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Assad, Lebanon, and the Gemayel Assassination

[Jerusalem Post] Khaled Abu Toameh - The assassination of Lebanese Christian minister Pierre Gemayel on Tuesday was intended to remind the anti-Syrian forces in Beirut that President Bashar Assad has not forgiven them for forcing him to pull his army out of Lebanon in a humiliating manner. Syrian military intelligence officers, who operate under the guise of businessmen, have infiltrated the Lebanese security branches and the political establishment in Beirut. With the help of remaining pro-Syrian elements such as Hizballah, the Syrians have embarked on a systematic policy of eliminating and terrorizing their critics. Gemayel was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in Lebanon in the past two years. Three other critics of the Syrian regime have been wounded in failed assassination attempts. The Gemayel assassination comes only days after reports in the U.S. media claimed that Washington was seeking Syria's assistance in ending the violence in Iraq. Gemayel's friends are convinced that the U.S. overtures toward Syria encouraged Assad to order the killing of another one of his foes in Lebanon.
2006-11-22 01:00:00
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