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Last update - 01:58 29/02/2008 Impatient with Syria, U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast By Reuters Tags: Lebanon, U.S., Syria Signaling impatience with Syria, the United States has sent its USS Cole warship off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support amid Beirut's political crisis, U.S. officials said on Thursday. A senior Bush administration official told Reuters the United States was very concerned about the political deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian meddling, and the U.S. military gesture underlined that worry. "The United States believes a show of support is important for regional stability. We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged on very long," said the senior official, who spoke on condition he was not identified. Advertisement Lebanon's Western-backed governing coalition and its Syrian and Iranian backed opposition have failed to reach a deal to end the country's political conflict. A U.S. defense official said the Cole left Malta on Tuesday and was headed toward Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon." The USS Cole was attacked off the coast of Yemen in October 2000 by al Qaeda militants. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed. A couple of U.S. Navy tankers were also in the area, the official said. "The point would be to encourage stability during a potentially critical period," the defense official said. The Lebanese government had no immediate comment. But Hezbollah ally and Christian opposition leader, Michel Aoun, said the United States sent the USS Cole to display its deterrence capability and he was not worried about the action. Bush ordered move The presidential election in Lebanon was postponed again this week to March 11 from February 26, the 15th such delay, after rival leaders failed to reach a deal. The deadlock has threatened to degenerate into sectarian violence and continues to poison inter-Arab relations in the run-up to an Arab League summit in Syria next month. "The Arab League is engaged but it has not been successful. In those set of circumstances we think a show of support for regional stability and regional solutions is important," said the senior Bush administration official. The defense official indicated the Cole could be replaced by the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship. The Nassau is en route to the Mediterranean, the official said. "The Cole wouldn't be designed to stay there for the long term," the official added. President George W. Bush had ordered the move earlier this week as a sign of concern over Lebanon and consulted U.S. allies such as France and Britain about it. "The president is concerned about the situation in Lebanon and discusses the issue regularly with his national security team," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Bush administration officials declined to provide the exact whereabouts of the USS Cole. The United States has increased pressure on Syria in recent weeks, targeting more individuals with sanctions. The U.S. Treasury froze assets of four Syrians on Thursday, saying they facilitated the flow of money, weapons and terrorists through Syria to al Qaeda in Iraq. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   Welcome back to Lebanon, USA. Remember the last time you meddled? 03:32  |  POP 29/02/08   2.   Meddling??? 04:33  |  Ghassan 29/02/08   3.   Cover Story: Impatient with Syria, U.S. sends warship off Lebanon 04:53  |  Born In the USA 29/02/08   4.   #1, this time will not be like last time 05:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/02/08   5.   POP 05:11  |  sabra 29/02/08   6.   POP That Sounds Like A Threat 05:15  |  Yosemite 29/02/08   7.   The Crime Syndicate are trying to heat up the situation;anything 05:24  |  lakshmi 29/02/08   8.   U.S. interference without U.N. approval? 05:26  |  Magnify 29/02/08   9.   Ghassan#2 - is that true? 05:34  |  William 29/02/08   10.   Such a wonderful juxtaposition of headlines! 05:56  |  Johnboy 29/02/08   11.   For POP: Remember the last time YOU meddled? 07:17  |  Coyo 29/02/08   12.   2nd Try-Cole, be more vigilant than INS Hanit 09:09  |  Stephen in New York 29/02/08   13.   different this time. eu, us will massively kill terrorist scum. 17:54  |  frenz 29/02/08   14.   CHRISTIANS, NOT SYRIA THE BASIC PROBLEM 23:11  |  Arik Silverman 29/02/08

Today Online Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south Responses: 367 Aanalysis: Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble Responses: 199 Bradley Burston: True Islam will spell defeat for the Jihadists Responses: 67 When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm Responses: 102 German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Battle of Ohio: from James Garfield to Hillary Clinton Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 22:59 Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap 01:54 Senior Hamas munitions expert killed in IDF strike in Gaza Strip 02:24 Abbas calls for halt to IDF strikes on Gaza, Qassam rockets 19:38 Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south 19:55 Two people lightly wounded in Qassam barrage on Sderot 09:45 Jerusalem & Babylon / Ignoring Durban summit not an option 21:22 Woman who said was saved from Nazis by wolves admits fabrications 11:10 ANALYSIS / Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble 17:31 Court rejects petition against ban on Habash memorial rally 15:50 When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm 13:27 Britain's Prince Harry withdrawn from Afghanistan due to news leak Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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