More criticism of Iran and Syria by Lebanese officials

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora Friday told L’Orient Le Jour that the Iranian foreign minister went “over the limit” by criticizing a plan that “is based on what Lebanese want and include Hizbullah demands.”

This could be the translation, but note how Hizbullah’s demands appear to be outside what Lebanese want. Anyway, this confirms the Daily Star report yesterday that I quoted in a previous post on the Iranian attempt to sabotage the Siniora plan. Here’s the relevant passage, courtesy of the Daily Star.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, in remarks published on Friday, accused Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki of "going over the limit" by criticizing his plan to end the war between Hizbullah and Israel.

During a visit to Lebanon last week, Mottaki expressed implicit reservations about Siniora's seven-point plan to bring peace to Lebanon, saying there was no rush to discuss questions beyond an immediate cease-fire.

"I think that Mr. Mottaki went over the limit and some parties have been quick to adopt his position," said Siniora, in reference to Hizbullah and other Lebanese parties also close to Iran's regional ally, Syria.

"Our plan is based on what the Lebanese want and on the demands of Hizbullah," the prime minister said in an interview with the French-language daily L'Orient Le Jour.

The pro-Syrian parties mentioned above include Assad puppet "President" Emile Lahoud, who is now going around claiming there was never consensus on Siniora’s plan. An-Nahar on Friday (sorry, lost link)quoted sources close to Siniora as saying that Lahoud only formulated this latest opinion after Mottaki’s visit. I think that Lahoud and Hizbullah, before the Iranian dictate and before Qana, felt obliged to go along with Siniora, especially with Berri backing the plan. Enter the Iranian foreign minister and the Qana massacre, and they felt empowered to play their usual “let’s stab Siniora in the back” game which they mastered over the past year.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Saad Hariri lashed out at the Assad regime and for the first time at Iran in an interview by Russia Today. I haven’t been able to find the English or even Russian text of the interview, but here’s the Arabic text courtesy of al-Mustaqbal, followed by my own translation.

من وجهة نظرك ما هو الموقف الحالي لكل من سوريا و ايران؟
ـ ان سوريا بالنسبة الي تلعب دورا سلبيا وهي تحاول ان تعود الى المجتمع الدولي من خلال دماء اللبنانيين والشهداء الذين يسقطون في هذا البلد. واذا كانت سوريا تريد ان تلعب دورا ايجابيا فعلى النظام فيها ان يقف جانبا وان يدع الشعب اللبناني والمجتمع الدولي يحاولان ايجاد حل شامل لهذا الصراع. اما بالنسبة الى ايران، فهي بلد كبير باستطاعته ان يلعب دورا ايجابيا في توحيد اللبنانيين بدلا من تقسيمهم، وعليها ان تكون عاملا في وحدتهم بدلا من تقسيمهم. واذا ارادت ان تساعد لبنان لما فيه مصلحة هذا البلد فيجب عليها ان تساعد في التوصل الى حل شامل يكون لمصلحة لبنان وليس حلا يساعد ايران وايران فقط فحسب.
هناك من يقول انه لو كانت القوات السورية لا تزال في لبنان لما كان الاعتداء الاسرائيلي قد حصل عليه؟
ـ عندها لن يكون لدينا بلد حر ومستقل. لبنان اليوم هو بلد سيد وديموقراطي وسوريا ليست بلدا سيدا ولا ديموقراطيا. واذا كانت سوريا تريد ان تكون بلدا سيدا عليها ان تحرر اراضيها في مرتفعات الجولان من الاحتلال الاسرائيلي، وعليها الا تستعمل الاراضي اللبنانية لأية الاعيب سياسية لحسابها. اننا بلد سيد وحر وديموقراطي ونريد ان نظل كذلك.

Saad: Syria for me plays a negative role and is trying to rejoin the international community through Lebanese blood. If Syria wants to play a positive role, its regime must step aside and let the Lebanese people and international community find a comprehensive solution for this struggle. As for Iran, it’s a large country that can play a positive role by uniting Lebanese instead of dividing them… If [Iran] wants to help Lebanon then it has to help in achieving a solution that’s in the interest of Lebanon and not a solution that helps Iran and only Iran.

Interviewer: Some say that if the Syrian army was in Lebanon the Israeli attacks would not have happened.
Saad: Then we wouldn’t have a free and independent country. Today Lebanon is a sovereign and democratic country and Syria is not. If Syria wants to be a sovereign country then it has to liberate its land in the Golan and not use Lebanese territory for political games.

