Powell warns Syria over support for Hizbullah

[SeanAshi]

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON

Secretary of State Colin Powell blamed Hizbullah on Tuesday for deliberately igniting a new flare-up with Israel and cautioned Syria against giving any support to the Lebanese group.

Powell, at a news conference, said it was unfortunate that Hizbullah again has caused a need for Israel to respond by killing an Israeli soldier.

"The deliberate action that they took, which resulted in the loss of life, once again demonstrates the nature of that organization," Powell said. "We believe that all parties interested in peace should condemn that kind of action by Hizbullah."

Turning to Syria, Powell said it should understand that "any support" for terror groups, whether vocal, permitting transshipment of weapons or permitting its leaders to remain in Damascus, destabilizes the Mideast and is not in the interest of peace.

He urged both Israel and Lebanon to monitor their actions carefully.

Hizbullah is branded a terror group by the State Department and Syria is named as a supporter of terror.

Earlier, a senior Syrian diplomat denied that his government permits terror groups to plot attacks on Israel from offices in Damascus.
"Bring us any evidence an operation was planned from Damascus," Imad Moustapha, the acting ambassador to Washington, said at a news conference.

He said various groups had information offices in Damascus that were closed by the government. "We will not allow them to do any planning," Moustapha said at the Middle East Institute, a private research group.

On a new flare-up between Israel and Hizbullah, the ambassador said Hizbullah was defending Lebanon against Israeli occupation and had never attacked Israelis in Israel.

He said the Israeli soldier killed Monday was in Lebanon, which remains unsatisfied that Israel's pullback had returned every last inch of territory to Lebanon.

For the most part, the ambassador promoted President Bashar al-Assad's "peace initiative," calling for a resumption of negotiations with Israel, and Moustapha urged President Bush to register his support for "momentum" in his State of the Union message.

"We want to regain the Golan Heights through negotiations," he said of the strategic plateau that Syria lost to Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. "We are not going to war."

He said negotiations should resume where they left off when Ehud Barak was Israel's prime minister.

"We have achieved a lot," he said, "We have built a lot on the peace front. Why should we waste more years?"

Moustapha said the two sides had made headway before Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995 and then in 2000 when Barak was prime minister.

But he said Barak backed off on the basis of Israeli polls.

A spokesman for the Israeli Embassy, Mark Regev, said Israel was prepared to hold "good-faith negotiations with no preconditions."

"We think at this stage we don't need words, we need actions," Regev said.

"If the Syrians would end their support for terrorist groups that conduct suicide bombings this would be a very important confidence-building measure," the Israeli official said.


How many more times is Powell going to warn Syria?

[Truthsayer]

Yes, let us start another crusade *ops* I mean, war *ops* I mean, Operation Freedom For Some Others.

The rest of the world thanks you.

[usa320]

The rest of the world thanks you.

Its about bloody time you europeans thanked us for the sacrifice we made for you. All that time, money and lives spent defending europe, and its turning into a haven for communists, fascists and fundementalists anyway.

[juhae]

Its about bloody time you europeans thanked us for the sacrifice we made for you. All that time, money and lives spent defending europe, and its turning into a haven for communists, fascists and fundementalists anyway.
Perhaps, in order to be historically correct, you should make that "west europeans", as I don't remember the US defending the eastern side very much. ;)

[Argyll]

I also think you should also remember that British troops fought in the Pacific as well.
USA 320 Yo're not much of a Historian either,as it was the Russians who got to Berlin 1st too.
It was not just American troops that were involved in the Europe Theatre,there were many different Nations,outside of Europe as well,IIRC there were Troops from India with the British Army.
Also please remember that Britain was never invaded either.

Besides I think Powell should shut his mouth and Finish off what was started in Afghanistan and Iraq before contemplating any Military action against the Syrians.........Peace and stability in the ME my Arse, when all you do is want to start wars with everyone who you see as the "axis of evil",try using the same muscle against the Koreans!

[SeanAshi]

Perhaps, in order to be historically correct, you should make that "west europeans", as I don't remember the US defending the eastern side very much
The United States kept the Communist block from expanding ;)

Besides I think Powell should shut his mouth and Finish off what was started in Afghanistan and Iraq before contemplating any Military action against the Syrians
Syria is in terrible shape, the Rhode Island National Guard could take Assad out, America deals with Iraq, Afghanistan, the Israelis can punce all over Syria, and the Arab League wont do a damn thing.

[Argyll]

Syria is in terrible shape, the Rhode Island National Guard could take Assad out, America deals with Iraq, Afghanistan, the Israelis can punce all over Syria, and the Arab League wont do a damn thing


Are you willing to bet on it? ;)
The United states didn't stop it in Yugoslavia,or Czechaslovakia did it?
The US along with ALLIED forces stopped the Russians grabbing more than they could ;)

[SeanAshi]

The United states didn't stop it in Yugoslavia
We pounded their ass from the air relentlesly, Clinton didn't want to put American troops on the ground, fearing another Vietnam.

