Govt. Adoption of Qaida Claims May Help Syrian Regime against Int’l Community
The Lebanese government’s position from Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn’s statements that al-Qaida terrorist group had infiltrated the country may impact the Syrian regime’s position on its crisis should the issue become internationalized, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.
Sources monitoring the crisis in Syria explained: “Should the Lebanese government adopt Ghosn’s claims, the Syrian regime would be able to portray its crisis before the international community as a dispute between terrorism and its desire to implement reform.”
It would also be able to accuse Syrian opposition members residing outside the country of providing cover for sides that are seeking to create instability in Syria, they added.
They noted however that the Lebanese government has not yet decided to adopt the defense minister’s statements, seeing as it has held two sessions since his remarks without issuing a position on them, despite pressure on it to take a stand on the issue.
The sources wondered whether the adoption of Ghosn’s remarks would drive Lebanon towards a crisis, adding that he has not yet revealed to the government the information on al-Qaida that he had allegedly obtained.
The minister had said a few weeks ago that members of the terrorist group had infiltrated the Bekaa town of Arsal.
His remarks came shortly before twin explosions in the Syrian capital Damascus that left over 40 dead.
The regime accused al-Qaida of being behind the attack.
The March 14-led opposition has slammed Ghosn’s Qaida claims, saying that they may be an attempt to link Lebanon to the Syrian crisis.
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