Bush Stops Short of Accusing Syria in Assassination; Calls for UN Investigation

In Hawaii today, President Bush accused Syria and Iran of fomenting violence and instability in Lebanon, as he condemned the assassination of Lebanese cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. Secretary Rice meanwhile made a call to Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora amid signs of U.S. concern over the fate of the Beirut government which emerged from Lebanon's 'cedar revolution.'

"Today we saw again the vicious face of those who hate freedom," Bush told troops at an Air Force base. "We strongly condemn the assassination today in Lebanon of Pierre Gemayel." Full remarks here.

Bush did not apportion blame but called for an investigation into "those people and those forces" behind the killing of the anti-Syrian Christian leader. He also reaffirmed U.S. support for the Siniora government in "their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies to foment instability and violence in that important country."

Just three weeks ago, the White House released this unusual warning about the stability of the Lebanese government and attempts by outside forces to overthrow it.

Support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is a key element of U.S. policy in the Middle East. We are therefore increasingly concerned by mounting evidence that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hizballah, and their Lebanese allies are preparing plans to topple Lebanon's democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister Siniora.

Any attempt to destabilize Lebanon's democratically-elected government through such tactics as manufactured demonstrations and violence, or by physically threatening its leaders would, at the very least, be a clear violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701.

There are indications that one goal of the Syrian plan is to prevent the current Lebanese government from approving the statute for an international tribunal that would try those accused of involvement in former Prime Minister Hariri's assassination. Any such effort to sideline the tribunal will fail, however, for the international community can proceed with establishing it no matter what happens internally in Lebanon. The United States is committed to working with its international partners and the legitimate Government of Lebanon to ensure that the tribunal is quickly established and that all those responsible for the assassinations of Rafiq Hariri and other Lebanese patriots since 2005 are brought to justice.

Some are speculating that this assassination was the opening shot of just the type of overthrow attempt that the White House described. Only time will tell. What we do find interesting though is while Syria is doing its best to look good in the eyes of the international community by working to end the violence in Iraq with one hand, the other hand is busy assassinating anti-Syrian leaders in Lebanon.

Comments

[Robert Schwartz]

And Jim Baker thinks he can negotiate with these people. Does that make him a realist or a dope smoking idiot.