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March 02, 2005

Bush Senior and Syrian Control of Lebanon

The rightwing is going off on a bit of triumphalism over Lebanon, even attacking progressive bloggers for being insufficiently triumphalist.

As I noted before the recent revolt by the Lebanese people, it was Bush's dad who gave Lebanon to Syria as a reward for support in the first Gulf War, a fact conveniently forgotten by most of the rightwing. As Newsweek reported in 1991:

[Assad] has already been paid off handsomely for his stand against Iraq: the gulf Arabs have committed billions in much-needed cash; Washington gave him international respectability and turned a blind eye to his absorption of Lebanon.
So color me a bit cynical, as we continue to allow allies in the current wars, notably Pakistan, to consolidate dictatorship. And it would be ironic if Bush's actions indirectly give Iran new control of Lebanon via its allied Hezbollah militias.

Out of curiosity, have any of the conservative bloggers acknowledged Bush Senior's role in giving Syria control of Lebanon back in 1990?

Posted by Nathan at March 2, 2005 07:28 AM