Lebanon: Bush calls on Hezbollah to disarm

BBC ^ | Tuesday, 15 March, 2005, 18:41 GMT | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Bush calls on Hezbollah to disarm

Bush urged Hezbollah not to threaten Mid-East peace

US President George W Bush has said Hezbollah could "prove" they are not a terrorist group by laying down arms and not threatening Mid-East peace.

"We view Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation," he said.

Last week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice restated the US position on Hezbollah after media reports said it had changed.

Hezbollah is a powerful political and military movement in Lebanon. Last week it staged a huge pro-Syrian rally.

Hundreds of thousands of people answered the group's call and took to the streets of Beirut to show support for Damascus.

Hezbollah has thousands of armed fighters and holds 12 seats in the Lebanese parliament.

"I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they're not [terrorist] by laying down arms and not threatening peace," Mr Bush said after meeting Jordan's King Abdullah II in Washington.

"One of our concerns, which his majesty and I discussed, is that Hezbollah may try to derail the peace process between Israeli and the Palestinians."

Syrians leaving

Last year, a United Nations resolution, backed by the US, called for Lebanon's militias to disarm.

Hezbollah has been on the US state department's list of terrorist organisations for years, with Washington accusing it of sponsoring Palestinian attacks against Israel.

Earlier on Tuesday, Syrian intelligence agents could be seen leaving their offices in Beirut as Syria's president held talks with Egypt.

Syria has promised the UN a full timetable for the withdrawal of its 14,000 troops and intelligence agents.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Beirut Rally threads:

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

My, how things have changed:

Hamas, Hezbollah vow to continue terror: Defy calls for ceasefire, recent U.N. resolution

[Brian Allen]

<< Hundreds of thousands of people answered the group's call and took to the streets of Beirut to show support for Damascus. >>

The bbc lies by omission as a change from by commission.

Most of the hizb'allah monkeys were bussed in from Damascus, were of the one million Syrians who've effectively colonized Lebanon or were hizb'allah gang members.

[alloysteel]

This is starting to sound like the first call by Bush to the Taliban, that they give up Osama bin Laden, then the subsequent call, also by Bush, to Saddam Hussein, that he open his facilities to the inspectors....

And we all know what happened then.

[ohioWfan]

But the Taliban is gone, bin Laden impotent, and Saddam in a jail cell.

I would say Hezbollah had better beware......

[Barney59]

This should be interesting...

[McGavin999]

LOL, we've been on this board too long, we're starting to think alike! If Hizbollah thinks President Bush's words sound familiar............

[ohioWfan]

We've seen him at work for four years, and he's a man of his word.........THAT's why we think alike. :o)

[Patrick_k]

What do you think about this piece of info from stratfor?

U.S.: Carrier Groups Converging in the Middle East?
www.stratfor.com

Summary

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is on the move in the
Atlantic Ocean, possibly headed for the Mediterranean Sea. The Roosevelt's
movements could lead to the convergence of three U.S. carrier battle groups
in the Middle East, where tensions are escalating over Syrian involvement in
Lebanon and Iranian statements about its nuclear program. With three carrier
battle groups in the region, the United States would send a strong message
and give leaders in Tehran and Damascus more to think about.

[alloysteel]

Sounds like a steady stream of overflights might be the next order of business. Whether any ordnance is involved, is largely up to the behavior of the Syrians at the moment.

[rrrod]

If I had to guess...Id say we will hit Syria hard and not step foot into Lebanon. With Syria getting the shi ite kicked out of them, Hezbolla will fold. IMHO