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02/09/2005:

"Hezbollah May Be Threat to Mideast Truce"

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Hezbollah is emerging as the biggest threat to a fragile Israeli-Palestinian truce, with Lebanese guerrillas offering West Bank gunmen thousands of dollars to step up attacks on Israelis, the gunmen and Palestinian security officials said Wednesday.  

The Iranian-funded Lebanese guerrillas, who have hundreds of West Bank gunmen on their payroll, have stepped up pressure on them in recent weeks, the security officials said.

One retired militant told The Associated Press that a Hezbollah recruiter called him just a day before this week's Mideast summit in Egypt, told him the cease-fire wouldn't last and offered a generous payment if he returns to violence. A squad of five or six militants typically receives $5,000 to $8,000 a month from Hezbollah for expenses, including bullets, weapons, cell phone calling cards and spending money.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, whose political survival depends on making the cease-fire stick, is trying to avoid confrontation with Hezbollah for the moment.
Full Article: news.yahoo.com

Here is scenario someone gave me today: A Kurdistan that comprises northern Iraq, Iran, and Syria. To the Caspian. The Turks hate it, but you throw them the EU bone. 'A Palestinian state' to calm and distract.