This is why I hate waking up late. The Lebanese are continuing their rather impressive protests to end the occupation by Syria. And it looks as if the French are working with America on this.

BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (AFP) – US President George W. Bush and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on Monday called for the immediate withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

“The United States and France join with the European Union and the international community in condemning the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and in their support for a free, independent, and democratic Lebanon,” they said in a statement released by the White House.

“We urge full and immediate implementation of UNSCR 1559 in all its aspects,” they said, referring to the September 2004 UN Security Council resolution that calls for the immediate retreat of all foreign forces in Lebanon.

I’m as surprised as all of you. And for awhile, it seemed like Syria was offering to withdraw:

DAMASCUS, Feb 21 (AFP) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday he would take steps soon to withdraw his troops from Lebanon under an accord that ended the 15-year civil war there, according to the head of the Arab League.

Syria is facing intense international pressure to end its political and military domination of Lebanon and is suspected of having a hand in the murder a week ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

“During our meeting, President Assad expressed his firm desire, more than once, to continue implementing the Taef accord and to withdraw from Lebanon in keeping with this agreement,” Arab League secretary general Amr Mussa said.

Mussa’s comments, after talks with Assad, came as US President George W. Bush again called on Damascus to leave Lebanon, where Syrian troops have been stationed for almost three decades.

But like any crazy regime, they immediately said that they were joking. Well, that’s how I took it.

Syria has denied having offered to withdraw its approximately 16????????000 troops from neighboring Lebanon, and officials in Damascus disclaimed remarks by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to the effect that Syrian President Bashair al-Assad had promised an imminent pullback of those forces.
…
Analysts speculated whether the apparent misunderstanding could signal divisions over policy in Damascus, where some believe a power struggle is underway between hardliners from the regime of al-Assad????????s father, former Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, and more moderate elements that see a need for fundamental reforms in Syria.
…
The news service quoted Syrian sources as saying that the move was intended to consolidate the ruling family????????s grip on the police and security apparatus.

Tony has a huge post analyzing the situation. Read it!

UPDATE: More on Syria’s involvement:

Officials at the highest levels in Syria and Lebanon organized the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper a-Siasa.

The report revealed that two high-ranking Syrian generals ???????? including Syrian president Bashar Assad’s brother-in-law, Brig. Gen. Asef Shawkat, whom he appointed Friday to head military intelligence ???????? and a Lebanese general.

The newspaper did not reveal the sources of the report.

No sources? Even though it seems plausible, this is the same kind of stuff Seymore Hersh and Dan Rather are made of. I remain skeptical, as things like this appear all the time when papers want a hit piece.