Deal for Lebanese Factions Leaves Hezbollah Stronger (Deal gives them a veto in the Cabinet.)

NY Times ^ | May 22, 2008 | ROBERT F. WORTH and NADA BAKRI

[neverdem]

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The agreement reached by Lebanese political factions early Wednesday amounted to a significant shift of power in favor of the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies in the opposition, who won the power to veto any cabinet decision.

The sweeping deal to form a new government promised an end to 18 months of political deadlock here, and underscored the rising power of Iran and Syria, which have backed Hezbollah in a proxy battle against the governing coalition and its American and Saudi allies.

Government leaders said they had given way on major provisions because they felt the alternative to an agreement was war. They also said they won a pledge that no faction would use its weapons internally, as Hezbollah and its allies did during street battles this month in the worst internal fighting since Lebanon’s 15-year civil war.

“We avoided civil war,” said Walid Jumblatt, a leader of the governing coalition. He added that the agreement called for a future dialogue on weapons, a clause that he and other government leaders hoped would eventually allow them to raise the issue of Hezbollah’s arsenal.

The agreement was brokered by Arab mediators in Doha, Qatar, and involved intensive last-minute diplomacy among the major regional players in Lebanon, including Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Before the agreement, an Iranian adviser assured Saudi officials that Iran did not want a confrontation with Arab nations, said an adviser to the Saudi government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he...

--snip--

The agreement in Doha provides for a government of 16 cabinet seats for the governing majority, 11 for the opposition and 3 to be nominated by the new president. That will allow the opposition to veto cabinet decisions, a demand the governing coalition refused to accept until now...

[Roccus]

On another thread, “US, UK say Hizbullah weaker after Beirut fighting”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019845/posts

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. They are stronger than ever. Why isn’t Nasrallah dead yet? Osama himself even ripped him in his latest communique.

Pat Proctor appears to disagree...here...

http://www.carlisle.army.mil/USAWC/Parameters/08spring/proctor.htm

[PGalt]

Coincidence?...

“Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.”

from...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/021138.php#comments

Thanks to marisol and the OUTSTANDING posters at jihadwatch.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks neverdem.

[PGalt]

Possibly more Iran connections on OUR southwest border with Mexico...here...

http://www.lagunajournal.com/mexican_drug_cartels_and_terrori.htm

Thanks to FReeper granny for her tireless, OUTSTANDING research.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[PGalt]

MUST READ article by Barry Rubin posted by Robert Spencer at jihadwatch...here...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/021157.php#more

Thanks to Robert and the tremendous posters at jihadwatch.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks PGalt.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for passing on the link.