Posted on 05/10/2003 4:08:45 PM PDT by ganeshpuri89
The secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, says that the United States has offered to recognize his organization and its political role in Lebanon in return for a suspension of its violent actions against Israel, the adoption of a neutral position in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and intelligence cooperation between Hezbollah and the United States.
In an interview with Al Jazeera television, Nasrallah said that the United States had also offered to invest money in the development of South Lebanon, noting that the offer had not come now, but in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.
"I believe that Hezbollah's response after September 11 was enough to cause the Americans to understand that we are people who are not prepared to haggle over our principles," Nasrallah said, adding: "This exposes the credibility of the United States. They raised a proposal and said they were ready to strike our name off the list of terror organizations."
Nasrallah also said in the interview that at present, there were no contacts between Hezbollah and Israel on the issue of a prisoner exchange. "Usually, there is a round of talks during which there are many meetings. Then we reach a dead end, separate for a while, and then renew the negotiations. At present, there is nothing specific [happening]."
The secretary-general said that in the framework of the talks with Israel, Hezbollah was committed to the release of Palestinian prisoners, particularly those serving lengthy sentences. He said that talks with Israel on the issue hadn't borne fruit because Israel hadn't agreed to release such prisoners.
"The only reason for the foot-dragging on the issue relates to the political considerations and needs of the Hezbollah leader," responded Ori Tannenbaum, the son of imprisoned Israeli Elhanan Tannenbaum.
Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah would not disarm as demanded by the United States and Israel.
OK, first note there is no response to this allegation from any US official whatsoever.
Second, what does this mean the offer has not come now but in the wake of Sept. 11? Is Nasrallah saying that this so called offer has been standing for a year and a half.
Say it ain't so Joe.
A roadmap to oblivion?
So now we're negotiating with terrorists? Does that put us on the side of 'the terrorists' in the "You're with US or you're with the Terrorists" policy?
Recognize Hezbollah? That's insane.
Nasrallah: We have rejected U.S. offer to recognize Hezbollah
Also this has been moved out of breaking news. Whatever. I give up.
Nasrallah: U.S. offers to conditionally recognize Hezbollah
Nasrallah: We have rejected U.S. offer to recognize Hezbollah
Somebody has some explaining to do.
And no I don't mean the mods for moving this out of "breaking." With Powell due in Damascus on Monday, State cannot let this bombshell pass without comment.
Perhaps the mods would, after all, comment on moving this out of "breaking"?
"I believe that Hezbollah's response after September 11 was enough to cause the Americans to understand that we are people who are not prepared to haggle over our principles," Nasrallah said, adding: "This exposes the credibility of the United States. They raised a proposal and said they were ready to strike our name off the list of terror organizations."
Not that I think we should negotiate with these folks like this... but what a moron. I mean, we've already demonstrated our willingness to outright destroy groups like HezbollBLAH, and this guy wants to throw out insults? What stupidity...
Sheik Nasrallah kept a low profile after the Iraq war. But in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday night, he said that a disarmed Hezbollah would be "useless," adding, "are we going to resist occupation with words and poems?"He also said that after the attacks on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States sent "messages" offering to remove the group from its terrorist list and provide economic aid.
"In return, they wanted us to drop out of the struggle and they wanted us to secretly cooperate with them against the so-called terrorist groups," he said. "This was not acceptable to us and still isn't."
The United States denies any such contact.
I'll say it ain't so.
Why on earth would we recognize a terrorist organization, especially right after 9-11?
Makes no sense then and no sense now.
Hezbollah is trying to embarrass the USA with no proof.
Actually, I like that offer. If it was real, and Hezbollah actually accepted it, then they would essentially be pledging to abandon terrorism, and active struggle against Israel. What would be wrong with that? If we really could talk a terrorist group out of practicing terrorism, that would be terrific.
Of course Hezbollah wouldn't really do that, but imagine (again, assuming the offer ever really happened) that we'd been able to carry on the discussion to the point of getting Hezbollah to sign something. If we'd gotten an agreement of some kind, then their violation thereof might provide a basis for moving openly against them. After all, cleaning out the Bekka Valley and tossing the Syrians out of Lebanon has to be on the agenda somewhere, at least as a possible objective that may be pursued if a reasonable opportunity arises, or can be engineered.
Sure, it was a long shot as to Hezbollah taking the bait, and emeshing themselves in a debilitating agreement, but why not take the shot? Consider, also, that if we ever do come to the point of open military conflict with Hezbollah, we will have to make some objectively reasonable demand of this sort. The Taliban could have remained in power if they'd turned over UBL and top Al-Qaeada, and Saddam could have remained in power if he'd fully complied with 1441. If it ever does come down to ultimatum time with Hezbollah, it wouldn't hurt anything to be able to reveal that they'd been given a chance early on, and that they are now being given a final chance.
This pattern of behavior on our part is both honorable, and makes it much easier to bring the American public behind military action when it does become necessary.
"I believe that Hezbollah's response after September 11 was enough to cause the Americans to understand that we are people who are not prepared to haggle over our principles," Nasrallah said, adding: "This exposes the credibility of the United States. They raised a proposal and said they were ready to strike our name off the list of terror organizations."Principles? It seems that the Arab Terrorists 'principles' consists primarily of killing infidels, wherever they may find them, isn't it? Is Hezbollah not part of the 'hijacked Islam Religion' to meet their political agenda of eliminating Israelis et al? We've made deals with the Devil before but this one on the face of it was hard for me to swallow.
This just seems like a bit of propaganda to me. I guess that I just don't feel like I can trust or believe Hezbollah and Al-Jazeera. Did CNN have any coverage/input on this story? That would cinch it for me, lol ! :O)
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