Justus For All

I was amazed at the Saudi Arabian statement as well. It is an encouraging development.

Now only if Western Liberals do the same.

Freedom Now:

Now only if Western Liberals do the same.

Look no further then Juan Cole, who not only praised the Saudi position, but Condoleezza RIce’s as well.

DJ:

How could Hezbollah be driven out of Lebanon completely? They are a part of the parliamentary majority there and have cabinet. Remember all that stuff about how great it was that Lebanon was blooming into a post-Syrian-influenced democracy?

That should read have cabinet positions. Can you get a preview function up and running on this site?

I recall the Cedar Revolution quite well, I also recall the pro-Syrian demonstrations organized by Hezbollah during that time period, and the anti-Syrian demonstrations that followed and attracted even more Lebanese.

Hezbollah in Lebanon is two distint entities that are connected but not really compatible. On the one hand, it is a political party that is part of the Lebanese Government.

However, its more signifigant identity is an anti-Israeli military group that operates in the territory of Lebanon and is not subject to the laws of Lebanon. In effect, it is a ‘nation’ itself.

These two aspects were able to be compatible while Lebanon was occupied by Syria (Syria was happy to cede territory to Hezbollah to operate) and was able to be semi-stable in a free Lebanon as long as Hezbollah was not too active. That stability is gone, and individuals, including those Hezbollah members who are on the Lebanese cabinet will have to chose which they are a part of.

Of course that dicotomy could be ended by a merging of Hezbollah and Lebanon into a single entity, but I don’t believe Hezbollah has sufficient force to achieve that. That merged entity would of course be at war with Israel.

So, to clarify, Hezbollah as an armed entity operating outside the law in Lebanon has to be driven out. The Lebanese people are probably not able to easily achieve this on their own, but with outside help that can occur. If a political party that hat calls itself Hezbollah and is subject to the laws of Lebanon remains that is perfectly fine as far as I am concerned.

Thanks HP,

I’ve read alot of Juan Cole’s stuff and it is encouraging to see him acknowledge the Bush administration in a positive light for once.

That made my day.

I remember Hezbollah’s pro-Syrian stance as well Dave and they are definitely not a force for good in Lebanon (among other reasons).

The one thing that needs to come out of this confrontation is that they must disarm their militia.

HP said, “They are a part of the parliamentary majority there and have cabinet. Remember all that stuff about how great it was that Lebanon was blooming into a post-Syrian-influenced democracy?”

It’s even greater that the Israelis can recognize a mortal threat and move to eliminate it without frivolous criticism from a pacifist/collaborationist Left.

I suspect you are secretly cheering for them, Jack. Go ahead, cheer for the good guys, overtly for a change.

woops, spoke too soon. Never underestimate the capacity of the left for absurdity.

K Pablo: help me out here. What’s the realistic positive scenario you think is going to result from Israel’s actions? Do you think that Hezbollah is going to fold up and say, “you were right, sorry.” And that Lebanese not affiliated with Hezbollah are going to be cool with Israel bombing them?

Dave: the only reason the Saudi neo-Nazis are putting the blame with Hezbollah is to earn some browny points with the U.S. And how about Egypt? It’s now helping the P.A. with water and electricity while being provided millions of dollars in American aid. You guys have some kind of allies, huh!?

p.s. I’m back!

HP, I do not expect an apology from Hezbollah. A positive outcome would be lots of dead and unapologetic Hezbollah.

I do not think the other Lebanese are “cool” with Israel’s actions, but I think they are likely to see Hezbollah’s provocations for what they were.

I am unwilling to speculate further down the event-chain.

I have seen indications that the initial blame a lot of the Lebanese had against Hezbollah for this provocation is turning into patriotic anger at Israel. That is troubling.

I think that the western democracies need to move swiftly to help those Lebanese who oppose Hezbollah to do so, which would allow Israel to cease its attacks on Lebanon. Only if someone else is willing to fight Hezbollah can Israel stop its attacks.

It is certainly obvious that Israel cannot allow Hezbollah to remain on its northern border, even in a ‘peaceful’ situation that allows Hezbollah to rebuild its rocket supply.

Pressure is beginning to mount on Hezbollah.

This will bring stability to Southern Lebanon and Northern Israel.

I screwed up the link, sorry:

Mubarak: Nations paying for ‘resistance’

For Mubarak to say, “Palestinian and Lebanese resistances brought only limited gains” is HUGE!!!!

freedomnow I totally agree! But the Egyptians, as I’ve pointed out are providing electricity and water for the besieged Gazans. And the Americans are going to help him out big time no matter how hard he comes down on democratic forces in Egypt. Trully sad, as Saba would say.