I.
Report: U.S suspects Iraqi WMD in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, August 25, 2003

U.S. intelligence suspects Iraq's weapons of mass destruction have finally been located.

Unfortunately, getting to them will be nearly impossible for the United States and its allies, because the containers with the strategic materials are not in Iraq.

Instead they are located in Lebanon's heavily-fortified Bekaa Valley, swarming with Iranian and Syrian forces, and Hizbullah and ex-Iraqi agents, Geostrategy-Direct.com will report in tomorrow's new weekly edition.

U.S. intelligence first identified a stream of tractor-trailer trucks moving from Iraq to Syria to Lebaon in January 2003. The significance of this sighting did not register on the CIA at the time.

U.S. intelligence sources believe the area contains extended-range Scud-based missiles and parts for chemical and biological warheads. 

Reference:
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_1.html




II.
Jane's Foreign Report 21 November 2001
 Will the Bekaa Valley be next?

After the partial collapse of the Taliban forces, what next? If the Americans continue their 'war against terrorism' what might be the next stop?

According to Middle East sources, it might be the Bekaa Valley, half way between Beirut and Damascus, the capitals of Lebanon and Syria. The valley is well-known or cultivating hashish and for serving as a training ground for anti-Israeli and anti-American militia fighters and terrorists. The Bekaa valley is in Lebanese territory but controlled by drug barons and the Syrian army, which took over parts of it in 1976.

For the past 20 years the Bekaa valley has been the military base for Hizbullah, the 'Party of God' and leading Islamist organisation in Lebanon. Hizbullah built training camps there, using the valley to prepare for attacks on the occupying Israeli force in south Lebanon. It eventually forced the Israelis to withdraw in 2000.

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III.
http://english.daralhayat.com/business/07-2003/Article-20030730-b2ea6c17-c0a8-01ed-0054-c05409f07d2b/story.html
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=717896&fid=942
US presses for re-opening of Iraq-Israel oil pipeline
Assessments are that the US is trying to channel oil from Iraq to Europe by way of friendly countries.
David Hayoun    25 Aug 03   11:54
US Department of Defense officials recently contacted the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proposed the re-construction of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Israel.