U.S. (PNAC) Reveals Next Steps In Mid-East 'Peace Plan'

posted by admin on Saturday April 12, @10:24PM

Looks Like Everything is Going According to - Sharons - Plan

US Pledged to Tackle Hizbollah & Syrian Regime

Sunday April 13, 2003 - The Observer

The United States has pledged to tackle the Syrian-backed Hizbollah group in the next phase of its 'war on terror' in a move which could threaten military action against President Bashar Assad's regime in Damascus. The move is part of Washington's efforts to persuade Israel to support a new peace settlement with the Palestinians. Washington has promised Israel that it will take 'all effective action' to cut off Syria's support for Hizbollah - implying a military strike if necessary, sources in the Bush administration have told The Observer .

Hizbollah is a Shia Muslim organisation based in Lebanon, whose fighters have attacked northern Israeli settlements and harassed occupying Israeli troops to the point of forcing an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon three years ago.

The new US undertaking to Israel to deal with Hizbollah via its Syrian sponsors has been made over recent days during meetings between administration officials and Israeli diplomats in Washington, and Americans talking to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem. It would be part of a deal designed to entice Israel into the so-called road map to peace package that would involve the Jewish state pulling out of the Palestinian West Bank, occupied since 1967.

http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,935943,00.html

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U.S. Battles Anarchy in Iraq, Warns Damascus (Powell this time)

snip:

"Now that the regime has gone in Baghdad, we hope that Syria will understand there is an opportunity for a better way for them, if they would stop supporting terrorist activities, and we hope the Syrians will respond accordingly," Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) told BBC radio.

snip:

In the BBC radio interview, Powell warned Damascus against becoming "a haven for all these people who should be brought to justice who are trying to get out of Baghdad."

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara said on Saturday U.S. accusations that Damascus had helped Saddam's government were baseless. Senior Bush administration officials have accused Syria of providing military assistance to Baghdad.

Syria has warned that Washington could push the conflict beyond Iraq's borders, sowing chaos in the region.

"I am telling you now, because (the Bush administration) failed they are trying to pinpoint at a third country, perhaps Syria or another country," Shara told reporters.

http://story.news.yahoo.com

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