"Britain and France had their plan for taking back the Suez Canal after it was nationalized by President Nasser of Egypt on July 26, 1956. "France secretly enlisted the help of Israel," writes James Bamford in Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency from the Cold War Through the Dawn of a New Century. Mr.Bamford was Washington Investigative Producer for ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and has written investigative cover stories for the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.

"The intrigue involved Israel launching a war against Egypt," writes Mr. Bamford. Then, once Egypt began defending itself, England and France would go in as 'peacekeepers.' As part of the 'peace,' the canal would be taken from Egypt and kept by Britain and France. Israel would capture the Sinai from Egypt." The plan was agreed to by Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion, defense minister Shimon Peres, and armed forces chief Moshe Dayan, and Britain's prime minister, Anthony Eden."

Does this have an eerie familiar feeling or is it just me?

==AC

==AC

Chirac offer of 2,000 troops breaks impasse on Lebanon peacekeepers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,1857975,00.html

Report: Germany to send up to 1,200 troops to Lebanon force
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/754890.html

Hello AC,

From your last link:
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"Also Saturday, German Vice Chancellor Franz Muentefering told a German newspaper that sailors must be empowered to board ships against the will of their crew in order to prevent arms smuggling to Lebanon."
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My speculation: Blackwater's new Maritime Security subsidiary is tailor made for this task if German, French, and Italian naval forces are not up to this essential interdiction task on the high seas.  The national navys could provide the big ships, big cannon/missiles, and patrol aircraft, but the helicopters and fast-attack patrol boats that would forcibly board opposing ships could be staffed by the hired security forces.

IMO, it offers the best solution to ending the current Israeli naval blockade of Lebanon, yet protects Chirac and other leaders from the political embarrassment of potentially having their sailors die in battle.  Time will tell.

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az  Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?