A clean country is a Hizbullah-free country

Berri may like to sugarcoat the resignation by ascribing to it democratic qualities, and use terms such as "we're in the opposition now." And this characterization may indeed be valid, if applied to him and Aoun (at least maybe).

But Hizbullah is not "opposition". It never was, and never will be. Describing them as opposition assumes a degree of democratic behavior, which they reject. Hizbullah's local masters and their chief Hassan Nasrallah are a bunch of arrogant outlaws who claim a clean record when they are nothing but traitors that any real democracy would spit out.

Nasrallah has no right to ask for a clean government and then boast about receiving 300 million dollars of Iranian money to bribe a small part of a population whose livelihood he mortgaged to regional wannabe-superpowers.

He has no right to demand a national unity government when his own actions amount to treason—from allegedly owning 30,000 rockets, to obstructing reconstruction efforts, to recognizing the authority of foreign governments but never his own.

Most dangerously, an organization like Hizbullah should not be allowed to maintain brainwashing farms called "schools" to produce mini-Nasrallahs who owe allegiance to other countries and other systems and not their own. Children should not be taught to aspire to martyrdom.

Now that they resigned, the next step is to cleanse the country from their effect. This isn't a radical call. This is a matter of survival and the future of an entire population is at stake.

For starters, Siniora should listen to Amal and appoint new Shia ministers. They should know by now that Hizbullah acts with complete disregard for the state. So the state must assert itself and appoint ministers to run the affairs of the people, because those who claim to represent the interests of the people have just abandoned their responsibilities.

This is the least this cabinet can do. This country does not belong to Nasrallah, as he keeps claiming. It belongs to those free individuals who do not hide behind their turbans and the accumulated ignorance of their followers.

Comments

[Solomon2]

Abu Kais, who are you to talk about rights without talking about who or what can enforce them? Who are you appealing to?

For two of the past three decades the West has tried to give Lebanon chances to assert itself against violent aggressors. Each time Lebanon's politicians chose to cut deals with various gangsters instead, using the threat of Western intervention as leverage and the promise of Western weapons as bait, while waving the bloody shirt of Israeli "aggression" to successfully stifle criticism. And people kept voting for the same leaders over and over again...

IMO, Lebanon's democracy is crumbling because Lebanese lack the courage to choose allies wisely to enforce - or the desire to maintain - democratic convictions, rather than sectarian ones. The Big Gang that remains is aware of this so for them taking over the country is a piece of cake.

[Amir from Tel Aviv]

Wishful thinking.
Any Shia figures that will agree to join Siniora?
I wish it was possible.
.

[naja]

Abu Kais, do I detect a note of intransigeance in your post? I am asking because I am finding myself in such a mood: I - and I happen to have chosen to return to Lebanon - have simply had enough: enough patronising by would-be Arab patriots who still live by the call of the illusionary victory, enough of apologists who defend HA without a thought as to what life would be under their reign; enough of blind followers who march to Nasrallah's tune without thinking of the consequences of his actions. I long for a peaceful, free, enjoyable existence in this beautiful country of ours. I'd love to read the papers because I might learn something rather than because I am afraid. I'd love to be able to bring my daughter over, without the fear of having to evacuate her. Frankly, I'd like something as stupid as to be able to book next year's holidays, to set up a long-term goal of any kind, to plan ahead, damn it, without some illuminated turban getting in the way simply because God or his spiritual guide has told him it would be a good thing to drop a few kg of TNT on some infidel. If anyone supports or defends Hizbollah, they must be prepared to live by their rule book. It is as blunt as that. I personally am not. And I don't need a bearded man in drag to tell me how to live my life.

[bad vilbel]

I'm with you 100% Abu Kais. Your post reflects my sentiments to a tee. HA and co. can choose to leave government, and that's their prerogative. But once they've left, they have no right to dictate policy, complain, or threaten.

You're absolutely right. These guys are basically bullies, in the very literal sense of the word. They're the guys who beat you up for lunch money on the playground. Who break up your friendly soccer game by taking the ball and holding it for ransom.
You're also right in your wording. These guys are traitors to their country. Traitors of the first degree. Starting wars with other countries, maintaing your own arsenal and army, answering to a foreign leadership: That's all treason. Yet these guys run around calling everyone else who talks to the American ambassador a "traitor".

Your post may not have been a "radical call" or intransigant. But I have no problem saying mine is.

The trash needs to go.

[Michael J. Totten]

Solomon2: "Abu Kais, who are you to talk about rights..."

I think you need to calm down. Abu Kais is not part of the problem.

[Solomon2]

MJT, I think Abu Kais knows what has to be done but won't step forward to do it. And he's maybe the bravest soul of the inside-the-beltway Lebanese blogosphere. Complacency is the problem. If Abu Kais won't act, what hope is there?

[e]

Solomon2,
I would make Abu Kais President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Lebanon if I could (he already refused heading the army). Read the blog.
e

[e]

Solomon2,
How about suggesting a way forward without violence? The Lebanese will not accept a civil war at any price. It will be the end of Lebanon. Sometimes there are no good solutions. Only trudging forward slowly hoping things will get better and not worse.
e

[Michael J. Totten]

Solomon, I just don't know how to tell you that this problem is bigger than Lebanon and cannot be solved by Lebanese alone. Lebanon cannot strike or isolate Tehran and Damascus. The UN can't do it either.

Remember what Eisenhower said. If you find yourself with a problem you cannot solve, enlarge it. You are defining this problem too narrowly and too locally. So are the Israelis.

You saw what Israel did in Lebanon. What did they accomplish? Zip! And they are far far far stronger than the Lebanese. The Israelis failed because they went after the wrong target.

You continue to advocate strategies that have not worked in the past. No one wins civil wars in Lebanon. They end in stalemates. Very nearly everyone in Lebanon who isn't Hezbollah knows this. They learned it the hard way. Maybe Hezbollah knows it too. It is perhaps the only thing that might prevent yet another pointless civil war.

How many more Lebanese civil wars and Israeli invasions have to happen before you figure out that a different strategy is required?

If you think the Lebanese can defeat Hezbollah when even the Israelis can't do it, please tell us in exact detail how they can actually go about it. Factor in the fact that many officers are Syrian-appointed Baathists, that 40 percent of the soldiers are Shia, and that Syria deliberately gutted the army and pumped up Hezbollah.

[Solomon2]

You saw what Israel did in Lebanon. What did they accomplish? Zip! And they are far far far stronger than the Lebanese.

MJT, you are thinking in terms of military might. I'm thinking in terms of morale and moral authority. Where was the March 14th coalition before Hariri was assassinated?

This is Lebanon's chance. I think that this time pieces necessary to set the ball rolling are there. But it isn't for me to say anything further - the impetus must come from within.

[Abu Kais]

Solomon2, what can I do? What action do you want me to take? I'm words in a blogosphere. If you mean that I should prescribe war, I will never, ever do that. I've lived through one, and my family still lives in that country. I cannot get myself to call for a war on Hizbullah. I know that wars in Lebanon always end up with a regional power winning it. I suggest you go listen to Tony's podcast, linked to on MJT's blog. He defines Lebanon very well, a country that survives on certain formulas. I don't like some of those formulas, and I even criticise them on this blog. But because Lebanon is what it is, nobody can win a war. Not if you want to keep Lebanon the diverse place it is.

I don't care about the chances presented to Lebanon by the west, as you alleged. This isn't about the west. This isn't about Israel. And this isn't about alliances with good vs evil. Uneven alliances with outside parties always led to war. This blog calls for Lebanese to apply the rule of law and work things out amongst themselves, keeping in mind their country's best interests. That's the context you should read my posts in.

What many of us are calling for, disengaging Lebanon from the regional swamp, and making the country's interests a priority is a pretty good thing. War isn't.

[Solomon2]

Biography: After dabbling in traditional journalism, the journey from Beirut to the beltway left me free and anonymous...

Solomon2, what can I do? What action do you want me to take? I'm words in a blogosphere...

Change!

[another_someone]

Abou Kais, listen to the wise king, I have a stack of AK47s at a terrific discout...

[Abu Kais]

huh? that's my decision to make, solomon. If I knew something like that would bring benefit to anyone, starting with my family, which is my priority, I would have done it a long time ago. Thanks for reading.

[Michael J. Totten]

Solomon, I have met you and I like you as a person. But I find it distasteful and foolish for you to egg on Lebanese people and encourage another civil war. I don't think you understand what you're asking for here, and it might be a good idea for you to review their history a little bit more.

Lebanon very well may plunge into civil war once again. We'll see how much you like it if it happens.

If civil war is not what you're asking for, what more do you expect them to do? Aside from the lost Aounists, they are already opposing Hezbollah as much as they really can without killing them.

You will be forever frustrated with Lebanon until you acknowledge that this is a HUGE problem that non-Hezbollah Lebanese cannot possibly solve by themselves. You might as well ask Costa Rica to overthrow Hugo Chavez.

[TonyGuitar]

None of this may matter much if Bush is allowed no funding and must withdraw from not only Iraq but the ME entirely.

After checking around a bit and reading between the lines, I come up with something like this.

Republicans and Bush got stung in the recent midterms. Rumsfeld was moved under cover to get rid of a target magnet.

The next question was, *Do we pull out of Iraq and work to win the next election, or do we bring in more troops and take control from Muqtada Al-Sadr in Iraq?

Why, win the next election, of course.

Maliki is buddies with Muqtada and Ahmadinejad and he can get things calmed down to where we can do a quiet pull-out.

================= That*s the way it looks, and you may recall OBL said in his tape he would roust Bush out of Iraq and set up Islam Terror Central in the middle of the ME.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,229360,00.html

To me, this looks like the day the Western world wrote off Israel.= TG

[fubar]

Wow. A post which was almost dream-like in its clarity, if not actual possibility, devolved into this comment thread.

Solomon2 - Just a hint for you, Abu Kais, is not easily pushed around. And he is far too much of a gentleman to say it so I will - you go too far. You simply have no right to question Abu Kais' personal priorities or decisions. You leave us no choice. Duel at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I shall second for Abu Kais, with his permission, of course. Don't be late. Oh, and your choice of weapons is between paintball guns or water pistols (Lucky for you, Abu Kais is against real war, don't you know).

Michael - Like your writing, but does it not seem that you are frequently arguing with someone these days? Maybe you are jumping just a tad too fast these days. Just saying...

another someone - Good one. (But seriously, how many, from which theatre, and what price? Unlike Abu Kais, I am not always opposed to war. ;-)

/From Beirut to the Beltway will return to regular programming tomorrow, after the duel.

[fubar]

(NYTimes) UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 14 — More than 700 Islamic militants from Somalia traveled to Lebanon in July to fight alongside Hezbollah in its war against Israel, a United Nations report says. The militia in Lebanon returned the favor by providing training and — through its patrons Iran and Syria — weapons to the Islamic alliance struggling for control of Somalia, it adds.

The report, which was disclosed by Reuters on Monday, appears to be the first indication that foreign fighters assisted Hezbollah during the 34-day conflict, when Israel maintained a tight blockade on Lebanon.

The report also says Iran sought to trade arms for uranium from Somalia to further its nuclear ambitions, though it does not say whether Iran succeeded.

[Solomon2]

MJT: Abu Kais seems to understand perfectly well that I am not talking about precipitating a civil war, but avoiding one. Nor do I perceive that my understanding of Lebanese history is insufficient for the task at hand. Dealing with the Syro-Persian axis by itself will not solve Lebanon's problems with Hezbollah.

AK: Naturally you should not take a stranger's opinions on this matter lightly. Yet I am not the person who decided that your loyalty doesn't reside with Hezbollah: you decided that. All I did was, at your begging, suggest the direction you could take if you hope to implement your desires.

I urge you to reconsider. What kind of world did you write that you hoped for Kais when he grows up? My grandfathers were killed in WWII, probably in the gas chambers but possibly in Allied bombardments of slave-labor munitions plants. I would like it if they were still alive, but I'd like to think that they would have been happier with me alive and living in a free society - and that Germany is a stronger democracy than ever. I bear the Allies no grudge, and I have no desire to seek out revenge against Germans.

I'm afraid you cannot consult your family in Lebanon about this, for that would unnecessarily increase their danger if your consulting with them became known. For the same reason, it will be safer if you "out" yourself quickly, and as publicly as possible. (A press conference, perhaps?)

fubar: Certainly I have no right to decide Abu Kais' priorities or make his decisions; helping him realize the implications of his desires and actions, however, is the duty of a friend.

If it ever comes to a duel, as the challenged I get to choose the weapons, and they will be badminton rackets and shuttlecocks. Unfortunately, I have a pressing engagement tomorrow. (Your choice of venue is acceptable, but I can't make a promise as to the date and time.)

[Ehn]

A well expressed exasperation, Abu Kais.

[Michael J. Totten]

Ok, Solomon, so perhaps I misunderstood you. Good. Glad to hear it.

I don't quite understand what it is you expect someone like Abu Kais to do that he isn't already doing.

[Vulcan]

Solomon2: "it will be safer if you "out" yourself quickly, and as publicly as possible. (A press conference, perhaps?)"

Abu Kais please don’t say you are Moussa Al-Sadr, or even better could you be the "Mahdi" am so curious now..!!
Ok yawl whatever you decide on the action plan for Lebanon count me in am so freakin bored here in Miami.. I may be able to supply some Cuban cigars to go with those AK47's
lets take out some turbans
Viva la revolution!!

[Tom Grey - Liberty Dad]

Clearly one of the problems in Lebanon is the fear that "all Shia" support Hezbollah, including all those in the Army.
What should be advocated:
1) more non-Shia joining an expanded and continually expanding Lebanon Army, with vows to support the elected Leb gov't. And monitoring, database tracking of family members and likely divided loyalties, and explicit attempts to avoid pushing the moderate Shia into the Hez camp.
2) More non-Shia support for Amal. Let Amal choose Shia replacements for the Hez folks who left. The

Shia need representation in gov't, and their leaders need cash. Guns and money, not lawyers, are what's needed by non-Hez Shia to declare themselves in favor of a Lebanon w/o Hez having guns.

[fusu haaami]

WOW! You are the epitome of old-fashioned anti-Shia bigotry in Lebanon. If only you knew how pathetically you just caricatured you and your entire March 14th movement. You have just confirmed for the skeptics out there that you are officially consonant with Israeli positions on Lebanon. Maybe next time they invade and bomb, you should work w/ them to just "cleanse" the entire country of all Shia. I'm sure they'd be happy to help. Then you can have your little fair-skinned beachhead and give the Israelis their precious eretz Israel all the way to the Litani. Honestly, thought, using language like "cleanse" the country of Hizballah. That's tantamount to cleansing the South of Hizballah like the Israelis tried recently. Not everyone in Lebanon ascribes to your vision of Lebanon as an Israeli surrogate in the Middle East. So, next time you want to run your racist mouth, just be warned that your hypocrisy and bigotry does not fall on deaf ears.

[another_someone]

FH, I hope your backside exit-hole is not melting from the heat (judging from your name).

If you have any balls (or ovaries) you'll answer the following questions:

1-What is "old-fashioned anti-Shia bigotry"?

2-How did you conclude from the text that it is "consonant with Israeli positions on Lebanon"?

Really now, don't start melting.

[Shunkleash]

MORE SANDBOX NONSENSE!!!

Why bother to discuss matters with some posters whose entire lives revolve around one conspiracy theory after another. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE AHWEH!!! NOT EVERYTHING can be blamed on the JOOOOOS you bunch of morons. Next thing youll do is go around thinking the war in Iraq is about OIL!!

My usual two cents:-

The Shia DESERVE BETTER than Hassan Nasteezee and the Hizballah Mafia. I again advise the lebanese government of weeping willow and Uncle Saad to ask/appoint representatives of shia groups to the cabinet!!! FORGET AMAL PLEASE!!! It is clear that MR BERRI believes it to be safer outside THE COUNTRY than in it. Courage under fire as usual from this particular KALB!! Start a fire and then not have the guts to carry a water bucket. Anyway, it is a clear indication to me that the storm is comming.

HOWEVER I TRANSGRESS, if these new apointees refuse to take up the post keep at it until you get someone who will, after all there are more than 1 million shia in Lebanon and I can't believe that all of them have been brainwashed in the Hizbteezee madrassas of hate. GO FOR IT YALLA!!! TIMES A WASTING!!!

PRIORITY ONE!! the government needs to shut EL PRESIDENTE DANDOOL up...and as I have previsouly advocated....a press release asking about the legitimacy of his own position should make the rounds....its time HE GOES BACK TO SYRIA. Patriarch SFEIR should also open his mouth...its time the BIG GUNS OPEN UP!!

Finally, the govt must talk with the FPM minus Michel Aoun. There must be someone else they can talk to in that party...the FPM has so many mouthpieces already. Anyway, my reasoning is simple. His party was able to capture a large number of seats in the last election based soley on the "LEGEND" factor of General AOUN. BUT IN REALITY HE IS AN IDIOT. Now that he has shown his true colours dissent in the FPM must be growing!!!! I do not believe the contituents of his party were consulted when he made his little Agreement with HA to begin with. However, if you get enough of his people Board with the Government then he is marginalised and looses his LEGITIMACY. HASTA LA VISTA AOUN!! In doing so the govtt will shore its own position in Parliament and take the FPM voting block out of the hands of the HA and its goons in the event of a mass resignation of parliamentarians. BY THE WAY, a simple resolution to that as well. Simply have a by-election for the seats that become vacant.

As I was saying, marginalise the HIZBTEEZEE, FPM and AMAL. TAKE AWAY the leverage they have start going straight to the people show them there is a different view point and that the government is for LEBANESE and is INCLUSIVE!!! Dont give me the usual nonsense about "easier said than done". DO IT AND IT WILL GET DONE!!!

HA, AMAL and AOUN are cancers. The HA in particular is hte single largest contributor to making THE SHIA DESTITUTE and reliant on hand outs (YES LIKE BEGGARS). You live in Ghettos not because of anything the Christians or Sunnis or Druze have done but because you are better political mileage for Hasan and Nabih if you remain poor. HA has inentionaly made the SOUTH NO GO ZONES even for the army. WHY IS THAT??? Ask the question or is the likely answer too bitter a pill to swallow.

LET COOL HEADS PREVAIL!!

AYESH LUBNAN

SHUNKLEASH

[bad vilbel]

Fusuwhatever,

Nice try...We know better. The dumb sloganeering doesn't work here. Move on.

[Michael J. Totten]

Fusu to Abu Kais: You are the epitome of old-fashioned anti-Shia bigotry in Lebanon.

Wrong answer. Abu Kais is Shia.

[TonyGuitar]

Not everyone in Lebanon ascribes to your vision of Lebanon as an Israeli surrogate in the Middle East. So, next time you want to run your racist mouth, just be warned that your hypocrisy and bigotry does not fall on deaf ears.

Posted by: fusu haaami | Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 07:44 AM

Just trying to understand the hot tempered exchange now, with every effort to be polite here.

Mr. Haaami, your threat seems to be made from a position of strength.

The people of Lebanon would prefer not to be surrogate to Israel or Iran but be independant regardless of low political strength.

Looks to me, [ admittedly uninformed ], as though the people of Lebanon are about to become Persian Shia without much debate.

Is that accurate, or mistaken? = TG

[fubar]

Vulcan, you are the MAN.

Yea, though I walk through the Bekaa valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for I am armed with another someone’s AK-47 of unknown condition and origin yet amply fortified by Vulcan’s embargo busting, kick ass, Cuban cigars. Viva la revolución!

Solomon2, I respect the fact that you are man enough to entertain taking up the challenge. However, as Abu Kais’ second, I must respectfully remind you that, although you do have a choice of weapons, badminton rackets and shuttlecocks do not qualify as weapons by any stretch of the imagination. Not to mention, of course, the personal offense I will take if forced to act as second at a duel involving shuttlecocks. I warn you in advance, if you persist in this insulting mockery of the honorable duel, the duel will be followed by a sound thrashing which, I guarantee, will draw blood. I implore you, choose again. He who has warned is henceforth excused. ;-)