Lebenese PM slain

[Eadora]

Another Double post.

Can someone tell me haoe to keep from getting bit by my mouse???

Edited February 18, 2005 by Eadora

[Guest yod]

This is significant for quite a few reasons

Firstly, it came at a time when there were hopeful signs that good changes could come internally within Syria. We (America) have been hoping that the reasonable influences within Syria would win out over the hardline Baathists.

The best gauge of that would be Lebanon.

When Israel pulled out of Lebanon in the 80s, Syria went in. They didn't want Arafat or the Palestinians controlling it so they imposed themselves. The Christians of Lebanon were the only political entity who could stand up to this....and over 30,000 of them were slaughtered in a day.

Which was hardly mentioned by the world's media....but let a Palestinian terrorist be executed by Israel and the jew-haters come out of the woodwork. Such hypocrisy even happens on this board.

Oh well....I digress.

Lebanon has been controlled by outside forces since the Palestinians arrived after being kicked out of Jordan for attempting to assassinate King Huessein and take over.

This man, Rafiki was very rich and had enough personal resources to bring about real change in Lebanon. He was respected and loved by muslims, christians, and everyone else in the country because of his fairness and his willingness to oppose the Syrian-supported agents of the government.

He had withdrawn from the government (controlled by Syria) to help form an opposition party which was making noise on the world stage for an independant Lebanon. This new group had already had some success with the UN and EU issuing calls for Syria to leave Lebanon and that is why Syria had to appear uninvolved...but everyone knows they are behind it.

But this is also very serious because it is an assassination of a head of state. It would be like agents from France assassinating Tony Blair.

Iran is given a military base in south Lebanon (northern border of Israel) for their paramilitary terrorist group, Hezbollah, and without Syrian support that could not happen. If Syria were forced to leave then Iran would be also.

This is why Iran and Syria announced that they are forming an alliance yesterday. It's nothing new...but they have made it public now.

What makes this relevant for Americans is that Syria is alienating nations who might otherwise oppose an American invasion of Syria by assassinating a head of state. They have been threatening leaders and leadership in many nations for a few months now with something like this. Now they've shown it isn't just words.

Even countries that hate America will see the need to get rid of the Baathist regime of Syria....which gives Bush a paved road into Damascus.

And it's about time....

[nebula]

Thanks for the insight, Yod! I appreciate it!

What makes this relevant for Americans is that Syria is alienating nations who might otherwise oppose an American invasion of Syria by assassinating a head of state.

Am I reading this right? Syria has created acceptance for the US to attack Syria?

That's odd!

[JesusisGod2]

Hey Yod real good stuff ther, thanks.

I also have the same question that Neb has, which to me does make sense because of the fact that they hate Israel and the U.S.

This would definately give the nation of Islam "reason" as far as their reasoning goes.

[Guest yod]

This is a little trickier than Iraq under Saddam. NO ONE like him....the USA had a green light from other arab nations to wipe him out.

Syria they would most likely defend...unless Syria did something so grievous that it simply could not be publicly supported.

If it can be proven that Syria is behind this assassination, that would be enough to bring the strong condemnation of the USA. The UN and EU would have to also publicly stand with us in condemning Syria. Then, Arab nations who want the business of America and Europe would have to also publicly condemn this.

Once that happens, Bush goes a little further by pushing for (and getting) global sanctions and Syria will not be abide them....and bang, we have legal grounds for enforcing sanctions.

But with Russia announcing the sale of sophisticated missiles to Syria AND Iran...we may not wait very long to build any coalition. We'll catch some "insurgents" coming over the Syrian border and that will be all the excuse we need.

Syria's number is up.