The patriot and his militia

It became clear after listening to Nasrallah’s address on Thursday that the milita leader is pissed about the Lebanese cabinet allegedly conspiring against the re-arming of his group, and the attempt to extend state authority over all territory. Almost the entire speech was reserved for exposing alleged cabinet attempts to destroy the resistance and confiscate Hizbullah weapons. For Nasrallah and his followers, this is unpatriotic and amounts to treason. For any person who believes in the rule of law, any attempt to curb weapons smuggling to an illegal militia is the least a legitimate authority can do.

Nasrallah’s narrative was designed for anti-Israel Shia ears. I find it strange that any Aounist would find anything in it appealing or compatible with their stated aims.  There’s a government guilty of western support for over a year and a half, making it suspicious (never mind that Nasrallah’s political soldiers were part of this government). The internal security forces have to prove they’re a national force. The prime minister is conspiring with the Israelis by ordering the Lebanese army to cut the Hizbullah supplies during the war.

Just because he [Siniora] is a Sunni doesn’t mean I should keep my mouth shut. Does any Arab, Muslim or Christian, Sunni or Shia accept that a prime minister cuts off weapons supplies to the resistance that’s defending the country?

Nasrallah elsewhere may have rejected murder and civil war, but this last statement, coming from a religious figure in the Arab world, is a legalization of Siniora’s assassination.

What’s worse, Nasrallah accused the internal security forces of spying on Hizbullah for the Israelis, and of trying to locate Nasrallah’s whereabouts and failing to “protect the country and its citizens.” Nasrallah lamented the fact that “they” pay taxes to the government to train and arm such agencies. As if Hizbullah and its 150,000 employees ever paid taxes for the billions they receive from Iran!

And then Nasrallah proceeded to categorize Sunnis, saying that if this cabinet does not accept to give Hizbullah the blocking vote (yes, Nasrallah wants to join the Israeli-supported cabinet), he will find patriotic Sunnis who could handle such leadership.

And since Nasrallah is such a secular minded guy that appeals to Aounists and communists alike, tomorrow a pro-Sunni fundamentalist will lead Shia Islamists in prayer, so the communists and the Aounists better make room. As for Sunday, the “national opposition” will attempt to ruin another weekend, burying the country and its economy deeper in the sanitary hole that Hizbullah created in downtown Beirut.

Update. Incidentally, Le Monde today quoted (French) a senior UN official as saying there was "a constant and massive rearmament of Hizbullah."  According to the official, these weapons are entering Lebanon thanks to the complicity of Hizbullah sympathisers in the directorate of General Security, which controls the borders. The directorate is officially part of the Interior Ministry, but is run by a pro-Hizbullah guy. Its former director is in jail over suspected involvement in the Hariri murder. Hizbullah has denied the report.

For some context on the tug of war between the cabinet and Hizbullah/Amal on this issue, click here (a post about the time former acting interior minister Ahmad Fatfat tried to put a leash on  General Security but was accused of running a security regime by Hizbullah and Amal). This is further proof that one of Nasrallah's primary aims is to protect his weapon supply. Not that it ever stopped. But it could.

In related news, the UN has confirmed the report of a Syrian plot to kill 36 Lebanese figures. Don't expect a fiery reaction from Nasrallah.

 

Comments

[ghassan karam]

The latest speech by Nasrallah combined contradictions and incoherence at the same time. This speech was the personification of megalomania in case some were wandering. The man has been so intoxicated with the "divine victory" of the summer that he cannot understand why is it that he has not been declared the saviour of the Arab world and why is it that the Lebanese have not begged him to lead them into another war. It is paradoxical that the mere backing of a Western country is tantamount to treason in Nasrallah's eyes while doing the work of Iran?syria and being openly on their payroll is a sign of patriotism and valour. It is also interesting to note that a major Shiite leader in Iraq; Al-Hakim ; is visiting the US and has asked the US to keep its forces in Iraq. I wonder whether HA considers Al-Hakim, a descendant of the Prophet, to be a traitor to Islam.

There is only one lesson to be drawn from the Nasrallah oration. Such incoherence and ramblings point to confusion and , yes weakness. I still maintain that Nasrallah and his supporters will not achieve their goals. Actually it is looking increasingly clear to this observer that the HA/Amal?Aoun?Karami?Frangieh?Arslan axis is weak and disintegrated. With the exception of HA all the others are marginal players at best and Hassan Nasrallah is doing a decent job of even weakening the position of HA by making it very clear that they stand totally outside the Lebanese project. This current problem will pass away and the March 14 will still be in control. I hope that once this issue is resolved that they will act resolutely to get Lahoud out of the office and even the country, let the International Tribunal start its operations, enact meaningful economic reforms, keep HA outside the government and insist on disarming the HA militia. March 14 needs to act decissevly , but legally and justly. Maybe they will prove me wrong by showing that Lebanon is capable of embracing modernity and shedding sectarianism , tribalism and being hamstrung by traditionalism.

[fubar]

"We will not be dragged into any strife even if you kill a thousand of us. We will not raise weapons in the face of anyone ... Our weapons are only for our Israeli enemy," he [Nasrallah] said, speaking from an undisclosed location.

Well, what a comforting thought that is. Bunker boy says Hezbollah's weapons are only for the Israeli enemy. And in the next breath, Siniora is an agent of Israel.

The logic of Ahmadinejad flowing out of Nasrallah's mouth. Siniora = Israel. Fire away. It's all good.

[Solomon2]

Fascism emerged in the early 20th century in Italy, Spain and Germany. The slogan "Long live death!" was made notorious by Spanish fascists. In a famous confrontation in 1936, the great Spanish philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamuno responded in Salamanca to a speech by fascist General Millan-Astray in which the general had repeated the slogan "Viva Muerte!" ("Long Live Death!") with a speech of his own, declaring "There is a time when to be silent is to lie." He then denounced General Millan-Astray and the Spanish fascists for their assault on Spanish civilization and culture. (The next day, Unamuno, in his 80's, was arrested and he died soon thereafter.)

Although Unamuno died, he was remembered as a true martyr, whose words were accepted by his people. The fascists went on to win, but the madness stopped. If only Unamuno could have spoken up earlier...

[Louis-Noel Harfouche]

Well, that's what happens when you don't speak truth to power (or in this case megalomaniacal neuroses.) It's all in the semantics. As long as the March 14 culture keeps massaging the feelings of thugs and bullies, and as long as it keeps spewing jaded rhetorical circumlocutions and euphemisms (to avoid calling a spade a spade), Nasrallah and his goons' delusions, arrogance, and jingoist erections will remain on the upswing.

[ghassan karam]

Could it be that after a year and a half of allowing HA to push them around that finally the March 14 have deceloped a backbone? The preliminary indications are that PM Saniora has responded to practically every single allegation made by Sayyed Nasrallah in his vitriolic speech yesterday. One of the items revealed by Mr. Saniora is the seminal role played by the Iranian ambassador in dictating what is an acceptable policy and what is not. Is this the same group that is accusing March 14 of having the support of the Western governments? If what I have read about the Saniora allegations holds to be true then it appears that finally he is "speaking truth to power" but what is most ironic it appears that those who are hurling accusations are themselves the practitioners of what they claim to oppose!!!!

[Amir in Tel Aviv]

I totally and utterly agree with you AK.

I tell Siniora: START peace talks with Israel.!!!
I can hear the thoughts of many of you: "..yes, sure, this is really the last thing Siniora needs now, talking with Israel" or "Israel is to though cookie for the 'Arab street' to swallow at the moment".
I don't ignore those sentiments, but what can Siniora (or Lebanon) lose ??

Lebanon and Israel have no quarrel; no Territorial disagreements; Shab'a farms is bullshit excuse; Shab'a farms issue could be resolved within 15 minutes of negotiations.
Israel and Lebanon did not fight each other; not in '48 or in '67 or '73. The only wars occurred between Israel and armed militias, taking advantage of Leb weaknesses ( PLO HZB ).

Siniora said "Lebanon will be the last Arab country to sign peace with Israel". WHY.??

Strengths and Opportunities in opening talks with Israel:
(a) Create agenda. Leb government / March 14 have no winning agenda; have NO agenda at all! (b) Act instead of react, initiate instead of being draged, attack instead of defend. (c) Stop the economic land-slide. Foreign investors and international financial institutions like peace and stability, and don't like Jihadi wars. (d) Corner HZB. All of Hassan's speech yesterday was meant to prevent such a move. (e) Strengthen ties with what they call "the moderate Sunnis". I'm sure that opening talks with Israel would get Saudis Egyptians, Golfs, Magrebs support. (f) Create a bargaining cart out of nothing. You could always negotiate the 'peace talks' ; maybe even get concessions in return.

But most of all it would put the opportunity on the table. I'm afraid that the peace between Lebanon and Israel, that is so easy to reach today, is going to be 'no option' as time passes.
.

[square]

I don't ignore those sentiments, but what can Siniora (or Lebanon) lose ??

In parallel, it can be said "Let Israel give the Golan back to syria, what does it have to loose?"

So, peace deal is signed, katyushas launched on northern Israel, 2 civilians dead. Now what?

Hey Lebanese government, control your borders, else we will do it, etc...

The conditions are not there yet to play that card.

Your stuff is good but sometimes it makes you go on a tangent, keep working on it ;)

[BadVilbel]

I know most of us commenting over here are in agreement over this, but could someone please explain to me why there are still people who defend HA's position? (We've all seen/read/heard them lately).

Does anyone actually not see that this is pure and simple bullying? "Do as I say, or else?"
Nasrallah and Aoun's supporters can argue all the "clean government" bullcrap they want. It is plain as day that Nasrallah has NO RESPECT for the state of Lebanon. None whatsoever. Anyone who doesn't follow HIS orders is an agent of Israel. The ISF, the Army, everyone else...No respect.

And bullies cannot be reasoned with. You can't negotiate with bullies. They are physically and genetically incapable of diplomacy or compromise.

[square]

BV, again in parallel, herds are shepherded, and just like bullies "...are physically and genetically incapable of diplomacy or compromise.", herds are incapable of individually assuming control of the direction the tide will take them.

A smart person can control the tide of the masses, but will never be able to predict how the tide will break.

And yes, some bullies are smart.

h.