In a separate interview, Hariri accused the Assad regime of “resisting the Israelis” through Lebanese territories while doing nothing about its own occupied territories. He recalled how it was the Syrian regime that killed his father. He also referred to a recent speech by Syrian FM Walid al-Mouallem, which claimed there were al-Qaeda fighters in Lebanon. Saad accused the Syrian regime of sending those fighters into Lebanon.

In conclusion, the Iranians, it seems, had dispatched their foreign minister to Lebanon as soon as it became apparent to them that Siniora was gaining the upper hand after getting international approval in Rome for including the Shebaa farms and prisoner exchange in his plan-- something that would rob Iran's proxy-force from an excuse to “liberate land”, or whatever it is Hizbullah does in the name of Lebanon. As for the Assad regime, there is nothing new there, and Hariri’s comments hit the spot, though I am not sure about Lebanese being sovereign right now. I hope that was a mistranslation, since achieving sovereignty is part of the Siniora plan. In any case, one hopes that these words are matched with action as soon the unnecessary carnage ends.

Comments

[Geo]

Fuhgetaboutit. All this diplomatic helter skelter is just a bunch of crap. Siniora, Hariri, Kofi and Ali Baba with his forty thieves will accomplish diddly squat. The only honest resolution will be to eradicate, annihilate, dissintegrate and 72 virginate every Iranian Hezbollahnut dirtbag. Unfortunately innocents will die, Lebanese citizens and brave Israelis protecting their country. These fanatics bred on hatred and spoon fed the delusions of mad mullahs will not be converted or reasoned with. They must die and civilized societies need to join together to see that this happens right quick before they are the one pushing up daisies. This is a fight to the death between extremist Islam and the rest of the world. Question? Where the hell are the moderate Muslims in all this. CAIR, fuhgetaboutit.

[Hassan]

"These fanatics bred on hatred and spoon fed the delusions of mad mullahs will not be converted or reasoned with. They must die and civilized societies need to join together to see that this happens right quick before they are the one pushing up daisies."
Makes me wonder which group you really belong to, the fanatics or the civilized societies. Nasrallah uses the same rhetoric.

[TM Lutas]

Geo - War is diplomacy by other means and vice-versa. The "diplomatic helter skelter" is just a different way to come to the dance. It has its own rules and the name of the game is influencing other parties *before* their troops enter the battlespace.

Here is an article that appeared in the Washington Post glorifying the young Jewish men who go to serve in the Israeli army.

Are these the “fanatics bred on hatred” that Geo is talking about?

Is there a difference between the “Lone Soldier” going to Israel to defend Judaism and the jihadist going to Iraq to defend Islam? I don’t see it.

Enough already!! Jews and Muslims need to stop allowing the fanatics on both sides from calling the shots.

U.S. Family Lays 'Lone Soldier' Son to Rest in Israel

By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, August 4, 2006; A13

JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 -- Three weeks ago, 21-year-old Staff Sgt. Michael Levin was back with his family in the Philadelphia suburbs, hanging out with his twin sister and making plans to study medicine after he finished his tour with the Israeli military this fall.

When war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, Levin cut short his home leave and joined his paratroop unit on Israel's northern border.

Thursday afternoon, Levin's twin sister, Dara, stood over a hole in the ground on a pine-covered hillside at Israel's national military cemetery and tossed a handful of ocher clay atop her brother's wooden coffin.

Levin was killed Tuesday, the 21st day of the war, when Hezbollah fighters fired an artillery shell into the house his unit had commandeered as an observation post in the southern Lebanon town of Aita al-Shaab. Another Israeli soldier and an officer also died.

In life, Levin was considered a "lone soldier" -- the melancholy moniker Israel gives foreign-born soldiers who come to the country without their families, often with the sole purpose of serving in the military.

In death, his adopted Israeli families pressed tight around his grave at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem under a searing afternoon sun, attempting to console the American family he'd left behind to pursue his ambition of fighting for the Jewish state.

Dozens of soldiers in the maroon berets of Levin's paratroop brigade stood not at attention but in tearful embraces as they circled his parents and two sisters.

Hundreds of heads -- in yarmulkes, in black top hats, in straw bonnets, in an NYPD baseball cap -- surged toward his sobbing family as the Jewish graveside service ended.

"I'm your brother's friend from Zimbabwe," one soldier told a weeping Dara Levin.

"Your brother was a hero," said a youth in a T-shirt and baggy pants who had never met Levin but -- like many of those attending Thursday's funeral -- felt compelled to show support for the foreign family that had given up their son to Israel.

Of the 41 Israeli soldiers who have died in the conflict with Hezbollah, three have been foreign-born soldiers who came to Israel without their families. In addition to Levin, an Australian and a Ukrainian soldier have been killed. Ilan Grapel from Queens, N.Y., was among the soldiers wounded on the day Levin was killed.

Israeli immigration and military officials estimate that about 120 Americans are among the 2,300 lone soldiers serving in the Israeli military.

David Johnson, 22, a soldier from Asheville, N.C., was Levin's roommate during a one-year program for new immigrants the two took together when they arrived in Israel four years ago.

He shifted his rifle and paused before the start of Levin's funeral to describe why he, Levin and other young Americans had joined the Israeli military instead of the U.S. armed forces.

"As a Jew in the diaspora, you feel like you've got to give something to your country," said Johnson, with a hint of North Carolina drawl. "Israel is a little country disliked from many sides."

Like many American parents whose children move to Israel and join its military, Levin's parents had mixed feelings, according to friends and acquaintances. One said Levin's father tried unsuccessfully to persuade his son to delay his decision to immigrate to Israel as a teenager.

"You're proud -- and scared," said Karyn Kedar, a Silver Spring resident whose daughter, Talia, recently finished her service in the Israeli military and was a friend of Levin's.

On Monday night, Levin's family experienced the sense of pride. A speaker at a pro-Israel rally in the Pennsylvania town of Newtown stood up and recognized Levin's service in southern Lebanon. The family received a standing ovation that brought Levin's mother, Harriet, to tears, according to an account in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

On Thursday afternoon, as Israeli soldiers passed water bottles among the sweating funeral attendees, Levin's parents and sisters broke down in uncontrolled sobs as they listened to soldiers, friends and acquaintances give testimonials about the gregarious young man known as Mikey, who had a reputation for turning strangers into friends in a matter of minutes.

"Michael's dream was to be a soldier, a paratrooper, to serve in the best unit in the army of Israel," said Tzvika Levy, who served as a surrogate father to Levin and other foreign-born soldiers.

But Levin was an unlikely paratrooper. At 118 pounds, he weighed so little that he couldn't keep himself on course on his first parachute jump. On his next jump, soldiers tied weights to his pack to help him control the parachute, colleagues recalled.

Tziki Aud, whose family frequently hosted Levin and other foreign-born soldiers whose families are abroad, said he saw Levin about 10 days ago as he was on his way to join his unit at Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

"He wanted to go," said Aud. But he said Levin also was looking to the future, with his military service scheduled to end in another few months. Levin told Aud that he hoped to go to college and study medicine.

At Levin's funeral, Kedar unfolded a piece of paper from her purse. It was a copy of Levin's inscription in his military unit's yearbook: "You can't fulfill your dreams unless you dare to risk it all."

Special correspondent Hillary Claussen contributed to this report from Jerusalem.

[Achillea]

Is there a difference between the “Lone Soldier” going to Israel to defend Judaism and the jihadist going to Iraq to defend Islam? I don’t see it.

How does going to Iraq and dragging people off busses to shoot them to death, blowing up mosques and markets, kidnapping people and sawing off their heads (videotaping the whole murder, no less), etc. 'defend Islam?' There was a bomb in Baghdad just a day or so ago that killed over twice as many innocent people as were killed in Qana (and all of them Muslim). It wasn't a targeting error or a case of not knowing the people were there. It was deliberate, wholesale slaughter. Is that 'defending Islam?'

[JonathanInTelAviv]

Nice try, Achillea. Did you think we'd ignore the difference between aggression (jihad) and defense against it (like the guy mentioned in the article)? Or are these young jewish guys coming to Israel to terrorize, shoot, and suicide-bomb their countrymen like the jihadists in Iraq, and only *you* know about it?

[JonathanInTelAviv]

Oops, sorry Achillea, I meant to reply to whoever posted that article with the "Are these the “fanatics bred on hatred” that Geo is talking about?" comment.

[Exposing Israeli Aggression]

I don't think Siniora has any back side left, since he has been stabbed so many times in the back by virtually everybody...US, Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, Mini-Hariri, Jumbalat, and many more. I feel more sorry for him then any politicians involved in this crisis. The man must cry himself to sleep everyday.

