100 containers and the state of Hizbullah

Walid Jumblatt said he has information that Hizbullah is preparing for a major operation targeting the airport, possibly downing a civilian airplane or killing a major figure. He said a secret document he received points to the existence of "100 containers" in the vicinity of the airport in a Hizbullah-controlled area, with one container fitted with surveillance cameras to watch runway 17. The suspicious container apparently drew the attention of a "security patrol".

Jumblatt said the Lebanese authorities have been "warned" not to try to dismantle Hizbullah's telecommunication network. (source: 14march.org)

كشف رئيس اللقاء الديمقراطي النائب وليد جنبلاط عن "وثيقة سرية وصلته تتعلق بمخطط لحزب الله من إتصالات وغيره، إضافة إلى إنذار رسمي وجّه نحو السلطات الأمنية". وأشار جنبلاط الى ان الوثيقة تفيد "عن وجود باحة كبيرة على طريق فرعي يمتد من المطار الى منطقة الأوزاعي (في محيط المطار) وتحوي مئة مستوعب، ووجود مستوعب تم وضعه حديثاً فوق مستوعب آخر".

أضاف "ثم ما لاحظته دورية أمنية وجود طاقة صغيرة اشتبهت بها، وفي المستوعب جسمًا غريبًا يعكس الضوء أحيانًا، نظرًا للظلام داخل المستوعب، فاشتبه أن يكون كاميرا للمراقبة موجهه بإتجاه المدرج الغربي رقم 17 للمطار. ثم شوهدت 3 عناصر قرب المستوعب باللباس المدني، وبيد أحدهم كاميرا أخذوها من المستوعب".

ولم يذكر جنبلاط شيئًا عن الرسالة أو الوثيقة. إنما أكد أن "بعض الجهات يبدو أنها تراقب الشخصيات في الظروف الأمنية الراهنة". وقال جنبلاط: "يبدو اليوم أن الإتجاه هو نحو عملية أمنية نوعية على المدرج 17"، مشيرًا إلى أن "صاروخ سام 7، يستطيع إسقاط طائرة مدنية مثلاً. يبدو وبعد غياب أسابيع، بعدما قتل شاهد كبير، يبدو أننا على طريق عمل أمني كبير على الطريق"، داعيًا إلى "التنبه والحذر".

This frustrating "revelation", though it confirms earlier reports that Hizbullah's been monitoring the airport,  confirms the helplessness of Lebanese authorities in acting against the militia, which occupies downtown Beirut, has its own telecommunications network, and launches "divine wars" whenever it sees fit.

A source in the finance ministry was quoted as saying on Thursday by Naharnet that authorities cannot even get residents in Hizbullah-controlled areas to pay their electricity bills, or prevent illegal construction in the southern suburb, near the airport (so no surprise that they can't even inspect those containers). 

The power authority, however, has not managed to collect fees for its services from areas that are not under state authority, mainly regions controlled by Hizbullah "that is why it does not have enough revenue to cover fuel oil purchases for its stations," the source explained.

A statement released by Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa said police has not been able to prevent 160 illegal construction sites in Hizbullah-controlled south Beirut.

"If police cannot prevent illegal construction, and power authority fee collectors get beaten up while trying to carry out their duties in areas where they cannot have police protection, how would the power authority be able to cover its expenses?" the source asked. (Naharnet)

Now Lebanon today ran a report on Hizbullah aptly titled, "Untouchable".

Though many see Hezbollah’s willingness to break the law and to further expand its authority in “closed areas” as an obvious reflection of its desire to establish a “state within the state,” the ISF is to blame, too, for so often turning a blind-eye on flagrant Hezbollah violations.

According to one ISF source, the relationship between the ISF and Hezbollah is well defined, as Hezbollah “has made clear that they should not be approached by state organs.”  The ISF’s compliance with this demand is thanks to a governmental decision, since it “believes that the ISF should allow Hezbollah to continue operating as is until the issue is solved on a regional level,” the source explained. “This is why the tents in downtown are still there.”
...
The “state within a state” mentality is not new to Lebanese who have long decided legal questions of personal status according to sect. Hezbollah, however, has developed this notion further, by extending borders, including everything from road services, to electricity and phone services, social and medical services, and even to buying land and properties, placing the territory under their own jurisdiction.

