Saudis Send Sharp Warning To Iran Over Lebanon

superdude17* · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:20 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/...4Qy5mmEGqs0NUE

Quote:

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Saudi Arabia sent Iran a sharp warning over Lebanon Tuesday, saying Tehran's support for Hezbollah will damage its relations with other Muslim and Arab countries.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Saudi Arabia sent Iran a sharp warning over Lebanon Tuesday, saying Tehran's support for Hezbollah will damage its relations with other Muslim and Arab countries.
ADVERTISEMENT

More soldiers fanned out through Beirut, with orders to use force to restore security to a nation shaken by nearly a week of sectarian clashes. Lebanese buried more of their dead and tried to resume life in a capital dissected by roadblocks.

What began as a political struggle 1 1/2 years ago with Shiite ministers bolting from the Cabinet devolved last week into Lebanon's worst fighting since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war, with at least 54 people dead and scores wounded.

Shiite Hezbollah guerrillas and allied Amal gunmen have swept through large Sunni swaths of Beirut, neighborhoods that support the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, a Sunni.

On Tuesday, the strife between Lebanon's government supporters and opponents expanded into a wider regional standoff between Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and the world's largest Shiite nation, Iran. Iran supports Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia backs Saniora's Sunni-led government.

"Of course, Iran is backing what happened in Lebanon, a coup, and supports it," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal told a news conference in Riyadh, in the most pointed criticism of Tehran. "This will affect (Iran's) relations with all Arab countries, if not Islamic states as well."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shot back by saying Saud's comments were made in anger and likely did not conform to the views of Saudi King Abdullah. He said Iran was the only country that does not interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs.

President Bush weighed in earlier, telling Al-Arabiya television Monday that Washington would continue to support the Lebanese government and military, and would keep up pressure on Iran and Syria. The U.S. considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization and has repeatedly called for it to disarm.

As Bush travels to the Middle East Wednesday for a trip that includes visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the flare-up is a sign that nervousness is growing about Iran's expanding influence.

Sunni Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt worry that Iran wants to flex its muscle and assume a larger and strategic role in the region — taking power and influence that was historically theirs.

Iran, in turn, accuses U.S.-allied Arab countries like Egypt of merely bending to America's will and pushing its agenda in the region.

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who is traveling with Bush, told reporters that the U.S. is trying to rally international support for Lebanon's U.S.-backed government.

"Obviously, we are also going to talk to various countries about additional pressure that can be put on Syria and Iran because in our view they are what is behind this," said Hadley, indicating that a starting point might be the coming U.N. Security Council meeting in New York. "There is obviously more to do."

Regarding the possibility of more sanctions, Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams said: "We'll see what happens in New York."

The growing tension has wide implications for American and Western goals in the region — with the West generally allied more with the Arab governments and also worried about Iran's intentions.

The same dynamic is playing out over Iraq — which also has been a strong source of discord among Arab countries, who generally support Sunnis there, and Iran, which is closely allied to both the Shiite-led government and to Shiite splinter groups like the Mahdi Army.

On the edge of Beirut, funeral processions snaked Tuesday through mountain towns where civilians and combatants were buried.

Among them were Sunni lawyer Haitham Tabbara, 35, and his mother Amal, killed in a rocket explosion in Ras el-Nabeh as they tried to escape the fighting. Two brothers were later shot as they rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news.

"He was a peaceful man who never got involved in politics, always defending the oppressed and supporting what is right," said fellow lawyer Tarek Labban. "We don't like war ... and don't want more victims like him."

At a Shiite cemetery nearby, three Hezbollah fighters were buried as comrades marched with photos of the slain men.

An Arab League delegation was expected in Beirut this week to try to bring Lebanon's feuding parties toward consensus, and resolve a troubling political crisis that has left the country without a president since November.

Violence erupted last week after the U.S.-backed government sacked the airport security chief for alleged ties to Hezbollah, and declared the militant group's private telephone network illegal.