Are you willing to bet on it?
I would bet my life on it, thats how sure I am.

[Argyll]

Lets see if I'm not correct the Air war in the Former state of Yugoslavia was deemed a failure as it was done from high altitude,the claims of the destruction of the Yugoslavian Army were blown right out of the water when Thousands of vehicles left Bosnia to return to Sebia!It seemed that the Yugoslavs used decoys to a great effect!! ;)
Besides I was talking about Yugoslavia after WW2! ;)

[He219]

I also think you should also remember that British troops fought in the Pacific as well.
USA 320 Yo're not much of a Historian either,as it was the Russians who got to Berlin 1st too.
That was a political decision, Argyll. Had Patton gotten the Fuel and Supplies that Ike held back, the Western Powers would have been in Berlin first. Just look at how that decision influenced history. The UK would have been out of the war a long time earlier without convoys ferrying material and supplies. Hitler wouldn't have had to invade at all, that was never his intention.


Besides I think Powell should shut his mouth and Finish off what was started in Afghanistan and Iraq before contemplating any Military action against the Syrians
A warning doesn't equate to a pending invasion. I agree about focusing our military efforts one theater at a time.


.........Peace and stability in the ME my Arse, when all you do is want to start wars with everyone who you see as the "axis of evil",try using the same muscle against the Koreans!
The North Koreans may be proliferating weapons, but it is the Islamic Extremists are the ones most likely to use them while operating throughout the porous borders of the Middle East, Afghanistan/Pakistan and Southeast Asia. Therefore, the War on Terror must be focused at those sources. The State of North Korea is contained economically and politically, but the Middle East presents a far greater threat. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the heart of the rise of terrorism and US support for Israel is why the US is targeted. Peace and Stability in the ME is critical to concluding the War on Terrorism.

[He219]

Lets see if I'm not correct the Air war in the Former state of Yugoslavia was deemed a failure as it was done from high altitude,the claims of the destruction of the Yugoslavian Army were blown right out of the water when Thousands of vehicles left Bosnia to return to Sebia!It seemed that the Yugoslavs used decoys to a great effect!! ;)
Besides I was talking about Yugoslavia after WW2! ;)

As if the Air Campaign was focused on the destruction of Serbian soldiers and equipment. I believe the intent was not to eradicate the Serbian military. Ultimately the political objectives were reached throught the use of Air Power and by enforcement of Stabiliztion Forces thereafter.

:D

[Argyll]

"beware the sleeping Giant" HE219 ;)

Hitler did have plans to invade Britain,I'm sure it was called Operation Sealion.

There will never be peace in the ME without settling the Palestinian/Israeli thing,there are far more terrorist groups in that region than there was in Iraq mate,yet we didn't invade there did we?There are claims of WMD's in that region too,but what did we do .........em nothing!
There are so many ways in which a fanatical Mslim group can get WMD,they all do not have to come from the ME,try Germany,France,Russia,even the US itself!
Why would a group run the risk of trying to bring it into another country when it would be so much easier to procure it there?,or even manufacture it close to the intended target?.It's not a clear cut as the Intelligence Agencies would have you believe it!
I'm also willing to bet there are "sleeper" cells right now in both our countries,just waiting for the word,and resources to strike,security starts at home mate.........not thousands of miles away,if Mexicans can get into the US through illegal means then so can Al Quida!

[UoUo]

"beware the sleeping Giant" HE219 ;)

Hitler did have plans to invade Britain,I'm sure it was called Operation Sealion.

There will never be peace in the ME without settling the Palestinian/Israeli thing,there are far more terrorist groups in that region than there was in Iraq mate,yet we didn't invade there did we?There are claims of WMD's in that region too,but what did we do .........em nothing!
There are so many ways in which a fanatical Mslim group can get WMD,they all do not have to come from the ME,try Germany,France,Russia,even the US itself!
Why would a group run the risk of trying to bring it into another country when it would be so much easier to procure it there?,or even manufacture it close to the intended target?.It's not a clear cut as the Intelligence Agencies would have you believe it!
I'm also willing to bet there are "sleeper" cells right now in both our countries,just waiting for the word,and resources to strike,security starts at home mate.........not thousands of miles away,if Mexicans can get into the US through illegal means then so can Al Quida!

I didn't get you...you are saying that here we have much more terror group then iraq have...but still you didn't invade here..

"invade" who ? the palstinian ?

[One?]

The rest of the world thanks you.

