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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| French, Italian, Greek naval force patrolling Leb coastline |
| 2006-09-09 |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon said on Friday the United Nations had informed it that a joint French, Italian and Greek naval force has begun patrolling the Lebanese coastline, a move that is likely to help end the Israeli sea blockade of Lebanon. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the monitoring of the coastline six miles from Lebanese territorial waters began at 12:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) Friday. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #10 Early indications are self-evident: The promised Italian, French and Greek rival presence, on the strength of which Israel lifted its air blockade, has been pushed by the Lebanese government out to sea and restricted to a 12-km radius from the coast. The European warships can keep an eye on big freighters approaching Lebanese ports, but cannot keep track of the small vessels reaching Lebanon ports from the northern Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia. That is where Iranian cargo vessels have been unloading large quantities of arms for Hizballah outside the European fleetsÂ’ limits in the last two weeks. Furthermore, Friday, as soon as Israel was persuaded to lift its sea blockade, three Lebanese and Syrian ships crammed with arms for Hizballah departed the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli and after a short voyage hugging the Lebanese coast put into the southern Lebanese port of Sidon, where willing Hizballah hands unloaded their cargo. Link |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-09-09 13:57 |
| #9 I sure miss TGA. As informed and honest and eloquent as we've ever seen. Besides simply being worried about him, I'd be interested in his take on so many things. Heavy Sigh. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-09-09 13:27 |
| #8 I'm sure that it will be just as effective as the Neutrality Patrol during the Spanish Civil War, snarf! |
| Posted by: Ernest Brown 2006-09-09 12:32 |
| #7 I'm surprised the UNneedy didn't callup the Swiss Navy. Just as effective. |
| Posted by: Almost Anonymous5839 2006-09-09 12:27 |
| #6 check the ships carrying "cement"...their ballast seems to consist of missiles |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-09-09 10:08 |
| #5 Replacing the Carnival Cruise Line, but less effective. |
| Posted by: Glirong Phinert5746 2006-09-09 08:48 |
| #4 Word, flyover. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-09 06:38 |
| #3 This reminds me of an exchange between TGA and .com way back about a speculated blockade of Iran in which EU naval "forces" would "ally" with US forces. .com asked if German ships would shoot off the rudders of ships attempting to run the blockade. In the only instance I've ever read where TGA did not have a response, the question went unanswered. I echo that here - will these EU naval "forces" actually interdict any ship attempting to pass their "patrols" (WTF does that actually mean, BTW?) without inspection of answering hails? Will they shoot out the rudder and board them for cargo inspection? Or will they merely "report" such incidents... or will they not, since that would expose this for the sham it is? I think the answer is beyond obvious. Nothing will happen and this is merely another pointless (in terms of enforcing any resolutions) UN scam where big bucks, US and Japanese bucks, are to be paid to EU countries for providing worthless "observers" who keep no peace and provide no useful value whatsoever. The UN is nothing more than Scam Central. |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-09 05:49 |
| #2 Naval maybe. Force...? |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2006-09-09 02:57 |
| #1 How's the fishing off the coast? Don't get too much sun. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-09-09 01:52 |