These developments undermine the state’s ability to enter the areas as it deems in need of surveillance. Even Electricité du Liban (EDL) employees have, for example, felt threatened when entering certain “closed areas.” Former President Emile Lahoud actually had to commission ISF officers to accompany these EDL employees from time to time.   

The problem today, said [Hezbollah expert Imad Salameh], is Hezbollah’s military positioning in a climate of severe confessional imbalance. “Today, the system is no longer able to attain the balance [it needs],” he argued. This may lead to another 1958 or 1975, concluded Salameh.

According to the ISF source, Hezbollah’s disregard for the state authority is indicative of its disregard of the state as a whole, particularly during the current crisis. As the political vacuum continues unabated, the state sadly seems to have just accepted that Hezbollah will operate on its own terms. As such, the problem is not simply that Hezbollah has chosen to create a “state within a state,” but also that it has been allowed to do so by the government. And so long as the state continues to allow Hezbollah to demarcate its own boundaries, the more likely it is that further confrontations between Hezbollah and the ISF will ensue.

Comments

[Jeha]

What else did we expect?

Those "leaders" of ours long compromised freedom for temporary safety. No one should wonder if we get neither.

[Bad Vilbel]

Digusting.

I commented on the the electricity issue yesterday, by wondering why on earth the EDL doesn't simply cut off the power to those who don't pay their bills. The way it would work in any civilized country.

Of course, Lebanon is not any civilized country...

I got lambasted the other day for talking about separation, or whatever. I must say, with every passing day, and with every story such as the ones reported here, I'm further convinced that separation is not only the best outcome at this point, but that it's actually already here. It just hasn't been made official yet. Let them have their own state of hatred and war and let's see how many people are willing to still back them then, when they have no other sects to blame for their poor followers misery.

[Jay]

Do we still think partitioning is not an option?

[Meghwar]

Partition the bloody Crap and let's move on ...

[Solomon2]

Who, exactly, can declare or decide a partition? There is no president to make a declaration nor a parliament to decide the borders. It is clear that it is now legitimate (customary and accepted, if not strictly legal) that the Lebanese government only operates in decision-making mode if all the relevant sectarian power-brokers permit - that's why there's no parliament or president, if Lebanese leaders believed otherwise Parliament would meet separately from the Speaker and choose a president by simple majority vote.

So what is left other than for M14 & Co. to step outside the current self-imposed limits of legality, with the justification that they are following the SPIRIT of Lebanon, rather than its dead letter?

[Bad Vilbel]

Solomon,

There is no legality left to worry about. The above story should be proof enough that one side (Hizbullah) doesn't care about any legality whatsoever. So why do we need legality to declare some sort of partition (which is already there, for all intents and purposes).

Mind you. I have no illusions that anything like this will ever happen. Because our leaders don't lack the balls to make any unilateral decisions like that.

But in a fantasy world, it can be done without too much trouble and with the backing of the international community. Kosovo just declared independence unilaterally.

The difference, of course, being that Kosovars are for the most part unified behind that idea as was their leadership. But you get the idea. The opposition side has had absolutely NO QUALMS about unilaterally declaring their security zones, or declaring they consider this government illegitimate. Why couldn't the other side, in theory, also make unilateral declarations?

[Solomon2]

Anti-Hezbollah Lebanese leaders could simply declare they wish to disarm Hezbollah and establish Lebanese authority and ask for U.N. assistance in doing so, as called for under UNSC 1701 and 1559. Sounds a lot simpler than "partition", and a lot less threatening to Lebanese lives to do so now that Mugniyah is dead.

So why won't they do it? Is it because, even without intimidation present, they are secretly allied to Hezbollah and its masters?

[Anonymouse]

Partitioning will create a new conflict, and more excuses for it.

The Lebanese thrive on these things.

