Iraq is US Free, UNIFIL Discusses Possible Withdrawal from South
At the time the region still faces a vicious West, the latter received a strike as it has surely reaped what it sowed.
The US flag was downed a few days before its deadline to soar in the Iraqi air. Another US defeat was staged, and the region has taught us that "more is yet to come", unless nations learn from the mistakes which have caused lives of thousands.
For some nine years, the Iraqi file has grabbed the attention of the world with daily explosions, clashes, military operations, and other types of violent instability.
The issue now is not final, for every event has a post-event which sometimes is not as good as analysts believe.
While the US withdrawal from Iraq is tackled elaborately in Lebanese dailies more than those in the US, local papers also tackled Lebanese affairs and other related issues.
Mikati Committed to Lebanon-Syria Stability
On the Lebanese level, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati prepares for an official visit to France, which is apparently a good sign of the international community's view for Lebanon after Mikati insisted on abiding by Lebanon's international commitments.
Mikati will be meeting with top French officials, including President Nicolas Sarkozy. He will discuss several issues including the Lebanese economic, administrative, and financial file, seeking international funding of Lebanese institutions.
Moreover, he will broadly discuss the Lebanese situation against the "Israeli" enemy, in regard to the resolution 1701, which he stressed on implementing.
Also, PM Mikati's agenda includes the Syrian crisis, and its repercussions on Lebanon. In this regard, the Lebanese PM stressed that no one would deny the historical and geographical relations between Lebanon and Syria. In a statement to al-Akhbar Lebanese daily, he said he will take into consideration creating an equation to understand the sensitive Lebanon-Syria relations and not harm any of the countries.
He added that he cannot interfere in the Syrian affairs, and stressed on the importance of understanding Lebanon's position in this regard. "However, the more time the Syrian crisis takes to be resolved, the more we find ourselves in need for more efforts to contain the repercussions and provide the broadest immunity for Lebanon", PM Mikati iterated.
Furthermore, he indicated that "no one is allowed to manipulate security or have stability subject to shakes due to wrong policies and costly risks".
He also noted that the Lebanese army and security forces have a complete and ultimate cover to confront all those who want to meddle with security. "The limit of freedom in political performances is at stability", Mikati added.
Currently, Syria is the main concern of regional and international bodies, and while it is still struggling in light of an ongoing Arab-West campaign, Russia and China presented a new draft proposal, which is actually an amended draft resolution. This time, according to an-Nahar newspaper, the suggestions partially meet the Arab League initiative; a step mainly praised by the western allies.
UNIFIL: A Possible Withdrawal?
On another hand, the UNIFIL in south Lebanon have recently witnessed a blast that might have jeopardized their stability. In this context, a UNIFIL withdrawal from south Lebanon would be examined at the UN Security Council's Peace Keeping department in New York, in the context of a strategic review for resolution 1701 and the UNIFIL mission.
According to as-Safir daily, the possible UNIFIL withdrawal might have been brought back to discussion after the recent attack, after years of negligence.
The daily quoted a French military source saying that the current review of the UNIFIL strategy might end up deciding to hand in military areas currently monitored by the UNIFIL to the Lebanese army.
This comes in accordance with the 1701 resolution which stated that the Lebanese army, with help from the Lebanese government, should spread its sovereignty on Lebanon's south, and restore its authorities there.
The Iraqi Invasion... Mission Failed
More on Iraq, the US mission to "spread democracy" for sure was not accomplished, and it has caused misery to itself more than it did "good" for the
occupied country.
Al-Akhbar newspaper tackled the issue and stated that with more than 4500 US soldiers dead and 32000 injured, and an $800 billion cost, the US announced its final withdrawal. The daily added that the soldiers believe they are heroes, but in fact, causing the death of more than 100 thousand Iraqis, and leaving behind tens of thousands of crippled children and widows, in addition to political, security, and sectarian instability, did not help them in accomplishing their alleged task.
Present at the closing ceremony, US War Minister Leon Panetta claimed that the US bloods were not wasted, because they caused change in Iraq, and helped it develop.
Where is democracy? Had the US succeeded in its mission to Iraq, would its troops have possibly left? Without doubt, the US witnessed the toughest smack ever, therefore used the pretext of democracy to cover up its failure and leave, after corrupting the atmosphere and spreading its inciting spirit.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
