Update: More now on YNET. Also see Totten's report below and hit his paypal link if you can. He's self-funded. Are we looking at another summer of war in Lebanon? The stage is set, what the actors will do remains a question.
Syria has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon ahead of an expected "eruption" in that country, Arab and Iranian press reports have said.
Troubling news out of Lebanon via Michael Totten. It looks like something bigger is in the works. Where is Speakerette Pelosi when you need her? If Syria moves on Lebanon, it'll also be another distraction while Iran continues down the nuclear path.
Syrian troops on Thursday reportedly have penetrated three kilometers into Lebanese territories, taking up positions in the mountains near Yanta in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government is evacuating its citizens from Lebanon in advance of…something they expect to happen after July 15, 2007.
It’s going to be an interesting summer.
Guess the Syrians have been reading our news stories about how we are running out of forces, the Army and Marines are exhausted, yadda, yadda, yadda. They'd better be careful. If we had to we could unleash forces from Germany, Korea, and elsewhere.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 02:14 PM
I suspect it'll be the Israelis that'll have to find a way into it if it breaks out. Though that in itself complicates matters. God's greatest joke on the West was putting so much oil in the ground in the Middle-east.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Just another way to keep the prices at pump inflated (as if the gas companies really needed any further excuse)...
Posted by: seekeronos | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 02:37 PM
That would be from Michael Totten, not Michael Yon. :)
Posted by: Michael J. Totten | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 03:13 PM
That would be correct and corrected, my apologies. Wireless keyboard not always in sync with sometimes "wired" blogger's brain.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Fred,
It seems to me that the Syrians find themselves in a very advantageous position at the present time, with a lame duck president and a Congress seeking to disengage the US military from the ME.
More than likely Hizb'Allah has been emboldened by the Hamas takeover in Gaza, and is spoiling for a takeover of Lebanon. Syria will, of course, be acting in unison with their clients, and will only do enough to hold down Lebanese forces, and prevent necessary reinforcements from reaching the Beirut area. I doubt whether Lebanese forces could hold Hizb'Allah without any help, and I'm absolutely sure Lebanon would be overwhelmed quickly by Hizb'Allah if it has Syrian help.
The question at hand is, what should the World do? Why doesn't Europe do anything? It's as if the whole of Europe has turned into an old man holding a cane, too scared to do anything to prevent a massacre, just like what we saw happen in Bosnia and Kosovo. Europe, step up, right now, before it is too late. The US can't do everything.
Posted by: templar knight | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 04:36 PM
I suspect the idiot Europeans would secretly be applauding the Syrian move -- thinking it will bring "stability".
Posted by: Purple Avenger | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 11:44 PM
TK - good description of the Europeans. What a bunch of wastrels. Can't someone drop some bombs around to shake them up?
Israel can't let this get out of control. Take Syria out and maybe the whole place will settle down. For a week. Maybe the Israelis will say 'we fight this one without caring what anyone thinks'. Bush has probably already called and said go for it.
Posted by: Phoenix | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 12:08 AM
I wrote "...If we had to..." I should have written if we wanted to. I'm afraid we don't want to. Another mistake about to be. At least the Administration should say they are considering it, to get the attention of Syria with the old 2x4 up 'side the head. The forces in Germany and Korea are probably pretty close to combat-ready. Give ole al-Assad something to ponder on. But, you know, the Lefties would go ape and scare all the cowardly office-holders we have been foolish enough to elect time after time.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 09:41 AM
"You see, Nelly, the Congress is full of fools and cheats, except for our Congressperson of course. Look at all the Federal money he/she brings in that we would have to provide locally for new roads and bridges. Why he/she is a wonder."
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 09:49 AM
Phoenix, I'm convinced the Europeans are more afraid of the bombs of the Islamists they are harboring. It is unlikely they will do anything. I was just saying.
Posted by: templar knight | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 10:29 AM
I don't know, TK. I'm with Fred - unfortunately as discouraged as he is, too - but if we just did something so totally unpredictable and aggressive, maybe we could get the pendulum to start a nice swift swing south.
God, I would give anything for one leader to say SCREW PC and get on with what must be done. It seems all the leaders are ballerinas tip-toeing around afraid to piss anyone off. What a sorry show and what damned pitiful way to torch this planet. The EU should be afraid, but it's of their own making. Sooner or later you have to deal with the playground bully, and 99% of the time that means kicking his ass. Bullies are psychopaths so 'talk' does zero. I have some hope in Merkel and Sarkozy, but not much. Everyone is too conditioned to depend on us, and now most Europeans hate the Jews again. What crap..... (Actually, I wouldn't mind it if they got a pounding, but I sure don't want that pounding to come from radical Islamists.)
Posted by: Phoenix | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 10:51 AM
But such a pounding might be the only thing to wake up the Viking Rage™ that lies ever so dormant in our Nordic cousins accross the ocean blue.
As for Sarkozy, he looks good on the surface, but I've got to wonder if he will use Degaulle's tactics to keep the nation in line.
Posted by: seekeronos | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Seek,
I also figure we need a small pounding, ourselves. There's a lot of non-Muslim rage out there. Oh boy, if it gets activated. I wonder which country will blow first.
Posted by: Phoenix | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Well Phoenix I agree with you on that idea of the growing non muslim rage out there. Bullies are always suprised when the little guy fights back after taking it so long. That is part of the reason the little guy often is able to kick the bully's butt in the first place.
The muslim world is making a rather tragic and fatal mistake. When the tipping point is reached it will make Rawanda look like a toddler's tantrum.
There is a simmering rage in Africa that is going to boil over at some point. Europe has the possibility of blowing up to.
Posted by: southdakotaboy | Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 08:34 PM