Hezbollah revolted and drove out the government's Sunni supporters in street fighting that spread from the capital to mountains overlooking Beirut and even to the northern city of Tripoli. A cease-fire largely halted the clashes on Monday.

The army has suggested a compromise: that the airport security chief retain his post and the government reverse its decision on the phone network. The government has not yet responded to the recommendation.

Speaking for the first time since he was besieged in his west Beirut home, top Sunni leader and parliamentary majority chief Saad Hariri said Tuesday he supports canceling the Cabinet decisions "to save Lebanon."

Hariri also blamed Hezbollah's backers in Syria and Iran for orchestrating the onslaught.

"This has been decided by the Iranian and Syrian regimes that wanted to play a political game in Lebanon's streets... For us nothing has changed," he told a news conference in Beirut.

"We will not negotiate with someone having a pistol pointed to our head," Hariri said.

Hariri also has close ties to Saudi Arabia. His father, assassinated former premier Rafik Hariri, amassed a fortune working on building projects in Saudi, many of them commissioned by the royal family. He used that fortune to rebuild Beirut after the 15-year civil war, a popular move that bolstered his rise to power.

We, the Israelis and the French should make a deal with the powerful Sunni nations. If we kick Hezbollah’s butt, and kick Syria’s butt in the process, we will do so on condition that Egypt, Saudi, etc., send peacekeeping forces to occupy and restore order and majority rule in Lebanon and Syria.

Syria is Sunni, but ruled by a 10% Shiite (Alawite) minority. Once they are gone, Hezbollah and the Lebanese Shiites are neutered.

Syria would be returned to democratic Sunni rule, and Lebanon would no longer be menaced by Hezbollah.

The Saudis should agree to this because if Obama wins the Presidency:
He’ll allow Iran to take over the southern part of Iraq, and once that happens it’s just a matter of time before the Iranians go after the Saudi’s.

f0ca1 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:41 PM

It is not in the interest of the United States to take sides in a middle-east-wide sectarian conflict.

It's bad enough that they're battling in proxy, in Iraq.

Fear-And-Loathing · #3 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 03:40 AM

The Saudi's are arguing for no involvement by Iran in Lebanon, how odd?!?!?!

Saudia Arabia is trying to maintain the balance of power in the Middle East and while the two camps are not established they are on their way there. Sunni and Shia will be the cause of war in the Middle East, or at least that'll be the reasoning. Where in fact it will be the the two superpowers of the region (Iran and Saudi Arabia) battling for dominance. We took out Iraq and have failed to fill the vacuum, causing a struggle for influence.

However if Saudi Arabia collapses then it will be even worse for us over there. Who's to say they won't attack Iran because of fear of encroachment or worse make an anti-American alliance? What a shame that would be.......

We need to distance ourselves from Saudi Arabia and begin fermenting the seeds of democratic revolution over there. When push comes to shove if we don't adamantly support a revolutionary Saudi Arabian government than there will be two huge oil producing states in the most oil rich region on the planet that are anti-American. Last time there was a challenge to the oil flow (that is the attack by fundamentalists on 9/11) we promptly invaded them. We can barely handle Iraq and Afghanistan (with tax and military levels not being adequate for such an imperial adventure) thus it is obvious under current circumstances we could not deal with Lebanon, let alone Saudi Arabia and/or Iran.

superdude17* · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear-And-Loathing

The Saudi's are arguing for no involvement by Iran in Lebanon, how odd?!?!?!

Saudia Arabia is trying to maintain the balance of power in the Middle East and while the two camps are not established they are on their way there. Sunni and Shia will be the cause of war in the Middle East, or at least that'll be the reasoning. Where in fact it will be the the two superpowers of the region (Iran and Saudi Arabia) battling for dominance. We took out Iraq and have failed to fill the vacuum, causing a struggle for influence.

