So, What Can We Learn From What Happened?



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Pundits are starting to analyze the meaning of what happened in Lebanon.

First, here’s my absolute favorite metaphor of the situation, courtesy of Hot Air:

…The government [was] temporarily brought to its knees to remind it who’s boss. Think of it as a visit from mafia goons to some poor bastard who’s late in repaying his debt to a loan shark — they broke a couple of fingers this time to let him know they can break his neck if he doesn’t play ball.

So, what lessons can the West learn from what happened in Lebanon? Noah Pollak in Contentions suggests an answer:

What does the crisis in Lebanon teach us about Hezbollah? It teaches us the same lesson we learned from Hamas when it took Gaza: Islamic supremacist groups, despite their claims to the contrary, cannot be integrated into states or democratic political systems.

[...] The Hezbollah rampage in Lebanon that we are witnessing should make it obvious to any sentient observer that Hezbollah’s claims to democratic political legitimacy have always been intended only to manipulate the credulous. Participation in politics requires the willingness to persuade your foes, to compromise, to stand down when you don’t get your way. But there is no record of Hamas or Hezbollah ever observing such restrictions: the moment Hezbollah was confronted with political pressure, it responded not within the political sphere, but with warlordism — with an exhibition of violence intended to make clear not just that Hezbollah is the most powerful force in the country, but that challenging it will result in its enemies’ humiliation and dispossession. In the streets of Beirut, with Kalashnikovs and RPGs, Hezbollah is making it abundantly clear that its participation in Lebanese politics ends when Hezbollah is asked to submit to the state’s authority. How many more Middle East “experts” are going to proclaim that the answer to Islamic supremacism is dialogue and political integration?

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Discussion

No comments for “So, What Can We Learn From What Happened?”

  1. Hmmmm… they need to update their news. Hezbollah Openly Handed over all government offices to the Lebanese National Army.

    They were threatned by the government to close a private communications network which harmed only Israel, and when the government tried to close it by force, Hezbollah couldn’t stand any more the absurdities, in the oppositions view, of the government, and showed some force which restrained from doing. Giving back everything to the National army gives authority to the neutral Army, and power to the president to be Gen. Michel Sleiman.

    Someone had to come out with authority. I personally am not afraid of Hezbollah. If any argument can be made, is the use of Hezbollah’s arms on its own people. If you want to diss Hezbollah, blog about that.

    Posted by theCourtFool | May 10, 2008, 9:54 pm
  2. On one side you have Zionists (Noal Pollak) and their agents (Siniora).

    On the other side you have the most popular leader in the Arab world - the man who stood in the way of Israel annexing parts of Lebanon like it did the West Bank.

    I think I’ll side with Nasrallah.

    Keep fantasizing all you want, but don’t try to put your fantasies into play in Lebanon, or the people will teach you a lesson.

    Hope that helps!

    Posted by Lebanese | May 10, 2008, 9:56 pm
  3. “If you want to diss Hezbollah, blog about that.”

    Blog about whatever you want, but don’t try to put your delusions into play in Lebanon. If you try, you’ll learn the difference between fantasy and reality.

    Posted by Lebanese | May 10, 2008, 9:57 pm
  4. To Lebanese above, if you think Nassrallah will continue to be “the most popular leader in the Arab world” after the invasion of Beirut is like believing Aoun continues to represent 70 or 80%, or whatever absurd figure that he like to tout, of the Christians. Like Nassrallah said himself “After May 7 is different than before May 7″. This is the beginning of the end for this terrorist organization.

    Posted by MM | May 10, 2008, 10:08 pm
  5. Yeah keep telling yourself that.

    Look at yourselves. Even you don’t believe your lies. If you believed the nonsense you wrote, you would be in Lebanon fighting, like the brave Hezbollah are doing. The people fighting Hezbollah have to be paid money to “fight” (i.e. take the money and run.)

    This is your problem, and this blog perfectly exemplifies it. Your entire argument is based on lie after lie after lie.

    Your whole “Hezbollah invaded Lebanon” thing. That’s preposterous. Hezbollah are Lebanese. You can’t invade your own land.

    You people are a mix of over Israeli agents, undercover Israeli agents, or suckers.

    You can sit around masturbating eachother all you want, but it won’t change the truth.

    1. Israel wants to annex parts of Lebanon like it did the West Bank, and Hezbollah is the only force which can stop them.

    2. Siniora is a stooge without any military or popular support, as you learned this week.

    3. Hezbollah will never give up their arms, and will cut your hand off if you try to steal it. Action reaction.

    Posted by Lebanese | May 10, 2008, 10:15 pm
  6. Great blog buddy. Keep it up and stay safe.

    Posted by Mark Eichenlaub | May 10, 2008, 10:22 pm
  7. what an idiotic quote from zio pollack.

    hamas won the elections and was denied the right to govern by an American and Israeli plot against them. everyone in the world outside of israel (and most of the US) knows this. moreover, why the hell should hamas want to run an institution that is inexplicable linked to the occupation.

    the current government in lebanon is not constitutional, and stopped being so when hezbollah-linked MPs left the cabinet.

    the current government has collaborated with Israel and the US, blocked the formation of a national unity government, refused new elections, created militias armed by the US, and just made a blatant and deliberate move against the right of resistance.

    what else should hezbollah do? the government crossed the line and hezbollah called their bluff.

    none of this would have happened if siniora hadn’t been implementing the american-israeli agenda.

    that is the crux of the problem: on the one side there is resistance, on the other side there is collaboration with empire and occupation.

    be honest about which side you are on.

    the M14 side is not on the side of some pure democracy. give me a break.

    Posted by hans | May 10, 2008, 10:42 pm
  8. To Lebanese,

    So you’re saying HA been fighting and camping in downtown out of love for this country and what it stands for, not for the monthly paycheck they receive from Iran. Give us a break, even most of HA women get payed more for wearing the religious head scarf, so don’t over indulge yourself with patriotism.

    Second, what we’ve witnessed the last couple of days was bunch of thugs running amuck a civilian population. The other side (more civil and composed I might add) choose not to fight you. Though rest assured, if things were pushed hard enough a fight you shall receive. Most Lebanese been thru civil war and a lot even have experience with street-to-street fighting, so HA has no advantage here. I am certain if your morally bankrupt leaders thought they could control this country they would’ve done it 3 years ago, right after the Syrian pulled out.

    Your flock is so brainwashed with this Israeli and Zionist propaganda that its almost manifesting into a group psychological paranoia. Are you people so afraid of Israel and the Jews that now anyone who disagrees with you is automatically branded Israeli. Pity you for you are a lost generation.

    Posted by Another Lebanese | May 10, 2008, 11:02 pm
  9. Hezbollah doesn’t fight for Iranian money. Iran doesn’t have the money to buy two million Lebanese. Again, another lie.

    Further, if they were fighting for money, they would have dropped their guns and ran as soon as they saw the enemy. That’s what your “soldiers” did, because they don’t believe in your cause, because your cause is dishonest. They know what it’s about. So they take their $100 from Shlomo, pretend to fight, and walk away with money in their pocket.

    Regarding Israel, here are the facts:
    1. Israel has annexed Gaza.
    2. Israel has annexed the West Bank.
    3. Israel tried to annex Southern Lebanon, and it was Hezbollah (and none of you cowards) who saved the country.
    4. Israel continues to threaten Lebanon, and could invade again at any moment. It is only Hezbollah which prevents this.

    In response to all this, you Zionist agents focus your energies on taking away Hezbollah’s arms, so that there will be nothing to stop your masters.

    You’re as transparent as an open window. Feel free to play out your Zionist fantasies on the net, but don’t try to implement them on the ground. The soldiers you pay money to fight will only take your money and run. If you try to do the job yourself Hezbollah will again kick your ass.

    Hope that helps!

    Posted by Lebanese | May 10, 2008, 11:30 pm
  10. The legacy of Hizballah: Suppress all opposing voices in the dahyeh and now in Beirut. This is to be later expanded to the rest of Lebanon. This activity is no different than that of the fascist parties of Germany and Italy during WWII. Every action Hizballah takes is apparently justified because of the divinity of their leader. The simple truth is that we have a bunch a thugs with a lot of weapons. Weapons we now know for certain will be used against each and every Lebanese that stands in their way. The idiocy of this party is that they have not learned anything from the past thirty years of civil strife in Lebanon. All efforts to subdue and control Lebanon and the Lebanese have failed. This includes attempts by the PLO, Syria and Israel over that period.
    To think that the outcome of the latest Hizballah adventure will be different is simply foolish. Hizballah has planted the seed for a new resistance movement. We will get our country back from the claws of the Persian beast.

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 10, 2008, 11:38 pm
  11. So, let’s check the facts:
    1) M14 choose not to fight. Why ?
    Honorable to avoid (more) blood, or in russian style, wait for the winter. I don’t think they had a “plan B”, when their “plan A” got a knife on the back, with sleiman hand’s on it.

    2) Hizb’o-Harb, “opted” to back down and let M14 keep (so far) the cabinet. Why ?
    HA NEEDS a civil gov. not directly attached to them, after all who will receive the blame that the “minimul wage” is low, or about the bread price ?
    I don’t think that the iranian masters of HA would be happy if he used it to subside food for a sunni/druze/christian/martian that isn’t willing to die for their cause, and we all (and HA) know, that when a father arrives home and his family is starving, well, things don’t get funny. Long talk short, HA needs a feeble govment that don’t dare to look up in HA eyes and somehow keep the rest of the country (that is, anyone outside hezb’land) in line, or at least just above the despair line. After all they’re *modest*, besides a few arrondissements in beyrouth, they “just” need the south.

    Ps- to the “lebanese” kid making noises in this thread, when the push come to shove, don’t run for mummy. Or, to all HA lovers, if you’re all obessed, and your eyes glow when you hear “zionist”, “enemy agent”, your mouth dries thinking about sinking the “zionist evil entity” in the med - hire some consultants on the subject! I recommend a family: The only true arabic heros and guardians, the family that put israel on the brink of destruction. Yes - you’re right - the dynamic duo, father and son - Hafez & Bashar!

    Posted by min south america | May 10, 2008, 11:56 pm
  12. Power corrupts, particularly in the hands of the
    feeble-minded…

    When HA kidnapped 2 Israeli soliders back in ‘06 Israel retaliated with disproportionate measures though its effects were total failure showing Israel’s “Arrogance of Power”.

    The same analogy can be applied to HA. For HA to commit such a blunder and waste the life of innocent civilians for a mere government order which could’ve easily been ignored, just as HA always disregarded the nation’s laws, even as simple as building permits violation, electrical grid theft, arresting ISF members and interrogating them, on and on..).

    If HA has proven anything is that this fascist and maniacal group is very much like Israel has a case of “Power of Arrogance” and totally devoid of reality.

    Posted by Jay | May 11, 2008, 12:03 am
  13. Hezbollah’s fighters are a bunch of COWARDS because they instigate a fight with sophisticated weapons against an alleged enemy that is largely devoid of serious weapons. If Hezbollah’s fighters were REAL MEN, they would fight us with equal weapons and then we’ll see who will win.

    Hezbollah is like a man beating his wife. She does not have a chance and guess what? The husband wins. Big deal.

    Posted by Courageous | May 11, 2008, 12:07 am
  14. min SA is correct Nasrallah does need a civil government that he has total control of - there is really no other way to “rule” Lebanon.

    A new day is coming in Lebanon. I think that Hariri and Siniora are losing control of the Sunni. They are not going to take this attack on them without response. Radicals will flock to Lebanon to defend the Sunni. Nasrallah somehow has forgotten the changes since 1970 when the last Lebanon internal war began. This one will be different. He opened Pandora’s box and although Hariri and Siniora are trying to get that lid back down - I’m not at all sure they can do it.

    The Christian community expects to be targeted by Hezbollah at any minute and those guys will fight - we will have to see what GeaGea does because he is the one they will follow.

    At the end of the day - History will write that Michel Aoun was responsible for the whole thing. He is the one who gave the Christian cover to Nasrallah, and without it ….. Nasrallah could have never done what he has for the last 2 years. All for power, money (read the NowLebanon report) and of course the “chair” he always thought he was entitled to. Lebanon has never know a greater traitor.

    Posted by Ace | May 11, 2008, 12:25 am
  15. “If you believed the nonsense you wrote, you would be in Lebanon fighting, like the brave Hezbollah are doing.” What is brave about terrorizing citizens of a city? So you believe that people who have already live through a nasty civil war, should be “brave” and shed more blood? Anyone who didn’t fight “brave” Hizbullah did not want blood on their hands, but Amal and HA obviously don’t give a shit if they have blood on their hands. You obviously did not live through ANY civil war, or are way too young to remember it.

    Posted by Umm K. | May 11, 2008, 12:27 am
  16. I was on vacation and I am just catching up on the news.

    I am just outrageous of what has happened so far. Why is March 14 still not fighting back? Why not asking all countries in the world to help dismantle that terrorist organization hizbIran?

    I see the only solution to that is war. There is no way we can deal with entities like HizbIran in Lebanon.

    HizbIran has crossed many red lines by going to West Beirut. This is not a reversible action. Price has to be paid. I think and I hope that the clock has started ticking for the end of those thugs.

    What are they trying to do? Are they trying to avoid “Elimination by Israel” by going to west Beirut?

    Posted by LebanesePatriot | May 11, 2008, 12:32 am
  17. To Lebanese,

    “You people are a mix of over Israeli agents, undercover Israeli agents, or suckers.”

    That’s right, we’re ALL Israeli agents, so be very very paranoid and afraid, anyone who doesn’t drink HA’s coolaid is an Israeli…. be afraid….

    Posted by MLK | May 11, 2008, 12:33 am
  18. What can we learn?

    (1) that there still are idiots commenting in this blog.

    (2) To appreciate more Mr Siniora. The man handled the situation brilliantly. He’s a master. A man with no army won a Battle.
    HZB/Amal were fighting the air. There was nobody there…
    At first I was disappointed; if somebody comes to the streets around my home, and shoots, I go out and kill him.
    But in the end it was wise not to respond.
    It’s hilarious how for 4 days they run wild, like bitten beasts, looking for anybody to shoot at, then they finished the fiasco exhausted, unfulfilled and more angry, while losing all credit.
    .

    Posted by Amir in Tel Aviv | May 11, 2008, 12:42 am
  19. If I can sneak this comment past Mustapha the censor. As with everything, his call for freedom of speech was a disingenuous lie. Again, this is the problem. You people don’t believe what you write. You are charlatans hoping for suckers, but the only person made into a sucker is you.

    Again, Hezbollah are Lebanese, not Iranian. Your suggestion that they work for an Iranian paycheck shows how ridiculous your arguments are. Iran doesn’t have enough money in their entire country to buy two million Lebanese. That’s just preposterous.

    Zionists are the ones trying to buy an army. Reports say that they paid $100 each to people to fight Hezbollah this past week. Of course those people dropped their guns and ran as soon as Hezbollah showed up, as they don’t believe in their cause. They were only doing it for the money.

