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Some Arab states have become hosts to US bases, says Lebanese minister
Lebanese State Minister Bechara Morahhaj said here on Tuesday that some Arab states have become hosts to US bases. Picked right up on that, didn't he? He told IRNA that if Arab governments did not compete with each other in order to establish special relations with Washington, the US government would not have been confident of invading Iraq. Kuwait didn't have to compete with anyone to have a special relationship with Washington. It's significant that those Arab states with whome we do have special relationships are of about the same size and level of vulnerability as Kuwait. The US has been successful in exerting pressure on certain Arab governments, but the Arab nations will never accept conditions imposed on their countries, he said, adding that the demonstrations staged in front of US embassies and military bases in these countries is proof of this fact. Either that, or proof of the fact that lots of people have time on their hands... On the US' recent accusations against Iran and Syria, the Lebanese state minister stressed that the Zionist lobby, which enjoys great influence in the US administration, is trying to isolate Iraq from the world community. By exerting pressure on Iran and Syria, the Zionist lobby is also trying to force the two countries to be neutral in the current war in the region, he reiterated. But both Tehran and Damascus are sensitive toward current political and military developments in Iraq and cannot be indifferent towards what is going on in that country, Morahhaj said. They can be neutral, or they can pay the price for taking Sammy's side. Iran's trying to remain neutral, Syria's not... The Lebanese minister further called on the Iranian and Syrian governments to help settle the regional crisis within the framework of UN regulations. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-04-08 |
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