Lebanon falls to Hezbollah

Cid_Yama · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: Re: The Reality of Lebanon

Lebanese army no longer seen as neutral

Many Lebanese fear the bloodshed will spark a renewed civil war as the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah and its allies inflict repeated defeats on the pro-government militias fielded by Sunni Muslims and the Druze minority.

The Christian-led Lebanese Armed Forces, long touted as perhaps the country's last truly national institution, offered little resistance to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its Shiite allies. Instead, the army has acquiesced to Hezbollah's conquest of territory and sent soldiers to take over checkpoints handed over by Hezbollah.

A senior Lebanese military officer reached by phone declined to comment on whether the army is cooperating with Hezbollah. Politicians, analysts and fighters, however, said the army's performance suggests that the better-armed Hezbollah has struck a deal with Lebanese military brass.

"They waited for Hezbollah to launch its attacks and prevail, and then they took charge of roadblocks."

"There is a deal between Hezbollah and the commander of the army, no doubt about it."

The coordination with which Shiite militants turned over captured territory to the Lebanese army has led to speculation that army officials had learned of the attacks in advance and allowed them to occur.

Perhaps in response to the mounting criticism, the military issued a statement late Monday that announced it would "halt violations . . . in accordance with the law, even if that leads to the use of force," starting at daybreak Tuesday.

If the army entered the fray, several Sunnis in West Beirut predicted a humiliating and speedy defeat(for pro-western forces).
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

Cid_Yama

Hebollah's conquest complete as pro-western leaders concede defeat

Over the last few days, the world has discovered the hand that rocks the cradle in Lebanon. Whether Hezbollah is designated by the US and its allies as a terrorist organization or not, it has shown, without a shadow of a doubt, that it’s in charge.

The various pro-government militias that attempted to thwart its taking over of West Beirut and nearby mountain regions quickly dissolved when faced with disciplined and ideologically committed Hezbollah fighters equipped with sophisticated weaponry.

And much to the chagrin of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the army adopted a hands-off observer stance; although in some cases it liaised with Hezbollah leaders, who after forcibly seizing certain areas handed them over to the military.

When the pro-Western Siniora government decided last week that Hezbollah should be stripped of its private underground telecommunications system — pivotal to its command and control operations during the war with Israel in 2006 — the decision was interpreted by Hezbollah as a declaration of war.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayeed Hassan Nasrallah went on television to say the Cabinet had been following orders from Washington that as far as he was concerned crossed all red lines. He went to great lengths to explain why Hezbollah’s telecommunication system was important to Lebanon’s national security and was not meant to commercially rival other licensed systems or deprive the government of revenue.

He was also insistent that his group’s take-over of West Beirut did not amount to a coup as he has no interest in ruling Lebanon, which must be governed by people representing all religions and factions, he said. If Hezbollah wanted to launch a coup then everyone would wake up to find its leader either incarcerated or thrown in the sea, Nasrallah warned.

Although he was right in that his intention was not to turn Lebanon into a Hezbollah-run state, his organization’s forced control of the capital, the gagging of reporters and the setting on fire of Saad Hariri’s Future TV station had all the hallmarks of a coup. In other words, he showcased his group’s prowess and sent a clear message: Lebanon is ours for the taking any time we want.

Hariri’s Future movement’s fighters, many of whom are attached to private security firms, backed down when confronted by Hezbollah’s, saying they were unprepared in terms of training and weaponry.

Pro-government, pro-Western Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, known for his anti-Syrian/anti-Hezbollah invective, has been similarly embarrassed. For decades his militia has controlled his mountain fastness but now, he says, he is a virtual hostage in his own home.

“The US has failed in Lebanon and they have to admit it,” he told Time magazine’s Beirut correspondent. “We have to wait and see the new rules which Hezbollah, Syria and Iran will set. They can do what they want.”
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

americandream

Presumably we "westerners' have something to gain from these pranks of our "elected" leaders.
_________________
Bugger me, I hear oil's runnin out mate!