    You need to drop your delusions of subjugating Hezbollah. They’re not fickle and disingenuous like you. While you’re posting nonsense on the internet, they’re putting their lives on the line. While you speak lies and hope some sucker believes them, they speak the truth and people DO believe them. You have no support in Lebanon, because you are as transparent as an open window. Everyone knows your true pro-Israeli agenda.

    “Are they trying to avoid ‘Elimination by Israel’ by going to west Beirut?”

    Exactly. They are trying to prevent Israel from using its agents (Siniora) to do what it couldn’t do with tanks - dismantle Hezbollah.

    Here are the facts:
    1. Israel invaded and annexed the West Bank.
    2. Israel invaded and annexted Gaza.
    3. Israel tried to invade and annex Southern Lebanon. It was only Hezbollah which prevented this. If it was up to you, Southern Lebanon would be part of Israel right now.
    4. Israel threatens Lebanon every day, and could invade again at any moment. Hezbollah needs to be strong to prevent Lebanon from turning into another West Bank or Gaza.

    To help his Israeli masters, Siniora is trying to dismantle Hezbollah. First he takes their communications network. Then their weapons. Instead of focusing on the economy, wages and people’s real problems, he focuses his energies on Hezbollah. This shows you what his true intentions are. His priority is not the economy, jobs, or GETTING REPARATIONS FROM ISREAL FOR THE 2006 WAR, but rather his priority is ridding the country of Hezbollah, so that Israel can finish what they started in 1983. He has been exposed as an Israeli agent, and that’s why the Army has effectively sacked him and left him looking like an impotent fool.

    Expect to see him tried for treason in the future.

    Posted by lebanese1 | May 11, 2008, 12:48 am
  20. “Hezbollah’s fighters are a bunch of COWARDS because they instigate a fight with sophisticated weapons against an alleged enemy that is largely devoid of serious weapons.”

    What are you talking about? All Hezbollah has ever had were simple guns. They don’t even have tanks.

    You must be thinking of what Israel does in Gaza and the West Bank, and what they would be doing in lebanon if Hezbollah hadn’t kicked them out.

    Posted by lebanese1 | May 11, 2008, 1:01 am
  21. To Lebanese,

    You’re full of it schmuck.. No matter how you dress it HA is nothing but a fascist pariah. You can talk and fabricate all you want, though the truth is out for those who are willing to see it - obviously that excludes your like for you’re too blind and most probably a stupid incest to comprehend it.

    You deny Iranian money, that’s funny. Where else do you get the funds to support all your herds? Oh I forgot all the drug trafficking and other illicit activities you thugs excel at.

    It’s shame and total disgrace to have the name of Allah associated with pigs who are nothing more than back street alley murderers, terrorists, savages and narcissists.

    You’re nothing but a disgrace for anything Lebanese. I am ashamed to share the same nationality with you.

    Now we can officially call you, your swine leader and his Iranian-militia HA as terrorists. And no we don’t need any proof from America to label you as such, your record in the streets of our great city Beirut saw your shameful atrocities.

    Now crawl back and cry in your mommy, your sister, and aunt’s lap (btw all three women are the same person, can you solve this riddle you dump incest)

    Posted by MLK | May 11, 2008, 1:46 am
  22. Lebanese,

    I am not sure what you put in your arghele! There are many more Lebanese that oppose and now despise Hizballah than ever before. Are you saying Hizballah is now 2 million strong? There aren’t even 2 million shia in all of Lebanon. Stop smoking that maasil, it is rotting your brain. Hizballah’s popularity is at its lowest today and is likely to go much lower in the near future. Hizballah’s complex political philosophy can be summarized as follows: ” My way or the highway”. The only loyalty you guys have is to Syria and Iran. The forgiving and forgetting of the murder of your leader Imad Mughnieh under Syrian security watch is the best illustration of a fuzzy Hizballah mind. Always believe what sayyed tells you because it is divine. But also remember that you better listen to your master’s voice in Tehran.

