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'No one can intimidate us anymore' (Some great pictures from Lebanon)
Daily Star ^ | Tuesday, March 01, 2005 | By Linda Dahdah and Habib Battah

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.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: lebanon; uprising
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To: PigRigger
This picture says a lot about America's new policy of freedom.
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


61 posted on 03/02/2005 12:34:51 PM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com (The 51st state is right around the corner.)
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To: Howlin
Bill Kristol was just on Fox; he is in Rome today and he said that the pictures are EVERYWHERE in Europe; he said you can't walk past a newspaper stand without seeing them and that they are on TV.

----------- This is good.

This is excellent.

Let's hope things keep spreading.

62 posted on 03/02/2005 12:46:39 PM PST by beyond the sea (Barbara Boxer is Barbra Streisand on peyote .....)
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To: JeffersonRepublic.com
One would think so if they didn't use clouded judgement. I sent similar comments to a liberal aquaintence of mine, here is his respons:

"You are correct that the "Cry for Freedom in LEBANON" (the pictures below are from Lebanon), does not have much to do the WOT or the freedom that has been planted in Iraq. Rather this is a reaction to Syria's assignation of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon who recently called for the removal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Bear in mind that Syria was supposed to withdraw its troops over a decade ago, but they are still occupying parts of Lebanon. Hopefully, with the growing freedom movement in Lebanon and increased pressure from other Arab states, Syria will finally do what it promised to do and leave Lebanon.

However, I think the Lebanese are more inspired by their hatred of Syrian meddling in their affairs (including assignations) than what is going on in Iraq. 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. "


Syria has occupied Lebanon for decades, yet they never decided to take a stand until today. Still, he cannot see a connection....sad really.
63 posted on 03/02/2005 12:51:10 PM PST by PigRigger (Send donations to http://www.AdoptAPlatoon.org)
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To: Eurotwit

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.


64 posted on 03/02/2005 1:00:56 PM PST by johnb838 (Need some wood? "You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce")
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To: PigRigger

Your liberal friend has his head in the sand like all of the other liberals I know.


65 posted on 03/02/2005 1:03:38 PM PST by kempo
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To: PigRigger

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.


66 posted on 03/02/2005 1:09:14 PM PST by johnb838 (Need some wood? "You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce")
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To: AuH2ORepublican

My Favorite Lebanese character? Corporal Max Klinger form M*A*S*H*. "I'm Lebanese! I'm full of the juices of life!"


67 posted on 03/02/2005 1:10:48 PM PST by johnb838 (Need some wood? "You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce")
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To: kempo

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.


68 posted on 03/02/2005 1:12:08 PM PST by johnb838 (Need some wood? "You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce")
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To: johnb838
It is their moment to act; freedom is at their doorstep. Many may be sacrificed to obtain it, but it is theirs if they are willing to pay the steep price it will cost.

We are seeing the reshaping of a region and possibly a culture. More has changed in that region over the last five years than in the previous thirty.

We are witnessing incredibly historical moments.....one's that will reshape the world for decades to come.
69 posted on 03/02/2005 1:26:33 PM PST by PigRigger (Send donations to http://www.AdoptAPlatoon.org)
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To: NYURepublican
Absolutely AWESOME post!

Very hopeful....Thanks!

70 posted on 03/02/2005 1:33:42 PM PST by FixitGuy
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To: johnb838

Mine? Danny Thomas, who really was Lebanese, bless his heart.


71 posted on 03/02/2005 4:30:41 PM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion (Click on my name to see what readers have said about my Christian novels!)
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To: EQAndyBuzz
"I think Syria now has to figure out how to get the WMD out of the Bekaa valley."

One way is to use them. May be the only way.

72 posted on 03/02/2005 6:00:53 PM PST by SteveMcKing
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To: AuH2ORepublican

former Argentine President Menem.......

His parents were Muslim, not Christian


73 posted on 03/02/2005 6:06:56 PM PST by dennisw (Seeing as how this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world .........)
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To: PigRigger

"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


74 posted on 03/02/2005 6:10:50 PM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com (The 51st state is right around the corner.)
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To: SteveMcKing

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.


75 posted on 03/03/2005 2:41:10 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (60 votes and the world changes.)
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To: Eurotwit
Watch Hezbollah.

They are the wild card 14% of the Syrian parliament and they won't let Lebanon go quietly into the night without bloodshed.


BUMP

76 posted on 03/03/2005 2:46:30 AM PST by tm22721
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To: dennisw

"former Argentine President Menem.......

His parents were Muslim, not Christian"



Really? I didn't know that. He must have converted to Catholicism later in life, though, since the Argentine constitution actually forbids non-Catholics from becoming President.


77 posted on 03/03/2005 6:49:45 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.)
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion

Who's Danny Thomas? Is he related to Helen Thomas?


78 posted on 03/03/2005 12:59:04 PM PST by johnb838 ("You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce" Need some wood?)
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To: smith288
I take issue with that blanket statement....

..just when the pic. were gettin' interesting...you give us a very cold shower. :^)..Lebanon, for the Lebanese

79 posted on 03/05/2005 6:37:33 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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