Article

2006-07-20 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

France gives proposals for Mideast resolution

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2006-07-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Is this what Al-Shiraq and his Saudi pal came up with ? Just another crock of dogshit. Nothing useful.

Posted by SOP35/Rat 2006-07-20 01:50|| 2006-07-20 01:50|| Front Page Top

#2 In an indirect reference to Hizbollah militants, de la Sabliere said any resolution could call for the "disarming and disbanding of all militia in Lebanon" so the Beirut government could assert authority over all its territory.

Been there, done that. Didn't work then, won't work now. Shoulda done it when you had the chance. Maybe next time you'll pay better attention.

Posted by gorb 2006-07-20 02:13|| 2006-07-20 02:13|| Front Page Top

#3 "Shoulda done it when you had the chance."

What do you mean, when we had a chance ? Do you remember Lebanon was all but occupied by Syria until it was forced to evacuate the country in 2005, under international (mostly US and French) pressure, in the wake of Rafic Hariri's assassination ?

Posted by Atlantic Friend">Atlantic Friend 2006-07-20 03:48|| 2006-07-20 03:48|| Front Page Top

#4 What do you mean, when we had a chance?

It is correct that Lebanese alone could not have done it. Heck, they didn't even have a government they could call their own. This comment is directed at all the players involved, including western countries. Hezballah was a huge threat, and something should have been done with it, but nothing substantial ever was. Just complaining. Hopefully this kind of thing won't happen again. Not in Lebanon, not anywhere. What exactly to do? I don't know. But I'm sure all the powers involved could have come together to stop it, which includes the UN (if we could get it to function), European governments, the US, and heaven forbid even Israel. The whole situation was so messed up with all the rivalries, pride, cross-purposes, hatred, fears, unstable governments, tip-toeing, etc. that it was doomed to fail and nothing should have been agreed to in the first place. Now that Lebanon has some kind of government of its own, it stands a chance, but only if it invites the Israelis in and works with them. Really, they're good people, but deep unfounded hatreds passed down from generation to generation by weak governments are keeping people from seeing clearly. By not working with the Israelis, this is what happens. War is not deciding what is "most good", but what is "least bad", and accepting it. Getting rid of Hezballah is a good thing, but any way you do it is going to hurt to some degree or another. This is the price the world has to pay. I mean the world, not just Lebanon. After this is over, perhaps it will spawn a new way of thinking that disposes with pride and is quicker to call on others for help. And others will be quicker to help, and not play overly complicated, pointless diplomatic games.

Something like that, anyway! Hope it's food for thought. What are your thoughts about this?

Posted by gorb 2006-07-20 04:49|| 2006-07-20 04:49|| Front Page Top

#5 de la Sabliere said any resolution could call for the "disarming and disbanding of all militia in Lebanon

Already done, asshole. Call it UNSC resolution 1559

Posted by Captain America 2006-07-20 06:16|| 2006-07-20 06:16|| Front Page Top

#6 Hopefully this kind of thing won't happen again. Not in Lebanon, not anywhere.

I would love to share your optimism, but that is unlikely. As the old Romans used to say: "repetitio est mater studiorum", but then, even that is not certain. People and polities alike are repeating the same patterns, yet expecting different results, instead of learning from their actions in logical and constructive fashion.

The hope amongst western leaders is that Israel will create a sort of "fait accompli" in the area, expending its blood and treasure, so direct western involvement was not and is not necessary. Time will probably show that is not to be the case, and mayhaps much sooner rather than later. Iran will try to open a 4th front through Syria, because there does not seem to be any real deterent except for Israeli military might, from their point of view. Their goal is not a defeat of Israel--at least not at this stage--but a spread of chaos. And they would fight for this disorder to the last Syrian, in the same way as they are now willing to expend fully their Hezbully drones.

I am not telling anything that is not known to western governments, everybody figured the stratagem by now. But everybody is content with finger pointing.

I know it sounds cynical, and it is possible that a smallest provocation from Iranians that would happen outside strictly Lebanon's theatre would bring the needed response, but I don't see signs that would indicate this would be the case.

The world will let Israels slough through it alone until it would be apparent that everyones's interest are threatened. Sort of 1 minute to midnight approach...

... like watching remotely a runaway train and not blowing the track somewhere in the country to stop it because someone there may get upset it wrecked their cattle guard fences and rather let it crash into the terminal, hoping that it will stop there.

I hope that I am mistaken.

Posted by twobyfour 2006-07-20 06:52|| 2006-07-20 06:52|| Front Page Top

#7 "De la Sabliere, in a paper circulated to council members, suggested work could begin "in the coming days" following a briefing on Thursday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on a mission he sent to the Middle East."

I, for one, welcome this valuable French contribution. I suggest that the UNSC first hear the report from Annan. Then they take the weekend to reflect on that. Then they should discuss the ideas France has raised. Then they should form a committee to discuss a draft resolution based on the French proposals.

You get my DRIFT.

Posted by liberalhawk 2006-07-20 11:30|| 2006-07-20 11:30|| Front Page Top

#8 F*ck. The. French.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-07-20 14:23|| 2006-07-20 14:23|| Front Page Top

#9 Here's a classical solution. Palestinian meet Carthaginian. Throw in a little salt. It works.

Posted by Gloling Jeque6486 2006-07-20 20:18|| 2006-07-20 20:18|| Front Page Top

#10 ..722 AD: Abd ar-Rahman now commenced his momentous march into France, in the hope of carrying the banner of the prophet to the very shores of the Baltic...the flourishing towns of southern and central France ...were transformed to smoking heaps. Charles Martel silently collected in Belgium and Germany the elements of resistance to the dreaded inundation...the iron hand of the Germans turned the fortune of the day. When darkness arrived, an immense number of Saracen bodies, among which was that of Abd ar Rahman himself convered the plain...God willing we will again meet the Arabs on the field of Europe...and slaughter them once again..

Posted by WITT 2006-07-20 22:28|| 2006-07-20 22:28|| Front Page Top

23:58 JosephMendiola
23:45 Anonymoose
23:44 Oldspook
23:36 Oldspook
23:30 Bob Marley
23:26 Oldspook
23:05 BA
23:00 Baba Tutu
22:57 twobyfour
22:55 Baba Tutu
22:39 Capsu 78
22:36 Frank G
22:36 MSM enabler
22:34 BA
22:32 Islamist preacher Omar
22:28 WITT
22:25 mjh
22:24 Omar
22:09 WITT
22:04 BA
22:02 WITT
22:01 BA
22:00 Scott R
21:53 tu3031