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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| al-Jaz: Strike Hezbollah, provoke Syria – U.S. |
| 2005-06-26 |
| The U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is considering provoking a military confrontation with Syria by striking Hezbollah bases near the Syrian border in Lebanon, London-based Jane's Intelligence Digest reports. In an article to be published this week, the journal states that multi-faceted U.S. attacks, which would be conducted within the framework of the global "war on terror", would most likely focus on Hezbollah bases in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon. It's noted that the deployment of U.S. special forces in the Bekaa Valley would be highly inflammatory and would "almost certainly involve a confrontation with Syrian troops." Such a conflict might well prove to be the objective of the U.S., said the journal, which described Washington's strategic benefits from a confrontation with Syria. These include: - Pressuring Damascus into ending its support for Palestinian resistance groups; - Persuading Syria to abandon its alleged weapons of mass destruction and to withdraw its troops from Lebanon; - Stimulating a situation where Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad would be ousted from power; - Crushing Hezbollah and ending its alleged connections with other groups and parties such as al-Qaeda. "The political consequences of a U.S. attack against Lebanon. . . could result in the destabilisation of a country that is still rebuilding its infrastructure a decade after a ruinous 15-year civil war," noted the journal. "It would also fuel Muslim and Arab hostility toward the U.S. at a time when U.S.-led occupation forces are fighting the ongoing "rebellion" in Iraq. In these circumstances, taking on Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley is likely to prove a highly risky undertaking. "However," it continued, "given the Bush administration's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes, it remains entirely possible that Washington will soon launch military strikes against Lebanon, regardless of the consequences for wider regional stability." The report goes on to note that the U.S. administration has long considered Damascus "a prime candidate for regime-change," along with Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and, possibly, Saudi Arabia. "Syria, once a powerhouse of Arab (nationalism) that could not be ignored, has been seriously weakened, both militarily and politically. Washington may feel that the time is coming to oust Assad and the ruling generals. "Targeting Syria via Lebanon, the only concrete political influence Damascus has to show following decades of radical diplomacy, could prove to be a means to that end." The journal also noted that, "there is reason to believe that Iran and the U.S. are moving toward some form of tactical understanding as a consequence of covert diplomacy." As a result, it said, Tehran has been steadily reducing its support for the regime in Damascus. The journal added that Bashar al-Assad lacks both the ruthlessness and political acumen of his father, Hafez, whom he succeeded in June 2000, and he is constrained by members of his father's old guard who are continuing to block his tentative efforts at reform. "These factors make Damascus vulnerable to pressure from both the U.S. and Israel, particularly since U.S. forces are deployed in Iraq, Syria's eastern neighbour." During the past six months, it added, Washington has increased the U.S. military presence along the Syrian border with Iraq "and, on several occasions, has sent special forces into Syrian territory or penetrated Syrian air space. "In one incident, U.S. troops pursued suspected Iraqi militants into Syria and fought a running battle that left dozens of people, including some Syrians, dead. "Israel's air-strike in southern Lebanon earlier this week," it added, "is very unlikely to be the last time Israeli forces cross the border to strike at targets alleged to be (resistance) bases and training camps." |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #7 Why didn't they point out its benefits over glass parking lots? I don't know, I'm beginning to have less and less animosity toward glass parking lots. In fact, economically, I think they're a GREAT idea. Better than wasting the life of one American soldier. Start with Soddy Rabida, then hit Syria, Tehran/Qom, and finish up with Packiwackiland. If China makes a stink, hit that big new dam of theirs with a TAC nuke - or even a dud, just to let them know we can. I'm tired of playing war with wool mittens on. I think it's time to start waging REAL war, and let the whole damned world know that we're serious. Also let them know that the spirit that built this nation is still alive in at least one group of Americans. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-06-26 13:46 |
| #6 Uh-huh... Overflying whose territory? |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-06-26 13:42 |
| #5 Everyone knows this, except the MSM handwringers. If anyone follows the news, even the MSM news, they know that Jiihadis are coming into Iraq from Saudi Arabia through Syria. The pipeline would logically be interrupted in Syria since the Syrians are unwilling and/or unable to stop the flow. Alimentary, my dear Watson. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-06-26 13:41 |
| #4 The article seems to be dated 6/22/05, but I think I've seen it before, about a year or two ago. It reads like recycled material. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-06-26 13:22 |
| #3 posting from the toy I just built for the wife. It doesn't need a proper cookie name relationship... 3dc |
| Posted by: Unoter Snuter5169 2005-06-26 13:13 |
| #2 Why didn't they point out its benefits over glass parking lots? |
| Posted by: Unoter Snuter5169 2005-06-26 13:11 |
| #1 so when did Jane's go to the dark side? Who'd have thought Janes would be into handwringing and timidity - as well as the standard, but we might make them even madder drivel. Maybe they should rename themselves, McClellan's Digest. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-06-26 12:59 |