No U.N. troops on Lebanon-Syria border, says Assad

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | August 22, 2006

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

DAMASCUS, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday rejected Israeli demands for the deployment of international troops on the Lebanese-Syrian border to stop what Israel says is the smuggling of arms to Hizbollah.

"This would be a withdrawal of Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position," Assad said, according to advance excerpts of an interview to be aired by Dubai Television on Wednesday.

The United Nations is trying to assemble a force of 15,000 to monitor a truce in southern Lebanon after a 34-day war between Israeli and the Shi'ite Muslim guerrilla group Hizbollah, which ended eight days ago with an uneasy truce.

Israel wants U.N. troops to police border crossings between Lebanon and Syria to prevent weapons smuggling.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said stationing some of the international force at border crossings and Beirut airport would enable Israel to lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon.

~ snip ~

[RightWhale]

This would be a withdrawal of Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position

Yeah. So?

[Nathan Zachary]

Gee, I wonder why Syria would be so upset if they aren't doing anything illegal.
I also wonder why they would be worried about a UN guard. They never stopped anything in the past, why would they now? You'd think Assad would be happy knowing that a UN guard would be there, then they could re-arm Hezbollah without having to even cover the missles with a tarp.

[KarlInOhio]

This would be a withdrawal of Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position

And no one protects Lebanese sovereignty like an Assad.

[demkicker]

The more defiant Syria and Iran get the smaller we look to the world. We better start having some serious behind the scenes talks with these mother farkers, and soon.

[RightWhale]

Can a state do anything illegal? Individuals can, of course, but states are above the individual. It might appear to do something unconstitutional, but that is also impossible since the true constitution is not necessarily what is written.

[himno hero]

i know, i know

let the israelis patrol it.
if you want the job done right let them do it. the UN has an islamic agenda,,,highly biased and pro palestinian,,, conseqently the arms WILL flow thru under their watchful eye.

[samtheman]

All kidding aside, there should be no Assad.

[Continental Soldier]

How about UN troops in Syria to guarantee the uninterupted delivery of weapony to Hezbollah?

[Mack the knife]

This would be a withdrawal of Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position.

---

This from a guy who stationed Syrian troops in Lebanon for years?

This from a guy who supported Hizbullah acting like a "state within a state" in southern Lebanon?

That "sovereign" thing left the building a long time ago.

[demkicker]

let the israelis patrol it. if you want the job done right let them do it. the UN has an islamic agenda,,,highly biased and pro palestinian,,, conseqently the arms WILL flow thru under their watchful eye.

You're right. It's the only answer to the insanity. The 400 unarmed French ticklers damn sure aren't going to put the fear into Hezbollah. Israel should make a pledge to leave the Lebanon border when Hezbollah is gone, period!