US considers military option against Hezbollah...but..."... the US has fewer options in Lebanon..."

"Via Friday-Lunch-Club

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blamed Lebanon’s political crisis Wednesday on those seeking to subvert the findings of a tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"We view what happened today as a transparent effort by those forces inside Lebanon, as well as interests outside Lebanon, to subvert justice and undermine Lebanon's stability and progress," Clinton said in Doha, Qatar, referring to the Lebanese government collapse in the wake of Hezbollah’s withdrawal..."

Posted by G, Z, or B at 4:23 PM


Therefore:

Israeli and American military officials indicate that the US would resort to military measures if Hezbollah reacts violently to the International Tribunal's potential indictment of its members

Saleh Naami in Gaza, Wednesday 12 Jan 2011
  

 April 18, 1983, bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, 
Photo courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Turning point: The massive bombing at the US Marine barracks in Beirut
killed 241 American servicemen on Oct. 23, 1983.

The United States would potentially intervene militarily in Lebanon if Hezbollah resorts to violent measures when challenging the International Tribunal's indictment, due to be issued in the next few weeks, an Israeli news website claimed. 



Israeli and American military officials told Tid Debkka, an Israeli website specialising in intelligence-related news, that the Obama administration have given the Pentagon orders to further strengthen the US military presence near the Lebanese coast.

The sources added that intensive reinforcements will be arriving to the Mediterranean Sea near Lebanon tomorrow. Among these, will be included the “USS Enterprise”,  a US aircraft carrier, along with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group which is composed of 5 ships and 6,000 troops.


“The US, by intensifying its presence in the Mediterranean Sea near Lebanon, is sending a clear message to Iran and Hezbollah that Washington will not hesitate to use force to defend the Lebanese government” the source added.


He also stated that the US, France, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have agreed to a new set of measures to face the consequences of an International Tribunal indictment which might implicate senior members in Hezbollah of being involved in the assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Al-Hariri.

The White House

Obama and EX-PM

President Obama met today with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon.  The President commended the Prime Minister for his steadfast leadership and efforts to reach peace, stability, and consensus in Lebanon under difficult circumstances.  The efforts by the Hizballah-led coalition to collapse the Lebanese government only demonstrate their own fear and determination to block the government’s ability to conduct its business and advance the aspirations of all of the Lebanese people. The President and Prime Minister reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, implementing all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and continuing a wide-ranging and long-term partnership between the United States and Lebanon. 

During their meeting, the President stressed the importance of the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a means to help end the era of political assassinations with impunity in Lebanon.  The President and Prime Minister specifically discussed united efforts with France, Saudi Arabia, and other key international and regional actors to maintain calm in Lebanon (=ISRAEL, IRAN AND SYRIA) and ensure that the work of the Tribunal continues unimpeded by third parties.  The President and Prime Minister expressed their determination to achieve both stability and justice in Lebanon during this challenging period of government volatility, and agreed that all parties should avoid threats or actions that could cause instability.

Posted by G, Z, or B at 12:36 PM

"... the US has fewer options in Lebanon..."

" Even as tensions over Iran’s nuclear program seemed to ease a bit, a new Middle East crisis erupted Wednesday during Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Persian Gulf tour, with the collapse of Lebanon’s government after a walkout by Hezbollah ministers.in contrast to the Iranian case, where the Obama administration doggedly stitched together a sanctions campaign that it claims has delayed Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear bomb, the United States has fewer options in Lebanon.......
critics say the administration’s engagement in Lebanon has been episodic, in part because it is preoccupied with bigger problems in the region — not just Iran, but the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the terrorist threat in Yemen. The United States also has little leverage over pivotal players in the drama, most notably the Islamic militant group, Hezbollah....
Mrs. Clinton said the United States would consult with all countries that have a stake in Lebanon to prevent the situation from deteriorating. A senior administration official traveling with her said she had been in touch in recent days with officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and France. But it was not clear that the United States was talking to Syria, he said... last weekend it was clear the Saudis had grown frustrated and decided to cut off the talks, according to Arab and Western diplomats who had roles in the talks and spoke on condition of anonymity, under diplomatic protocol. The American role has largely been confined to advising Mr. Hariri to stand firm in his support for the tribunal....

Administration officials have previously criticized Syria for interfering, but on Wednesday Mrs. Clinton held her fire."We don’t think it is at this moment useful to be pointing fingers or blaming or going about the business of recriminations about what did or didn’t happen, or who did or didn’t do what,” she said.... The only hopeful (=Actualy Disapointing) note, the administration official said, is that Hezbollah is using constitutional means to undermine the special tribunal, not turning its members out on the streets..."

Posted by G, Z, or B at 8:21 PM

So, again Nasrallah, spoiled Feltman's cook
In case you missed it: Franklin Lamb: So Who Exactly is Sowing Strife in Lebanon?

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian