UN chief: Syria vows to enforce arms embargo on Hezbollah

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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that Syria would step up border patrols and work with the Lebanese army to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah.

In a meeting in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Annan also asked Syria to "use its influence" to help win the release of three Israel Defense Forces soldiers held by Lebanese and Palestinian militants allied with Damascus.

Syria will increase its own patrols along the Lebanon-Syria border, and establish joint patrols with the Lebanese army "when possible," Annan said after the meeting.

Joint patrols? I could have sworn we were trying to reduce Syrian influence. I guess that is all in the dumpster now.

The UN resolution that halted fighting between Israel and Hezbollah calls
for an arms embargo on the guerrilla group, and for Lebanon to "secure its borders and other entry points."

Haaretz

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1. This is a huge development--if true.

That's a big "if."

Of course, the Neocons will want to reject this offer.

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3. Thinking it over, I don't see why Syria would not do this.

Hiz'bullah is not really their cup of tea. I expect you are right that the idea will be viewed with skepticism, or even alarm, in certain quarters.

It seems notable that Mr. Annan is pursuing maintenance of the cease fire energetically.

[maalak]

5. Hiz'bullah is not really their cup of tea?

how so?

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6. Hiz'bullah is Shi'ite nationalist.

Syria is secular Baathist and thinks Lebanon is really part of Syria.

[maalak]

7. which is why Hizbullah has been used to undermine the Lebanese government.

if Syria were serious about this, they could start by finishing the steps needed to turn Shebaa Farms back over to Lebanon.

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8. You asked, that's the argument.

The fact remains that having Hiz'bullah dominate Lebanese politics is not what Syria would like. I'm not trying to say they are nice puppies with no flaws.

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11. Wasn't trying to argue with you.

Just noting that I agree that this would be the logical thing for Syria to do, but that I'm less than confident in Syria's (or Israel's or Lebanon's or the US's) ability to listen to logic.

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12. Never mind--thought this post was in response to me. eom

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13. No problem. nt

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9. That assumes that logic governs behavior

in the Middle East.

Thinking it over, there's no reason the Israelis and Palestinians would be fighting.

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10. True, emotion does tend to rule the day in the Middle East.

But failing reason and logic, what else is there to rely on in trying to discern what is going on?

[maalak]

2. in other news, fox promises to guard henhouse...

if i'm wrong, i'll be the first to happily admit it... but for years Syria served as a conduit for arms being supplied to conduit in violation of the original UN resolution calling for Hezbollah to disarm, so until there's actually some tangible and verifiable action i'd take this with a whole shaker full of salt.

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4. i have a bridge to sell you.....