Hello, and having referred to Ariel Sharon's record, I remembered
something that might be more appropriate to a "cloak and dagger"
discussion than the generalised exchange we've been having.
Back in 1983, I heard of secret meetings which Sharon reportedly had
with Rifa'at al-Assad, the Syrian president's brother and head of
security.  One was said to have taken place in Morocco, the other in the
United States.  What they discussed we can only guess - but presumably
it had to do with Lebanon. I forget whether one of these meetings was
supposed to have happened before the Sabra and Chatila massacres. Later
in 1983, if I remember rightly, there occurred the "mutiny" of some
Syrian-backed factions in the PLO, who formed the "National  Salvation
Front".
I remember one of my Israeli friends who knew one or two secrets
observing that "the trouble is the sons-a-bitches on both sides are
better able to collaborate with each other than the decent people".
Now that Israel is out of Lebanon, Rifaat al-Assad's ambition thwarted
by his nephew, and the ghosts of Sabra and Chatila have turned up to
haunt a Belgian courthouse, I wonder how much of the hidden history
behind events we may be able to see uncovered?

Charlie Pottins