Once again, a UN team is to be sent to Lebanon to see for itself whether the country is completely free of Syrian influence. A UN team sent last month to verify the April withdrawal was unable to conclude with certainty that all the Syrian intelligence apparatus had been withdrawn. Thus the pullout was not given the 100 percent UN seal of approval that would have gone some way to allaying the suspicions of the Lebanese and others concerning Syria’s sincerity and credibility. The desired aim of this second UN mission to Lebanon is to make the picture clearer. We know Syria’s military has in fact pulled out of Lebanon. The question that the UN is seeking to answer is whether its full security apparatus has done the same. It will not do for any country to be in violation of international law, especially when that country is already in the bad books of the United States.
It is imperative that the UN investigation this time be swift and that it leave no room for guesswork. One reason is that Lebanon is in the middle of parliamentary elections, the run-up to which was billed as the first in Lebanon free of a Syrian presence for almost 30 years. To have elections with Syria still calling some of the shots would make the elections neither free or fair. The investigation will also be taking place against a backdrop of the June 2 car-bomb assassination of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir. The murder of Kassir, a staunch critic of Syria’s presence in Lebanon, has been blamed on the Syrians. If it can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Syrian intelligence presence in Lebanon is nil, the number of fingers of accusation pointing at Syria would be reduced. Then there is the so-called hit list that the United States says it has received. Washington claims the list was drawn up by Syria and contains the names of Lebanese political figures targeted for assassination in an effort by Damascus to regain control of the country. Again if the UN can prove that Damascus has washed its hands of Beirut, what some call a Syrian witch hunt will lessen. Intelligence officials cannot substantiate the reliability of the information concerning the hit list but the United States will not stop trying to cause Syria trouble.
Washington is determined to keep up the pressure on Syria. It is keen that Israel should reject Bashar’s offer of peace talks. And the US would also like the European Union to hold off on signing a long-awaited economic deal with Syria. But few believe there is a real threat of military action. With the US not posing a serious threat, Syria should focus more on helping the UN clear its name It has in the meantime staunchly defended itself against all charges. It has expressed “deep astonishment” that the US gave credence to the reports of a purported hit list, saying Lebanese politicians were seeking electoral gain by making false accusations in coordination with countries that opposed Syria. It has said its pullout from Lebanon was complete and on time and has angrily denied claims that it was behind the killings of Kassir and before him, Rafik Al-Hariri. Damascus says all the accusations reflect “pre-determined anti-Syrian stances.” We take Damascus at its word. The United Nations is set to verify those words.
