U.N. Must Accept Hezbollah, Annan Says

[Bluezoo]

U.N. Must Accept Hezbollah, Annan Says

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations must recognize Hezbollah as a force to be reckoned with in implementing the U.N. resolution calling for the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon and the disarmament of the country's militias, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday.

He was responding to a question about the disarmament of Hezbollah, which showed its strength Tuesday at a huge pro-Syrian rally in Beirut attended by hundreds of thousands of people who chanted anti-U.S. slogans. Two huge banners read in English: "Thank you Syria" and "No to foreign interference."


Annan said the world needs to accept that in every society different groups may hold different views.


"Of course, we need to be careful of the forces at work in Lebanese society as we move forward," he said.


"But even the Hezbollah — if I read the message on the placards they are using — they are talking about non-interference by outsiders ... which is not entirely at odds with the Security Council resolution, that there should be withdrawal of Syrian troops," Annan told reporters.


"But that having been said, we need to recognize that they are a force in society that one will have to factor in as we implement the resolution," he said.


The rally by the Hezbollah vastly outnumbered anti-Syrian rallies of the past weeks. The Syrian-backed Lebanese guerrilla group, which is funded by Iran, is the best armed and best organized faction in Lebanon and enjoys strong support among Lebanon's Shiite Muslim community.


Many of the signs at the rally in Riad Solh square denounced U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for Syrian troops and intelligence agents to leave Lebanon immediately and demands the disarming of militias, referring to Hezbollah.


Syrian soldiers entered Lebanon in 1976 to try to quell a civil war that began the previous year. They remained through 14 years of fighting that ended in 1990, and some 14,000 are still there, though they began redeploying from central Lebanon toward the border began late Tuesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=10&u=/ap/20050309/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_lebanon_syria

[cut]

I think that Hezbollah should be seen as a force to be reckoned with. "Good" or "evil" their influence should not be overlooked, this doesn't mean they should be considered ligitimate.

[Bluezoo]

I think that Hezbollah should be seen as a force to be reckoned with. "Good" or "evil" their influence should not be overlooked, this doesn't mean they should be considered ligitimate.
I agree.

[BlackRain]

Monday, March 7, 2005

White House: Syria completely out of Lebanon, dismantle Hezbollah


Q On Lebanon again, in 1982, the PLO was forced out of Beirut. We're not talking here about the terrorist groups. What is the U.S. position on Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon? When you talk about all foreign forces going out, do forces also mean terrorists?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's one of a number of concerns we have with regard to Syria, that they're allowing their territory to be used by terrorist
organizations. We continue to have concerns about Syria's support for terrorism. Syria needs to end its support of terrorism, they need to dismantle those terrorist organizations, and that's our view.

Q But if Syrian forces leave Lebanon, should Hezbollah also leave Lebanon?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of Hezbollah, again, I think our views are very well known in terms of what our views are toward Hezbollah. And you're very well aware of those views, as well. But they are a terrorist organization. And we believe that terrorist organizations need to be dismantled.

Q Scott, one quick follow-up on Hezbollah. Does the President believe that Iran's support for Hezbollah is continuing and is destabilizing what's going on in Lebanon right now?

MR. McCLELLAN: Iran has continued to support terrorist organizations. That's one of a number of concerns that we have when it comes to Iran. Iran and Syria both need to change their behavior and stop supporting terrorism. They need to start playing a more constructive role in the region, and they've made some commitments in the past to do so. But they have not lived up to those commitments. We want to see them live up to those commitments.

I don't have any specific information to share with you at this point
regarding activity in Lebanon, with regards to Iran. But we have been
talking about length about Syria's continued presence in Lebanon. Syria is a destabilizing force in the region right now because of their continued
behavior that is out of step with the direction the Middle East is moving.
That's why we want to see Syria change its behavior and play a more
constructive role in the region.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=24437

[cut]

Monday, March 7, 2005

White House: Syria completely out of Lebanon, dismantle Hezbollah


Q On Lebanon again, in 1982, the PLO was forced out of Beirut. We're not talking here about the terrorist groups. What is the U.S. position on Hezbollah and other terrorist groups in Lebanon? When you talk about all foreign forces going out, do forces also mean terrorists?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's one of a number of concerns we have with regard to Syria, that they're allowing their territory to be used by terrorist
organizations. We continue to have concerns about Syria's support for terrorism. Syria needs to end its support of terrorism, they need to dismantle those terrorist organizations, and that's our view.

