"But any "realistic" deal that undermines Lebanon's hard-won freedom from Syrian control and protects murderers in Damascus would quickly become a fool's bargain. This is a clear case, as the U.N. involvement to strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty over all its frontiers demonstrates, where doing the moral thing is also the realistic thing."
mustapha,that is a hilarious statement (and I'm saying this as a march 14 supporter-just to clarify). If the US thought that it would solve its problems in the Iraq by sacrificing us it would do it in a minute. The UN is a more or less US controlled entity so whatever they want goes there too. Let's just enjoy having that idiot Bolton on our side for a few moments until they betray us again, and they ALWAYS do. Stop trusting these people, just use them like they use you.
Absolutely agree with you Mustapha, and with Jim Hoagland.
I find the bit about the Syrian "initiative" (the assassination of Gemayel) to be an extremely well worded bit by Hoagland.
Assad's "realpolitik" is nothing more than thuggery: Taking hostages (Lebanon in this case) and blackmailing (the US in this case) are the staples of a true thug.
anon., you are ignoring that Bush believes in spreading democracy in the Middle East, and that so far Lebanon has shown the most promise in this regard. He's not going to give that up so easily.
And the UN being US-controlled? Then why are so many UN resolutions vetoed by the US? Why wasn't the second Iraq war a UN war like the first one?
Besides, you're talking like the anti-Syria movement is totally dependent on the US motivating them. One would think that Syrian occupation (remember that?) would be enough. What is your advice, that the March 14 movement become anti-American? What would that achieve? Is Syrian re-occupation the answer? Is being allied with the US, who at least honestly wants Lebanese independence and democracy if it can happen, the equivalent of being completely and totally controlled by a country which literally would like to annex you?
you are ignoring that Bush believes in spreading democracy in the Middle East
Sure like in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority...oh wait, they had elections and we all saw what he made of democracy then!
Why wasn't the second Iraq war a UN war like the first one?
Um, well, maybe had Bush waited another six months or so it might have been
Dirk, regarding Egypt and Saudi Arabia, what exactly do you mean? And regarding Hamas being elected, I assume you're thinking of the worldwide withdrawal of financial support after that? The Palestinians can elect international pariahs if they want, and the world's nations are free to have whatever relations they like with the resulting government; just because Palestinians elected them (as is their right) doesn't mean the world has to like Hamas.
Regarding Iraq War II, I don't see the UN ever sanctioning a pre-emptive war.
Norton,
You said it yourself, what america doesn't want in the UN it vetoes (the lack of democracy in the UN is ridiculous) and when the US doesn't agree with UN it sidelines it and does whatever it wants anyway- hence the war in Iraq.
As for the US support of our democracy, we saw a prime example of how much the US cared for us during the summer war, when our children were being killed and our country destroyed, Tilhasteezee Twice decided that this is a new birthing process and there is no need for a ceasefire until the Israelis achieve their objectives. The transfer of new batches of weapons to the Israelis during the war was just the cherry on top.
You don't support a democracy by allowing its children to be killed.
The US could have stopped Israel within the first few days rather than after a few weeks but they didn't.
Having said all that I still think March 14 shouldn't go anti-American. America is a strong counrty, which is in the best position to help us achieve our objectives. Inevitabley at some point, Lebanon's objectives will clash with Israel's objectives and we all know what will happen then. In the meantime, I'm fully for it: use thier current support to help us achieve what we want.
Brilliant!
I'd totally agree except that this jerk seems to forget that a couple of months ago a thousand or so Lebanese were blown to bits by the Israeli Air Force...
Paid for, in large part, by the American
average Gentile taxpayer...
Show me, somebody, how the damage done to Lebanon by Israel, paid for, in part, with some fraction of my taxes furthered my interests???
Lalebanessa, Israel's objective is for a strong centralized Lebanese government to have the monopoly of power within its borders in order to make a lasting and meaningful peace treaty with Israel, without renegade forces attacking Israel from inside Lebanon's borders. Any Lebanese objective (say from one of the many factions) that clashes with this isn't likely to be good for Lebanon either.
Oh, and Lalebanessa, you seem to agree with me that the UN isn't under US control, since if they disagree the US has no choice but to go on its own.
Hum...
If this murder was ordered by Assad, then he's taking too much risk. It can backfire in many ways.
But he's probably losing his mind anyway.
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