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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| DEBKA: US to return to Lebanon, build big air installation near Syria | |
| 2007-10-10 | |
DEBKAfileÂ’s source report the Bush administrationÂ’s drastic change of policy on Lebanon was settled in consultations at the Pentagon and National Security Council after the talks the chief of the US Central Command Adm. William Fallon held with Lebanese government heads on July 29. This new direction was confirmed after the Israeli air raid over Syria of Sept. 6. It brings the American military back to Lebanon after a 25-year absence. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan pulled US troops out of the country after Syrian military intelligence orchestrated terrorist bombing attacks on the US embassy and Marines headquarters in Beirut, which left more than 300 soldiers, diplomats and CIA agents dead. The first stage of construction will reactivate the small defunct air base at Kleiat as a joint US-Lebanese venture. Prime minister Fouad Siniora will explain that the four months of bloody fighting to crush the Fatah al-Islam revolt in the northern Nahar al-Bared camp demonstrated how badly the Lebanese army needs an operational air base in the region. US Air Force engineers and technicians have begun work on the new air field. At a later stage, it will be expanded for American military use. | |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #25 If this is the quid pro quo for our recent armaments donations to Lebanon, then all's well and fine. Let there be a thousand |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-10 23:17 |
| #24 H1-3 are in the western Iraqi desert. One of them, H1 I believe, is used for training the Iraqi army. Hard place for a suicide bomber to get to without being noticed. The google pics of these bases are very interesting, showing lots of tracks and damage and stuff. Special Forces were all over this area during the war. It would not surprise me to find that there is still such interest in the area. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2007-10-10 22:23 |
| #23 IMO the base, at least in early phases, will likely be home to joint US-Lebanese units including SPECOPS + armed Helo teams for use agz Terror groups-elements. Rapid-response sounds about right. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-10-10 21:29 |
| #22 That does seem to be the obstacle to peace in the ME - the Jews' refusal to throw themselves into the sea. However, if they ever did, peace would be short-lived as the Paleos would then turn on each other with their Arab brethren, no doubt, joining in on the various sides. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-10-10 20:55 |
| #21 The Jews have always been ready for peace, JosephM. Just not when it involves suicide. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-10-10 20:06 |
| #20 Agree wid #8 - IMO the base, at least in early phases, will likely be home to joint US-Lebanese units including SPECOPS + armed Helo teams for use agz Terror groups-elements. Iff true, this decision by the USA is indicative of Dubya's = Amer's desire for the entrenchment of Local-Regional democracy in the whole of Asia Minor including the ME, and as a window for settling the Arab-Israeli Conflict once and for all!? ARE BOTH JEWS AND MUSLIMS READY FOR MUTUAL PEACE AND COOPERATION, OR DOTH OLD HABITS DIE HARD??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-10-10 19:57 |
| #19 OldPat SOCOM had first call on those a few years ago when I was still with that sort of people. Mainly the rangers used them to assault in, and some interdiction work done out that way. I'd say they are quiet for a reason. Unlike centrally located Balad (busier than O'Hare these days), they are out of the way, but near certain very interesting Syrian places. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-10-10 19:39 |
| #18 If an airbase were built in Lebanon, that might limit some of the shennigans going on in Lebanon sponsored by Syria--maybe limit some Hezbollah's crap in Israel too. Might be a good move. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-10-10 18:33 |
| #17 But, wouldn't it be easier just to build an air installation in the desert of western Iraq? There are two that I know of, and several more that were used mainly for oil exploration. H1 and H2 were both Iraqi military bases and oil exploration sites. There was another one about 70km north of H1 along the Syrian border that was a forward operating base for Hussein's Air Force. There was another one near the Syrian border north of the Euphrates river in that area. I don't have any knowledge of current status of any of them. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-10-10 17:24 |
| #16 Sadly, I sense s certain silliness in this story. |
| Posted by: Thomas Woof 2007-10-10 17:00 |
| #15 It will really twist their knickers if its a double-wide 14K foot airfield big enough for buffers and C-5's and the KC-767. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-10-10 16:42 |
| #14 It would definitely be to Lebanon's advantage to have the US there, especially if the US provided aid to their securing their border against Syria. In turn, it would seriously put the squeeze on the Syrians and Hezbollah. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-10 16:29 |
| #13 #12. This time, can they have their weapons loaded? |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2007-10-10 16:28 |
| #12 IF it's true, then we had better have A LOT of guards. Pulling double duty if necessary. |
| Posted by: Free Radical 2007-10-10 15:34 |
| #11 DEBKA is like the little girl with the little curl: very good when they're good, but horrid when they're not. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-10-10 15:25 |
| #10 My guess is DEBKA's full of shit... Like a sewer pipe; but we can dream, can't we? |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2007-10-10 14:46 |
| #9 My guess is DEBKA's full of shit... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-10-10 14:13 |
| #8 My guess is such a base would be used for helicopters that might sorty out with Special Forces and/or air rescue teams. Your guess is as good as mine what special forces and air rescue teams might do to keep themselves occupied on the Syrian border. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-10-10 14:11 |
| #7 Kinda like having troops on the DMZ.... which we still do. The old trip wire mentality and some Syrian will just not be able to refuse trying to mess with the base. The US can "respond" from many other bases. But thats just a theory from me. |
| Posted by: ArmyLife 2007-10-10 13:55 |
| #6 Doesnt it seem risky to have an airbase within artillery range of the border? You wouldnt ahve much time to respond if they decided to be belligerent. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-10-10 13:43 |
| #5 Build? Last I checked, there were three already there, though you never hear much about them. Huey, Dewey and Louie, I think. Or maybe Manny, Moe and Jack. |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-10-10 13:33 |
| #4 'Twould twist Hizb'allah knickers, too. What value their Maginot Line facing Israel then? But, wouldn't it be easier just to build an air installation in the desert of western Iraq? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-10-10 13:12 |
| #3 "At a later stage, it will be expanded for American military use." Or, at least as likely, Iranian use. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-10-10 12:51 |
| #2 "Hiya, NEIGHBOR!..." |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-10-10 12:48 |
| #1 We'll know for sure once Google Earth updates its pics of the old airbase. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2007-10-10 12:28 |