| |
'Tough days ahead in Lebanon'
Stabilizing Lebanese arena difficult, former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen tells Ynet; America considering diplomatic solution to Iran question, but Bush will not take military option off table
By Yitzhak Benhorin
WASHINGTON - Stabilizing the Lebanese arena is bound to be a more difficult process than expected, even if Syrian forces pull out of the country, former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen says in an exclusive interview with Ynet.
| Pro-Syrian Protest |
|
| 'No to Americans and Zionists’ / By Reuters and Ali Waked |
|
After mass demonstrations by Lebanese opposition calling for end of Syrian occupation in Lebanon, Syria’s supporters take to streets slamming international intervention |
| Full Story |
|
|
|
Cohen, who is the son of a Jewish emigre from Russia and an Irish Protestant mother, is considered an avid Israel supporter and has even led a Senate initiative to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Today, he owns an international consulting firm and also serves as a commentator on CNN.
Cohen has been closely following recent events in Lebanon
and says developments in the country hold great significance.
"The U.S.,
Europe, and the Saudis are united and are exerting pressure on Syria to pull its forces out of Lebanon," he says.
'International pressure will continue'
Syrian leader Bashar Assad is certainly in a bind and would be hard pressed to sidestep calls for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, Cohen says.
| Lebanese protesters have already toppled government, but what's next? (Photo: Reuters) |
He adds, however, that he expects Assad to push for a partial pullout only, while keeping forces in the Bekaa Valley region.
"However, this will be difficult for him to do," Cohen says. "The international pressure will continue."
Cohen says he suspects Lebanon is in for a difficult period even if Syria withdraws its troops and intelligence agents from the country.
Despite the massive street demonstrations, some elements in Lebanon want to maintain the Syrian presence in the country, he says, and adds the Lebanese would still need to resolve the conflict through their political system.
"It would be more difficult than what most of them expect, but it's essential," he says.
'Bush would not take military option off table'
Addressing Hizbullah activity in Lebanon, Cohen says the question is whether the country would continue to host an armed militia directed and supported by Iran.
"You know better than I that the Iranians are using the Hizbullah to exert pressure on Israel in the north," he says. "Not only is Syria present in Lebanon, the Iranians are, too."
Cohen notes, however, that Damascus is in hot water for other reasons on top of its longtime domination of Lebanon and suspected complicity in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"It's also the war in Iraq, the terror bases in Damascus, and the interference in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," he says. "(U.S. President George W.) Bush is attempting to advance a historic peace process."
However, Cohen hints the U.S. has the ability to exert pressure on both Syria and Iran.
"We have 150,000 troops in Iraq and our presence there presses the Syrians and the Iranians," he says.
The American administration is not interested in pursuing further military campaigns at this time, Cohen says, but clarifies that all options are open.
"The president would not take the military option off the table," he says.
'Israeli agents may be active in Iran'
Regarding the growing Iranian threat, Cohen says there is no timetable for a possible military strike on Teheran's nuclear facilities. For now, Bush is considering whether to join European efforts to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means, he says.
"We are willing to employ the carrot-and-stick approach," he says, and adds that the U.S. is seeking to clarify what steps Europe would be willing to take should the Iranians fail to abide by their promises and pledges.
The U.S. is hesitant about joining European-led diplomatic efforts in light of concerns that Europe would shy away from military action should talks fail, Cohen says.
There should be an understanding that if the Iranians don't comply with agreements, "immediate actions must follow without hesitation," he says.
Regarding American-Israeli cooperation on a possible Iran strike, Cohen says he is currently not privy to such sensitive information.
"The U.S. would have a serious problem with an Israeli attack on any state in the region," he says. "Talks between top officials are of course being held, but I don't know how the U.S. wants the situation to be resolved."
During the interview, Cohen also clarified earlier remarks regarding possible American elite forces deployment in Iran
"Such possibility exists, but I don't know if it's happening in practice," he says. "Israeli agents may also be examining (nuclear) sites in Iran. This possibility cannot be discounted either."
Click here to read the Hebrew version
Hopes Iraqis rebuild army
When asked how he could count on intelligence agencies who failed to foresee the Soviet Union's collapse and the September 11 attacks, Cohen chose to resort to humor.
"We depend on Israeli intelligence," he said, but on a more serious note added, "we all make mistakes."
As to the situation in Iraq, Cohen says he hopes Iraqis can forge a viable political system and build an adequate military force soon.
Despite civil war fears and concerns that the country's Shiite majority would take revenge on the Sunni minority following decades of oppression, Shiites have been exercising restraint, Cohen says, but adds this is mostly a result of the massive American military presence.
"If they (Shiites) don't grant the Sunnis representation in the government, the likelihood of a civil war grows," he says.
As to the possibility that an Islamic government may emerge in Iraq, Cohen says he cannot predict the American reaction to such an eventuality.
"If the majority in Iraq says that's what it wants, it's a democratic process," he says.
Yitzhak Benhorin is Ynet Washington correspondent
|
RSS
