From: astein@nysernet.org (Alan Stein)
Subject: Re: Clinton and the Mideast
Organization: NYSERNet, Inc.
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 01:06:35 GMT

faris@sarcasm.trl.OZ.AU (Aziz Faris) writes:

>In article <1992Sep22.165343.20788@nysernet.org>, astein@nysernet.org (Alan Stein) writes:
>|> 
>|> I am doing nothing of the sort.  I simply pointed out that we
>|> (America) let Syria take over Lebanon.
>|>

>May be some one could tell us why the US will allow Syria, a country that is
>defenseless against Israel, broke, and has lost its backer (USSR) to have
>Lebanon.

I never said it made sense.  Our pandering of Saddam Hussein before
his invasion of Kuwait didn't make much sense either.  I can't
understand why Bush didn't learn anything from that blunder.

>|> Israel, as it has made perfectly clear time after time, has absolutely
>|> no desire to stay anywhere in Lebanon (other than having its citizens
>|> able to visit as tourists <gr>).  It wants to get out;  it also wants
>|> its civilians in northern Israel to be free of the fear of rocket
>|> attacks, and wants its children to be able to sleep in their own beds
>|> and not in bomb shelters.
>|> 
>Israel has the best army, airforce, intelligence and survellance network
>still requires a buffer zone. What do you suggest be done about the Lebanese
>that are homeless in the south.

Do what they can to get Syria out, and reclaim their country.

>The fact is that Israel would like to have Lebanon and Syria. These are the 
>only places that Israel can expand into that have fertile land and water.

That's unsupported speculation, totally unfounded based on Israel's
words and actions.

>|> >|> 
>|> >|> Syria occupied Lebanon long before Israel got involved.

>So why is Israel still there, shouldn't the one who came in last
leave first.

That's a novel argument.

>Syria and Lebanon are much weaker than Israel. Syria is not going to
attack >Israel, however, Israel attempted to drag Syria into a battle
to win more land.  >They failed at that too, thanks to pres. Assad.

How much fun it must be to throw around figments of your imagination
and wait for others to try to counter them.

>|> >|> 
>|> Check when Syria came into Lebanon.  They were already there when
>|> Israel came in to protect its citizens.
>|>
> 
>Have they protected their citizens yet?. If not when will they protect them?.

The children in the Galilee are spending most of their nights in their
own beds, something they couldn't do before Operation Peace for
Galilee.

>Remember the only country that announced any annexation of any form or shape
>and pissed at all international laws is Israel. Syria is occupying Lebanon
>and under the Taif agreement must and will withdraw, but will not annex
>Lebanon.

Under the Taif agreement, Syria should be withdrawing now.  I won't
hold my breath.  On the other hand, even after Lebanon (under pressure
from Syria) renounced the treaty it negotiated with Israel, Israel
still withdrew almost totally from Lebanon and has made it clear that
it will withdraw the rest of the way as soon as it is assured of the
safety of its citizens.

>You also neglect to remember that Syrian Nationalism was born in Lebanon and
>calls for the unification of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan
>under a democratic system. There are alot of Lebanese that would like that to
>take place. I know alot of them. Many of them have been killed in Lebanon
>fighting Israeli occupation.

How similar is that democracy supposed to be to the democracy
currently being practiced in Syria?  Which Arab democracy is it
supposed to emulate most closely?  Perhaps Qadaffi's?  Or Hussein's?
(Pick one Hussein, your choice.)
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