Lebanese opposition requests Israel's help with Syrian pullout

Ha'aretz ^ | 04/03/2005

[IAF ThunderPilot]

Lebanese opposition members have asked Israel to encourage the United States to pressure Syria into withdrawing its troops from Lebanon.

In the wake of recent diplomatic activity aimed at getting Syria to withdraw its military forces from Lebanon, a top Syrian envoy headed Friday to Moscow to discuss the step with Russian officials.

Lebanese figures contacted Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's advisor, Uri Lubrani, among other officials in Jerusalem, and indicated they were determined to keep struggling against the Syrian presence in Lebanon but need American support.

[IAF ThunderPilot]

Amazing! An Arab nation is asking Israel's help for the first time in modern history.

[lawgirl]

Let freedom ring!

[In veno, veritas]

I actually see Syria's side of this. If they pullout all troops, it leaves a major power vacuum that could harm the situation. Both Israeli and American troops would be attacked by terrorist groups, but who else can you trust to pullout once the Lebanese are self-sufficient? The UN? The French?

[ken5050]

Not really..you've got several thousand Hezbollah terrorists in the Lebanon/Israeli border area..they have thousands of those rockets, which can reach Israeli settlements...will the terrorists be allowed to leave the area and take them along?..and to where?

[IAF ThunderPilot]

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[NRA2BFree]

Amazing! An Arab nation is asking Israel's help for the first time in modern history.

I'm stunned speechless. THAT is also a first. LOL

[lawgirl]

What a cool homepage you've got! :)

Thanks Tonyro!

[Enterprise]

"Lebanese opposition requests Israel's help with Syrian pullout"

These people have had enough of brotherhood and solidarity. Comparison of Syrians to Israelis is a no-brainer.

[Peach]

Wow!

[Enterprise]

" I actually see Syria's side of this."

Why yes, I see your point. It's like, if we defeat Saddam Hussein, then there will be a power vacuum and American troops will be attacked. The whole Middle East will disintegrate and all kinds of wars will break out. The place won't be stable for a couple of hundred years!

[Convert from ECUSA]

Really. I know Israel assisted King Hussein of Jordan under the table many times, and vice versa, but it was never in public. It was only discussed many years after it happened. Maybe the Lebanese have had enough of experiencing "Arab brotherhood" and prefer to have the relatives that have overstayed their welcome to leave the house pronto. At any rate, it is quite a turn of events to see an Arab nation wanting Israel's help.

[thoughtomator]

Ideally the Lebanese will be calling their own shots, like they should. Really, there is no possible justification for Syrian troops on Lebanese territory.

[SJackson]

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[Alex Marko]

There is no power vacuum. The Maronite, druze and even muslim groups are all aligning in this situation. Walid Jumblatt would assume control thru an interm govt such as that of iraq. I am sure the french and the Un would send soldiers at the request of the lebanese.

[PzLdr]

Only if they want their children raped.

[Stultis]

There is no power vacuum. The Maronite, druze and even muslim groups are all aligning in this situation. Walid Jumblatt would assume control thru an interm govt such as that of iraq. I am sure the french and the Un would send soldiers at the request of the lebanese.

The problem is in the south, controlled by the Iranian/Syrian surrogate, Hezbollah. Hezbollah may be induced to attack Israel and prompt Israeli reprisals, giving Syria an excuse to remain in Lebanon, and/or distracting attention while Syria moves to suppress or subvert the independence movement in Lebanon.

I'm not saying it will work, but I suspect this is the Syrian strategy. Israel should, for the present, stay out of the matter altogether. Don't give the Syrians any excuses or any opportunity to change the subject.

[Alex Marko]

Quick to criticize, reluctant to provide solutions.

[EQAndyBuzz]

What will wind up happening is that Hezbollah will be caught between Lebanese that do not want them there and the IDF. They will have to break out through Lebanon to Syria. They aren't going south.

[PzLdr]

Let's see. UN Peacekeepers:When they aren't busy raping kids in the Congo and other parts of Africa, they watch Hutus murder Tutsis, or hand over Muslim men to Serbs so they can be murdered. They are a JOKE, when they aren't being criminals. The French? Fine job on that little Ivory Coast job, wot? Shooting up unarmed civilians. Solution: So far, "W"'s told the Syrians to haul ass out. Since then, he's been joined in that demand by:Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, France, and the UN. If jughead Assad doesn't want to listen up, I'm sure there's some USAF ordnance, a cruise missile or a Hellfire with his name on it. Then there's that little US Army to his east. I don't think it'll take that much . There's the trade sanctions, asset freezing, the UN resolution (if you believe in those things), and the folks in Lebanon and the rest of the area Syria has to contd with. The problem, to me, is not as much the Baath as their pets, Hezbollah and to a lesser degree, Islamic Jihad. Those little social groups, plus Syrian intelligence, have to be dismantled.