[Bad Vilbel]

Solomon,

Calling for disarming Hizb, with enforcment of 1701 is basically the same thing as partition. It will result in the same conflict.
As to why they don't call it? As I said before, it's because they're idiots who don't have the balls to actually lead, and who are more interested in avoiding any kind of conflict and preserving their status in power.

This conflict, by the way, is the only way left out of this, if Lebanon has any hope of surviving as a functional state. Avoiding conflict, while a noble sentiment on paper, is sometimes less desirable than the alternative. As long as we keep putting this conflict off, out of fear, we're not going to get anywhere. It's a shortsighted mentality. It's pretty much dead-on the analogy of the patient who's avoiding surgery to take out a deadly cancer because he's afraid of the pain in surgery. Avoiding the short term pain may seem like a good idea when you're confronted with the idea of pain at first, but in the long term, it's dumb and is going to get you killed by a horrible disease.

[Solomon2]

Ah, here's the answer:

Siniora: "We spare no means to find solutions (to the crisis) without compromising our independence...We can bear no more international and regional interventions, nor domestic turmoil."

http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=40725

There it is, Siniora knows there is a solution, but it isn't the threat of "conflict" that hinders things, but the fact that Lebanon is independent, so it can't ask anybody for help! This from the pro tem leader of a country that engages the U.N. to keep its war-making faction separate from an immediate neighbor! Independent! Is that why Lebanon won't fulfill international obligations?

A few breaths later Siniora mutters, "Today we need Arab cooperation to keep Lebanon from turning into an arena for regional conflicts...We already feel we are part and parcel of the Arab nation."

Independent! Sounds great, doesn't it? Independent, yeah, that's the ticket!

[Jeha]

"Ses amis, on les choisi. Sa famille, on la subit".

You can't partition away your own kin, no matter how misguided they are. Your only two options are to either convince them, or "convince" them.

[Bad Vilbel]

Sure you can, Jeha.

There are countless families where the one brother is estranged from the other, or a son gets kicked out of the house. I don't know what you're talking about.

In the end, it's about way of life. If 2 brothers share a home. One's a devout man, with a family and kids and the other is a crack addict, who keeps selling the furniture away for drugs, and who more than once endangered the kids. You might try an intervention, you might try to convince him to seek help, or go into rehab. But if all that fails, at some point, you kick him out of the house. Specially if it gets to the point where he's already hurt one of your kids in one of his drug-fuelled rages, or hit your wife and had her sent to the hospital.

I don't know what world some of you live in, but familial honor, admirable as it may be, has its limits. There is a red line after which I'd kick my own sibling/parent/child to the curb.

[Bad Vilbel]

Solomon,

Stop bothering to parse the various statements by these imbecile leaders. They're platitudes filled with contradiction and bare exactly ZERO relevance to what these guys actually DO, or want to do.

Both sides have been clamoring about "unity" and about "brotherly love" and about "arabism" since before you and i were born. Their actions have absolutely nothing to do with any of the above.

[ghassan karam]

Keep your cool hats om folks. Partition is is ultimately a reward for the intransigence of HA and its allies and a way out for the utter incompetence of what passes for a government in Lebanon. There is only one way to explain the behaviour of PM "jellyfish" Saniora; he must be a mole. He has done more to further the cause of HA than Hassan Nasrallah and Mr. Aoun put together.
Responsible government demands that laws are enforced equally and that official institutions apply the law. Before the ISF adopts willy nilly the policy that "they will not allow us to do our job" they must show that they have used all resources at their disposal to apply the law. The only way that the official government can be prevented from performing its constitutional duty is through illegal acts by outlaws and hoodlums. The current government cannot ask for sympathy when it has shown total lack of commitment to a cause, a nation and a paople.

I among many have been clamoring for well over a year for the Lebanese citizens to show their outrage and disgust with the inability of Mr. Saniora to govern and with HA to act as a responsible political opposition.

