Lebanon Updates: The May 2008 Conflict - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Lebanon Updates:The May, 2008 ConflictTuesday, May 13, 2008

-Map courtesy of UN-

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Press Statement by President Bush

Late Monday, May 12, 2008

I strongly condemn Hizballah's recent efforts, and those of their foreign sponsors in Tehran and Damascus, to use violence and intimidation to bend the government and people of Lebanon to their will. The United States will continue to firmly support the Government of Lebanon, led by Prime Minister Siniora, against this effort to undermine the hard-fought gains in sovereignty and independence the Lebanese people have made in recent years. The international community will not allow the Iranian and Syrian regimes, via their proxies, to return Lebanon to foreign domination and control. To ensure the safety and security of the people of Lebanon, the United States will continue its assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure they are able to defend the Lebanese Government and safeguard its institutions.

It is critical that the international community come together to assist the Lebanese people in their hour of need. I plan to consult with regional leaders on my upcoming trip to the Middle East to coordinate efforts to support the Lebanese Government and implement U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, among others, which seek to bolster Lebanon's sovereignty against external efforts at destabilization and interference. The Lebanese people have sacrificed much for the sake of their freedom, and the United State s will continue to stand with them against this latest assault on their independence and security.

Press statement from: The White House - Office of the Press Secretary

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* Bloomberg.com brings us this report early this Tuesday morning and it starts off like this... Lebanon's army said it would use force to disarm anyone carrying weapons in a bid to quell fighting between gunmen allied with the Hezbollah-led opposition and supporters of pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora... The military has strengthened its presence in the capital, Beirut, in the mountains and other areas that have witnessed clashes in the past week, Brigadier Saleh Haj Suleiman said in an interview today... “The army will prevent any show of armed individuals and will stop anyone, even if it means the use of force,” he said...

Read this report in full at link below...

Lebanon's Army Vows to End Clashes, Disarm Anyone Carrying Guns

* TheGlobeAndMail.com has this report...

The Hezbollah-led opposition warned yesterday that Lebanon would continue to be racked by violence if Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's Western-backed government didn't agree to its demands and resign. Meanwhile, the Arab League sought to mediate the escalating crisis and a U.S. warship deployed toward the region, as heavy fighting continued for a sixth day...

Hezbollah demands Lebanon's PM resign

* ArabNews.com brings us this early morning, their time report and it starts off like this... Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday warned that Iran’s support for Hezbollah’s “coup” in Lebanon would affect Tehran’s relations with Arab and Islamic countries...

Read the rest at link below...

Hands Off Lebanon, Saud Tells Iran

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-Following links from YaLibnan.com website-

(Warning: Some of the following links have very graphic photos in them)

- I Removed the following 7 Links to Photos in Respect to Google’s Ad Policies

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Lebanese TV Presenter Blasts Opposition Leaders At Shut Down Of Future TV

- This Video removed by me in respect to Google’s Ad Policies

Video posted on LiveLeak by barnesy
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Gang... as American citizens... we really do take for granted so many of our precious freedoms that we have. We really do.

And to me, the above video really brings that very point home...

So I guess if nothing else, our President has gotten one thing... one word right over these last so many years. And that thing, that word would be...
FREEDOM
It truly is such a powerful thing.

Note: I will update with a new post Wednesday.
AubreyJ.........