[rad]

there's no doubt, this conflict (or should I say war) is an Iranian war against Israel and the moderate civilization in Lebanon. HA is an Iranian army and it's goals are Iranian goals in the region.

[JoseyWales]

I feel more sorry for him [Siniora]

I don't, I despise him and think he is in dereliction of duty along with his joke of a cabinet.

"They" stabbed him in the back because he let them, and never answered back, with neither words nor actions.

Sorry excuse of a man, let alone of a PM.

And Lebanon has no future as long as it keeps excusing its leaders (and blaming outsiders.)

[JoseyWales]

Iran comments over the limit???

How about telling Iran to go stuff itself , WE are being bombed to kingdom-come. What do I care what fucking Iran wants?

That's what I want my PM to say (in more diplomatic language, but not much more).

That's how you embarrass Nasrallh and take back some of the initiative you Goddamn Milquetoast Siniora.

As usual, too little too late. You have cancer? Here's an aspirin. Tffffhhh!!!

[Hmmm]

Anyone who proposes a peace plan is inherently on the right track. Proposing a viable peace plan is the hard part, especially since any semblance of trust is clearly gone from the relationship between Israel and Lebanon.

But, don't be fooled, peace is 100% within the control of Israel. This conflict will end when Israel satiates its own rage; Lebanon has no say in the time table to peace. It is the very definition of a victim.

It is actually reassuring to see Iran involved to a greater extent. Iran has dubious motives, but they are not impotent and offer Israel a viable second party with which to make peace.

[maike alpha]

Saturday says:
"But, don't be fooled, peace is 100% within the control of Israel." This is of course obviuously true. If all israelis would just kill themselves then everything would be fine. Oops, but wait, they shouldn't suicide just yet as that wouldn't satisfy Mr. Nasrallah:
"If they (the Jews) all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide." (October 22, 2002).

[fubar]

At least this conflict has served to expose the lie that Hezbollah fights in resistence of Israel and in defense of Lebanon. Hezbollah clearly fights only for Iran, not Lebanon, in its never ending quest to rid the world of Israel.

Israel is fighting against the Iranian Hezbollah.

Lebanon is the battlefield and Lebanon sits on the sidelines crying "cease fire". Why?

Iranian Hezbollah is a huge problem for both Lebanon and Israel. Iranian Hezbollah is a problem for every other country in the ME (except Syria) because it allows Iranian influence and an Iranian fighting force to exist within striking distance of ME countries. Not good when the real war starts.

Syria is a threat to no country, except as an Iranian pawn, as an armament route between Iran and Iranian Hezbollah, and to Lebanon since Syria wants to regain control of Lebanon. Syria's interest in this conflict is only to assist its master Iran in aiding and arming Iranian Hezbollah while at the same time doing everything possible not to give Israel a reason to bomb Syria. The only reason Israel has not bombed Syria is because Syria and Iran have a mutual defense pact. So bombing Syria may feel good, but it gives Iran a legal justification to enter the conflict (like they aren’t already).

Iranian Hezbollah can fight well in close combat, but its primary efforts appear to be the symbolic rocketing of northern Israel. Contrary to Abu Kais' opinion, Iranian Hezbollah has never targeted its Katyushas at military targets. They are randomly fired toward Israeli towns. Thousands have landed in Israel so far and that is not counting all the ones that fall in the Med. The Katyushas kill Israeli civilians, Jewish and Arab alike, and have even fallen in the West Bank and Syria. If they were targeting the military, why the hell can't they hit them, its not like the Israeli military is not lined up on the border. No, the Katyushas are merely symbolic and not intended for military effect. The Katyushas say, we are still here and you can't stop us, and every person they kill is just an added bonus.

The best thing Lebanon can do now is to continue sitting on the side lines (like it would do anything else), shut up about cease fire, and work on humanitarian aid to its internal refugees. Lebanon's interests are not served by a cease fire until Iranian Hezbollah has been severely crushed. Iranian Hezbollah will never go away, but the weaker they are at the end of this, the better off Lebanon is.

Why is Israel bombing the bridges and roads leading from Syria into Lebanon and other routes within Lebanon? Because Iran's arms for Iranian Hezbollah come through Syria. Iran has recently admitted that it supplied Zilzals to Iranian Hezbollah (like we didn't already know that). But what Iran has not said is that Iranian Hezbollah asked Iran for SAMs shortly before this conflict and Iran agreed to provide them. Apparently, a large quantity of SAMs did not get to Iranian Hezbollah before the fateful "misadventure". However, now that the conflict is in full swing, Iran is trying to get SAMs to Iranian Hezbollah.

