Britain’s Contacts With Hezbollah Vex U.S.

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON — Signaling displeasure with a staunch ally, a senior Obama administration official said Thursday that the United States was puzzled by Britain’s announcement last week that it was re-establishing contact with the political wing of the militant group Hezbollah.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the matter, said the British government had informed the “previous administration” of its diplomatic overture, suggesting that the Obama administration felt somewhat blindsided by the initiative.

The United States, the official said, wanted Britain to explain “the difference between the political, social and military wings of Hezbollah because we don’t see the difference between the integrated leadership that they see.”

In its announcement, the British Foreign Office said it would take up “carefully selected” contacts with the political wing of Hezbollah but continue to shun the group’s military wing.

As a political party, Hezbollah runs schools and hospitals in Lebanon. But its militia members fought a 34-day war against Israel in 2006. The United States regards Hezbollah as a terrorist group that is financed by Iran.

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NYTIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/middleeast/13diplo.html?_r=1&ref=world