Syria: U.S. to ease list of items it won't sell us

www.haaretz.com...

U.S. President Barack Obama has removed several items from the list of goods the United States refuses to sell Syria, according to Syria's ambassador to Washington.

The items include equipment used in civil aviation, plane components, communications and information systems and technology, software, hardware and Internet-related equipment.

Mustafa told Syrian television that the Obama administration is "working on suspending articles one at a time until the ban is void."

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, said his organization is ready for any outbreak in hostilities along the Israeli border.

Some 400 Hezbollah supporters staged a demonstration near the border to mark three years since Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war.

Qassem said the Shi'ite militia "is not waiting for Israel to begin fighting" before making the necessary preparations.

He said Israel "is an aggressive entity that can act at any moment, and so the organization is always ready and it will prevent Israel from attaining its goals."

Hassan Nasrallah's No. 2 also denounced the United Nations Security Council for what he claims is its failure to condemn reconnaissance missions by the Israel Air Force over Lebanon.

The Lebanese Army commander-in-chief, Jean Kahwaji, has toured southern Lebanon, asking army troops in the region to "stay on full alert to face the daily Israeli threats against Lebanon, its people and its institutions."

While marking Lebanon's Army Day on Thursday, which celebrated the 64th anniversary of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Kahwaji urged the military establishment to be vigilant in the face of "continuing and possibly increasing threats from Israel."

Lebanese media reported that the Israel Defense Forces had stepped up activity around the border at Shaba Farms, and that Lebanese forces in that sector and UNIFIL troops had also beefed up patrols.

Taking a neutral stance for now.... if Hezbollah are preparing for war and making preparations, then do they not expect Israel to do the same. Hezbollah are only fooling themselves if they think they can beat Israel in an armed conflict. What do Hezbollah leaders expect will happen by stockpiling rockets on the border??!!