White House: Syria Developed 'Hit List' to Regain Control of Lebanon

[ECH1969]

The Bush administration has credible information 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," said a senior administration official, who requested anonymity because of ongoing sensitive diplomatic efforts. 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.

Syria's return to Lebanon would be a major violation of U.N. resolution 1559, co-sponsored by the United States and France, which demanded a total Syrian withdrawal with its tiny neighbor. U.S. and U.N. officials estimated that Damascus had some 14,000 troops and 5,000 intelligence officials. Damascus claimed the last troops pulled out on April 28.

"We are now receiving reports that there may be elements that are still there and we are considering the possible return of the verification team to ascertain what's going on," Annan told reporters. The U.N. team's first mission last month was "unable to conclude with certainty" that all Syria soldiers and agents had withdrawn completely.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060901217.html

[Sandpiper]

1. Of course, we all know that America would never do something like that

...cough...

Kissinger

...cough...

Negroponte

[LisaM]

2. How can it be Latest Breaking News AND say "White House"?

Should we have a Latest Breaking Propaganda thread?

(Nothing against the poster, who is following the rules, it just caught my eye.)

[City Lights]

3. The bush administration has credible information....

:rofl:

[KC21304]

10. Georgie has started catapulting again . nt

[seemslikeadream]

4. credible information

[Patty Diana]

5. Bush Administration is NOT capable of having credible info on

anything!!!!!!!! Syria is on the NEO-CONS Hit list, always has been

[patcox2]

6. Replay 1982. Bushies live in the past, I swear.

Dick Cheney is apparently going back and righting all the wrongs of his life. He was sec. def. in 1991 and let Saddam off the hook, so we go "do over" the gulf war. Now what, looks like we are going to "do over" the disastrous Lebanon adventure.

Makes sense, anyway, much as we'd like to invade Iran, and despite the fact that Syria isn't even in the "Axis of Evil," it does look like Syria is or next distraction, so the chimperor can be the hero again (will he do another fly-in to a carrier after we overrun Damascus?) and Rummie can go back to the routine of daily smartass "I've got big balls, lick them" press conferences.

It has to be Syria, rather than Iran or North Korea, because they have pissed away our army, and we simply don't have the ability to go after anything bigger. Oh, and this way we get to use our dear spsecial friends Israel to do some of the work.

[Tempest]

7. This is BS, and you know why?

Because the pro-Syrian candidates won in the recent Lebanese elections.

Why would Syria assassinate politicians if they control them by proxy?

[eissa]

8. This is laughable

This administration is just dying to go after the countries on their hit list, and Syria is next. Would definitely help them deflect attention from that disaster they call Iraq. I'm still of the opinion that it wasn't even Syria that took out Hariri -- he was a moderate in a country filled with anti-Syrian politicians.

[newscott]

9. And we're supposed to believe this because?