Beckett 'alarmed', Blair to see Bush for new commands

FT

Ms Rice said she would discuss how to form a robust multinational force to assist the Lebanese government in establishing its authority over the whole country. "But I have no interest in diplomacy for the sake of returning Lebanon and Israel to the status quo ante. I think it would be a mistake," she said in Washington, saying the world was witnessing the "birth pangs of a new Middle East". [db: peace in our time]

Margaret Beckett, UK foreign secretary, warned Israel of the dangers of launching an invasion. In an interview with the Financial Times she said the "very dangerous situation"could be at a turning point where"a miscalculation, a mistake could have dramatic effects and that I find deeply alarming".

Tony Blair, the UK premier, who has raised his concerns over an escalation of the conflict with Ehud Olmert, his Israeli counterpart, will next week fly to Washington for talks [db: see key concepts below] on the crisis with President George W. Bush. Read more

Key Concepts in Blair "talks"

"Yo Blair" - Informal recall
"Good" - Conditioned reward
"No" - Conditioned aversive
"Off" - Very useful for directing attention of dog away from "self" or "national" interest.
"heel" [to walk with the dog's shoulder next to the handlers leg]
"Take it" - spoken sharply - conditions dog to accept policy that is counter to own "national" interest
"Sit" - to sit [avoid when discussing important policy matters]
"Down" - to lay down
"Drop" - trains dog to abandon issues seen as not conforming to US policy
"Out" - to go outside
"Place" - To go in to crate
"Quiet" - to be quiet
"Here" - Formal recall - to come when called ["Yo" - informal - see above]
"Potty" or "Break" - To eliminate [shit] on command