Assad pledges Syrian help for Lebanon

Associated Press ^ | Saturday, July 15, 2006 | AP

[brain bleeds red]

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria will put its resources at the disposal of Lebanon to help cope with Israeli attacks devastating the country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Lebanese President Emile Lahoud by phone on Saturday.

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The official news agency SANA said Assad expressed solidarity with Lebanon, where Israeli bombing has killed around 100 civilians since Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation on Wednesday.

It was the first comment by Assad since the confrontation began between Israel and Hizbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.

SANA did not say whether Assad discussed Hizbollah during the telephone call with Lahoud and gave no details on what kind of help he was offering.

[Edit35]

I hope Israel has some Fuel-Air 'Daisy-Cutters' at their disposal.

[Logical me]

Hezbollah registered as a political party and won a few seats

I can make the leap. Those citizens that voted for Hezbollah are in agreement with these terrorist. The world cannot feel sorry for masses that support the terrorist and voted these killers in. And I understand more than just a few got seated in the Lebanon government. Never forget pictures of the street full with the insane mobs pushing their candidate..

[Southack]

"I don't know where CQ gets that.....anyone know?"

Hezbollah is in a world of hurt right now, so they are trying to make Israel make a mistake that would lead to a wider war (e.g. with Syria).

This would spread Israel thin and potentially relieve pressure on Hezbollah. This is also Al Qaeda's plan to save the mess (from their persepctive) left after we killed Zarqawi.

To those ends, Al Qaeda and Hezbollah are spreading rumors that would "implicate" Iran and Syria in the current war.

Of course, no Player is going to fall for such simple-minded tricks...but you can bet that the blogs and talking TV/radio heads and a few random posters will seize on whatever "Iran attacks" or "Syria declares war" sorts of rumors are being spread.

People hear what they want to believe, after all.

[dynoman]

I just can't believe Syria and Iran are rational and coherent enough to sit back and allow Hezbollah to be smashed by Israel.

That explaination seems waaaaay to simple IMO - sepecially since there are Iranian advisors there that will get smashed right along with Hezbollah.

[dynoman]

Do you have any data on how close Hezbollah and AQ are?

[monkapotamus]

"Judging by the snout on that roasting animal on the pike...that ain't no pig. Is it?"

*shrug* The news stories stated "pig" repeatedly.

[Southack]

"I just can't believe Syria and Iran are rational and coherent enough to sit back and allow Hezbollah to be smashed by Israel."

Oh please. Iran and Syria did nothing to Israel during Israel's 1997 raid into Lebanon. Iran did nothing during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, etc.

The historical pattern is that Islamic Powers goad idiotic Palestinians into attacking (e.g. Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon) Israel...then Israel hits back against Hamas/Hezbollah...at which point the Palestinians cry out for regional aid...and get...nothing.

It's Lucy pulling the ball away from Charlie Brown. The end result is always the same.

What TV talking heads and bloggers want, of course, is sensationalism...more bloodshed, a wider war, etc...that increases audiences. So they have no interest in being historically accurate.

You, however, can do better than TV talking heads.

[monkeywrench]

"Al Qaeda and Hezbollah are spreading rumors that would "implicate" Iran and Syria in the current war."

Why would Israeli officials make the same declarations against syria and iran?

[Logical me]

You got a point. I believe that Israel has a very competent intelligence organization and has more that we will ever know. Perhaps even if Syria and Iran is supplying ammunition, including missile technology, it might not be time to hit them until much of the Hezbollah in Lebanon is neutralized as well as the Gaza situation..

[Southack]

"Do you have any data on how close Hezbollah and AQ are?"

The most public example is the infamous botched German prisoner swap last year.

Al Qaeda siezed a German "tourist" in Iraq. They traded that "tourist" for a notorious Palestinian terrorist who was then watched fleeing to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.

Knowing each minute detail of the above, I suspect that you will be able to connect the dots without further elaboration from me.

[Southack]

"Why would Israeli officials make the same declarations against syria and iran?"

Rumors of such things are a far cry from such things actually occuring.

[InterceptPoint]

I think this is a meaningless offer. What the Lebanese need is the removal of Hezbollah. I don't think Syria is going to give them that. If it was military help that they needed then you would think that the Lebanese Army would already be in the mix. They are not.

So what is Syria really saying here?

Nothing.

[racing fan]

And another cat's in the fray...

_______________________________________
We begin bombing in five minutes.

[Walkingfeather]

Your right.... do the Syrians have any large hydro-electric dams that are needing aerating?

[dynoman]

So Iran will allow Israel to smash the Iranians in Lebanon supporting Hezbollah along with Hezbollah?? They are willing to write there own people off?

That doesn't make sense!

[NY Attitude]

Martyrs for the cause.

[popdonnelly]

As long as he keeps his army out of Lebanon, everything will be just fine.

[dynoman]

Or Iran/Syria don't really believe Israel will "smash" Hezbollah.

There is more to this IMO. Logical me said,"I believe that Israel has a very competent intelligence organization and has more that we will ever know."

I agree so when Israel says Hezbollah is being helped by Iranians in Lebanon I think it might be true. And I don't believe that after all the obvious cooperation between Iran and Hezbollah over years and years Iran will easily let their poeple be "smashed" alone with Hezbollah. If Iran is truely "pissed" at Hezbollah surely they would have pulled their people out of Lebanon before this got started.

[Southack]

"So Iran will allow Israel to smash the Iranians in Lebanon supporting Hezbollah along with Hezbollah?? They are willing to write there own people off? That doesn't make sense!"

Iranian presence in Lebanon is overrated, and mostly hyped by people (e.g. Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, various other hardliners, etc.) who want a wider war.

Yes, Iran will let Israel smash Hezbollah.

In case you haven't noticed, Iran and Syria aren't rushing to Hezbollah's defense in Lebanon. Nor will they.

Just as they haven't in other Israeli invasions (e.g. 1997).

You can fall for the hype, or you can learn from history. I'm simply telling you what is and what will happen. In advance. Step by step.

[mewzilla]

As long as he keeps his army out of Lebanon, everything will be just fine.

Not just his army. Syria's got its mitts into everything, from the political to the financial.