Q But if Syrian forces leave Lebanon, should Hezbollah also leave Lebanon?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, in terms of Hezbollah, again, I think our views are very well known in terms of what our views are toward Hezbollah. And you're very well aware of those views, as well. But they are a terrorist organization. And we believe that terrorist organizations need to be dismantled.

Q Scott, one quick follow-up on Hezbollah. Does the President believe that Iran's support for Hezbollah is continuing and is destabilizing what's going on in Lebanon right now?

MR. McCLELLAN: Iran has continued to support terrorist organizations. That's one of a number of concerns that we have when it comes to Iran. Iran and Syria both need to change their behavior and stop supporting terrorism. They need to start playing a more constructive role in the region, and they've made some commitments in the past to do so. But they have not lived up to those commitments. We want to see them live up to those commitments.

I don't have any specific information to share with you at this point
regarding activity in Lebanon, with regards to Iran. But we have been
talking about length about Syria's continued presence in Lebanon. Syria is a destabilizing force in the region right now because of their continued
behavior that is out of step with the direction the Middle East is moving.
That's why we want to see Syria change its behavior and play a more
constructive role in the region.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=24437

dismantle the terrorist organisation and leave the political side running (like with Sin Fein/IRA)

[BlackRain]

dismantle the terrorist organisation and leave the political side running (like with Sin Fein/IRA)

We mean the whole puppy.

Hezzy (or Party of God) is dedicated to spreading Islamic Fundamentalism through violence against non-believers. That does not work well in a multicultural place like Lebanon (Druze, Christians, Muslims).

[Commie]

Good luck dismantlig hizbollah, they have massive support by shiamuslims in lebanon. They also grant serious moneysupport to poor neighbourhoods in lebanon and syria.

Seems like many militant movements has now started to develop into political movements Hizbollah and Hamas seems both going into the same direction just as the IRA did.

None the less is think there will be much more trouble before we have something familiar to the Sin fein of today.

[Frogg]

dismantle the terrorist organisation and leave the political side running (like with Sin Fein/IRA)

Representative Jane Harman (D) was on the news this morning and basically said the same thing. Hezzy is correctly identified a terrorist group; and, in order to come off that list they would need to disarm and stop terror tactics. She also said that they should then join into the political process along with everyone else.

.

[Laworkerbee]

I can give you 241 reasons why the US should never accept Hezbolla :bash:

why the French wish to accept them boogles my mind since many of thier troops were murdered by a suicide bomber the same day.

[Para]

Well if we follow this line of thought to it's logical conclusion, then all the major terrorist groups should then be recognised. Also do Hezbolla represent a country or just a religious sect, and if it is just a religious sect do all the other sects get special representation.

[martinexsquaddie]

they have a tv station and some politcal legitmancy :roll:
so possibly slightly harder to dismantle than just syria pulling out
I thought there backing mostly came from Iran
they run schools and hospitals as well
wishing themout of exsistance may no be that simple :(

[Holycrusader]

I can give you 241 reasons why the US should never accept Hezbolla :bash:

why the French wish to accept them boogles my mind since many of thier troops were murdered by a suicide bomber the same day.
US can have a issue with Hezbolla. But is not our problem. For my point of view as long they keep their politics on only attacking military target their OK in my book. Killing soldiers on the war is not terrorism. Hezbolla is now a legal and strong party in Lebanon, so talking about their liquidation is US ingeration in internal affir of sovereign Lebanon.


ps
Sorry for marines but US politisc in 80 was plain stupid. :cantbeli: Your country send Iowa (as I remember) to attack shia targets, and then was suprised tht they received such repraisal. Blame your politics not Lebanon people

[cut]

dismantle the terrorist organisation and leave the political side running (like with Sin Fein/IRA)

Representative Jane Harman (D) was on the news this morning and basically said the same thing. Hezzy is correctly identified a terrorist group; and, in order to come off that list they would need to disarm and stop terror tactics. She also said that they should then join into the political process along with everyone else.

.

should Sinn Fein be considered a terrorist group?