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 11, 2008, 1:58 am
  23. Great blog. Keep up the good work.

    Posted by Moshe Kikestein | May 11, 2008, 1:58 am
  24. hahaha MLK, thanks for that sublime post, it vented alot of my frustration.
    Isnt it funny that Leb1 like the rest of the brainwashed drones keep defending the ideological, romantic ideal of the “Moqawama”…It is something about Nasrallah, they believe in,they connect to.Remember Adolph Hitler had most of Germany under his spell.They BELIEVED in the Nazi way back then,not unlike the Hizbollah herds…
    ” Iran doesnt have money” to buy out the two million,….no, but enough money to fund the upper echelons, to send weapons,to train soldiers.
    And if you think the scary”zionists” are paying off people to fight hizbollah, then youve been watching Manar TV, the party of Gods spinster mouthpiece. How do they send the cheques? western union?
    ur all screwballs thinking ur righteous, but ur nothing but brainwashed.

    Posted by maverick | May 11, 2008, 2:17 am
  25. I always find very funny how the kid’s memory and vision can be short…
    Take this half-wit so called “lebanese” for instance, praising the noble soldiers from hizb’a-harb and never learning from history, so, kid, do you remember your master’s 2006 “funny mistake”, when he “invited” some zionist soldiers to know hizboland better ?

    1) Lots of people died, for what ? do you remember ? Oh yeah! Samir Kuntar, a “noble resistence soldier” - be proud of him, put a poster on your wall, name your kids after him…

    2) When the folks from the south (those that escaped, that is), and stayed in Beyrouth, who (among others) helped them ? All those that were living without a roof, under rought conditions ? Yes, those same sunni/christian/druze/venusians that are now “zionist agents” that HA will “cut the hands off”…. but hey samir and nas-fox-hole are the heros, n’est-ce pas ?

    And yes, you’re rigth, iran don’t pay everyone - doesn’t need to, a lot of numb skulls like you do it for free.
    Go to the beach, enjoy your life, study, work hard, improve yourself and your country. The current cabinet is weak, bad, “zionist” etc? ok - don’t VOTE for them next elections, guns aren’t the solution - never - ‘75-90 wasn’t enough ?

    Posted by min south america | May 11, 2008, 3:02 am
  26. I told you all. March 8th scared March 14th into letting them keep their weapons, letting them exist, and to keeping the telecom system. They didn’t coup the government, but the Iranians take what they can get. The only thing that matters is that they have a strong influence, and that they have a “state-within-a-state” sitting there.

    The same exact things happened in Iraq, and ironically at the exact same time, when Maliki keeps giving in to Sadr and his Mahdi Army for the sake of “stability.” The Iranian terrorists always use the threat card. They are not as brash as other terrorists who go out and do insane attacks.

    Is it just me or nothing has changed? Sanoira said absolutely nothing new. The only thing that has happened is that March 8th is simply re-affirmed in their strength and increased in political capital because they know that March 14th is scared of them and will give into their demands.

    Posted by BouHatem | May 11, 2008, 4:46 am
  27. to lebanese1

    From now on, I suggest that you start your comments with the list of the names of the civilians who died by hizballah’s and amal’s hands in
    Ishtiah Beirut Part II that you think was so wonderful.
    Ofcourse no one in your family died so what do you care right?

    1982: Zionist invades Beirut
    2008: Hizballah invades Beirut
    So to my eyes Nasrallah=Sharon

    I suggest you deal with the new reality, your hero now has Lebanese blood dripping from his hands.

    Posted by Lalebanessa | May 11, 2008, 5:40 am
  28. hey Lebanese moron:
    Where did Hezbollah get their machine guns with binoculars? Almost each of those COWARDS fighters have one.

