blow to United States prestige throughout the Middie East. It became a crisis, and a proof of the limits of US power, almost of the same type as the Iran embassy hostages siege of 1980.
The demands of the Amal millita for the release of 720 Lebanese incarcerated in srael prisons was a just supported. Throughout Israel's last three years occupation of the Israeli forces indiscrimately rounded up thousands of Lebanese Palestinians. The whereabouts of many of these people is still not known. Many have undoubtedly 'disappeared'.
Typically, the press concentrated its coverage almost exclusiveon the American hostages rather than what forced Amal to take this form of protest. The hijacking was the consequence of Israeli aggression in Lebanon and the backing to this. To Amal's credit, and that of Nabih Berri as mediator, they used media coverage of the hostages to Crolla interike tional publicity and to influence the 6 0ubics growing annoyance over he intransigence of Israel in refusing to band over its prisoners.
There is no doubt that in the end the Americans gave in to Amal's demands SUBSCRIBE to do the same. may claim in public that no deal was done but the whole world knows there is a private agreement as will become evident as the prisoners are released. The United States also forced Israel to back down.
tant the long run development in the was the evident inability of the United States, Israel, to act decisively in the crisis. The Us moved fleet to the Eastern ened an economic blockagainst Syria Libya. But it was in reality unable to take any action. Neither was Israel.
The United States is of course using the Beirut hijacking step its crusade against international "terrorism'. That is the threatens waI against any anti-imperliberation ments which threatens or challenges United States aggression domination. In particular Reagan is stepping up preparations for action against Central PRIDE, ANGER and America.
But the outcome of the Beirut hijacking is a blow for the United States. shows a strong continuing the United States against foreign military a venture the limitations of East. That is a welcome development politics.
Any reprisals against military or economic, should vigorously condemned by The people of Lebanon have suffered enough the hands of US and Israeli aggression. saviours of Lebanon. Only Amal not the a few weeks ago this samne organisation hundreds of Palestinians the refugee Beirut. But in their present action ther are striking a' blow against imperialism.
The labour movement must clearly une quivocably demand HANDS