US and Saudis team up against Syria in Lebanon

Washington Post:

The United States and Saudi Arabia have launched a joint campaign to pressure Syria to end its political interference in Lebanon, including the U.S. deployment of the USS Cole and two other warships off the Lebanese coast, according to U.S. and Arab officials.

The new military, economic and diplomatic steps include the toughest actions taken by the Bush administration against the regime of President Bashar Assad, such as a recent presidential executive order allowing sanctions against Syrian officials meddling in Lebanon and a member of Assad's family. Saudi Arabia is withdrawing its ambassador from Damascus and pressed for an Arab League meeting, to be held next week, to discuss the political vacuum in Lebanon brought on by its inability to elect a new president since November, U.S. officials said.

The Lebanese parliament has not elected a new president because of an enduring standoff that pits the Syrian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah and its Christian allies against a coalition gathered around the government, which is backed by the United States, Saudi Arabia and France.

President Bush and King Abdullah first discussed a joint effort on Syria during the president's trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in January. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal then discussed details at a White House meeting on Feb. 15 attended by Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, according to U.S. and Arab officials.

The proposal led to serious debate within the administration, which held back its plan from key European and Arab allies, the officials said.

"It's likely the Syrians will see this in the context of measures we are taking in order to discourage their unhelpful behavior in Lebanon," said a senior administration official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitive diplomacy.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that the USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer, and two other ships will remain in the eastern Mediterranean "for a while." He added: "It does signal that we're engaged, we're going to be in the vicinity and that's a very, very important part of the world."

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The NY Times reports that Hezballah is whining about the attention to Lebanon. Hezballah makes the laughable charge that the US is "threatening regional stability." I think that charge is more appropriate for Syria, Iran and Hezballah.

It appears to me that we are basically just showing the flag. I do not see an emanate use of force in Lebanon. We should be on teh lookout for Hezballah's anti ship missiles though.