch with the taliban.. he said they called him first and so when he *69'd them, he found out it was the taliban. Now it's hezbollah

[Bucky]

3. Cynics can bite me. Jesse's done a lot of good in these ME hostage scenes

Jackson certainly has feet of clay and an ego almost half as big as Shatner's--but the man has earned his reputation. He's delivered several times in the past on these hostage deals in the Mid East; just one man sitting down and talking. It's stunning what one guy can do when the whole US State Department is effectively impotent.

Yes, I know one thing the hostage takers are counting on is that by aiding Jackson they're gonna embarrass the president and discredit Israel. Tough cookies, folks, Jackson gets results more often and a little egg on one's face is a small price to pay if it averts a war.

(on edit, changed MD to ME since there are no known Hezbollah hostages in Maryland)

[Judi Lynn]

4. There are some posters who cannot manage to let a thread go by

concerning Jesse Jackson, Cynthia McKinney, Al Sharpton, Maxine Waters, etc., etc., etc. without coming forward to add some poison.

I was trying to guess which one would show up first on this thread, came very close to making a note at the bottom of the original post just to let them know we're on to them, and actually damned sick of it. Wasn't surprised, obviously.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. i love Jesse Jackson.

confidante of the great Reverend. A peacemaker. An activist. A thinker and a do'er. Go get em Jesse!

[David__77]

6. Will Jackson fly to Jerusalem/al-Qods to help Arab POW's and prisoners?

I hope so. There are many thousands of them sitting in prisons in that state.