Posted on 02/28/2005 8:57:15 AM PST by Eurotwit
Edited on 02/28/2005 9:02:04 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Just watching CNN. They Pro-Syrian government has just resigned. Huge celebrations in Beirut.
Mod note: On CNN's banner:
Lebanon’s pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, announces his resignation and that of his government. Details soon.
Thanks for the ping!
No one is denying that, certainly not I.
even though incorrect
When one is incorrect, they should be set straight. That was my point. I will personally acknowledge when I am incorrect, I will NOT apologize for being right.
i always love a post from BigSky!
Nice job!
Information News Thank you
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2005/February/middleeast_February850.xml§ion=middleeast
US envoy calls for Syrian pullout before Lebanese elections
BEIRUT - A US envoy said on Monday that Washington wanted to see Syria start pulling troops out of Lebanon and end its interference in the country’s political affairs ahead of elections due by the end of May.
“We want to see free and fair elections take place this spring,” said visiting US deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, David Satterfield.
“It’s important that steps take place on the ground prior to those elections including the beginning of the implementation of Resolution 1559,”
He was speaking after talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud and against the background of more mass demonstrations in Beirut demanding Syrian troops leave.
The demonstrations and increased US pressure on both Beirut and Damascus were sparked by the murder two weeks ago of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
“I reinforced with the minister the strong interest of the US in seing the full application of the UN Security Council Resolution 1559, including the complete withdrawal of Syrian forces including military intelligence from Lebanon,” said Satterfield.
Resolution 1559 adopted by the Security Council in September calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon and respect for its sovereignty. A specific reference to Syria was deleted at the last minute.
“We see Resolution 1559 as completely consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the Taef agreement,” Satterfield said, referring to the accord that put an end to the 1975-1990 civil war in Lebanon.
Hammud said the next redeployment of Syrian troops towards Syria would constitute a “withdrawal”.
“There is only a semantic difference between redeployment and a withdrawal, because a pullback, if it goes in the direction of Syria, will be a withdrawal,” he said.
On Thursday, Lebanese Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mrad announced an imminent pullback of Syrian troops to the eastern Bekaa Valley, on the border with Syria. So far, there has been no sign of any troop movements.
The Taef accord stipulated that the Syrian military would retreat to the Bekaa after a two-year transition period, but conditions any redeployment on the approval of both Beirut and Damascus.
The agreement did not lay down a specific timetable for a withdrawal.
In a series of redeployments since June 2001, Syrian troop numbers have fallen from at least 35,000 to 14,000, with the majority positioned away from major population centres.
I saw another thread that has an article about how the EU is telling the US that we better join with THEM in backing Russia's deal to give Iran the nuclear fuel for its nuke facility---
Now it seems to me that this was tried in N. Korea and it backfired---so why would we do that again---
It also seems to me that Bush's Doctrine HAS been working, but the EU doesn't want to even acknowledge the good news and triumphs, it just wants to jeopardize all of it by backing Russia and Iran!!!
Hopefully, Condi will point out these points when she goes to London---hopefully she will wear her "dominatrix outfit"!
These people are not completely benighted.
That woman is praying in front of MEN with her hair uncovered!
There might be some hope for Lebanon.
The rumbling for freedom began quite some time ago. They did look at Iraq and think "That could be us", but Hariri's murder was more like the last straw. They were looking to Hariri as a leader of the popular opposition to oust Syrian rule.
Hariri was silenced out of fear he would lead the Lebonese people to overthrow the Syrian installed government. After his assassination, Hariri simply became the martyr the independence cause needed. Nothing could have stopped a revolution after that. His murder was an act of incredible stupidity. In that way it WAS similar to the awesom miscalculation bin Laden made on 9/11/01
Well said and very true, anonymoussiera.
I just got on the thread----if you have posted this picture before, thank you for posting again (I don't have time to read 750 posts!)
That picture ranks up there with the one with the soldier with the cigarette in his mouth after a battle!
This reminds me of when your countrymen started to throw off the USSR control of Poland.
You might post some of what happened when Poland started this freedom process against the USSR.
We could take out Syria with 90% air power and 10% Special Forces...literally...
What a great time to be alive!
We are in 100% agreement there.
LOL...I was DEFINITELY not thinking you should apologize.
At least we don't need an exit strategy...
I think that part of the problem of the "disagreements" on this thread is, that you kinda have to throw the "history books" away---
There is nothing in history with these same "players" in these same circumstances to be able to compare with or try to speculate what will happen---
I just think we can debate this and rejoice for the people of Lebanon without anyone stating for SURE that they know from history what the outcome will be---
I like the points you have made that I have read---I just got here and didn't read all 750 posts, though
Oh yeah...and we wanted to hear you and your pals discuss wild savage looking men...LOL
The same could be said about North Korea. In the event of an air campaign, their biplanes would be no match for our fighter jets.
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