Its about bloody time you europeans thanked us for the sacrifice we made for you. All that time, money and lives spent defending europe, and its turning into a haven for communists, fascists and fundementalists anyway.

the US didn't help the europeans for the hell of it. They had economic gains from it, and who knows what else. If the japenese did not invade the US, they might have not joined the war.

Its funny how you people say, oh lets invade syria, we can take them out in a day. The US is still taking casualties in Iraq, and afghanistan. The army is already spread to thin and you expect to enage in another war. Plus most arab countries agreed to the invasion and facilitated the invasion. What will you do with syria? Oh wait you are gonna take on the rest of the neighbouring countries I forgot :cantbeli:

[Marmot1]

remember germany...
they were superpower but they started to fight on too many fronts and they did to many enemies and how they ended... same might happen to US now your forces are streched and attacking syria might be one step to far since war is expensive now and how it would be if you start another war... and syria is not as bloody regime as iraq was so I think that war with them would be loong bloody and very costly and simmilas to vietnam + you will loose remaining support in arab countries... and probably in europe too

[FallenAngel]

remember germany...
they were superpower but they started to fight on too many fronts and they did to many enemies and how they ended... same might happen to US now your forces are streched and attacking syria might be one step to far since war is expensive now and how it would be if you start another war... and syria is not as bloody regime as iraq was so I think that war with them would be loong bloody and very costly and simmilas to vietnam + you will loose remaining support in arab countries... and probably in europe too

Well, if clinton hadn't hacked the Army in half (from 18 Div to 10) ten we might not be spread too thin. Democrat bastard :fork:

Frankly, I don't think the US HAS to get involved regarding Syria directly. Let the Israelis take care of it (they are more than capable) and the US should just stand by and make sure everyone fights fairly. ;)

[Tane Angle]

Just a side note: The US had been fighting in WWII for close to two years before Pearl Harbor. It was just something not much talked about. Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[UkrainianAmerican]

remember germany...
they were superpower but they started to fight on too many fronts and they did to many enemies and how they ended... same might happen to US now your forces are streched and attacking syria might be one step to far since war is expensive now and how it would be if you start another war... and syria is not as bloody regime as iraq was so I think that war with them would be loong bloody and very costly and simmilas to vietnam + you will loose remaining support in arab countries... and probably in europe too

Well, if clinton hadn't hacked the Army in half (from 18 Div to 10) ten we might not be spread too thin. Democrat bastard :fork:

Frankly, I don't think the US HAS to get involved regarding Syria directly. Let the Israelis take care of it (they are more than capable) and the US should just stand by and make sure everyone fights fairly. ;)
word, I bet the Israelis would love to clean up the region a bit

[UoUo]

As much as i love to see my country bomb the **** out of syria...
I wouldn't be happy to see a ground attack on them...we whould win...but I am not willing to lose people there....
And war as you know is very exspansive...

Just send the IAF. woot

[SeanAshi]

Just send the IAF
Do you think that the Syrian Air Force would even attempt to get off the ground?

[UoUo]

Just send the IAF
Do you think that the Syrian Air Force would even attempt to get off the ground?

I think yes....but hey...just cheak in the history books what happend when the last time that the IAF meet with syrian air force.

[SeanAshi]

I think yes....but hey...just cheak in the history books what happend when the last time that the IAF meet with syrian air force.

Syrians better think twice before taking off.

[One?]

if the IAF attacks, syria is gonna stay neutral. They will launch attacks back. It might not be an air war, but they would fire rockets and what not into israel.

[UoUo]

if the IAF attacks, syria is gonna stay neutral. They will launch attacks back. It might not be an air war, but they would fire rockets and what not into israel.

Not...how do you get that ?
If israel will strike syria i think it will be a army vs army

If syria strike a with missile israeli cities...syria will be in a big trouble.

[IDFM203]

if the IAF attacks, syria is gonna stay neutral. They will launch attacks back. It might not be an air war, but they would fire rockets and what not into israel. perhaps I didn’t fully understand your statement here but to me it seems that you have made a contradictory statement here.

You say that Syria will stay neutral but yet you say they will fire rockets..eh (as you Canadians will say ;) )??:roll: that’s not staying neutral!! Nor is Syria ever beem neutral nor can they call themselves that, for they are officially at war with Israel and they consider Israel a mortal enemy.


So before I go on with what I think about Israel attacking or not and about Syria’s actions. I need you to clarify your statement here and explain what you mean by your statement that Syria is “gonna stay neutral” when they are not now nor have they ever been neutral and them firing rockets (even if it is in response) is not a neutral action and does not lead to one being labeled “staying neural”, when “A” that is not a neutral action and “B” they were never neutral to begin with to even claim that they are “staying neutral”

Shalom :D