However if Saudi Arabia collapses then it will be even worse for us over there. Who's to say they won't attack Iran because of fear of encroachment or worse make an anti-American alliance? What a shame that would be.......

We need to distance ourselves from Saudi Arabia and begin fermenting the seeds of democratic revolution over there. When push comes to shove if we don't adamantly support a revolutionary Saudi Arabian government than there will be two huge oil producing states in the most oil rich region on the planet that are anti-American. Last time there was a challenge to the oil flow (that is the attack by fundamentalists on 9/11) we promptly invaded them. We can barely handle Iraq and Afghanistan (with tax and military levels not being adequate for such an imperial adventure) thus it is obvious under current circumstances we could not deal with Lebanon, let alone Saudi Arabia and/or Iran.

Considering that Sunnis make up about 80% of the population (rough estimate)...I don't see how their could be a war. The Shi'ite would get their ass handed to them. The only majority Shi'ite countries that are very powerful are Iran and Iraq.

Fear-And-Loathing · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

Considering that Sunnis make up about 80% of the population (rough estimate)...I don't see how their could be a war. The Shi'ite would get their ass handed to them. The only majority Shi'ite countries that are very powerful are Iran and Iraq.

Hezbollah brought the Israeli army to it's knees, they could easily over power the Lebanese army and the crisis would spark a Civil War. What I think would happen is a 'Proxy' war would emerge whereby the West/Saudi Arabia etc would back the govt. and Iran and Syria would back Hezbollah. My friend knew a Lebanese person and went to Lebanon and saw that Hezbollah are prepared and seeking a war. He talked to them about their struggle and they are commited. They start training the children at age 7. They are prepared and a determined force that could take over Lebanon.

The crisis might spill over into an all out brawl in the Middle East (which seems to be what American policy is aiming for). Unless we get China/EU/India on board we are going to have problems if this gets out of control.

However the crisis seems to have died down (for the moment).

namvet · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:57 AM

and if Iran refuses the Saudi's are going to do what?????

Fear-And-Loathing · #7 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namvet

and if Iran refuses the Saudi's are going to do what?????

If Iran refuses what?

Basically the Iranians will back the Shi'ites and the Saudis will back the Sunni's. Saudia Arabia is very scared of Iran. Iraq held Iran in place and now the country is occupied by American troops and tensions are rising.

namvet · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear-And-Loathing

If Iran refuses what?

Basically the Iranians will back the Shi'ites and the Saudis will back the Sunni's. Saudia Arabia is very scared of Iran. Iraq held Iran in place and now the country is occupied by American troops and tensions are rising.

Quote:

Saudi Arabia sent Iran a sharp warning over Lebanon

or else????

superdude17* · #9 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namvet

and if Iran refuses the Saudi's are going to do what?????

The Saudis have the most advanced army in the Middle East, other than maybe Egypt and Jordan, and of course Israel (which doesn't count)...but those are not even close to the size of the Sauds.

How else do you think they maintain control of their own kingdom?

namvet · #10 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

The Saudis have the most advanced army in the Middle East, other than maybe Egypt and Jordan, and of course Israel (which doesn't count)...but those are not even close to the size of the Sauds.

How else do you think they maintain control of their own kingdom?

but when push comes to shove will they have the balls to really use it????

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Iran Smuggling Missiles Into Lebanon Through Turkey	DiscerningBlog	Political Blogs	0	03-04-2008 06:10 PM
US, Saudis Want Syria Out Of Lebanon	SweetnessBlog	Political Blogs	0	03-01-2008 01:00 PM
Warning (4th Cable Cut) Iran Invasion may be Imminent!!!	GreedIsYourGod	Warfare / Military	33	02-09-2008 04:17 PM
Real reasoned discourse at Sharp as a Marble	ArmedBlog	Political Blogs	0	01-30-2008 05:30 PM
Sharp Drop Seen in US Deaths in Iraq	DuH2	Current Events	4	10-23-2007 04:09 PM