Posted on 05/09/2008 7:04:41 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
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.
We have heard for many years from an array of journalists, scholars, and pundits that Hamas and Hezbollah are complicated social movements that employ violence in the service of their political goals, and that they are therefore susceptible to diplomatic engagement. Such tropes about Hamas have become standard — that there should be a Fatah-Hamas unity government, that Israel should diplomatically engage Hamas, that Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian elections make the group a legitimate political player, etc. — and likewise, similar claims are made about Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon: that it is a legitimate representative of the Shia, that it can be negotiated with, that, like Hamas, the magic elixir of political integration will dissuade Hezbollah from its traditional behavior, which is to terrorize and dominate any system in which it participates.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at commentarymagazine.com ...
Religions:
Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
The Lesson of Lebanon ping
for later, thanks
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.
Who’s pulling Lebanon’s strings?
metimes | 5/8/08 | CLAUDE SALHANI
Posted on 05/09/2008 3:54:23 AM PDT by Flavius
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013501/posts
Iran, via Hizb’allah, moves in on Lebanon
Cross Action News | 5-9-08 | Stan Goodenough
Posted on 05/09/2008 9:47:28 AM PDT by Victory111
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013627/posts
US says Syria, Iran behind Lebanon violence
AP on Yahoo | 5/9/08 | Matthew Lee
Posted on 05/09/2008 1:35:41 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013744/posts
-and-
Hezbollah piles pressure on Lebanese government
Yahoo News | 8 May 2008 | n/c
Posted on 05/07/2008 8:04:25 PM PDT by BlackVeil
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2012825/posts
Hezbollah routs pro-govt gunmen; controls Beirut
Reuters (excerpt) | May 9, 2008 | Tom Perry
Posted on 05/08/2008 11:59:18 PM PDT by HAL9000
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013478/posts
Lebanon: Hizbollah forces MPs out of capital
Telegraph | 5-9-08
Posted on 05/09/2008 5:47:59 AM PDT by SJackson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013534/posts
Lebanon in Turmoil as Hezbollah Takes West Beirut
AFP | May 9, 2008 | Staff
Posted on 05/09/2008 8:36:26 AM PDT by freerepublic_or_die
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013596/posts
Beirut residents horrified by Hezbollah’s hostile takeover
YaLibnan | May 9, 2008
Posted on 05/09/2008 10:10:41 AM PDT by NYer
Edited on 05/09/2008 10:24:56 AM PDT by Lead Moderator. [history]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013640/posts
Hezbollah Deals Blow To US By Seizing West Beirut
The Scotsman | May 10, 2008 | By Michael Theodoulou
Posted on 05/09/2008 9:44:19 PM PDT by Fennie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013912/posts
Hezbollah’s Beirut Blitz
American Thinker | May 10, 2008 | Dr. Walid Phares
Posted on 05/10/2008 12:19:31 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013946/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hezbollah/index
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/lebanon/index
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/israel/index
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