Bush Tells Syria to Quit Lebanon

[Rose Siding]

BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Bush called on Syria on Thursday to withdraw its forces from Lebanon as Lebanese opposition leaders vowed to topple the country's pro-Syrian leadership.

Pressure has been piling up on Syria and its Lebanese allies since Monday's killing of former premier Rafik al-Hariri, the country's most influential politician, in a suspected car bombing that many Lebanese blame on Damascus.

Bush said Syria should adhere to a U.N. resolution demanding its troops leave Lebanon and should allow an election scheduled for May to be free and fair.

Bush recalled the U.S. ambassador to Syria this week in reaction to the bombing. At a news conference, he said he did not know who was behind the killing.

"I don't know yet, because the investigation is ongoing," he said. Syria has denied involvement.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=FAEHNYCIJ3XVACRBAEKSFEY?type=topNews&storyID=7663471

[Oreo]

1. He's got a UN resolution... Syria's not following it - Uh Oh!

Keep banging those drums Georgie. In his mind, if there is a resolution that is not being followed, he has every right to attack.

[daleo]

2. I suppose this has been hashed out plenty

But I have been away from a computer for a few days. This is all too convenient for Bush. I doubt if Syria is behind this - more likely Bush's new head of intelligence.

If the U.S. has any right to be in Iraq, certainly Syria has at least as much right to be in Lebanon. I suppose that has been pointed out by lots of people too.

[CityZen-X]

3. Syria Has Dnied Involvement?

How about the U.S. Federal Mafia!

[oasis]

4. Syria to Bush : Kiss our ass.

[HuckleB]

5. This cracks me up.

Rice's comment the other day was hilarious, she mentioned something about how such an occupying force was clearly the underlying cause of such acts. Umm. Got a mirror Condi?

How about we agree to leave Iraq at the same time Syria leaves Lebanon? I mean, if we're going to be all uppity about occupying forces, we ought to be willing to give a little.

Oh my.

[Kool Kitty]

21. That's funny-

because I thought the same thing. Irony has officially died in this country. What a bunch of fucking hypocrites. The people of Syria should be afraid, very afraid, because we have seen this particular movie before....

[earthside]

6. Dems are Backing Bush, So Far

What is really disgusting and disturbing, is that so far many of the Democrats in Congress are backing the Bush warmongering against Iran and Syria.

U.S. Congress Renews Push to Enforce Iran Sanctions
... U.S. lawmakers are beginning a new push to compel enforcement of a 1996 law imposing sanctions on foreign companies that do business in Iran, a move that might trigger a European Union protest to the World Trade Organization. ... the Ros- Lehtinen bill, one of several measures in Congress offered by both Republicans and Democrats that would step up sanctions against Iran or fund opposition Iranian groups. ... Senator Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat of New Jersey, plans to introduce legislation soon in the Senate that would outlaw investments in Iran by foreign companies owned 50 percent or more by a U.S. parent, Lautenberg spokesman Alex Formuzis said today.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a3b9KSRL1cHw&refer=top_world_news">Bloomberg - February 17, 2005


Rice Pressures Syria and Outlines Budget at Congressional Appearance
... Republicans and Democrats on the committee told Rice that the United States should be forceful in its dealings with Damascus....
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-021605rice_lat%2C0%2C4469381.story?coll=la-home-headlines">Los Angeles Times - February 17, 2005

[makhno]

7. Disturbing, but not surprising

2004 Top Ten Career Recipients of Pro-Israel PAC Funds:
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) $533,635
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) 461,973
Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ) 433,806
Durbin, Richard (D-IL) 326,671
Reid, Harry (D-NV) 318,801
Wyden, Ronald (D-OR) 255,562
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT) 227,758
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) 223,794
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT) 221,178
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) 201,939

Foreign Aid and Policy Issues:
2003 On the votes that the Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel considered to be the most important in 2003, the Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel assigned Senator Lautenberg a score of 0

Two parties, one foreign policy.

[frankieT]

12. i totally agree

i always thought that regarding US foreign policy the Dem/Rep is just a "good cop/bad cop" scheme enforcing the same power.

[TheFarseer]

8. It's OK George, Lebanon doesn't have any oil

But another thing to consider is our bad foreign policy doesn't justify their bad foreign policy. They are still wrong to be in Lebanon no matter what we do. The only thing our occupation of Iraq does is make us look stupid when we try to criticize them.

[High Plains]

10. It's this kind of gutless crap that makes me wonder

what use is the national Democratic Party? It couldn't stand up againstg the Iraq war, and still can't, and now it looks like the national party will continue to cravenly follow Bush's lead into a Middle East conflagration.

Can someone tell me again why we're supposed to vote for these people?

[w4rma]

11. There needs to be a well funded PAC to offset the warmongering

PAC. Folks with a stake in Palistine, Lybia, Syria, etc. need to get more politically involved as the folks who want to spread war all around the world have.

[driver8]

20. Of course they are...they are a bunch of spineless jellyfish.

Just once I would like to see a democrat (besides Boxer) step up and do what is right. Quit kissing the Fuhrer's ass and grow a spine, Dems...

[Say_What]

9. Fourth 3rd world country to be destroyed by the free & democratic USSA

eom

[frankieT]

13. since 2001... -eom-

[MisterP]

19. no, no, odd-numbered years are for major invasions

even for coups
'01 Afghanistan invaded
'02 Venezuela coup
'03 Iraq invaded
'04 Haiti coup
'05 Syria, Iran, or Venezuela invaded (or a surprise!)
next: Cuba, Lebanon (may be on the side).
Low chance of nuclear war in India and Taiwan (but not no chance).

[lebkuchen]

14. I demand that Bush quit the White House

He's out of step with the US Constitution.

[fshrink]

23. This American also tells the Idiot to quit the White House.

[Redstone]

15. Not to defend the Syrian government

who are definitely NOT nice people, but:

1) Didn't the Lebanese government ASK the Syrians for troops to restore order some years back?

2) Hasn't the Syrian peacekeeping force actually done a pretty good job of keeping the peace in Lebanon? Things have been pretty quiet there for quite some time (up until now).

Correct me on either of the above if I'm wrong, please.

Redstone

[Rose Siding]

16. The Globe's headline: Bush Demands Syria Withdraw Forces- better link

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/02/17/bush_demands_syria_withdraw_forces_from_lebanon/

[0rganism]

17. 0rganism tells bush to quit warmongering

Seriously. The bush administration criticizing Syria for occupying Lebanon is like the event horizon calling the kettle black.

[hector459]

18. Perhaps the US should set the example and bring all troops home

from all foreign soil? Where do we get off telling another country to remove their troops from a foreign country when our troop are all over the globe. Our troops being on Saudi soil was the reason Osama gave for 9/11. Have people forgotten this?

[Dems Will Win]

22. Say didn't we already lose 243 soldiers in one day in Lebanon???

W wants to add to that number...