Israel Matzav

I'm sure they're quaking in their boots

In an interview with the Lebanese newspaper an-Nahar, Hillary Clinton threatens Hezbullah.

"Hizbullah should know that resorting once again to violence in Lebanon runs completely counter to the interests of the Lebanese people, the interests of the region, and of the United States," Clinton said. "They should also know that if the goal of violence is to stop the tribunal, it won't work," she added.

Clinton said "intimidation or threats" from Hizbullah should not be tolerated. "The problem in Lebanon is not the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The problem is that some are threatening violence in order to try to stop justice," she said in the interview.

The rising tensions in Lebanon are also affecting burgeoning US ties to Syria.

Clinton said Syria's behavior "has not met our hopes and expectations" over the past 20 months. "Syria's actions have not met its international obligations. Syria can still choose another path and we hope that it does," Clinton said.

Clinton's interview followed a threat by Hizbullah's leader Hassan Nasrallah who on Thursday said his group will "cut the hand" of anyone who tries to arrest its members for the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri.

I'm sure Nasrallah is quaking in his boots.

The problem is that everyone knows that Hillary and her boss won't back up threats like that. They'll just keep reaching out for 'engagement.'

Isn't the World a great place without American deterrent power? What could go wrong?

Labels: Hezbullah, Hillary Clinton, Special Tribunal for Lebanon

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:07 AM