|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010161
Syria Is Exporting Instability
[Wall Street Journal] Michael Young - It is clear that Syria hasn't stopped meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs. The Security Council only created its tribunal after efforts to establish a similar tribunal within Lebanon were stymied by Syrian allies. The Hariri tribunal, now that it has been formally established, poses an existential threat to the Syrian regime, and it is in Lebanon that the Syrians have and will continue to hit back to save themselves. In the outbreak of violence in northern Lebanon between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam, the group has claimed to be an al-Qaeda affiliate, but observers in Lebanon say that Fatah al-Islam is acting on Syria's behalf. The daily Al-Hayat reported that the group's weapons come from Palestinian organizations under Syrian control. Given the evidence, it makes no sense to dismiss Syrian involvement in the Lebanese crisis, or to blame the crisis on an al-Qaeda affiliate. When Syria is systematically exporting instability throughout the region, you have to wonder whether its regime can be a credible partner to the U.S.