Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 03, 2008 Adar1 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:38 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 04:58 01/03/2008 Hezbollah says not intimidated by U.S. warship deployment By The Associated Press Tags: U.S., Lebanon, Hezbollah  A U.S. deployment of warships off Lebanon sharpened tensions in the crisis-ridden nation as the Shiite militant group Hezbollah said it won't be intimidated, and the U.S.-backed government that the ships may be intended to bolster distanced itself from the move. The planned deployment of three ships, announced Thursday, appeared to be aimed at making an American show of strength at a time of increasing international frustration at the volatile political deadlock in Lebanon between the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the opposition, led by Hezbollah. Lebanese fear the crisis is increasingly taking on a regional scope - a proxy confrontation between the United States and some of its Arab allies on one side and Hezbollah's allies Iran and Syria, staunch opponents of America's Mideast policies, on the other. Advertisement Although the U.S. military move may serve as a morale-booster for Lebanon's anti-Syrian factions despite being a symbolic force with limited firepower, it also could prove as an embarrassment for them and provides ammunition to the Hezbollah, which accuses the government of being controlled by Washington. Mindful of the political fallout, Siniora said Friday, "We did not request any warships from any party, and he summoned the U.S. ambassador to seek clarifications." Speaking to Arab diplomats, Siniora stressed the importance of Lebanon's independence and sovereignty so that it won't become an arena for the conflicts of regional and international powers. He said there were no warships in Lebanese territorial waters, except Lebanon's small navy - made up of patrol boats - and the 12 warships of the United Nations peacekeeping force that are helping secure the waters. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is aligned with the Syrian-backed opposition, linked the deployment of U.S. warships off Lebanon to Israel's missile strikes in Gaza Strip. "The target [of U.S. warships] is Gaza. It is aimed to allow what must happen in Gaza to happen without anyone moving to support [Palestinians]," Berri said late Friday in an interview with the private ANB television. "This is a real threat, not merely a muscle-flexing," Berri said. He added that the U.S. military move was designed to focus attention on Lebanon in order to "cover up the massacres being committed in Gaza." "This [U.S.] fleet comes to back Israel so that it can complete its plan," Berri said. Asked if the deployment was coordinated with Lebanon, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Washington has regular consultations with Siniora and U.S. allies in the region. "There's constant communications at various levels," he said. State Department spokesman Tom Casey, meanwhile, told reporters Friday that the warships are an important sign of U.S. commitment to security in the region. "It should provide comfort to our friends and, for U.S. adversaries, a reminder that we are there," he said. He said the U.S. is not drawing a link between the warships and Syria, but added that, "If the Syrians want to take a message from it, happy to have them do so if what that means is it gets them out of the business of subverting democracy and the will of the Lebanese people." Hezbollah denounced the U.S. deployment as a threat to Lebanese sovereignty and independence. "We are facing an American threat against Lebanon," Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah said on local television. "It is clear this threat and intimidation will not affect us," he said. The government and opposition have been locked in a 15-month power struggle, with Hezbollah and its allies trying to force out Siniora's administration. The deadlock has prevented the country from electing a president since November, leaving the post empty in a dangerous power vacuum. Though both sides have tried to prevent violence, many fear the political conflict could turn into clashes between the two camps. The United States - along with anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon - accuses Damascus of trying to reim-pose its control 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. Military officials did not say when the ships were due to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean. The deployment includes a Navy guided missile destroyer, the USS Cole, and the USS Nassau, an amphibious warship, said a military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because full details about the ship movements are not yet public. The deployment comes at a volatile time. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, which it blames for the assassination earlier this month of one of its top commanders, Imad Mughniyah, in a car bomb in Damascus. The group has warned it could strike Israeli interests outside Israel and the border region with Lebanon. Syria is to host an Arab summit in Damascus in late March, and pro-U.S. Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt reportedly are threatening to boycott if no president is elected in Lebanon by then. This could be a tactic by the Saudis and Egyptians to force Syrian concessions in Lebanon to save the summit. The Syrians so far have said the summit will go ahead as planned, regardless of who refuses to attend. Syria had yet to react on the announced deployment Friday, a weekend in that country. The U.S. move brought memories of the bloody American involvement in Lebanon in the 1980s during the country's 1975-1990 civil war. In 1983, at the height of U.S. intervention, about 17 ships - two aircraft carrier battle groups and two mammoth battleships - patrolled the Lebanese coastline, bombarding Muslim militia positions on shore, and a Marine contingent was stationed at Beirut airport. Suicide bombings - blamed on Mughniyah - against the Marine base and the U.S. Embassy in 1983 and 1984 killed hundreds of Americans, eventually leading to a U.S. withdrawal. The last time U.S. ships came to Lebanon was during the 34-day Second Lebanon War between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, when the American Navy helped evacuate Americans. Sheik Abdul-Amir Kabalan - deputy head of the influential Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, the religious governing body of Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites - warned Americans, recalling the 1983 attacks and a Hezbollah missile attack against an Israeli warship offshore during the 2006 war. "We warn America and advise it not to play with fire," he said at a Friday sermon. Related articles: Impatient with Syria, U.S. sends warship off Lebanon coast Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap Lebanon tensions grow amid specter of renewed Israel-Hezbollah fighting Bookmark to del.icio.us   Born to bear arms Many children of expatriates return to Israel to serve in the IDF Doctored death? An Independent expert says IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura.   1.   Thanks G_d. US warships heading to lebanon not Gaza:) 05:19  |  Tamir 01/03/08   2.   Its gona be so much fun in Lebanon in the coming days 05:21  |  Tamir 01/03/08   3.   ya, to cover up gaza massacres, pigs. 07:00  |  raw truth 01/03/08   4.   The US Needs 10 More Battlegroups 07:15  |  Dave Levy 01/03/08   5.   this is pathetic 07:39  |  Marlboro 01/03/08   6.   a new scenario 10:01  |  Paolo 01/03/08   7.   Queen Victoria would have been amused 10:16  |  Clickfool 01/03/08   8.   Ah, the good ole Domino Theory raises its stupid head again # 4 10:30  |  Clickfool 01/03/08   9.   So, what do you drive Marlboro? 11:46  |  MaryRose 01/03/08   10.   to#4 I hope the US is more careful this time 12:01  |  pal 01/03/08   11.   Ships give advantage to Hezbollah 12:25  |  Harold 01/03/08   12.   It does seem a Gaza Invasion is imminent 12:36  |  Kris 01/03/08   13.   Sure Hezbollah is not intimidated... 12:46  |  Dutch Dirk 01/03/08   14.   don`t forget the russians people 12:59  |  VIPER 01/03/08   15.   they are for sure not intimidated 15:03  |  Javad 01/03/08   16.   abbas&signoria,both traitors,their time will come! 15:45  |  lakshmi 01/03/08   17.   15. dear lakshmi. my evaluation will differ 18:04  |  vukovac RENO 01/03/08   18.   America Is For One Lebanese Flag, Hez For Two & Eventually One .. 18:07  |  Lavi 01/03/08   19.   clickfool,was queen victoria amused when iranians in a rubber 18:31  |  terrornator 01/03/08   20.   11 Harold,correct,and I sure hope that the slimy fellow will be 20:23  |  lakshmi 01/03/08   21.   For Terrornator # 18 21:11  |  Clickfool 01/03/08   22.   Of Course You Not 22:37  |  Oleg 01/03/08   23.   #14 viper 04:22  |  danny 02/03/08   24.   #23, DANNY, ohhhh pleeeease 03:31  |  VIPER 03/03/08

Today Online U.S. calls for end to violence, return to peace talks Responses: 458 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing IDF operation Responses: 245 Barak: IDF has no choice but to continue Gaza offensive Responses: 178 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 159 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 100 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: Will Tzipi meet Hillary? No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 03:28 IDF chief recommends keeping pressure on Hamas 02:20 PM to tell Rice: Israel reserves right to act freely in Gaza 02:39 10 Palestinians killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing Gaza offensive 02:18 Gov't, IDF: Hamas wants lull in Gaza but only on its own terms 23:26 Hebron teen dies, 4 Israelis hurt as violence spreads to W. Bank 22:47 Barak to hold meeting on legality of striking civilian areas in Gaza 00:40 Long-silenced Iranian Jews find their political voice in America 22:07 Iran leader calls on Muslims to hit Israel 'in face' over Gaza op 22:03 U.S. calls for end to continued violence, return to peace talks 00:50 Israeli airlines worry that Gaza war will ruin Pesach travel 01:30 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: Pray for soldiers' well-being in synagogue 20:49 Police halt Israeli Arab rally against Gaza op, arrest 2 at T.A. protest 22:32 Israel buys supply of pills to protect against nuclear radiation 23:05 Medvedev secures lead in Russian vote, vows to pursue Putin goals Previous Editions Select Day 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved