Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Re: Syria and Lebanon
The opposition is keeping the pressure on, and it appears to be working.
More importatnly, the United States has broad UN and European backing on this issue. There are prospects for multiple victories here.
First, the demand for a free democracy in Lebanon can only be called a victory for free people everywhere, and we have only to look to Ukraine, and to the source of middle east Democratic agitation, Iraq, to see the result of a collective cry for freedom. The statements by Egypt and Saudi Arabia also represent victories of a more strategic sense. True, both are allies in so far as they recieve billions in aide from the US every year, but its no secret that they are hardly waving the red white and blue in Riyadh. Its always nice to see that the uppity litle snots on the block are being kept in line. Perhaps equally important, the universal backing that the President has recieved will only help to mend sore ties between the US and Europe. Iran and Syria may be the issues over which alliances are rekindled. Also note Secretary of State Rice's powerful words regarding the suicide bombing in Israel. The US and its growing coalition are mounting evidence against Syria. Perhaps the Washington Post article said it best when it quoted one diplomat as explaining the Egyptian and Saudi intervention as designed "to save Syria from a serious conflict that will pitch it against the whole world." Damn right.
(Ed: I'd hate to be North Korea at a time like this)
Diplomats, meanwhile, said Egypt and Saudi Arabia are trying to win Syrian acceptance of a timetable for a complete withdrawal by April. The Arab mediation calls for Damascus to announce a withdrawal timetable "as soon as possible," another diplomat said on condition of anonymity.No surprise there, considering the statement from President Bush two paragraphs later:
President Bush on Wednesday demanded in blunt terms that Syria get out of Lebanon, saying the free world is in agreement that Damascus’ authority over the political affairs of its neighbor must end now.
More importatnly, the United States has broad UN and European backing on this issue. There are prospects for multiple victories here.
First, the demand for a free democracy in Lebanon can only be called a victory for free people everywhere, and we have only to look to Ukraine, and to the source of middle east Democratic agitation, Iraq, to see the result of a collective cry for freedom. The statements by Egypt and Saudi Arabia also represent victories of a more strategic sense. True, both are allies in so far as they recieve billions in aide from the US every year, but its no secret that they are hardly waving the red white and blue in Riyadh. Its always nice to see that the uppity litle snots on the block are being kept in line. Perhaps equally important, the universal backing that the President has recieved will only help to mend sore ties between the US and Europe. Iran and Syria may be the issues over which alliances are rekindled. Also note Secretary of State Rice's powerful words regarding the suicide bombing in Israel. The US and its growing coalition are mounting evidence against Syria. Perhaps the Washington Post article said it best when it quoted one diplomat as explaining the Egyptian and Saudi intervention as designed "to save Syria from a serious conflict that will pitch it against the whole world." Damn right.
(Ed: I'd hate to be North Korea at a time like this)
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