Reply #3: The target is Hezbollah, not Syria per se. The 1983 Marine bombing [View All]

[EVDebs]

is still fresh in the DoD's / PNAC mindset and revenge is the main focal point for all militarist groups, whether Iranian-backed Hezbollah or our guys. Hezbollah was behind the 1983 Marine barracks bombing:

Judge: Iranian government responsible for 1983 Beirut bombing
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-05-30-bombing-lawsuit_x.htm

"A federal judge on Friday blamed Iran for the 1983 terrorist bombing that killed 241 U.S. Marines in Beirut and said Tehran would have to pay damages to survivors and relatives.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth said the suicide truck bombing was carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah with the approval and funding of senior Iranian officials."

So, you can see this recent dustup with Syria is more pointed at isolating and destroying Hezbollah operating inside Lebanon ... eventually pushing them inside Syria proper, and then expelling or destroying them inside Syria itself to Iran proper...and then taking care of business from there.

Lebanese don't want to go back to the civil war days. Armed militants inside Lebanon proper increase the likelihood of that happening.

I must say, a deft move on the US's part. Slowly ever so slowly the noose is tightening on Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsors. Syria doesn't want to join that club.

BTW, Dems and Progressives should not want to appear to be supporters of Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad (a big DUH here), because family/relatives/friends of those marines and state dept. employees would automatically support Republicans and/or Bush simply because he represents 'revenge' in their eyes and a way to get back at these terrorists.

A delicate course of diplomacy in securing Palestinian rights to statehood and Israeli security within its legitimate borders needs to be charted.

DU would be wise to enable us to speak up on HOW to best do this and at the same time not appear to be appeasing these terrorist groups.