WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has launched a high-profile campaign
to halt Hizbullah rocket attacks from Lebanon.
U.S. President George Bush has invited Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri to the White House to discuss Hizbullah attacks on Israeli military
positions along the northern border. Hariri is scheduled to meet Bush on
Wednesday in what officials term could include a warning of the consequences
of a Hizbullah military campaign against Israel.
"Among other things, the two leaders will discuss U.S.-Lebanese
relations and the current situation in the Middle East," a White House
statement said.
The Bush invitation to Hariri came after numerous appeals by Israel for
pressure on Lebanon and Syria to stop Hizbullah. Hariri, a billionaire who
made his fortune in Saudi Arabia, has tried to promote foreign investments
in Lebanon and has publicly opposed Hizbullah attacks.
The Iranian-backed militia has fired rockets and mortars nearly daily
against Israeli military positions along the northern border. So far,
several people have been injured.
Hariri will also meet U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Treasury Secretary
Paul O'Neill, Energy Spencer Abraham and National Security Adviser
Condoleezza Rice. Hariri will be accompanied by several economic ministers.
"The U.S. message will be that Lebanon will see all the fruits of its
recovery program destroyed by Hizbullah," a U.S. official said. "Somebody in
Lebanon has to take responsibility and the only address we can think of is
Hariri."
Last week, Hariri met visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi in
Beirut. Kharazi, who is believed to have little influence over Hizbullah,
suggested that Iran was not interested in a regional war with Israel.
Bush has not invited any Syrian leader to discuss Hizbullah. Officials
said the
administration is relaying warnings to Syria via the U.S. embassy in
Damascus and the State Department in Washington.
On Friday, Bush sent Syrian President Bashar Assad a message that dealt
with Middle East developments and the tension along the Israeli-Lebanese
border. Syrian sources said this was the first message by Bush to Assad in
several months.
