On a sidenote, yesterday while in Orlando, I bought Mr.Gerges new book, "Journey of the Jihadist," a book I'm taking back to the book store this week. I guess Fawaz Gerges is the David Gergen of the middle east, in other words a sanctimonious idiot.
Posted on 08/06/2006 8:53:55 AM PDT by mojito
There is a misunderstanding in Israel and the United States that Israel can militarily rid Lebanon of Hezbollah, or the Party of God.
In the first place, Hezbollah is not just a militia or a conventional army, but a social and political movement deeply rooted in its society, with a big constituency within the Lebanese Shia community that comprises about 40 percent of the country's 4 million people. Hezbollah has a welfare system that provides schools, clinics, day-care centers and jobs to hundreds of thousands of poor Shia. Hezbollah provides the Shia community, historically disadvantaged and marginalized in Lebanon, with a sense of identity and pride.
Second, Hezbollah is falsely portrayed as a rotten tooth that can easily be plucked out - a terrorist organization that must be wiped out. In fact, it is one of the most pivotal political players on the Lebanese landscape. More than a million men and women vote for its candidates in elections. It has two ministers in the Cabinet, 14 seats in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament and a large base of support in Lebanon and the Muslim world.
Third, since the early 1980s Hezbollah has proved itself on the battlefield against Israeli military might. By 2000 it forced Israel to withdraw under fire from a small strip of land in southern Lebanon. This time, more than three weeks into the fighting, Hezbollah is proving resilient.
It is naive for President George W. Bush to view Lebanon as just another front in the war on terror. The root causes of the Israeli-Hezbollah confrontation lie in the unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict and stalled peace process. And it is unrealistic for Israel to think that it can destroy Hezbollah for good.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Yeah, and those schools and clinics and day-care centers also house weapons.
The Taliban was just a bookclub too
"Hezbollah has a welfare system that provides schools, clinics, day-care centers and jobs to hundreds of thousands of poor Shia"
Not a murderous hate-filled bunch of jew-hating terrorists.
Just a nice bunch of people: oh the day care centers! do they have universal health care!
Why, I never dreamed the HizzyBaloos were doing so much good! I may have to change my hardened heart towards them. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that all of those hospitals and schools and day-care centers just happened to built on top of ammunition bunkers.
It is folly to dismiss this and focus rather upon a sound-byte dismissing them as simple terrorists. The situation is far more complex - they're terrorists with really good PR amongst their fellow citizens.
The Germans needed jobs and entertainment too. That problem was fixed by making their work their national sport.
Hard to believe the press allows the government of Lebanon to disavow any responsibility for the attacks on Israel. When Hezbollah is a significant part of the government and they attack Israel then it's Lebanon attacking Israel.
Instead all we hear is how Israel is punishing all the poor Lebanese. Heck I feel sorry for the women and children, but they have supported the war preparations of Hezbollah and now they're suffering the consequences.
Don't mess with the big dog if you don't want bitten.
On a sidenote, yesterday while in Orlando, I bought Mr.Gerges new book, "Journey of the Jihadist," a book I'm taking back to the book store this week. I guess Fawaz Gerges is the David Gergen of the middle east, in other words a sanctimonious idiot.
They probably are endorsed by Patty Murry.
The only reason this guy may confuse so many people is we're still at the stage where the MSM and the Baghdad Bob's of this war can fool people. That's going to get harder as this war moves forward.
"... In fact, it is one of the most pivotal political players on the Lebanese landscape. More than a million men and women vote for its candidates in elections. It has two ministers in the Cabinet, 14 seats in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament and a large base of support in Lebanon and the Muslim world."
Really. Then they can be held to Geneva Conventions. And they have committed war crimes. They also started this war.
And they made the trains run on time, revitalized the German economy. Many Germans elected Nazis because of these accomplishments, rather than the evils they became subsequently known for.
One must always realize that extremists and demogogues appeal to a less extreme population when they promise - and can fulfill - accomplishments that the establishment is unwilling or unable to provide.
The purpose of Hezbollah is to wage jihad against the state of Israel until Israel is destroyed.
Not entirely - more to completely force Israel out of Lebanese territory.
To me, that's a terrorist organization.
That may be true - but non-terrorist support for Hizbollah cannot be discounted.
This type of stuff happens all the time with social service agencies. Why should Hezbollah be any different?
The Mafia cares about one's health enough to issue insurance to them, too. "You wanna remain healthy now, doncha..."
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
Mental illness is a common trait of those who hate freedom.
Patty Murrayesque
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