US refuses to call for immediate cease-fire

The United States has refused to call on an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Secretary Rice stated that it would be pointless to call for a cease-fire that would not be sustained. Some have suggested that a cease-fire would only allow Hezbollah to reload its arsenal and get financial and military support from Iran and Syria. Some have suggested that the Bush administration is privately supporting the Israelis to battle Hezbollah which the State Department has classified as a terrorist organization.