Cid_Yama

Former Minister Wiam Wahhab said on Monday there was no Sunni-Shiite strife in Lebanon, adding that head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblatt, had driven the Chouf Mountains into a dangerous situation. "Jumblatt must pay for this, and a simple apology is not enough. He has to leave, and we are ready to help him," Wahhab told a news conference. "If the mountains are under threat, my weapons will be ahead of Jumblatt's in defending them," he added. Wahhab also called on the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Michel Suleiman, to assume his responsibilities: "There is a rebellion in the Grand Serail against his authority. He must enter the Serail and oust Fouad Siniora."

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=91961
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

Cid_Yama

Apparently, the western media hasn't been told what they are allowed to say yet.

Also, someone should wake Bush up and tell him it's over so he can make a statement.

The media keeps posting Bush comments that make him appear to be out of the loop.
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

Cid_Yama

Jumblatt's Militia were the only ones that actually stood against Hezbollah, and they lasted for days. If the US is going to form a Lebanon Government-in-Exile, they should form it around him. Siniora just went and holed up in his palace.
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

Cid_Yama

Wish I had a Satellite over Israel, so I could see if the tanks are rolling yet.
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

Cid_Yama · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: Surrendering to Hizballah

The U.S. appears unable to grasp that it no longer has any options or reliable partners left in Lebanon. American officials make statements about supporting the democratically elected Lebanese government, but essentially no such government exists. The Lebanese army, many of whose soldiers are Shi'a Muslims and support the opposition, would split apart if pressed into service against Hizballah. The American-trained security services value their lives more than the $300 million in U.S. aid they've received and haven't fired a shot at Hizballah. And like Jumblatt, government ministers are marked men. Meanwhile, the American warship USS Cole is heading to the Mediterranean, but if the U.S. staged any military action against Hizballah, the group could take American hostages in Lebanon just as they did in the 1980s.

Sitting in his garden terrace in Beirut, with just a few family members and loyal retainers, Jumblatt is quickly coming to grips with the new political landscape. "The U.S. has failed in Lebanon and they have to admit it," he said. "We have to wait and see the new rules which Hizbollah, Syria and Iran will set. They can do what they want."

link
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

the_sword · Tar Sands Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 55

Wow, the Hizballah supporter speaks up the them again.

I would seroiusly think you need investigating by the CIA/FBI if you reside in the US.

You're a sick man... are you Muslim?

Cid_Yama · Last edited by Cid_Yama on Tue May 13, 2008 9:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

How is posting a news story from Time showing the current geopolitical situation in Lebanon 'Speaking up for Hezbollah' or 'supporting them'?

Are you saying my telling the truth is somehow unpatriotic or that the truth is challenging the propaganda of the western media and so makes me a traitor to the Bush Administration's slant on things?

I support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Any violation of that covenant makes THEM the seditionists.

Best get your priorities straight.

Heard of Freedom of Speech? First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

Constitution of the United States

Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

It's really getting to be time for people to stand up and defend this country from the likes of you.
_________________
In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
- George Orwell

stu · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: Re: Surrendering to Hizballah

I wouldn't accuse Cid of being Pro-Hezbollah.

Posting a story like that is actually significant as it shows one of the main political figures in Lebanon actually admitting the Hezbollah/Syria Iran axis now have control.

I do have a problem with this on the basis that political assassinations have occurred and been blamed on Syria and I see no reason to doubt this. What matters is democracy and that the party that is chosen by the people wins. In affect this is a coup by Hizbollah, unless they won an election outright that I didn't know about.
_________________
"The age of excess is over. The age of entropy has begun"

the_sword · Tar Sands Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 55

stu,

Posting one article isn't anything.... Doing it over and over and clipping the parts supporting an Islam'ists pro-Hizb'allah point of view is propaganda. and in cid's case, in support of an organization of USA defines as a terrorist organization.

And if someone is willing day after day to post pro-hizballah articles on the internet in public, it certainly begs the question what support he gives in private.

I'll ask CID one question.... Are you Muslim?

the_sword · Tar Sands Joined: Jan 19, 2006 Posts: 55

Cid,

There are no absolute rights. Freedom of speech, and the freedom of association both have limits.

Posting a constant stream of pro-hizballah articles isn't anything... but I fear you walk a very thin line with your support for a terrorist organization.

Remember, any monies given to them, will get you arrested.