Surely, the dispatch of the USS Cole off the Lebanese Coast has put March 8 on the defensive, with the most ironic statement coming from Walid Mouallem claiming that the US ships obstruct a solution to the Lebanese problem. Either, Mr. Moallem believes that world politicians are actually stupid enough to take his comment seriously or the syrian regime is cornered one more time with their king and queen begging for mercy and help.
What will this move from President Bush aim to accomplish?
1- A US engagement in Lebanon is not an option as it needs to involve Congress and everybody knows that with Iraq and Afghanistan, the US has its hands full.
2- If this move is just for show, then it has no bearing whatsoever on regional politics. The time for show is long gone, action is all what's needed.
3- Another possibility is that it aims to evacuate US nationals in preparation of an Israeli strike on Hizbollah. As much as this would be music to the ears of many in the Middle East, Israel may not be quite ready yet for another war, especially in light of the recent Israeli report on the 2006 summer war, where Olmert has swept multiple blows.
4- The US move may just be aimed at putting the USS Cole in the vicinity of syria, a show of pressure on the Assad regime.
5- Yet one more hypothesis is that the repositioning of the USS Cole and its satellite ships, is in anticipation of a Hezbollah response to the escalated violence in Gaza.
Most likely, the US move coupled with the Arab countries advise to pull out their nationals from Lebanon is nothing but a coup aimed at forcing the downfall of the March summit in Syria, maybe with the hope of forcing Assad, Mouallem and their gang to shiver and stop acting as if they rule the Arab street.
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