WP: Syria Moves to Keep Control of Lebanon

[DeepModem Mom]

Syria Moves to Keep Control of Lebanon
U.S. and Europe Try to Pressure Defiant Damascus

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 31, 2005; Page A15


Syria is working covertly through a network of Lebanese operatives to ensure Damascus can still dominate its smaller neighbor even after it withdraws the last of 15,000 troops, in defiance of a U.N. resolution demanding an end to Syria's 29-year control over Lebanon, according to U.S., European and U.N. officials, and Lebanon's opposition.

Although Syria shut down its notorious intelligence headquarters in downtown Beirut, Damascus is establishing a new hidden presence in the capital's southern suburbs, bringing in officials who will not be recognized, say Lebanese opposition and Western sources. The move would contradict a pledge by President Bashar Assad to withdraw Syria's large intelligence operation from the Lebanese capital as of today.
U.S., European and U.N. officials also charge that Syria is using allies in Lebanon's government and agents in Lebanon's security services to stall Lebanon's spring elections for a new parliament, the key to political change. In the current government, the president, the acting prime minister and at least 70 of the 128 members of parliament are pro-Syrian.

"Despite the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon, Damascus has controlled Lebanon primarily through Lebanese institutions that it fills with pro-Syrian loyalists," wrote Robert G. Rabil in an analysis this week for the Washington Institute of Near East Policy....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14196-2005Mar30.html

[James T. Kirk]

1. Syria out now!

End the occupation! End foreign control of Lebanon! Independence and democracy for Lebanon!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr: