What's going on in Lebanon?

[dancing-loon]

Last Updated: Thursday, 28 February 2008, 23:36 GMT

US warship sails towards Lebanon

The USS Cole was attacked by al-Qaeda in 2000

The United States has ordered a warship to take up position off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support for the country's embattled government.

The deployment of the USS Cole is being seen as a warning to Syria which - along with Iran - backs the opposition.
The Western-backed government and the opposition have repeatedly failed to agree a deal to end political impasse.
A US official quoted by news agencies said the move was "a show of support for regional stability".

Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7270102.stm
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Last Updated: Friday, 29 February 2008, 01:31 GMT

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Israeli forces pound Gaza Strip

Gaza has been under sustained bombardment for two days

Israeli forces have kept up attacks on the Gaza Strip, where they have killed at least 32 Palestinians, militants and civilians, since Wednesday morning. Four Palestinian boys were killed in an Israeli attack as they played in a field in northern Gaza on Thursday.
The Israelis say their attacks are a response to the firing of Palestinian rockets into southern Israel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7270300.stm

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Maybe the combined tension in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon warrant the presence of the US war ship "Cole".

 

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Hezbollah rejects U.S. ships off Lebanon

Updated Fri. Feb. 29 2008 7:00 AM ET

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Hezbollah on Friday denounced the deployment of U.S. warships off the coast of Lebanon, calling it a threat to the country's sovereignty, but the Shiite militant group said it would not be intimidated by the move.
The U.S. military said Thursday the Navy was sending at least three ships, including an amphibious assault ship, to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in a show of strength amid tensions with Syria and political uncertainty in Lebanon.
Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday the deployment should not be viewed as threatening or in response to events in any single country in the volatile region.

But the decision appeared to be a not-too-subtle show of U.S. force as international frustration mounts in the region over a long political deadlock in tiny, weak Lebanon.
The U.S. blames Syria for the impasse, saying Syria has never given up its ambitions to control its smaller neighbor.

I have to admit my ignorance in the matter. Why does the US have to be there and for what reason? To protect Israel?? Or what is at stake?
Clearly... the US is fulfilling its role as world police. Nations, states, countries better get used to that. I would have nothing against that, if the "police" would be impartial and treat everybody with equality.
Does anyone of you know... is there some other, perhaps bigger threat to the region than the Hezbollah? I really don't know.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0229?hub=World

 

[Praxius]

But that's the problem with one country being the "World Police" as they go by their interests of their own country over anything else.... to think otherwise (no matter what country it was) would be foolish.

Now if it was some organization like "World Police" which was a mixure of nations then that could work perhaps. But Isn't that what the UN and NATO are all about in the first place?

If NATO and the UN are supposed to be doing that, then what is the US trying to be? The Highway Troopers of the World?

 

[Zzarchov]

Im curious,

Why is Hezbollah acting like it runs Lebanon and "Rejecting" something?

Why should the USA let Syria run the show if people in Lebanon ask it for help?
How come Lebanese are only allowed to have the support of a foreign power if its not American?