Partition is not a solution but neither should we seek a solution at any cost. General Suleiman must not be appointed to the presidency, HA must not be a part of the new cabinet, HA's armed wing should be asked to disband, diplomatic relations with Iran suspended if Tehran choses to continue sending illegally military cashes to HA and the Lebanese ISF and armed forces are to be assigned to protect legality. If HA choses to disobey all of the above through opting for violence then they must be opposed. Someone has to show that law and order are important and will be protected. At the expense of sounding trite we have to demonstrate that freedom just ain't for free, we need to fight for it .

[ghassan karam]

Pity A Nation

It was seventy five years ago that Gibran’s “The Garden of the Prophet” was published posthumously. Gibran who died on April 10, 1931 has become one of the most widely read poets in history. Gibran’s genius cannot be measured only by his ability to spin a phrase or paint a picture but ironically his genius is to be found in his prophetic descriptions of what ails the Lebanese soul. Many of his writings, when viewed through the prism of the Lebanese eye take on a special meaning, the ability to look critically into the depth of the Lebanese psyche. What Gibran did not realize is that his analysis of over three quarters of a century ago is still as relevant, even more so, than anything being written today. Sadly the maladies that he wrote about seventy years ago are still with us today. It is as if we have become a petrified social structure. Gibran was a man of hope and optimism. I am sure that he would be very much saddened to learn that his beloved Lebanon is still stuck in a world of ignorance, incompetence and hypocrisy. Make no mistake about it, Gibran would not be proud to learn that we have refused to develop, improve and better ourselves. He never meant for his critical description of us to remain true for all time.
I know of no better way to honor Gibran than to be reminded of these excerpts from two of his works that prove his prescience and his extraordinary ability to be just as relevant today as he was seventy five years ago.

From the Garden of The Prophet:

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful,
Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins
Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking,
Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.

No one can disagree with the fact that all Lebanese, not only the political class stands to learn from the above immortal words of the author of The Prophet. Gibran’s disappointment and resentment of what we were and what we still are takes it’s most critical shape in the following direct address to us:

My Countrymen

Hypocrisy is your religion,
Falsehood is your life, and
Nothingness is your ending; why,
Then, are you living? Is not
Death the sole comfort of the
Miserables?
I hate you, My Countrymen, because
You hate glory and greatness. I
Despise you because you despise
Yourselves.

I feel certain that Gibran despises us for our inability to grow, to mature and to take advantage of the opportunities that have been offered to us. If Lebanon is to exist, to survive and to prosper then we have to show that we are worthy. If we fail, and so far we have only failed, then the answer to the question of who lost Lebanon is very clear. We have failed to become Lebanese; we have failed to establish a state and insisted instead to create a divided “pretend” nation. We have caused the death of Lebanon through our disloyalty, irresponsibility and selfishness.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan, I fully agree with the overall sentiment of your comment. However, the problem is with a couple of "details" in what you are offering here.
You say we must "fight". Fight who? HA? If HA were an outside entity, such as the PLO, Israelis, or Syrians, that would make sense. But HA is in large part, made up of (whether you like it or not), fellow Lebanese. And it's not a small gang of Lebanese criminals, we're talking about many misguided Lebanese "civilians" (ie people like you and me) who have endured years of braiwashing by the HA propaganda. Do you truly propose to take up arms against your compatriots (ie a civil war) and expect an outcome that's not a repeat of 76-90? Regardless of who wins, the various communities will not come together under a secular state, if such a sectarian civil war were to happen again.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that it's one thing to take up arms for your freedom against a foreign entity. Or a small gang of criminals. But against an entire segment of the population (that you hope to make part of your future unified Lebanon)? That's not going to work.

I'd rather cut them loose. If they truly prefer the HA way of life, let them have it, until they get tired of it and revolt or ask to join the state later down the line. You're talking about an entire population that DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE UNDER YOUR RULE. Forcing them to do so (as you suggested) is tantamount to tyranny, in a way, isn't it?

You'd be no different than Israelis forcing Palestinians to live under occupation. Or Serbia forcing Kosovars to live under Serbian rule, when the majority of Kosovars want the right to self-determination.

