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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Allies Resisting as U.S. Pushes Terror Label for Hezbollah
2005-02-17
NYT so prepare for handwringing:
As rising instability in Lebanon increases tensions in the Middle East, the Bush administration is arguing with European governments over whether they should designate the Lebanon-based Shiite group Hezbollah a terrorist organization, American and European officials say. The United States is already stepping up pressure on Iran and Syria, Hezbollah's main sponsors. The American rift with Syria deepened this week, with suspicions that Syria might have been behind the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister in Beirut on Monday.

The disagreement over Hezbollah presents another challenge for President Bush, who will go to Europe on Sunday on a mission to fix ruptures with Europe over the Iraq war. In the past two weeks, the officials said, France has rebuffed appeals by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which would prevent it from raising money in Europe through charity groups. The United States has long called Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but the French, American and European officials said, have opposed doing so, and argue that making such a designation now would be unwise, given the new turbulence in Lebanon...
I think it would be an ideal time, given the turbulence in Lebanon, but what do I know?
"This is a difficult issue because Hezbollah has military operations that we deplore, but Hezbollah is also a political party in Lebanon," said a European official. "Can a political party elected by the Lebanese people be put on a terrorist list? Would that really help deal with terrorism? Now with Lebanon in a fragile state, is this the proper moment to take such a step?" A European diplomat said the issue of calling Hezbollah a terrorist organization was discussed in Brussels on Wednesday at a meeting of the Clearing House, a unit of the European Union that meets in confidential sessions to review terrorist activities in Europe. The group could reach no consensus, the diplomat said."Nothing is going to change on Hezbollah because we don't have an agreement among the member states," the diplomat said. "That doesn't mean we won't get a consensus. I know the Americans are impatient, but the European Union has 25 states, and these things take time."
"Yasss...these things take time."

I know all about time. In June of 2001 I was in Weehawken NJ, looking across at the lower Manhattan skyline. The Twin Towers were magnificently framed by sunrise and looming storm clouds. I briefly thought about taking a picture, but shrugged and said, "I'll take a picture...some other time." Hope these unnamed diplos and empty suits all have their pix of the Eiffel Tower...
Posted by:Seafarious

#8  IIRC ETA has a political party, and we know the IRA has one, has this stopped the designation of their military arms as "terrorist"? Pure crap and wordgames
Posted by: Frank G   2005-02-17 10:53:21 AM  

#7  I don't know, France is being relatively reasonable this week, due to Syria having blown up one of Chirac's personal buddies.

That's the astonishing part; before Phrance will even remotely consider addressing a really unsavory situation, people have to die first.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-02-17 10:16:25 AM  

#6  Check this out:

Al Hayat cited diplomatic sources in Paris for its 'last chance' report. It quoted the sources as also saying the international community had sent a clear message to the Assad regime to refrain from 'any bloodletting in Lebanon."

The message warned that assassinating ex-Premier Hariri or Druze leader Walid Jumblat would initiate a "total, final and irrevocable divorce with the international community," according to Al Hayat.

Rea-hee-hee-EALLY! So France needs a divorce lawyer, then?

(Sorry about the lengthy link:)

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&111C46FAA0AB832142256FA7002D1AAC
Posted by: Jules 187   2005-02-17 10:03:05 AM  

#5  A camera in the sky would record the following sequence of events:

A suicide bombing carried out by Hezbollah-many people die. A little kid's arm is over here, a grandma's eyeball is over there.
The US calls Hezbollah a terrorist organization. It pressures France to call Hezbollah a terrorist orgaization, too.
France won't, because Hezbollah also has a political wing.
Hezbollah officials meet with French officials. They have a nice chat.
A suicide bombing happens again. This time a man's 3rd finger is found here, a pelvis of a middle aged woman is found there.

Dosey-do, swing your partner round, better diplomacy can't be found. And it starts all over again.

France sees Islamic murderers as nothing worse than senators, meeting with them, giving them shelter and public voice, smiling and shaking the hands that blew up many people. Sickening what our "ally" France is willing and happy to do.
Posted by: Jules 187   2005-02-17 9:29:07 AM  

#4  LOL was late I ment Belgium. I don't know Hezbollah is pretty well linked to Syria and Iraq. If they (France) want to help out Lebanon Hezbollah is part of that deal just getting Syria out is only part of the problem. Hezbollah is Iran by proxy and tolerated by Syria.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2005-02-17 7:42:00 AM  

#3  Brussels? Do you mean the UN or Belgium?

I don't know, France is being relatively reasonable this week, due to Syria having blown up one of Chirac's personal buddies. Good time to see where we could move the French on the whole Syrian/Lebanese front, even if they won't budge on Hezbollah.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2005-02-17 7:23:15 AM  

#2  The nations that are not convinced are Brussels and France.

I recommended we also recall our Ambassador from France not just Syria.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2005-02-17 3:20:50 AM  

#1  Paul Celucci, former US Ambassador to Canada and potential Republican Presidential candidate, pressured his host country to move on Hizbollah. It worked. Celucci is a straight-shooter.
Posted by: IToldYouSo   2005-02-17 2:54:56 AM  

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