February 20, 2003

Ha'aretz - Article

Syrian troops stationed in Lebanon yesterday began redeploying, for the third time in two years. Several thousand troops that had been deployed in the Tripoli region in northern Lebanon returned to Syria. Others that had been there - their exact number is not clear - were apparently transferred to different bases in Lebanon.

The troop movements followed a surprise agreement reached Tuesday between Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq el-Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Acording to sources in Lebanon, the new deployment is a reflection of the Syrian desire to show good will toward opponents of the Syrian presence in Lebanon, notably the Christian camp, which, over the past few months, has considerably reduced its demonstrations against the Syrian presence and its demands that the Syrian troops withdraw from Lebanese soil.

The Syrian troops were posted in Lebanon in 1976 at the invitation of then president Suleiman Franjieh. Until two years ago, the Syrians had some 35,000 troops in Lebanon and it is believed the number will now drop to 18,000-20,000.
It is thought unlikely the partial troop withdrawal will affect the Syrian hegemony in Lebanon, particularly in the local political field. According to Lebanon's defense minister, the current Syrian redeployment is "100 percent technical" and did not come as a surprise to the government in Beirut.

If you ask me, "100 percent technical" means "Move them to Iraq to help my pal Saddam."
Or perhaps they're moving closer to their favorite nation to hate: Israel.
You can't tell me this rush of goodwill towards the Christian forces in Lebanon doesn't have anything to do with our upcoming attack on Iraq!
As for those demonstrations by Lebanese Christian groups with their demand to pull out Syrian troops, first I've heard of anyone protesting against Assad's will and living to tell about it.
I think he wiped out an entire city in Syria for daring to "demonstrate" against him!
The plot in the Middle East thickens, if such is possible!