Free Republic

BEIRUT: The UN Security Council's 15-member states issued a presidential statement Tuesday once again demanding that Syria withdraw its troops from Lebanon, and requested a report by the UN Secretary General every six months on the two countries' compliance. .... Syria, EU finally ink trade, political agreement Syria formally initialled an association agreement with the EU that commits both sides to work toward free trade and increase efforts to stamp out terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Syria was the only Mediterranean country in the EU's "Barcelona process," launched in 1995 aiming to bolster trade and political ties in the...

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel would not be able to destroy Iran's nuclear installations with a single air strike as it did in Iraq in 1981 because they are scattered or hidden and intelligence is weak, Israeli and foreign analysts say. Israeli leaders have implied they might use force against Iran if international diplomatic efforts or the threat of sanctions fail to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said this month Israel is "taking measures to defend itself" - a comment that raised concern Israel is considering a pre-emptive strike along the lines of its 1981...