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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Security Council Passes Resolution to Limit Syrian Role in Lebanon
2004-09-03
Boy howdy, that showed 'em.
The Security Council on Thursday night passed an American- and French-sponsored resolution pressing Lebanon to reject Syrian intervention in its politics and calling on all foreign forces to leave the country. The vote on the 15-member panel was nine in favor, none against and six abstaining. A minimum of nine votes - and no veto by any of the five permanent members - are needed to approve a Security Council resolution. Syria has 20,000 troops in Lebanon and has controlled the country's politics for decades, but Thursday night's action was prompted by a sudden move by Damascus to let the president it backs, Émile Lahoud, stay in office beyond the end of his term on Nov. 24. Last weekend, under Syrian prodding, the Lebanese cabinet changed language in its constitution limiting presidents to one six-year term so that Mr. Lahoud could remain another three years. The Lebanese Parliament is expected to endorse the amendment on Friday, a development that John C. Danforth, the American ambassador, cited as the reason for rushing the resolution forward. The resolution called for "the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon." It also called for the disbanding of all militias, which it said were compromising Lebanon's ability to govern itself. Washington has designated Syria as a sponsor of terrorism.
Anything in the resolution about disbanding the Syrian army?
Mr. Danforth told the Security Council that the resolution was also aimed at ending the presence of Syrian and Iranian forces in Lebanon. In a direct reference to Syria's intervention this week in Lebanon's politics, the resolution declared its support for "a free and fair electoral process in Lebanon's coming presidential election conducted according to Lebanese constitutional rules devised without foreign interference or influence." Addressing the council before the vote, Mohammed Issa, secretary general of Lebanon's Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that Lebanese did not object to Syria's involvement in their country.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
Syria's ambassador, Fayssal Mekdad, denounced the resolution as "interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon."
Wouldn't it have been better to let the Lebanese ambassador make that statement?
Posted by:Steve White

#7  Betcha he can, too! And you won't even see those Lebanese lips move while he's talking, either ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-09-03 10:08:16 PM  

#6  Wouldn't it have been better to let the Lebanese ambassador make that statement?

Bet he can't drink a glass of water while doing it.
Posted by: mojo   2004-09-03 8:28:26 PM  

#5  Lebanon's parliament voted overwhelmingly Friday to extend the term of Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud, despite a U.N. Security Council resolution warning Damascus against interfering in Lebanon. Ninety-six deputies voted in favor of a constitutional amendment extending Lahoud's six-year mandate, with 29 opposed and three absent. Fireworks boomed over Beirut's city center, which security forces had locked down ahead of the vote in parliament. Most deputies are allied to Syria, which has some 17,000 troops and final authority in Lebanon. The results of the vote had been a foregone conclusion since a hastily convened cabinet last week recommended the amendment. Some deputies said Syrian authorities had forced their hand on the issue. The move came on the heels of meetings between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and senior Lebanese officials which both advocates and critics of Syria's influence in Lebanon said made the will of Damascus clear.

Attaboy, I knew you had it in you.
Posted by: Steve   2004-09-03 3:55:34 PM  

#4  # 3 - traditional role as protector of Lebanese Christians I suspect - My guess (anyone know for sure?) is that most Lebanese Christians now are unhappy with the extent of Syrian domination, and with the proposed constitutional change. To oppose the US on this would be to forfeit the friendship of the traditionally heavily francophone and francophile Lebanese Christian community, and that losing influence over that community to the US and Israel was not worth it just to stick US and Israel in the eye once again.

French policy, recall is NOT that they are in alliance with Syria, Iran et al - France is in alliance with no one but France. Theyre NOT our enemies in the WOT - They just strive to maintain their influence in ways that are frequently orthogonal to the WOT. Maintaining French power often requires inconsistency on other issues.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-09-03 2:11:51 PM  

#3  What game are the French playing?
Posted by: Classical_Liberal   2004-09-03 3:36:52 AM  

#2  Just when you think the UN can't possibly get any more decorative.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-09-03 1:45:00 AM  

#1  UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 2 - The Security Council on Thursday night passed an American- and French-sponsored resolution pressing Lebanon to reject Syrian intervention in its politics and calling on all foreign forces to leave the country.

Now all that's left is the little problem of getting the Syrians to actually play along....
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-09-03 1:39:40 AM  

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