    Posted by EV | May 11, 2008, 6:17 am
  29. this whole fiasco proves to me HA is part in collaboration to all assassinations starting from Raffic Harriri

    Posted by james | May 11, 2008, 6:54 am
  30. I must ask how many high profile March 8 figures have been assassinated since Feb. 05? What we have here folks is a systematic Iranian/Syrian/HA coup to polish off anyone that may get in their way.
    This is the reality as I see it. I may be wrong, but what we have here is organization called HA that the real traitor/collaborator with the Iranian/Syrian enemy. If 3/4 of Lebanon supports the current gov’t, then there must be every effort made to de-fang HA by all means necessary.

    I would love to be proven wrong.

    Posted by james | May 11, 2008, 7:03 am
  31. I have to add that this is a point of view of a person who sees Iran/Syria as a greater threat to Lebanese sovereignty/independance than Israel

    Posted by james | May 11, 2008, 7:14 am
  32. Events of 7th May

    -Hizballah used arms internally and lost their right to claim otherwise
    -FPM condoned the use of violence - very negative in their street
    -LF Samir Geagea embarrassed himself with ridicolous claims and revealed his true size
    -Jumblatt’s new image was lost and he returned to being a sleazy, murdering warlord
    -The claims that 14th March is a legitimate government was lost as all people witnessed first hand their armed forces in action. Whether they were numerous or not, the Future MOvement obviously has a militia.
    -14th March dream that the outside would come to their assistance was reaveled to be a pipe dream.
    -Balance of power has shifted substantially. It is obvious that the opposition are the power in Lebanon.
    -Saniora was exposed to be a liar, especially with the 2 decisions taken and whether they had been made official.
    -The use of sectariansm by the Future movement failed in Beirut as the Sunni parts, about 600,000 citizens, virtually every household armed, did not answer the call by the FM to fight the opposition. Beirut was taken over and only 7 died, less than had been shot by FM supporters in previous episodes.

    My prediction is that there will be nothing holding together the different factions of FM very much longer, with defections very soon. The demonstration that the power on the ground is with the opposition, and that the 14th March cannot rely on any outside help, things will start to look very different very soon.

    Posted by Antoine Hindi | May 11, 2008, 10:19 am
  33. the first quote made a little sense but the second quote was ridiculous

    Posted by mo | May 11, 2008, 10:53 am
  34. Guys/Gals- First, can we stop insulting each other, and discussing issues and opinions instead?

    - I agree with Noah’s view, which is how this is seen by the West
    - To those that believed that Israel was going to annex South Lebanon, I wonder if they also believe in Santa Claus
    - If Hezb thinks they “won”, they are wrong

    Hezbollah must choose:
    - if they are a Resistance movement, let them go to the Shebaa Farms and fight an imaginary front there
    - if they want to liberate Palestine, let them go the South and do it
    - if they want to play politics, let them go the Parliament and show they can be civil in debating issues
    - if they want to keep denying Iran’s and Syria’s influences, let them 1) open-up their finances, 2) remove all pictures of Assad and Iranian leaders from their areas

    So, which is it? Who are they and what do they want, besides fomenting trouble?

    Posted by Libanus | May 11, 2008, 12:22 pm
  35. Cannot trace your group on FaceBook. If you don’t have one, perhaps you should consider it. Great blog btw! We support you and all who fight the forces of darkness.

    Posted by Cassandra | May 11, 2008, 1:34 pm
  36. James,
    I agree with you on the role of HA in all the previous assassinations in Lebanon. Perhaps the recent murder of Imad Mughnieh in Syria, probably orchestrated by Syrian security forces, was intended to remove a living witness of the involvement of HA in the Lebanese political assassinations.

