Syria/Lebanon vs the world

The current situation is that America and her allies are pressuring and forcing the Syrian military to pull out of its neighbor, Lebanon. while i agree with this, people in the region are actually resisting world pressure and they want the syrians in lebanon.

500000 protesters

what do you guys think of this situation? is the world right? are the locals right? what is the history behind this new confrontation in the Middle East?

 

The situation is much more complicated than many seem to think. While the Syrian presence in Lebanon has to end for Lebanon to become a truly free and democratic nation the situation has to be viewed in context of 15 years of civil war and ethnic bloodshed that left 150,000 dead. The Syrian presence has brought stability and relative levels of peace and prosperity to Lebanon which I doubt would have been achieved otherwise.

Those who insist that Syria must leave Lebanon should think very carefully about all of the consequences of such a move. It is not unthinkable that Lebanon could slip back into chaos.

 

Granted. But still, you gotta love the protesters message:


"Out with foreign oppressors and occupiers! We want Lebanon free from foreign pressure!

And just to clarify, we mean the US and France and those other nations, not Syria. Foreign pressure from them is okay!!"


At the end of the day, is the state of Lebanon has self-determinination and elects to align itself closely with Syria for reasons of stability, that's acceptable. At issue is whether Lebanon is *really* choosing that, or whether it is a coercive relationship. External (western) coercion in the short run to remove roadblocks to self-determination and self-rule (syria) is acceptable, and not hypocritical. Rejecting one form or outside pressure in favour of permenent outside pressure is, however, hypocritical.

 

I think it should be up to Lebanon, or else someone other than Bush should enforce the UN laws for once. If Lebanon wants international help, Syria be damned. I'd say that in any situation. However, Hezbollah is a dangerous terror organization, even more dangerous because they are legitimate in many places. They can draw a lot of power from that. However, I do think they need to be dismantled after al Qaeda, hopefully the next president will have the guts to do that.

I think if we go into Syria, we need Arab help. This is a different situation from Iraq and Afghanistan. We can't be cowed by a 500,000 member protest, especially considering the bulk of them may have been threatened with death if they didn't attend. Strategic strikes on Syria, or the dismantlement of their government may work, but unless there is a multi-racial coalition there could be potential trouble.

It could be a Gulf War II scenario, where an international Coalition expels Syria from Lebanon, only if we have a Coalition, we shouldn't stop there. Take SYria out of the game, and dismantle Hezbollah no matter what.

 

people in the region are actually resisting world pressure and they want the syrians in lebanon

Are we sure about this now?

 

What I want to know is why no one has been asking about who killed Prime Minister Hariri? It seems the medias agenda has been to report the demonstartions, but that is neither here nor there. Syria and Hezbollah seem to have nothing to gain from the assassination since both are invested in Lebanon's stability. I don't believe it is that little known Islamic group that "claimed" the assassination. So, who really killed Mr. Hariri? and why?

 

Well obviously it was the Israelis. I mean, they seem to be benefitting the most. A Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon is in their interests, as is a weakened Hezbollah who would be missing that Syrian support in their territory.



I highly doubt it was them, but it makes an odd sort of sense.




Thermal Expansion!

 

people in the region are actually resisting world pressure and they want the syrians in lebanon

Are we sure about this now?

Well, to be fair, there are massive pro-Syrian demonstrations being staged...

coughcoughbyhezbollahcough

E_S

 

I think the US using it's diplomatic pressure (best word i can think of ) to get Syria to get out of Lebanon is great. I just wish they would use some of this pressure on Israel.

 

You have to love the opportunism there.

The Syrians announce a withdrawl of influence from Beiruit, then we bring pressure to bear! Phew, I'm glad we made the difference!

By the way, is there anyone here with more than a passing familiarity with Lebanese/Syrian relations who thinks the Iraq election played any influence on this? Because I know people want to praise the Iraqi elections as being a catalyst for this, but if you ask them any questions about modern Lebanese political history from 1979 to the present, they answer by way of a blank stare.

E_S

 

Was that a preemptive strike of your own E_S? Because it doesn't seem that anyone has mentioned that type of sentiment in this thread.

 

I agree with DarthKarde that the withdrawal of the Syrians may bring about a renewed era of mass violence as old scores are settled without the stabilising force of Syrian military presence.

 

E_S, I don't think those elections have anything to do with it. I also agree with DartheKarde.

 

Was that a preemptive strike of your own E_S? Because it doesn't seem that anyone has mentioned that type of sentiment in this thread.

Not in this thread, no... but it has been mentioned elsewhere.

 

It was bound to come up, D_OT, as it has elsewhere.

Just trying to gauge how much people know/don't know about the Lebanon.

E_S