Hezbollah Forces Collapse of Lebanese Government

New York Times ^ | January 12, 2011 | Nadi Bakri

[lbryce]

Hezbollah and its allies forced the collapse of the government here on Wednesday, deepening a crisis over a United Nations-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of a former prime minister.

Eleven of the cabinet’s 30 ministers announced their resignations, a move that dissolves the government. They said they were prompted to act by the cabinet’s refusal to convene an emergency session to oppose the tribunal, which is expected to indict members of Hezbollah.

Ten of the ministers announced their resignations just as Prime Minister Saad Hariri was meeting with President Obama in Washington. The opposition had hoped that all 11 ministers would resign together, to bring down the government at that time and expose Mr. Hariri to the maximum embarrassment.

But the 11th minister, Adnan Sayed Hussein, announced his resignation in a statement later in the evening, the National News Agency reported, after the meeting in Washington was over.

The collapse of the fragile government is the worst crisis in Lebanon since 2008, when an agreement reached in Qatar achieved a truce to end sectarian clashes that killed 81 people and brought Lebanon to the brink of a renewal of its 15-year civil war, which ended in 1990.

“We were committed but they were not,” said Ammar Houri, a lawmaker with Mr. Hariri’s bloc. He added that Mr. Hariri’s allies were meeting to decide the next step.

Hezbollah and its foes have wrestled over the direction of the small Mediterranean country since the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, was killed in a bombing along Beirut’s seafront in 2005. Twenty-two other people died in the attack. Since then, the tribunal has investigated his death and is now widely expected to indict members of Hezbollah, the country’s powerful Shiite Muslim movement.

[lbryce]

Add this to the list of 10,000 reasons why the Mad Mullahs of Mayhem must join Khomeini in hell.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Another blow against Bush’s old policy of co-opting bad guys into the political process.

[Marty62]

Hummm, wonder if the Israel hating Soros had anything to do with THIS.
I know, but I am only half kidding.

[DoughtyOne]

The government of Lebanon should beg Israel to come in and clean house militarily. Then it should remain an ally to Israel in perpetuity.

It’s been my thought that Lebanon has had a death wish for the last twenty years or so.

Syria operates it much like a sock puppet. How’s that working out Lebanon?

[Hardraade]

Meeting with Obama? Didn’t the Shah and Carter teach them *anything* about American islamist presidents??

[DoughtyOne]

“If you’re a terrorist, we’re coming for you...”

Unless you’re on the West Bank or Gaza, in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, or Iran. Other than that, we’re coming for you, unless you are in Asia or Africa...

Yeah, Bush really declared war on terrorism. I know that’s a bit harsh, but you are right when you address the issue of incorporating bad guys in resolutions.

That only works if the bad guys truly want it to. In most instances they see it for what it is, an excellent way to attain goals.

[Rebelbase]

Chaos in Lebanon. This must be Wednesday.

[lbryce]

We shouldn't complain. The weekend may never come. :-{

[alexbg]

I feel sorry for all the Christians in Lebanon, what did they do to deserve to be born in such a hell-hole...

[Venturer]

If they had Hazballah in their government, it couldnt have been much of a government anyway.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It’s been my thought that Lebanon has had a death wish for the last twenty years or so."

Twenty years, try thirty five. Their civil war went from 1975 - 1990. The last 20 years have been marked by periods of stability and instability. It's taken a long time for them to rebuild their country from an extremely long civil war. And there's still a lot of tensions within the different groups and outside influences.

[jda]

Fyi - Iran is waiting in the wings to swoop into Lebanon on a white horse to “save the day”. Not at all a good sign for Israel or anyone else in the region.

[Gabrial]

On the BBC today they had some “experts” saying the biggest fear right now is the break out of fighting between the Shia Muslims and the Sunni Muslims.

Without an effective government, they are not sure who would step in to stop it.

[aces]

Can’t read God’s mind but am sure He has reasons..Islam sucks so bad...

[huldah1776]

since we are off topic, what is a dual covenant?

[Locomotive Breath]

It really started in 70-71 with the so-called “Black September”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_September_in_Jordan

Jordan kicked out the Palestinians and Lebanon took them in. They immediately proceeded to destroy Lebanon.