US gripes to Lebanon about Hezbollah
The United States has once again raised the issue of Hizbullah with Lebanese officials, linking the resistance group to Al-Qaeda and claiming that it has âdormantâ terrorist cells that could quickly be activated. The warning was delivered last week to Lebanese Ambassador to Washington Farid Abboud, before he departed for Lebanon at the weekend.
Diplomatic sources said a letter, which was conveyed by US Deputy National Security Adviser Steven Hadley, came in response to repeated Lebanese inquiries as to Washingtonâs stand on Hizbullah, after President George W. Bush and other senior officials in his administration called on the government curb Hizbullahâs activities.
Lebanon's sitting on the hard place, since its government has no real power, Hezbollah does, and Syria has even more. Being a buffer state, they're trying to please everybody (except Israel) and pleasing no one (to include Israel). There probably really isn't an al-Qaeda "involvement" with Hezbollah, but there probably is a "professional courtesy" being extended, in the form of accomodations and the loan of a few bucks and some ammunition until they're reestablished. The USA isn't going to care about the difference.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-02-15 |