Lebanese cabinet to crack down on Hizbullah spy network

In an unprecedented decision, the Lebanese cabinet ordered the dismissal of the pro-Hizbullah airport security chief from his post, and instructed security forces to dismantle Hizbullah'™s "illegal"€ communications network and prosecute those involved in setting it up.

The decision followed reports that Hizbullah had installed cameras monitoring officials flying in and out of the airport. Hizbullah (and even their buddy, Michel Aoun) justified the existence of its illegal communications network as part of its "resistance"€ against Israel.

Prior to the cabinet meeting, which lasted 8 hours, Nabih Berri relayed a threat to Fouad Siniora from Hassan Nasrallah, warning the cabinet not to remove Wafiq Choukair, the airport security chief who reports to Hizbullah and who covered up for Hizbullah's camera installation. Hizbullah has also warned the Lebanese government that it will "€œresist"€ any attempt to dismantle the network.

Hizbullah has warned the Lebanese government against "playing with fire" and vowed "tough resistance" against anybody who stands in its way.

"Hizbullah will deal with those who interfere with the network as if they were Israeli spies" and warned that "they will face a ferocious resistance," Hizbullah's deputy chief Sheik Naim Qassem said Monday.

Qassem stressed that the network was "identical" to Hizbullah arms and "part of its security." (Naharnet)

Hizbullah is expected to respond tomorrow during a planned demonstration by the pro-Hizbullah labor unions. Hizbullah ally Michel Aoun has already called for toppling the government during the street demos. Hizbullah is reportedly planning road blocks and riots similar to Black Tuesday's, which led to sectarian clashes.

The labor unions are demanding an increase in wages, among other things. The cabinet raised it to a meager 500,000 L.L., and said it cannot increase it beyond that due to the economic situation. Hizbullah and pro-Syrian parties are occupying downtown Beirut and preventing parliament from passing economic reforms and electing a president. Hundreds of businesses have shut down as a result.

Comments

[danny]

When are people going to realize that Shia is HA in Lebanon? When Qabalan and Fadlallah (the Shia religious leaders) constantly praise HA and consider it untouchable; when Qabalan praised the lackey Walid Shoukair as a great patriot...what do you think is going to happen? Shoukair will not leave his post and challenge the government to remove him. I can envision a Shoukai visit to Berri and Qabalan SOON. Same crap happened with Jazzini a while back!!
The Thread keeps unraveling…What next is untouchable? Now we have a terrorist organization-HA- under the BS of national party that receives money from Iran (no accountability and taxes paid here), receives guns; has pasdaran training troops; has hospitals and other ‘social” network; etc..etc…They have a state! Time’s up to challenge them to call it what is and stop this outrageous “dance” around the issue.
As for tomorrow anything could be expected! I'll send in the Military Police and evict Shoukair and immediately appoint his successor...Put the Hizb on notice by LEGAL means!! The guy disobeyed the LEGAL authorities! Justified dismissal! CHALLENGE HA to live up to their crap rhetoric...I think the ISF and LAF have enough trained units to contain HA on the local front! HA (Iran) have be stupid to trigger anything bloody. They are afraid that's the excuse the USA/USA/Egypt are looking for to "help" the LEGAL government with explicit military assistance. Iran cannot and will not endanger HA's existence over 2km (trust me they will not move more) meters of cables or a few cameras...

[Solomon2]

I agree with danny: Shoukair will stay in his job AND airport workers will continue to obey his orders until he is forcibly removed. Anything Hezbollah is an extension of the Iranian military, hence removing any Hezb installation (unless it is to be moved to s superior position) requires force or the threat of force, as such an act challenges Hezbollah to its very core:

"Hizbullah will deal with those who interfere with the network as if they were Israeli spies" and warned that "they will face a ferocious resistance," Hizbullah's deputy chief Sheik Naim Qassem said Monday.
http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&89303FF4440360C6C22574410024D0A9

I can think of only one way to undermine such an argument.

[AK]

Danny: "When are people going to realize that Shia is HA in Lebanon?"

Chill out Danny.

[Charlie]

The Government’s decision is an interesting development, but as others have pointed what will be significant is how they go about enforcing it. If they follow through and play hardball with HA and Berri, and by extension Iran and Syria, then look for a hot summer not just in Lebanon but all the way to Iraq and parts of Iran. As I pointed in an earlier comment on a previous post, HA has placed themselves in the same boat as the Mahdi Army in Iraq and the efforts have been underway to size these guys down, so congrats to HA and Nasrallah, they have succeeded in moving themselves up the target list.

[danny]

AK,
Please do not get me the wrong way...Currently 100% of Shia residing in the state of Hizbastan have no FREEDOM OR OPTIONS to chose as they wish!! That's my reference, do not take it the wrong way. If freedom were to be given to people to chose without the coersion or threats of death and violence I am certain that majority of people in Lebanon irrespective of their sects or faith/religion will chose politicians and parties other than the existing fatass fatcats!!

