"The problem of Syrian-American relations is that Israel stands in the middle," the leading Shiite cleric said yesterday. "US pressures on Syria stem from Israeli pressures on the US administration." Fadlallah, who is renowned for his thoughtful political views and analysis, argued that Washington "is not satisfied with Syria's offers as regards 'the war on terrorism' and its semi-neutral stance on the situation in Iraq; it will continue to ask for more."
Syria, which earlier this month redeployed its army in Lebanon for the fourth time in recent years, has offered the US information about the activities of groups related to Al-Qaeda, the organization of Osama bin Laden, the man most wanted by the United States on terrorism charges. It has also turned a blind eye to Washington's reshaping of the political scene in Iraq. Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon is not a high priority in Washington, Fadlallah said. It has no political or security importance. The Lebanese question as Washington sees it is summed up in the anti-Israeli resistance movement, "which has managed to prevent Israel from interfering in Lebanon and pressuring it."
Fadlallah said: "The United States knows that the time for Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon has not yet come. Even the Lebanese government, which has approved Syria's military presence here for Lebanon's security, may suffer in the event of a complete Syrian military withdrawal." He argued that if Syria wanted to leave Lebanon completely, the United States would not let it because it wants to keep the Lebanese front calm, while preventing Syria from providing aid to the anti-American resistance in Iraq. "The issues of the Lebanese resistance and Palestinian groups opposed to the Middle East peace process will remain pending.
Fadlallah criticized US Ambassador Vincent Battle for interfering in Lebanese affairs and his recent calls on the Government to do more against money laundering in the country. During the Lebanese civil war, Washington branded Fadlallah the spiritual leader of Hizbullah, though he is actually at odds with the resistance movement for religious reasons. He ruled out any attack by the United States against Iran, despite Washington's accusations that Tehran is developing a nuclear weapons program and harboring members of Al-Qaeda. "These accusations are... pressure to prevent Iran interfering in Iraq and to force it to decrease its support for the Palestinian intifada and the Lebanese resistance," he said.
"Iran has signed all international agreements related to controlling the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It has arrested Al-Qaeda members who entered its territory illegally and is preparing to deport them to their countries." He added that bin Laden branded Iran an apostate state for reasons related to the Saudi dissident's own interpretation of Islam.
On the future of Saudi-US relations, Fadlallah said: "Washington moves every now and then to cause political instability and maybe security problems in the kingdom, to push it to contain Islamic circles branded extremists by the US." He did not rule out the possibility that the United States is seeking to "undermine Saudi Arabia's position in the Gulf in order to push other Gulf states to the forefront," hinting at the relocation of US troops from Saudi Arabia to Qatar in recent months. "But the kingdom, for geographic and demographic reasons, will continue to be a key player in that region." "The United States plays a game that neither its allies nor its enemies enjoy," he added. "Its administration seeks to serve the interests of US oil and weapons companies," he added, recalling that many US administration officials are either current or former officials in such companies. "The economic, military and political strength of the United States may allow it to spread its hegemony," he said. "But its military problems and the hatred and courage it faces from various nations will not let this hegemony be long-lasting."
