Maybe some Eur-inals in France will see this picture, and understand
American values and the price people in the Mid-East and America are
willing to pay for freedom.
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
Posted on 03/02/2005 6:48:36 AM PST by Eurotwit
BEIRUT: In defiance of an official ban against demonstrations and an orchestrated attempt to block highways leading to the capital, tens of thousands of people converged on Martyrs' Square in Downtown Beirut on Monday, many of whom had been there for the entire night.
"They said they will prevent people from protesting as of Monday 5 a.m.," said Adnan Zaghlouli on Sunday evening. "We gathered from tonight to join tomorrow's protest."
Zaghlouli and his friends' left Tripoli on Sunday afternoon after hearing Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh's statement calling on the Internal Security Forces "to take all necessary steps to preserve security and order and prevent demonstrations and gatherings on Monday."
As soldiers manning barriers in central Beirut prevented hundreds of protesters from getting into the square, those already inside quickly came to their aid. Gathering in groups of 50, 60 and sometimes 100, demonstrators distracted discretely cooperative soldiers by rushing them in a staged fury, while those on the outside snuck in.
Mario Saad, 18, said: "Today we are calling for the government's resignation. Even, if the parliamentary procedures fail, the people have made their choice; they want a government free of foreign influence."
At around 11:30 p.m., the highway from Jounieh leading to the capital was blocked by a convoy of Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement supporters with more than 200 cars headed to the protest.
"We are all together here to say that we have had it," said Myriam Khoury and Danielle Kattar, both 24.
Kattar added: "We came here to express our opinion, and no one can intimidate
us anymore."
Khoury said: "We have had enough of being governed by incompetent people. We deserve to be represented by a new political class that stands for us."
Former Finance Minister and MP Fouad Siniora, a member of Hariri's Beirut Dignity Bloc, was visibly impressed by the scene unfolding before him in Martyrs' Square.
He said: "Hariri has for the first time united the country; he has created a base."
Opposition MP Nayla Mouawad drew thundering cheers from the gathered demonstrators Sunday night when she announced that three ministers had resigned form the government. Even though she later withdrew her statement, the crowd's enthusiasm was not affected.
Sarkis Doueihi, a member of the Bristol opposition gathering from Zghorta, said: "It is my first time to participate in a demonstration. Although it does not really look like a demonstration, it is a clear call for freedom. I am actually seeing today what I have learnt in books about the 1943 independence."
Shortly before 5 a.m. Monday, people were already up and organized, shouting slogans of freedom, sovereignty and independence.
"Al-Hamdulillah (Thank God) we are re-writing history," said Hassan Abu-Ali, 79, who came all the way from Aramoun, in Mount Lebanon.
"I will finally see my country free before I die."
For those who couldn't make it Downtown on Monday, Lebanon's congested coastal highway evolved into a motorized forum for anti-government protesters who waved Lebanese flags and chanted anti-Syrian slogans in the midst of bumper-to-bumper traffic.
As far away as Dbayye, some 15 kilometers from the capital, thousands of vehicles thronged the streets, undeterred by the government's efforts to choke off traffic by setting up a string of intimidating checkpoints.
The ensuing gridlock
was massive even by Leban-
ese standards.
But if the plan was to minimize the volume of demonstrators, it may well have backfired.
Rather than turn around, motorists and passengers seemed bent on making their voices heard; forming a singular line of protest that snaked along the coastline.
In Dora, on the outskirts of Beirut, many left their cars behind and marched through the center of the freeway traffic sprawl. Young men and women wearing colorful bandanas waved oversized Lebanese flags and shouted anti-Syrian profanities as machine-gun-toting police and soldiers looked on.
In Martyrs' Square a week before, during the first protest held after Hariri's assassination, a sea of flags for different political parties marked
the demonstration. Monday's protest was dramatically different; it raised only one flag: that of Lebanon.
----------- This is good.
This is excellent.
Let's hope things keep spreading.
The critical time is coming. I hope we are ready to take action and not let these brave men and women die like at Tienanmen Square.
Your liberal friend has his head in the sand like all of the other liberals I know.
YOu look at those kids and the way they are dressed, and what their signs say, and you know they feel a bond with us, one that I feel in return. We CAN'T let these people down.
My Favorite Lebanese character? Corporal Max Klinger form M*A*S*H*. "I'm Lebanese! I'm full of the juices of life!"
I can't even argue with the libbers any more because I can't come right out and say to them that the fact that they are openly liberal means they openly embrace evil in my opinion. Unless I want to get in a fight.
Very hopeful....Thanks!
Mine? Danny Thomas, who really was Lebanese, bless his heart.
One way is to use them. May be the only way.
former Argentine President Menem.......
His parents were Muslim, not Christian
"Carrying American flags lets the Syrians know that if they try to crack down on their movement, GWB will use that as an excuse for attacking Syria."
Everyone believes that Bush is looking for some more ass-to-kick if the Lebanese can harness this fear to gain protection for their freedom movement - GREAT! more power to them. I not sure if we would protect Lebanon from Syria, but right now the dictators in the Mid-East are scared to death and the people are starting to believe they too can have the freedom given to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
Nahh.. Too messy. They probably have been trying to sanitize them so as not to implicate France Germany and Russia.
I would bet that in this world of diplomacy, it is easier for Bush to take the rap about no WMD then to show the world that Saddam moved them to Syria and they are of French origin.
Our country really needs a two party system and finding the WMD would leave us with Republicans and ? because the Democrat party would be destroyed.
They are the wild card 14% of the Syrian parliament and they won't let Lebanon go quietly into the night without bloodshed.
BUMP
"former Argentine President Menem.......
His parents were Muslim, not Christian"
Who's Danny Thomas? Is he related to Helen Thomas?
..just when the pic. were gettin' interesting...you give us a very cold shower. :^)..Lebanon, for the Lebanese
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.