[Bad Vilbel]

Let's see how far this goes. A good first step, but enforcing it will be a whole different matter, and I, for one, am curious to see if the government actually has the balls to follow through, specially after HA threatened to "deal with anyone who touches the telecom network or Gen. Shuqueir as if they were Israeli spies".

And hopefully, the government can now carry on with this and fire and replace several other individuals that need firing for their incompetence and utter disloyalty.

[Jay]

HA as a terrorist entity will not resort to direct confrontation to fulfill their threats. They would rely on typical terrorist warfare: car explosions, assassinations, fear, chaos, etc. Let's hope and pray this government, M14 and the "true" Lebanese at large have the backbone to withstand and defeat these demonic forces..

[Battal Agha]

I don't know... I heard that PM Siniora has filed a complaint with the Arab League against HA, Iran and Syria. If that is the way the Government chooses to go, then, let us not hold our breath... Nothing will happen. What is needed is a resolute action from the Legal authorities against HA. It will take what it needs, but I really believe it is time to say ENOUGH... This has gone too far...

[Vox P.]

I'll believe it when I'll see it. Jezzine has been 'dismissed' more than one year ago, but he still shows up to work every day.

[danny]

Vox P.

jezzini was dismissed, however after Berri's "mediation" he was reinstated supposedly after he appologized to the minister...

[let's see]

So, now, to show "true determination", the gov. will ask berri/ha to appoint the new airport guy.

Let's hope not...

[Andre]

All of this is a farce. Hizb knows that their actions would bring about a reaction from the governemnt and they are not concerned whatsoever. They will whine and complain then send people in the streets, promote riots and public disorder in order to intimidate the government which eventually will have to deal with this reality and back down as they have done previously. The problem is that if the legal authorities ever tried to enforce the law, they will have to shoot at civilians (thugs disguised as innocent bystanders) and this will cause public indignation hich will bring things back to square one. let's face it, if the past is any indication, this thing will blow over in a few weeks. It's just deja vu all over again, unless the army and ISF have committed themselves to go all the way which is doubtful. It's just another Hizb game of "come and get me if you can!"

[Bad Vilbel]

Andre,

Correct.

This is why I said in an earlier debate that the only way to take on HA (short of some kind of unilateraly partition scheme) is to be willing to act as an INVADING force (which means you've got to be willing to subjugate a hostile pseudo-civilian population). The armed forces are going to have to be willing to take on the public indignation and the civilian deaths if need be.
Not that I'm advocating that course, but I truly believe that's the "price" they'll have to pay to be able to root out HA. There is simply no "clean" way to remove this cancer, it's spread to far too many organs, so to speak.

[Solomon2]

It's started. Burning piles of tires to block roads is a big help when you don't have numbers on your side. Almost the first thing the "protesters" did was block access to the airport: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080507/wl_nm/lebanon_strike_roads_dc_1;_ylt=AtvBWt_AhJXbW489KApUqKDagGIB

[Bad Vilbel]

So much for "peaceful demonstrations".

Naharnet reports protesters smashing shop windows in one area, and throwing a grenade at army in another incident.

I'm sorry, but I have no tolerance for this crap. This is when I expect the government, or the army command to announce a curfew/martial law. Something to the effect of: "You wanna protest in peace, fine. But the moment you smash windows and throw grenades at people, you've just forfeited all your rights of free assembly. Thuggery will not be tolerated."

[JoseyWales]

In the current state of things:

STEP ONE: NO DEMOS, YOU WILL BE SHOT WHOMEVER YOU ARE.

STEP TWO: Have something to say? Go to parliament and/or send 50 of your guys with signs and a camera, and they can yell for 2 hours in a specific place, cordoned off by 200 policemen.

STEP THREE: Get political/economic/religious leaders to sign off on this, in a very visible and public and verifiable way.

[marillinlb]

Yes the Army and the ISF should apply the law regardless; but they wont. The CGTL called off the demonstration for lack of turnout but still many roads are blocked by militia thugs.
Michel Suleiman should be relieved of his post.
The government should have given very strict orders to keep all roads clear by any means necessary (especially the pot and airport).
HA should be banned (just like LF was).
TV stations inciting chaos should see their licenses revoked...etc,
Do not hold your breath for none of the above will never happen.
Even if Shoukair will agree to leave his post, he will only be replaced by another Syrian/Iranian/hezbo stooge.
The government will never follow up on this vain cleaning attempt.
No president will be elected anytime soon.
The Lebanese longing for freedom, democracy, sovereignty....etc will never lift a finger to achieve any of their aspirations.
History will keep on repeating itself, until Lebanon will cease to exist.