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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hezbollah and the art of the possible
2006-07-19
A very different view as you might expect by a Syrian writer in Damascus. It's very long and I haven't snipped it, instead putting it on page 49, because he develops an interesting idea. I think he's seriously wrong, but it's worth reading if only to see what's wrong with it. The thesis: a Shi'a state in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah forced to be responsible, would lead to peace, and Israel must talk with Hezbollah to achieve this. I think that's as likely as Hamas becoming responsible for Gaza. The writer also thinks that Israel must moderate it's demands. I think this is precisely the time for Israel to create 'new facts on the ground' by taking out Syria. But that's just me.
By Sami Moubayed

DAMASCUS - The decision by Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, to bomb the northern Israeli town of Haifa was received with mixed emotions in Lebanon and the Arab world. Those who wanted to see pain inflicted on Israel organized massive parades in his favor in Damascus, Amman, Baghdad and Cairo.

Others, however, claimed that Nasrallah was leading the Arabs to where Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser had led them in 1967 - to unforgivable defeat. Because of Nasser's adventurism, the Arabs lost the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, Jerusalem and the West Bank. Like Nasser, they claim, Nasrallah is a true patriot, but both leaders were greatly misinformed about the might of the enemy, and the power of their own armies.

They also underestimated Israel's standing and friends in the international community, which since 1967 have exceeded those of the Arabs - at least in quantity. Many in the Arab world, including the regimes of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, see Nasrallah as the new Nasser who will lead his people to certain defeat. Saudi Arabia even issued an official statement warning against "irresponsible adventurism adopted by certain elements within the state" in Lebanon.

The Saudis did not, however, mention Hezbollah by name. It would be only natural for the Saudis, who are historically at odds with Iran, and tactical allies of Saad al-Hariri, the current leader of Lebanon's Sunni community and a member of parliament, to oppose the adventurism of Nasrallah. Too much Saudi money and investment, from the days of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, is at stake in Lebanon.
Posted by:Steve White

#3  Further, disarming Hezbollah should not be raised by Israel at this time as no one in Lebanon has the power to do it.

So we'll just keep bombing.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-07-19 16:52  

#2  Perverted logic but at least a suggestion. They are maturing slowly.
Posted by: newc   2006-07-19 09:50  

#1  Yeesh. Kind of makes you wonder where to start with these guys if this guy is among the cream of the crop.
Posted by: gorb   2006-07-19 04:08  

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