Under U.N. pressure, Syria removing troops in Lebanon

Mercury News (Washington Post) ^ | Wed, Sep. 22, 2004 | Scott Wilson

[SunkenCiv]

The redeployment affected about 1,000 of the roughly 20,000 Syrian soldiers in Lebanon, but it could mark the start of a broader redeployment and eventual withdrawal of forces that have been there for nearly 30 years. It also appeared to signal a new willingness by the Syrian government to comply with international demands that it remove its forces from the territory of its smaller neighbor, an issue brought sharply into focus last month after Syria's intervention in Lebanon's fractious domestic politics.

[SunkenCiv]

Headline should be, "Under U.S. Pressure" -- the only reason Syria started to hop to it (and this process will soon cease; Syria doesn't intend to completely pull out of Lebanon) is that GWB spoke at the UN. Period.

Syria's contribution to Iraqi instability comes at the price of a trickle of revenue from the export pipeline that runs from Iraq to the Mediterranean through Syrian territory (the elder Asad shut that down during the Gulf War, then the younger -- I think -- Asad reopened it in violation of sanctions a few years ago). Jordan, not Iran, is the main problem with Iraqi stability, and probably will be the next serious crisis in the region. Y'know, as opposed to a non-serious crisis... ;')

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[Genoa]

Don't expect any results from this shell game. Syria will pull out when forced out by something much more potent than suasion.

[SunkenCiv]

a search on Kofi Annan's oil-for-food pocket-lining program:

Google

[SunkenCiv]

a Middle East ping (not a ping list, just a ping).

[Jack_1]

Reported Syrian troop “redeployment” in Lebanon said to involve no more than 1,000 of 17,000 troops in country. None are actually moving out of Lebanon as demanded by UN Security Council.
The Syrians will move them from one place to another in Lebanon indefinitely just to keep the UN off thire backs.

[jmaroneps37]

UN!!! pressure?????????

[rod1]

Yep they are taking a few road trips driving around their serfdom of Lebanon, that is all.

[winner3000]

W, PLEASE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!

Lebanon is an absolutely gorgeous country. I was there on vacation recently. People there are very weary of criticizing Syria as people who do...just tend to disappear!

Syria is bleeding Lebanon dry. Tourism is booming in Lebanon, but millions of dollars are being sucked right into Syria.

The good news is that the younger Asad doesn't seem to be as blood thirsty as his dad. He also is trying to institute reforms in Syria. The US should be careful about removing him as there are factions in Syria that are way worse. Getting him out of Lebanon, however, is extremely important. Outside of Iraq, Lebanon is the country most likely to become a Democracy due to the fact that it was once a democracy, and the moderation and high level of education of its people.

[seppel]

...like Israel becoming restless

[SunkenCiv]

I agree with much of what you said, but this:

Syria is bleeding Lebanon dry.

It's really the other way around. Yeah, Syria squeezes Lebanon for cash all the time. Syria does that because its illegal occupation of Lebanon has cost it blood and treasure, and actually the future of Syria itself, as so many Syrian young people leave the country at 17 or just after their 18th birthdays in order to avoid the compulsory national service. This has gone on for decades, probably due to the Lebanese occupation and the defeat in the 1973 war (and the executions for failure in the aftermath of that self-engineered debacle) as much as for the lack of opportunities.

The younger Asad is just as much a thug as his dad was. He just hasn't got a full grip on the apparatus yet. When his father died, the constitution (such as it is) was amended to permit his accession. By that act, Syria ceased to be a dictatorship and became a hereditary monarchy. Same thing as went on in North Korea.

After Iraq, looks like the US is headed for the UN -- sanctions and whatnot against Sudan. Jordan is going to fall apart slowly but surely. The good news is, Saudi Arabia is on the brink of civil war, and when that starts, there will be no problem lining up the EU behind the US for intervention there. And that will also cut off the money supply for worldwide terrorism.

Vacation in Lebanon, eh? Glad you made it back in one piece.

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[numberonepal]

UN pressure my butt. Bush Doctrine.

[winner3000]

"Vacation in Lebanon, eh? Glad you made it back in one piece."

Risks in Lebanon have decreased tremendously and the tourism industry is booming there as tourists are enjoying the beach and the temperate weather in Lebanon. This does not prevent the economy from being bad (all these taxes going to the wrong pockets) and for people to want Syria to get out (especially after they laughed at the constitution in order to keep their puppet in power).

[winner3000]

"Vacation in Lebanon, eh? Glad you made it back in one piece."

Risks in Lebanon have decreased tremendously and the tourism industry is booming there as tourists are enjoying the beach and the temperate weather in Lebanon. This does not prevent the economy from being bad (all these taxes going to the wrong pockets) and for people to want Syria to get out (especially after they laughed at the constitution in order to keep their puppet in power).

[SunkenCiv]

This could have been prevented if the US had gone into Lebanon and rubbed out the Syrian invasion. Or just given Israel whatever it needed to do it.

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[SunkenCiv]

the setup, a different bombing, from two months ago:

Car bomb explodes in Damascus:
Syria accuses Israel of attempted assassination of Hamas man!
Haaretz | 13/12/2004
Posted on 12/13/2004 10:56:34 AM PST by IAF ThunderPilot
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1300501/posts

selection topics related to the Hariri assassination by Syria:

Assassination in Beirut
Washington Times | Tuesday, February 15, 2005 | By Nadim Ladki
Posted on 02/14/2005 11:55:49 PM PST by JohnHuang2
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343399/posts

Hariri Murder Was Syrian Warning To France, Say Commentators
The Tocqueville Connection | 15 Feb 2005 | The Tocqueville Connection
Posted on 02/15/2005 5:00:28 AM PST by Cornpone
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343511/posts

Initial Reactions to the Assassination of Former Lebanese President
(Iranian TV-"It's the Jews")
MEMRI TV (Middle East Media Research Institute) | February 14, 2005
Posted on 02/15/2005 1:23:10 AM PST by Stoat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343445/posts

Lebanon politics: A brazen killing
The Economist Business Unit
Posted on 02/15/2005 5:43:02 AM PST by Alex Marko
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343535/posts

Mob Blames Syria for Hariri Assassination
Yahoo! News (AP) | 2/15/2005 | Sam F. Ghattas
Posted on 02/15/2005 7:15:06 AM PST by Pyro7480
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343602/posts

U.S. to Syria: Leave Lebanon
MichNews | Feb 15, 2005 | David Gollust
Posted on 02/15/2005 3:13:07 AM PST by AliVeritas
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343471/posts

related to the Syrian faux withdrawal:

Cannon goes missing during Syrian pullout
Daily Star (Lebanon) | Tuesday, September 28, 2004 | Agence France Presse
Posted on 09/28/2004 9:59:13 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1229373/posts

related to the eventual liberation of Syria:

Syrian activist gets rights prize
Trade Arabia | Wednesday, January 12, 2005 | staff
Posted on 01/13/2005 6:12:43 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320423/posts