The USA and Syria on Lebanon

At this point, any attempts for talks or negotiations with the Syrian government on the part of the USA will cause a catastrophic consequence for Lebanon. For the third week in a row, the Lebanese Army has been fighting a vicious battle in the camp of the Naher al Bared against Fateh Al Islam, a terrorist group that has been established by the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon. The USA has not yet held Syria accountable for these events so far. They have been treating this incident as a separate issue altogether, somehow, as if it is an isolated event.

This failure on the behalf of the United States government, could become a catalyst for further outbursts of terrorist activities in Lebanon. How could that be, you might ask? Syria has been denying any involvement with the group of Fateh Al Islam, even though, the majority of its high ranking members are turning out to be Syrians. These Syrian terrorists are fighting a battle in Lebanon, after passing the Syrian/Lebanese boarder. Syria's history in fighting Islamist groups inside Syria is well documented. Therefore, to assume that a Syrian Islamic fundamentalist making his way from Syria, to fight a religious battle in Lebanon, is a far fetched possibility.

Syria has been performing under the guise of Islamic fundamentalism for decades. It suppresses these groups inside of Syria, and funds them in Iraq and in Lebanon. These groups are prime pawns that are brainwashed to die for a religious cause, and Syria has perfected the method for their use, through years of experience. The Leader of Fateh al Islam, Shaker Al Absi, is wanted in Jordan, escaped to Syria, where he was arrested for terrorism, detained for three years, to finally appear in Lebanon and establish Fateh al Islam. Quite a trip he made. And to think that you can be released from prison in Syria within three years for terrorism, seems quite a stretch for human rights, even in democratic terms, not to mention that if you are truly arrested in Syria for terrorism, no one will know about you, or even that you existed.

The US, by ignoring all these facts, will only cause problems for itself on three fronts. Iraq, Lebanon and US soil. It has been long established in the US, that to take the battle to the terrorists and fight them outside US soil, is a good plan. To fight these terrorists in Lebanon and Iraq, is better than to have them make their way to the USA. The misery and trouble of the Iraqi and the Lebanese people is of little consequence compared to that of the American public. On first glance, this all looks nice and dandy. But, wasn't this the same tactic that gave rise to Bin Laden, amongst many others. Isn't this the same tactic that is costing American lives in Iraq? Or maybe the life on an American soldier, who is paid to serve and protect, is of a lesser value in Iraq, than it is worth on American soil?

The United Stated must stop beating around the bush when it comes to its foreign policy, and start calling things by their names. This is the essence of freedom, and of democracy. This is the flag that the Lebanese people are burdened to carry in a region infested with theocracies, autocracies and dictatorships, all of which want to have a say in Lebanese affairs. If the US government does not come to the realization that democracies in the east are very sensitive to regional politics, then it will loose its war in Iraq, no doubt, and all the US soldiers that gave their lives there will amount to nothing.

The required stance towards Syria has to be firm. There should be no negotiations or concession on freedom, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon. There should be no negotiations or talks with Syria, to get the Syrian government to do what is right. If they are not doing what is right, what makes you think that if you talk to them, they will. You will have to negotiate on truth and democracy, and when you do so, you have lost both. At this point, talking to Syria about the possibility of talking, is, for the Syrians, a US concession. They will view this as a sign of weakness, and will intensify their operations in Lebanon. Today in Naher Al bared, tomorrow in Ain el Helweh and other camps.