Article

2005-02-23 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Debka, so salt to taste...

Lebanon's climate has been charged with latent violence since the assassination Monday, February 14, of Lebanese former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, and his funeral two days later. Sparks began flying when the opposition unveiled their "peaceful democratic uprising for independence" Friday, February 18, and, as revealed by DEBKAfile's intelligence sources, Syrian forces began distributing weapons to groups supporting Damascus and the 1.4 million expatriate laborers in the country.

The resignations of president Emil Lahoude and the Karame government were forcefully demanded by the opposition leader, Walid Jumblatt, head of the Lebanese Druses who speaks for a rare multiethnic coalition made up of his own community, Christian factions endorsed by Maronite Catholic Archbishop Nasrallah Sfeir, and Sunni Muslims led by the dead billionaire's oldest son, Bahaa Hariri, with the blessing of the Sunni Muslim Mufti of Lebanon.

Saturday, February 19, Omar Karami, who succeeded Rafiq Hariri as prime minister, accused this group of attempting a coup d'etat. The belligerent Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned (or threatened) that "popular agitation against Syria's grip on the country following the killing of Rafiq Hariri could plunge Lebanon into civil war again. Backed solidly from Damascus and Tehran, he exhorted the 100,000 Shiites massed in Beirut to mark the Ashura festival not to forget the real enemy. "Death to Israel!" they roared after him.

The sparks will fly in earnest when government and Syrians move into aggressive mode to crush the opposition, which will become increasingly inflamed by multiplying leads to Syria and its Lebanese minions as Hariri's assassins. Our sources report that US, French and Israeli intelligence have already gathered solid evidence that General Rostum Ghazallah of Syrian military intelligence orchestrated the murder on orders from Damascus with the aid of Lebanese general intelligence and its chief General Jamil al-Sayad.

The Damascus-backed government in Beirut and its masters has no intention of going quietly. Bashar Assad desperately needs the political and economic benefits he extorts from Lebanon to prop up his regime. Monday, February 21, presidents George W. Bush and Jacques Chirac meet in Paris. With Lebanon at the forefront of their agenda, they will have to look hard at some tough questions. How to handle the situation if Assad orders his Syrian troops in Lebanon to march on Beirut in defense of his puppet government? And worse still, what if the full weight of the Syrian army is sent across the border to squash the uprising? Will the two Western leaders dispatch a joint US-French force to repulse the Syrian onslaught? If they did, it would be the most drastic event to hit the Middle East since the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The second American invasion of an Arab land might this time be partnered or endorsed by a European power.

To force the hands of the American and French presidents, the leaders of the Lebanese uprising are preparing a spectacular event to coincide with their summit. One proposal is for a hundreds of thousands of protesters to march through Beirut's streets and seize the parliament building.

Posted by Fred 2005-02-23 9:37:15 PM|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Wow, we really are back to the 70s.

I remember when Chicago was called Beirut by the Lake.

Posted by anonymous2u 2005-02-23 12:31:22 AM|| 2005-02-23 12:31:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 A joint U.S.-French invasion of Lebanon. Now there's a screamer. Debka sure is good for a laugh now and then. Though they are right occasionally.

Posted by gromky 2005-02-23 3:45:00 AM|| 2005-02-23 3:45:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 The author of the "Tipping Point" was on "Nightline" last night, applying his theory - little things make big differences - to Syrian occupied Lebanon. Maybe Syria is ready to tip as well.

Posted by ITolYouSoLucy 2005-02-23 4:09:43 AM|| 2005-02-23 4:09:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Syria sends a huge chunk of military into Lebenon to squash an uprising.Do I hear oppurtunity knocking?

Posted by raptor 2005-02-23 8:18:11 AM|| 2005-02-23 8:18:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Go ahead, Baby Assad, make our day.

Posted by Tom 2005-02-23 8:27:46 AM|| 2005-02-23 8:27:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 And I remember when Frisco was called Baghdad by the Bay...that would fix Pelosi.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-02-23 8:43:43 AM|| 2005-02-23 8:43:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Seeing a lot of fimiliar names coming back to forefront of Lenanese politics that have their roots in the bad old days when Beirut earned its reputation.

#4 raptor, you thinking the other border Syrian could see some activity? If so, Me too.

Posted by TomAnon 2005-02-23 8:56:00 AM|| 2005-02-23 8:56:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 That is what I had in mind,TA.With a huge part of Syria's mil/intel already tied down in Lebenon and if they send and even bigger portion of the army South that would leave a wide open eastern flank and a wide open coast.Tie that in with Israelie"training manuvers"on the Lebaonese border and opurtunity would be begging US to come in.I don't think Syria has the ability to do a Patton"Battle of the Bulge"manuver.

Posted by raptor 2005-02-23 10:50:11 AM|| 2005-02-23 10:50:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Mrs. D,

"fixing" every liberal sounds like a great idea.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2005-02-23 11:31:26 AM|| 2005-02-23 11:31:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 I went to school in Cleveland when it was called the "Mistake by the Lake"...wait it still is.

Posted by Sgt.D.T. 2005-02-23 12:00:41 PM|| 2005-02-23 12:00:41 PM|| Front Page Top

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