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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| M. Simon: Syria Has a Problem |
| 2006-08-08 |
| Serious difficulties that the war is causing Syria: [..] One of those problems is a serious inflow of refugees from Lebanon. It looks like the Israeli effort to clear civilians out of Southern Lebanon was not strictly humanitarian in nature. It was also meant to destabilize the Syrian regime. [..] What, then, provoked Mohsen Bilal to offer to jump headlong into an Israeli trap? Contrary to Washington's hopes, the Bashar al-Assad regime may not be viable after the destruction of Hezbollah. The flood of refugees is painful to absorb. In addition, Syria's economy depends on Lebanon. Syrian workers in Lebanon remit US$4 billion a year, double Syria's reported exports. The Assad regime and its supporters draw substantial income from Lebanon's black market, which Syria continues to dominate despite the removal of Syrian troops last year. US as well as Israeli analysts assume that the Syrian regime will do anything to survive, but in the wake of Hezbollah's collapse and the breakdown of Lebanon's Shi'ite community, it may not be obvious to Bashar Assad how he may accomplish this. Without the skim from Lebanon's black market and the remittances from Syrian workers in Lebanon, the regime's purse will shrivel and its hold on the reins will slacken. Double-crossing its allies in Tehran at just that moment might not be the wisest move, particularly with remnants of Hezbollah fleeing into Syria. [..] What is the black market of which Spengler speaks? Blonde Lebanese hasish well known in the region and a favorite of many Israelis.[ hat tip Yehudit of Kesher Talk ] A Deep Purple concert was scheduled for this summer in Baalbeck. That would have attracted tourists from Israel and Europe. Not to mention many Lebanese. The Syrian's get a cut for providing protection all up and down the supply chain. [..] |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #3 there was a photo I was thinking of inculding with this but Rantburg is to family values oriented so I refrained. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-08-08 20:50 |
| #2 no Smoke On The Water jokes? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-08 18:31 |
| #1 Deep Purple concert in Baalbek, eh? Well, Bashar, you shouldn't have let the Hezb dogs off the chain but now that you have, don't complain about what it's costing you. Just "Hush!" |
| Posted by: mac 2006-08-08 17:57 |