| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria has "hit list" to regain control of Lebanon |
| 2005-06-09 |
| The Bush administration has credible information that Syria has developed a "hit list" targeting senior Lebanese political figures in an attempt to regain control of its neighboring state, just six weeks after Syria said it had ended almost three decades of military occupation. "These are threats against some of the most prominent Lebanese political leaders. The purpose would be to create instability and to create internal strife," said a senior administration official, who requested anonymity because of ongoing sensitive diplomatic efforts. After a brief lull in Syrian interference in Lebanon, senior Syrian intelligence personnel have been seen back in Lebanon, particularly over the past week, the official added. Concerned about the possibility of ongoing Syrian presence in Lebanon, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that he may send a U.N. verification team back to Lebanon. In the meantime, U.N. envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is being dispatched to Damascus for talks with the regime of President Bashar Assad. Syria's return to Lebanon would be a major violation of U.N. resolution 1559, co-sponsored by the United States and France, which demanded a total Syrian withdrawal with its tiny neighbor. U.S. and U.N. officials estimated that Damascus had some 14,000 troops and 5,000 intelligence officials. Damascus claimed the last troops pulled out on April 28. "We are now receiving reports that there may be elements that are still there and we are considering the possible return of the verification team to ascertain what's going on," Annan told reporters. The U.N. team's first mission last month was "unable to conclude with certainty" that all Syria soldiers and agents had withdrawn completely. The Bush administration is particularly concerned of the potential impact because Lebanon is now half-way through a four-phased election for parliament, which will in turn form a new government. Syria has dominated Beirut's governments since soon after it first deployed troops in 1976 to try to quell Lebanon's civil war. Syrian intelligence is making use of Palestinian refugee camps. "We have seen an increase in the contacts between Syrians and some of the Palestinian terrorist groups and an increasing presence in some of the camps, including an creasing flow of Syrian people and arms," the senior administration official said. "They have figured out that one of the places they might be able to hide might be in those camps," which are not controlled by the Lebanese Army. The U.S. allegation, based largely on information provided by "credible" Lebanese sources, follows the assassination of two leading opponents of Syria's intervention. Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 19 aides and security guards were killed by a massive bombing of his motorcade on Feb. 14. And prominent journalist Samir Kassir, who wrote often about Syrian intervention in Iraq, was killed in a sophisticated car bombing on June 2. The U.S. allegations, ironically, come on the same day that Syria's ruling Baath Party called for improving diplomatic relations with the United States. The final communique of the party congress called for a "constructive dialogue" with Washington and "an exchange of visits on all levels," according to Syria's state-run television. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 We should publish the hit list so that the second one of them dies of dehydration in the middle of the desert (a la one late Saudi Prince) we can declare shenanigans on Syria. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2005-06-09 18:26 |
| #3 Concerned about the possibility of ongoing Syrian presence in Lebanon, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said today that he may send a U.N. verification team back to Lebanon. And I am sure the Lebanese feel soooooo much safer now. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-06-09 17:04 |
| #2 I think the Lebanese need a hit list, too. 1. Assad. 2. The rest of the Baathists (in no particular order). 3. Foreign fighters caught in Lebanon (including any Syrians). 4. Hezbollah. We could give them some sniper training. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-06-09 16:56 |
| #1 Time for us to publish our hit list: #1. Assad, Baby . . . |
| Posted by: Spot 2005-06-09 16:51 |