Now I realize the parallels aren't exactly right. The Shia community is not demanding self-determination here. But your proposal of fighting HA and imposing your rule over a populace that clearly doesn't want it is along those same lines.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan, I fully agree with the overall sentiment of your comment. However, the problem is with a couple of "details" in what you are offering here.
You say we must "fight". Fight who? HA? If HA were an outside entity, such as the PLO, Israelis, or Syrians, that would make sense. But HA is in large part, made up of (whether you like it or not), fellow Lebanese. And it's not a small gang of Lebanese criminals, we're talking about many misguided Lebanese "civilians" (ie people like you and me) who have endured years of braiwashing by the HA propaganda. Do you truly propose to take up arms against your compatriots (ie a civil war) and expect an outcome that's not a repeat of 76-90? Regardless of who wins, the various communities will not come together under a secular state, if such a sectarian civil war were to happen again.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that it's one thing to take up arms for your freedom against a foreign entity. Or a small gang of criminals. But against an entire segment of the population (that you hope to make part of your future unified Lebanon)? That's not going to work.

I'd rather cut them loose. If they truly prefer the HA way of life, let them have it, until they get tired of it and revolt or ask to join the state later down the line. You're talking about an entire population that DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE UNDER YOUR RULE. Forcing them to do so (as you suggested) is tantamount to tyranny, in a way, isn't it?

You'd be no different than Israelis forcing Palestinians to live under occupation. Or Serbia forcing Kosovars to live under Serbian rule, when the majority of Kosovars want the right to self-determination.

Now I realize the parallels aren't exactly right. The Shia community is not demanding self-determination here. But your proposal of fighting HA and imposing your rule over a populace that clearly doesn't want it is along those same lines.

[Bad Vilbel]

Sorry for the double post guys.

[LebExile]

Bad Vibel..

Ghassan is not saying that the Shia have to live under our rules. There are rules that make up the constitution. We have to live under them, I dont see why the shia should not have to also. If they dont like them, then, fine, go to parliament and propose to change them legally.

The abuse of the system is by Hiz - not the Shia.

The lebanese state should confront Hiz - not the shia.

What would the response be if Geagea declares Bsharri a no go zone to the state and to Hiz.

Then if Jumblatt declares the Chouf a no go zone???

The rule of law must be applied to everyone equally. The shia are not behind hiz as much as most think - they are practically held hostage by this terror gang - and in the absense of a strong state - to protect them - especially from Hiz (esp after the Hiz-Amal fights at the end of the war) - they will be reluctant to turn against hiz.

It is a tricky situation, but, the only solution is the state asserting itself.

Say that Senioura goes on TV tomorrow night and declares that there will be strict upholding of the law from tonight onwards.

Then, Hiz go and do something stupid - such as kidnap a french diplomat. Then, the ISF and if need be the army should be sent to apprehend those who broke the law.

If that were to happen, I believe that Hiz will resist at first, but, they will not escalate it to a full blown battle. They are just as afraid of igniting a civil war - since they would be the biggest losers in it.

Then, by upholding the law, the state begins to assert itself more - ie, send in electricity collectors - if the hiz thugs try to pull anything - go in in force again. If there are battles so be it. The state has to fight for its very survival here!

As the state begins to assert itself more and more, the shia especially will begin to trust the state to protect them - especially against hiz.

But in the current situation. Say someone in a Hiz area has a grievance - who can they go to - they cant go to the state - as the state cant go in that area. this has to change - and unfortunately - it cant happen peacefully!!!!!!!!

[Bad Vilbel]

LebExile,

I understand what Ghassan was saying. But there is a flaw in his logic which you seem to be falling into as well.

"Ghassan is not saying that the Shia have to live under our rules. There are rules that make up the constitution. We have to live under them, I dont see why the shia should not have to also. If they dont like them, then, fine, go to parliament and propose to change them legally."

Brilliant. Now how do you propose you do this if the shia say "We dont want to go to parliament to change them legally." and "We dont want to abide by this constitution of yours."

how do you ENFORCE these rules? (note the use of the word ENFORCE, from FORCE). You gonna keep begging them to abide by the laws? And if they keep refusing, then what? Keep praying they change their minds?