It is a fight to the death for Iranian Hezbollah as long as there is no cease fire. Iranian Hezbollah cannot win militarily in the long term. So carry on boys, death to Israel and all that.

(Daily Star) The country's senior Shiite cleric warned the Lebanese Friday against the ignition of internal sectarian strife "that might meet the goals of the US in Lebanon." Speaking during his Friday sermon, Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah described the ongoing war as the resistance's war against the US and Israel.
"The war will expand to the Arab and Islamic world; but Hizbullah fighters will win no matter how long it takes and how complicated the situation will be," he said.
Fadlallah said the US administration exposed people to "cancerous danger" at all levels.

That’s right, damn it, under no circumstances must Lebanese unity break. Iranian Hezbollah is fighting for all of Lebanon, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. My only question is are the Lebanese people really this gullible? I didn’t think so before, but any rational person has to wonder at this point. Lebanese “unity” is the best weapon Iranian Hezbollah has (against Lebanon). But in the interest of seeing Iranian Hezbollah crushed, I say stay united Lebanon. As long as Iranian Hezbollah is fighting for you, they can continue fighting. Just remember, you are also responsible for all the death of innocents on both sides.

Argh, looks like the US and France have reached some agreement. Can’t wait to see the details of that.

[Scott]

If Lebanon's PM would call on the world to help rid his country of Iran's troops within, the world would rush to Lebanon's side. Iran's proxies know this which is why they cannot have the multi-national force there. Iran builds its power base within the region by "standing up" to Israel and the West using its field army in various countries to attack civilians in other countries. The only way to win this war against civilization is to start with the heads of the "little men" in Tehran that foment the hatred against anything non-Muslim.

[fubar]

Good post, Abu Kais. Thanks. Maybe Hariri will take the lead after this ends.

[someone]

"That’s right, damn it, under no circumstances must Lebanese unity break. Iranian Hezbollah is fighting for all of Lebanon"

fubar:

The fight is between a LEBANESE party,which is a part of the parliament,and "israel" .If this party get its support from Iran or Syria ,then we cant call it iranian party or Syrian party ,it is still LEBANESE after all,if people in Lebanon say that this party is Iranian ,then after that we can call it a foreign party .

If "israel" get its logistical support and weapons from the US (guided misslies and patriote missiles) ,then can you call it american ,just for this support?

[Ghassan Karam]

Sinioras Indecisivness

The Lebanese government keeps on insisting that the Lebanese forces will deploy all across the land and that Lebanese sovereignty is to be recognized all throught the republic. Yet when Iran declares openly that it is planning on sending even more deadly and sophisticated weapons to its proxy Iranian National guards in Lebanon (HA) and that all other shipments are to continue the Lebanese government does not even express its objection to these actions. Only in Lebanon would such an arrangement be tolerated. Mr. Siniors, its time to decide which side of the issue your government wants to take. You vant be and not be at the same time. The Lebanese government must express its displeasure with the current Iranian constant interference with internal Lebanese affairs by at least recalling the Lebanese ambassador to Tehran. If it is true that the Lebanese government does not approve of a proxy militia on its land, one that is effectively calling the shots , then we must have the courage to demonstrate our displeasure. If Siniora does not take decisive action on this issue of disarmament then the cessation of hostilities will only result in a hollow meaningful state of non violence that will not last for long.

[fubar]

"someone" -- Congratulations. Your English usage has improved significantly in the past few days which has seriously improved my ability to at least understand your comments.

The fact that Iranian Hezbollah is a part of the Lebanese government is the great shame of Lebanon. But that is internal politics, not my specialty.

The fact that Iranian Hezbollah, just one "political" party in Lebanon, has taken Lebanon to war and to the brink of economic devastation, not to mention political turmoil, is only further proof that Iranian Hezbollah is not seriously a part of the Lebanese government but rather is cloaking itself in the appearance of political activity to maintain its strategic position for Iran and to dominate Lebanese politics in order to ensure its continued strategic position.

Oh, I am sorry, whenever saying Death to Israel, the Death to America part is always implied.

Israel gets its armament from the US and others in the open, not in secret. Iranian Hezbollah, one part of Lebanon's government (not part of the Lebanese Army) gets its armament from Iran under cover of darkness. If it is no secret that Iranian Hezbollah, part of the Lebanese government, is working for the interests of Iran and being armed by Iran, then why the secrecy?

