[West Coast Conservative]

Clashes break out between Sunnis, Shiites in Beirut; one killed

[zarf]

Iran is making their move.

War is the answer, but don't tell the UN.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Where do the Christians in Lebanon figure in all of this?

[johnny7]

Egad... a civil war... the worst of all evils according to the DBM.

[Normal4me]

What a shame....I had such hope for that part of the world. /sarc

[NYer]

AFP - Sun Dec 3, 3:30 PM ET A Lebanese flag flutters over opposition protesters gathering in downtown Beirut. Lebanon's political rift deepened on the third day of a protest led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Christian opposition supporters, with the Western-backed government vowing to resist calls to resign.(AFP/Patrick Baz)

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May our Lord grant peace in this land where He walked and may our Lady of Lebanon shield and protect all christians with her mantle.

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[sgtbono2002]

Lebanon should make a deal with Israel to come in and help them throw Hizballah out. I am sure Israel would gladly help and then be happy to move back out of there when the fighting is done.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Following the November election, we can expect to see Iran ratchet up the pressure throughout the Middle East, from backing the Shiites in Iraq in battle with the Sunni's, with the objective of fracturing Iraq and gaining control of the oil-rich central and southern regions, and backing Hezbollah in its effort to gain control of Lebanon.

They will continue deployment of offensive weapons systems, advanced defense systems (courtesy of Russia, France, and China), and, inevitably, nukes, and will advance their plan for using Syria and Lebanon (Hizbollah) to harass and eventually destroy Israel.

With Saudi Arabia oil-rich but otherwise relatively weak, they can cajole them into a "mutual defense" pact, funded with petrodollars and supplied by Russia, China, France, and Germany. Once this has been accomplished, they will be able to tell us to jump, and we will meekly ask "How high, Boss?".

[Jezebelle]

At this point, this is actually good news.

[AdvisorB]

I think the Axis powers (Syria, Iran, et al) have been emboldened by the electoral success of the American left. They smell weakness, appeasement, and lack of resolve, but they will be in for a rude awakening if they chose a frontal assault against America while W is Commander-in-Chief.

[Lessismore]

Man killed in Beirut clashes

Demonstrators include supporters of both Christian and Muslim parties

A man has been killed in clashes between rival groups in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, as supporters of the Hezbollah-led opposition alliance continue to protest against the Lebanese government.

The man, a Shia Muslim, died after being shot in the Tarik Jdideh area of west Beirut. It was not clear where the gunfire came from, witnesses said.

The clash is understood to have occurred as some Hezbollah supporters passed through the Sunni district on their way home from the sit-in protests.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported that the several other skirmishes between rival protesters were quickly put down by security forces.

[elhombrelibre]

Frankly, and with no satisfaction, I've expected this for a long time. I expected it shortly after the IDF invasion. I was wrong then. I thought the rest of Lebanon would fall on the instigators of that war, which was obviously Hizbollah. Now we see it's not going to be a revenge by the rest of the nation as much as it's going to be a coup by the pro-Iran/pro-Syria proxies, Hizbollah. Good thing the UN is there, eh? Sad, but this may lead to a first victory over Hizbollah if the US and the Israelis stand by Democracy in Lebanon. Bring the hammer down on Damascus and make Assad pay for the evil he's inflicted in Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel. This dirty-necked dictator has aided those who kill Americans in Iraq. Wake up, America! Do not let the future belong to Fredo Assad.

[omega4412]

Note to American voters: Elections have consequences.

[bill1952]

Don't worry about it. - The French are there.

[jveritas]

Hizballah terrorist group believes that they can win this civil war rather quickly because they are the only armed group in Lebanon and because they have Syria next door supporting them with weapons and fighters, and of course with the great support and financing of Iran.

[Mike Darancette]

How long will the Saudis allow this to go on? Where do the Christians stand?

[Mariner]

What do the numbers, arms and training look like? I believe the Sunni and the Christians/Druze would align against Hizbullah.

[attiladhun2]

High Tensions between Sunni and Hizballah in Lebanon. Civil War may be imminent.

Not until Spring. People in this region do not like the cold or rain. I predict that full-scale war will not break out until the weather warms up.

[hosepipe]

Grooovey.. a smart CIA Section Chief? would make the Sunnis think the Shiites were in league with the CIA, and make the Shiites think the Sunnis were in league with the CIA..

They would Not believe the denials because they BOTH LIE and they both know they both lie.. Check.. in the chess war on terror.. Divide and conquer has always worked.. You know like in Washington D.C.. Should work with the democrats too..

[capitalist229]

True capitalists always capitalize on success.

That's why we should expand out of Iraq and build an entire chain of Roach Motels throughout the ME.

Everybody knows that our customer services can't be beat.

Our Arab customers can't get enough of them so we should try to meet the increasing demand.

BUMP