Next quote:
"The abuse of the system is by Hiz - not the Shia.
he lebanese state should confront Hiz - not the shia."

First off, let me caveat this by saying I have nothing against the Shia faith, and do not mean to generalize and sound sectarian and racist here (and those who know me can attest to that, i hope). But you are wrong. As of right now, Hiz IS the Shia community. You can't confront one without confronting the other.
Hizbullah has played that one with complete mastery. Hizb-the-party (ie the Iranian backed leaders) have ensured that the entire Shia community is hostage to them, in the sense that the community is tied to HA's fate (or at least, it's been brainwashed into thinking that). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that.
OBVIOUSLY here, i do not mean every single Shia in Lebanon.
But the community as a whole is Hizbollah. That was Ghassan's flaw. You cannot take on Hizbollah without making it a fight against the Shia. The Shia populace as a whole IS Hizbollah. You hear it everyday in what the average Joe Shia is saying on the stret. They believe the rest of Lebanon is against them and only HA can save them from Israel and/or the other sects. They are one and the same as the party.

That is why i made the distinction in my earlier comment, about how it's one thing to take on a foreign occupier, or a criminal gang, and it's another to take on your own populace.

If HA was a small gang of criminals that just happened to be shia. You'd take em on like you take on a Fath Al Islam, say.
If HA was a foreign force of Iranians. You'd take them on the way you take on the Syrians or the Israelis.
But they're not. They ARE an entire community in Lebanon. How do you take them on?

There's a big distinction there.

And make no mistake. You're going to have to take them on by force (which was my first point in this comment). It's very nice to WISH for them to abide by the constitution. And tell them to head to parliament if they want to change the system. but what if they keep refusing (as they have done so far) to live under the laws of the land, or to head to parliament? You have no way of FORCING them to do that (unless you point a gun to their heads, which again, means we're back to FORCE).

[JoseyWales]

What is the current Saniora-M14 plan?

I mean other than blabbing non-sense and waiting for a solution to fall in their lap?

They are unable to take even the smallest of steps, forget fighting Hezbo or cutting electricity to Dahieh.

I have argued a million times, you cannot take on Hezbo if you won't start by taking on FOREIGN teenagers shooting at the army, or a bodyguard type shooting in the air.

You can't have rule of law if your judges are threatened and you do nothing, and Rana Koleilate is still running free with no serious attempt to extradite her, and when suspect Jamil Sayyed is running a better PR operation than the gvmnt, out of his jail cell.

[Sayyed boldly attacks the gvmnt daily via his lawyers and press agent. What mssg does this send to anyone thinking of testifying in the Hariri case, or to investigators/judges, when it looks like Sayyed is riding high and you start suspecting he will be back in power soon???]

You need a plan, and small gradual steps to build up confidence, impress, and start swaying PEOPLE (Shia and others) to your side.

PS Re partition, it can be used as a tool rather than an end, I'll try to post on that some other time (though I am bound to take a very long break very soon).

[Bad Vilbel]

I think we're all bound to take a very long break very soon. :)

[ramzim]

The idea of "spliting" the country is part of the zionist scheme to weaken the resistance ... and the American plan to transform Lebanon into Irak so that they can bring in more troops. Come on guys, where were you the last couple of years? I also think that if gvt + M14 decide on this, HIZ might have a good reason to use its weapons against the entities that want to destroy "Lebanon".

[JoseyWales]

About the laughable Saniora gvmnt. and all this bla bla bla about the rule of law:

Notice that it's ONLY when Jumblatt (not a gov or security official) blows the whistle on the breaches at the airport that we get a semblance of "motion" (NOT action) from Milquefuck Saniora. Saniora was still, yesterday, blabbing about good relations with Syria, electing a prez, reviving institutions etc. No word on how.

Ramzim: The "entities that want to destroy "Lebanon" have already destroyed your little brain.

[ramzim]

man your tense. I was being ironic dude. Dont be stiff, chill.

[Bad Vilbel]

So, today's confirmation on the airport security issue pretty much proves my argument above. The government does not have a clue. And the argument that we can't "confront" these guys with force makes less and less sense to me every day.