As I said before, the best thing to come from this conflict is the uncloaking of Iranian Hezbollah. Lebanon and the world need to know who the players are and what their motives are.

[think_about_it]

Eye for eye, tooth for tooth... (Exodus 21:24)

The point being, where is the fairness, equality and even scale?

In any event, war or terrorism is killing and killing is not allowed.

[fubar]

Ghassan Karam -- that is the understatement of the year. It is so far past time to declare that failure to declare now cannot be interrupted as anything other than unconscionable surrender to Iran.

[fubar]

UNSC "cessation of hostilities" by Iranian Hezbollah and Israel. Great.

How does anyone enforce that? Iranian Hezbollah is acting outside the full Lebanese government. Iranian Hezbollah is not a member of the UN - and that is why you cannot negotiate a ceasefire or "cessation of hostilities" with Iranian Hezbollah through the UN.

So when Iranian Hezbollah breaks the "cessation of hostilities" or does not comply to begin with (which is Iran's consistent answer to all UNSC resolutions), who gets punished -- Lebanon or Iran.

[Hassan]

http://www.tayyar.org/files/documents/unres.pdf
The above is a link to the UN draft resolution.
Looks good to me. It's time for Saniora's government to take action though.

[someone]

""someone" -- Congratulations. Your English usage has improved significantly in the past few days which has seriously improved my ability to at least understand your comments."

Thank you for congratulations,i congratulate you for significant improvements of your understanding,which has seriously improved my ability to at least let you undertsnads what is going on.

"The fact that Iranian Hezbollah is a part of the Lebanese government is the great shame of Lebanon. But that is internal politics, not my specialty."

Yes ,it is internal politics ,and it is the speciality of lebaneses politicians.

You can say,that the millitants are shiaa,and Iran is also Shiaa,so one can think there is similiarity in ideas between them and interconnections. One make a mistake and call the party iranian,if he cant distiguish that shiaa in Iran are iranians ,and shiaa in Lebnaon are lebaneses,who are part of lebanese people.Both groups are shiaa doenst mean that both are iranians.

"Israel gets its armament from the US and others in the open, not in secret. Iranian Hezbollah, one part of Lebanon's government (not part of the Lebanese Army) gets its armament from Iran under cover of darkness. If it is no secret that Iranian Hezbollah, part of the Lebanese government, is working for the interests of Iran and being armed by Iran, then why the secrecy?"

There is no secrecy.Iran denied that it supports the lebanese millitants ,but support Lebanon in its fight against "israel" and that means it supports the millitants in the south,because the government support them too,so Iran declare its support to Lebanon without any secrecy ,and Lebanon declare its support to the lebanese millitants ,without any secrecy.

"The fact that Iranian Hezbollah, just one "political" party in Lebanon, has taken Lebanon to war and to the brink of economic devastation, not to mention political turmoil, is only further proof that Iranian Hezbollah is not seriously a part of the Lebanese government but rather is cloaking itself in the appearance of political activity to maintain its strategic position for Iran and to dominate Lebanese politics in order to ensure its continued strategic position."

ALL the parties in Lebanon support the government ,and the right to resist the foreign forces that attacked lebanese soil.There is no party that offend the acts of the millitants in the south because they are defending lebanese soil.All the parties condemned the massacres commited by "israel" on civilians and infrastructures and didnt condemn the millitants acts nor the emprisonment of the two soldiers.

What are the goals of Iran in this war ? the liberation of lebanese prisoners? or the liberation of the lebanese occupied soil ? i dont think Iran get credits after the liberation of chabaa valey.

All parties in the lebanese parliament are lebaneses,if a party of them is shiaa ,this doenst mean it is iranian .

[LF]

WATCH THIS VIDEO: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14337.htm

[Hassan]

Update: Lebanese cabinet rejects US-France draft proposal. Similarly, the Israeli cabinet has its reservations on the same proposal.
Let the murder continue on both sides.

[fubar]

Hassan,

On what grounds?

Thanks

[Hassan]

For my source on the Lebanese cabinet position, I saw it on al-arabiya news, I can't find the position anywhere else.

[fubar]

thanks

[fubar]

Iran is sitting in on the UNSC meeting to discuss the proposal as an "interested party".

[R]

Hi all,

I posted an analysis on the proposal and Iran's (predicted) position on my blog.

LF,
About that video, very effective.
Oh, and the Schindler's List music, touche.