LEBANON, SYRIA, HEZBOLLAH (Massive anti-Syrian demonstrations in Lebanon today.)

Walid Phares via NRO Corner ^ | 3/14/05 | Walid Phares

[BCrago66]

Looks like these demonstrations will dwarf Hizbollah's pro-Syria demonstration, even when the later used bused-in Syrians to plump up the numbers.

[BCrago66]

Here's PubliusPundit's (who's also a FReeper) round-up of events in Lebanon: http://www.publiuspundit.com/?p=658

[Izzy Dunne]

It is now 4:30 PM Beirut time.

[yeetch!]

Let's see the results. This story is written in the future tense.

[SoFloFreeper]

Hey Hizbollah!

[SavedAndForgiven]

I just turned on cnn international and it was HUGE CROWDS , LIKE THE Pro syrian demo last week

[Pikamax]

Lebanese opposition protestors wave national flags and portraits of slain former Premier Rafik Hariri in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday March 14, 2005. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese answered an opposition call for a massive protest to demand a full Syrian troop withdrawal, resignations of security chiefs and an international investigation into the death of Hariri. (AP Photo)
General view of the hundreds of thousands of opposition protestors some holding national flags in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday March 14, 2005. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese answered an opposition call for a massive protest to demand a full Syrian troop withdrawal, resignations of security chiefs and an international investigation into the death of former Premier Rafik Hariri. (AP Photo)
Lebanese opposition protestors wave national flags and portraits of slain former Premier Rafik Hariri in central of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday March 14, 2005. Many thousands of flag-waving Lebanese answered an opposition call for a massive protest to demand a full Syrian troop withdrawal, resignations of security chiefs and an international investigation into the death of Hariri. (AP Photo)

[SoFloFreeper]

Nice to see.

[pgyanke]

Wonderful! Apparently, though, not interesting enough for the big media outlets. This thread is the first I've seen on the subject so far today.

Truly sad.

[marvlus]

My GOD!! It is amazing to see so many people in one place like this!

[cdrw]

I feel so much better now. This is being reported as the largest gathering in Lebanese history; precisely where one would expect liberty to stand on the pecking order.

[llama hunter]

wow what a truly beautiful sight!!

Go pro democratic Lebanese go!

nice start to the week

[Flyer]

Never misunderestimate stratagery.

[BCrago66]

Well I usually skip the American MSM and get my news from Ireland Online which now runs a headline: "800,000 Lebanese rally to protest against Syria."

http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=136701368&p=y367xzx74&n=136702128

Also, Radio Free Europe: "Over Half-Million At Anti-Syria Rallies In Beirut"

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/03/db5391e2-8136-4888-ae82-03dc392a2f7f.html

[pgyanke]

I get most of my news here... that's why I'm informed. I'm sad for the rest of our population who rely on the dinosaur media. The Syrian counter-demonstration was all over every news channel for hours... not a peep yet on Fox News about this forceful response since I've been watching this morning.

[McGavin999]

I hope someone is planning on protecting the pro-Sistani Shiia from Hizbollah. It's wonderful and exceedingly brave of them to take this stand, Hizbollah will not be kind to them.

[BCrago66]

Guns are important for liberty, and not just in America. Hizbollah is the only armed millitia in Lebanon, which actually increases the chance of civil war, because it increases the chance that Hizbollah will think it can get away with repressing the liberty movement. Not so if there was a parity of arms.

[jayef]

1.3 million strong!!!!

SYRIA OUT!!!!

[Robert Mayer]

I'm watching the livestream right now. This is awesome.

For everyone else, the best news sources to be watching right now (besides myself!) are lebanonwire.com and naharnet.com

[BCrago66]

Remember, there only around 3.8 people in Lebanon; see the CIA factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/le.html

So taking some of these figures of the turnout today, and assuming there's 300 million people in America, imagine if we had a turnout of similar proportions in a demonstration:

500,000 = 39 million.

800,000 = 63 million.

1.3 million = 103 million.