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 11, 2008, 6:29 pm
  37. The ugly truth: In these last days of Hizballah’s unprovoked and unprecedented wave of violence, the Lebanese have become more fearful of Hizballah than of Israel. This group of mercenary thugs have shown complete disregard for human life, private and public property. The destruction goes beyond the obvious. It is a destruction of TRUST. No Lebanese citizen with half a brain will ever believe anything Hizballah says. Based on the death toll alone, Hizballah’s wave of destruction is likely to exceed the casualties inflicted by the 2006 Israeli invasion. Hizballah as a militia does not adhere to any international or human rights laws. They make the rules as they go along. That is precisely why the the Lebanese are more fearful of these thugs. Once the dust settles, The Lebanese will soon be united to fight the arrogant enemy within. The enemy is none other than Hizballah.

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 11, 2008, 6:29 pm
  38. Antoine Hindi,

    It appears from your comment that you believe that ” might is right”. The rule of the jungle prevails. That is precisely what is wrong with HA and the its oppressive bosses of the Syrian and Iranian regimes. If you aspire to live in a police state like Syria or Iran, then what is going on in Lebanon should please you. A Lebanon dominated by HA will be even worse to live in, than Syria or Iran. Good luck with your brainless aspirations.

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 11, 2008, 6:41 pm
  39. Very simple what we learned:
    - Hezb are liars
    - Hezb can’t be trusted
    - Hezb doesn’t want to give-up anything
    - Hezb is blackmailing the rest of Lebanon
    - Hezb is a puppet of Iran and Syria
    - Hezb has terrorized Lebanese; so they are a terrorist organization

    Posted by Libanus | May 11, 2008, 9:43 pm
  40. Nice summary and to the point, Libanus

    Posted by beiruti ussly | May 11, 2008, 9:47 pm
  41. Now, this tops all absurdities:

    http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080511\ACQDJON200805110725DOWJONESDJONLINE000097.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Hezbollah%20Foiled%20US%20Coup%20Bid%20In%20Lebanon%20-%20Report

    Hezbollah Foiled US Coup Bid In Lebanon - Report

    DAMASCUS (AFP)–Syrian official daily Al-Baath Sunday said Hezbollah had foiled a U.S.-planned coup to seize control of Lebanon during the deadly gunbattles which rocked the country.

    “The Americans launched a pre-emptive strike against opposition nationalist forces, starting with the (Hezbollah) resistance, and attempted a Washington- planned coup but were taken aback by the opposition, which restored order in Lebanon,” the paper said.

    Read on….

    Posted by Libanus | May 12, 2008, 12:57 am
  42. do any of you remember why hizbullah is fighting in beirut?

    Do you want that israel take control of lebanon?

    Do you like to be a low-level citizen in a racist country like israel after controlling lebanon and joining it to their territories, don’t you hear about the christians living in israel(living in hell), they don’t have rights like any normal jewish citizen there?

    do you want to became like this, or you try to help the resistance in your country by not letting israel know their power, this is really stupid move from the alleged P.M and his goverment, damn this country it’s like a farm.

    If no, than how can you fight the most advanced army in the region when it invades your country, not with a regular army for sure since all the “posts” and positions of this army will be known and will be destroyed in the first day.

    you need to fight them as a guerilla, and it proved succesfull.

    so the solution for them, is to disarm this guerilla from all the important items they have (communication and arms.

    two opinions about the goverment after what have been said:

    even they are so stupid or greedy that they want to do this (Disarm Hizbullah) on behalf of the U.S and israel.

    or they are agents for U.S and Israel.

    the first opinion is the most probably right.

    and doesn’t the alleged P.M of lebanon remember when israel used to hit his hometown before Hizbullah existed and kill civilians of all religions during the invasion (the Kawmi Party have members of all religions).

    for all these reasons, hizbullah is fighting to protect his arms and communication lines, coz since 2006 all the alleged goverment did was to harrass the resistance and try to disarm it by force or by tricks.

    things not said in any news:

    the maps of the communication lines of Hizbullah were handed to the U.S and to Israel. but of course Hizbullah have a backup plan for the communication since it will be hit in the second war against lebanon soon :P

    Posted by honest man | May 12, 2008, 1:02 pm

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Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.

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