Bush Agrees to Deal With Saints, UN

I blame the whole thing on insufficient coffee consumption, when two stories get jumbled up like this:

Bush, in his weekly radio address, said he will work with allies to get a U.N. Security Council resolution mandating a multinational force in southern Lebanon, where fighting has raged between Israel and the Hezbollah militia.

A source with direct knowledge of the negotiations said the deal had been agreed to, but that he couldn’t disclose financial terms.

Reached by phone at his home in New York, Bush’s agent, Joel Segal, said he wouldn’t comment until a deal had been signed. However, he said he was traveling to Jackson on Sunday to meet with Bush and the Saints.

“This approach will demonstrate the international community’s determination to support the government of Lebanon, and defeat the threat from Hezbollah and its foreign sponsors,” Bush said.

The team didn’t immediately return phone calls seeking comment late Friday night.

“An effective multinational force will help speed delivery of humanitarian relief, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and support the Lebanese government as it asserts full sovereignty over its territory and guards its borders,” Bush said in his radio address.

Bush, the Saints’ only unsigned player, has missed the team’s first three practices of training camp.

Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, meeting at the White House on Friday, said a multinational force should be dispatched quickly to stabilize the region. The makeup of a multinational force will be discussed at a meeting Monday at the United Nations.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Bush had 1,740 yards rushing and 2,890 all-purpose yards for Southern Cal last season as a junior. The Trojans had a chance for their third straight national title, but fell 41-38 to Texas in the Rose Bowl.

Bush averaged 8.9 yards a carry, caught 37 passes for 478 yards and led the nation in all-purpose yards with 222.3 per game.

Bush has charged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with working on getting agreement on the makeup and mandate of an international force to stabilize the Israeli-Lebanese border and help the Lebanese army establish control over Hezbollah.

I hope things get straightened out soon.

Open Trackback linked with:
Basil’s Blog — Weekend Wrapup / Open Trackbacks 2006-07-30

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