U.S.: Syria has Beirut hit list
Weeks after military pullout, Damascus would destabilize Lebanon
Friday, June 10, 2005
By Robin Wright, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Bush administration officials yesterday alleged that
Syria has developed a hit list targeting senior Lebanese political
figures in an attempt to regain control of its neighboring state, just
six weeks after Syria said it had ended almost three decades of
military occupation.
"These are threats against some of the most prominent Lebanese
political leaders. The purpose would be to create instability and to
create internal strife," a senior administration official said. After
a brief lull in Syrian interference in Lebanon, senior Syrian
intelligence personnel have been seen back in Lebanon, particularly
over the past week, the official added.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday said the United States
is concerned about a potential "pattern" of political killings. "What
we don't want is that there is a pattern now of assassination of key
figures because that would be very, very destabilizing in Lebanon, and
I think it would have to point a finger at those forces that have been
destabilizing in Lebanon," Rice said on "The Charlie Rose Show" on
PBS.
The U.S. allegations come, ironically, on the same day that Syria's
ruling Baath Party called for improving diplomatic relations with the
United States. The final communique of the party congress called for a
"constructive dialogue" with Washington and "an exchange of visits on
all levels," according to Syrian television.
Lebanese opposition leader Walid Jumblatt also expressed concern
yesterday about the potential for future assassinations after the car
bombing last week of a leading journalist critical of Syria. "Probably
there is a decision -- with the knowledge or without the knowledge of
President [Bashar] Assad -- to continue the assassinations," he said
on a Lebanese television talk show.
The Bush administration is also concerned about the return of Syrian
intelligence because Lebanon is now halfway through a four-phased
election for parliament, which will in turn form a new government.
Syria has dominated Beirut's governments since shortly after it first
deployed troops there in 1976, initially under an Arab League mandate
to try to quell Lebanon's civil war.
Although Syrian troops have pulled out under terms mandated in a U.N.
resolution, Rice said the United States has doubts about the
withdrawal of its intelligence agents. "We need to keep pressure on
the Syrians to be transparent about what they're doing in Lebanon,"
she said. "We're being very clear to people that we want an
international spotlight on what is going on in Lebanon, so that the
Lebanese people can carry out their elections in a fair -- a place
that is free of this kind of foreign influence," Rice said.
The senior administration official claimed that a "variety of credible
Lebanese sources" had said Damascus has developed a "hit list" of
senior Lebanese political leaders, and that the sources had reported
seeing "familiar figures" from Syrian intelligence back in Lebanon.
"There are efforts by Syrians to put back in place the system of
intimidation," he added.
At the United Nations, Syrian Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad said any
intelligence operatives in Lebanon were from France, the United States
or Israel. "I am sure there are no Syrians there. Let them investigate
themselves," Mekdad told Reuters.
The United Nations is also concerned about Syria's presence in
Lebanon. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday said he may send
a U.N. verification team back to Lebanon. In the meantime, U.N. envoy
Terje Roed-Larsen is being dispatched this week to Damascus for talks
with the Assad government about its presence in Lebanon.
Syria's return to Lebanon would be a major violation of U.N.
resolution 1559, which demanded a total Syrian withdrawal with its
tiny neighbor.
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| User: "WH" |
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| Title: Re: Syria has Beirut hit list |
10 Jun 2005 05:18:51 PM |
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wrote:
U.S.: Syria has Beirut hit list
Weeks after military pullout, Damascus would destabilize Lebanon
Friday, June 10, 2005
By Robin Wright, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Bush administration officials yesterday alleged that
Syria has developed a hit list targeting senior Lebanese political
figures in an attempt to regain control of its neighboring state, just
six weeks after Syria said it had ended almost three decades of
military occupation.
The Bush administration also said that Iraq has WMD.
I rest my case!
WH
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