[Laworkerbee]

I can give you 241 reasons why the US should never accept Hezbolla :bash:

why the French wish to accept them boogles my mind since many of thier troops were murdered by a suicide bomber the same day.
US can have a issue with Hezbolla. But is not our problem. For my point of view as long they keep their politics on only attacking military target their OK in my book. Killing soldiers on the war is not terrorism. Hezbolla is now a legal and strong party in Lebanon, so talking about their liquidation is US ingeration in internal affir of sovereign Lebanon.


ps
Sorry for marines but US politisc in 80 was plain stupid. :cantbeli: Your country send Iowa (as I remember) to attack shia targets, and then was suprised tht they received such repraisal. Blame your politics not Lebanon people

More like the Battleship was used AFTER the suicide bombing ( to ill effect I agree ), and those French and American troops were operating as peacekeepers not as an occuplying force.

[Holycrusader]

More like the Battleship was used AFTER the suicide bombing ( to ill effect I agree ), and those French and American troops were operating as peacekeepers not as an occuplying force.

No, as I remember the shooting on shia target was first. Then was big boom against military target. And then they kill most of the CIA analysts and agent in the embassy bombing (this meeting was one of the stupidest american move ever - and btw. I agree Syria was involwed). But in long term arab and palestinian issues was hit by that bomb attack. Without inteligence in Middle east US start listen to Israeli sources of information. And thats why maybe we have so bad situation there...

IW

[Laworkerbee]

I stand corrected

As events unfolded, American decisions were reactive to actions in Lebanon. In many respects there was no clear policy--nothing but immediate tactical objectives and a mission never clearly enunciated for the troops who went ashore.

In early June of 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon with massive force, driving all the way to Beirut and putting the Palestinian fighters and residents, as well as the Lebanese civilian population of that city, under siege. Amidst a great international furor the scene was set for a Western military intervention.

On August 25, the Marines went ashore in Beirut, four days after the French troops arrived. The PLO evacuation was completed without significant incident. The Marines redeployed to their ships on September 10.

On September 16-18, an estimated 700-800 Palestinian civilians were massacred in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut. The world reacted with shock and condemnation.

On September 20, a horrified President Reagan announced the formation of a new MNF in consultation with France and Italy. The force would return to Lebanon for a "limited period of time."

There was no quick political plan or military objective that would pull Lebanon out of its agony. A military presence was a visible means of expressing our continued concern for Lebanon.

By February of 1983, the Marines were involved in disturbing incidents as they guarded their perimeter around Beirut International Airport. On February 2, a Marine captain drew his sidearm as he blocked three Israeli tanks from penetrating his position.

On April 18, a car bomb exploded at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, killing 17 U.S. foreign service and military personnel and over forty Lebanese employees and citizens.

By late August the Marines of the MNF were caught up in firefights with armed elements outside their perimeter in the predominantly Shia suburbs of South Beirut. The Marines also received occasional fire from nearby mountain slopes, largely held by Druze fighters, supplied by Syria. On August 28, fighting between the LAF and militia forces in South Beirut spilled over to the Marine positions. On August 29, Marine positions came under mortar, rocket, and small-arms fire. Two Marines were killed and fourteen wounded. The Marines returned fire with artillery, small-arms, and a helicopter gunship.

In the weeks following the attack on Marines at Beirut International Airport, U.S. ships of the Sixth Fleet responded with naval gunfire. Two more Marines were killed on September 6. Druze and Palestinian militia forces engaged in intense fighting against Christian forces over areas in the Shuf mountains evacuated by withdrawing Israeli forces.


Some of the naval gunfire was directed at Druze emplacements. This was widely and correctly viewed in Lebanon as U.S. intervention on the side of the Christians and the government. In mid-September the battleship New Jersey was dispatched to Lebanese waters to bring its sixteen-inch guns into play.

On October 23, just after dawn 241 Marines died when a truck packed with explosives blew up a Marine barracks at Beirut International Airport. At that same moment a similar explosion blew up a French military barracks a few kilometers away, killing 56 French troops. The October 23 suicide bombers used the identical technique that had been used six months earlier to blow up the American embassy. The same technique would be used again on December 12 in Kuwait against the American and French embassies. It would be used again in September, 1984, in East Beirut at the American embassy, with 13 deaths.


In mid-November France launched an air strike against Iranian Revolutionary Guard positions in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. This was retaliation for the bombing of the French barracks on October 23. On December 4, U.S. Navy aircraft from the Sixth Fleet launched a sizable air strike on Syrian air defense positions in Lebanon which had fired upon U.S. reconnaissance aircraft. Two U.S. aircraft were shot down, one pilot was killed, and one was taken prisoner by the Syrians. On the same day, shelling from the Shuf killed eight Marines and wounded two. Sporadic fighting continued through December and January.

what a rat fvck