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2008-05-09 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

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Posted by Fred 2008-05-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [26 views ] Top
File under: Hezbollah

#1 Widespread fighting, and Bob "I like it rough" Fisk hasn't taken a beating yet? He must be disappointed

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-05-09 00:37|| 2008-05-09 00:37|| Front Page Top

#2 It looks like a Hizballah, Iranian and Syrian backed coup. I doubt anyone is going to backup the Lebanese government.

Sigh! On days like this I wish gunboat diplomacy hadn't gone out of fashion.

Posted by phil_b 2008-05-09 08:08|| 2008-05-09 08:08|| Front Page Top

#3 based on some wire service stuff, my impression is that Hezb WAS making aggressive moves in the neighborhoods, and THEN the govt went after their comm network. to which they responded by full fledged hitting the mattresses.

But expect a long "who started it" debate similar to that about the Pal Civil War in Gaza. Expect to see "neocons" blamed for not leaving well enough alone, and Harriri cast as Dahlan.

Aoun hasnt brought the Maronites with him, but hes never had the majority of the Maronites, has he? Word is the govt (other than the leaders trapped in homes or offices in W Beirut) are gathering in Christian terr E of Beirut.

Troubling is how fast Hezb is winning in W beirut, but then theyve been arming and training a long time, and the other guys really werent. This isnt as even a match up as Gaza was. OTOH unlike Gaza, theres territory that Hezb will have troubled moving into, and a counter siege around W Beirut is possible, cutting it off from the Hezbland in the south, and from the Bekaa.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-05-09 09:40|| 2008-05-09 09:40|| Front Page Top

#4 Time to ARCLIGHT everything from the Litani River to the center of Beirut, plus the Bekaa Valley. Then tell the survivors they can either rebuild and live together in peace, or we do it again. It cannot be said enough - the Arab will follow the strongest leader. I was hoping Bush was smart enough to know that, and strong enough to carry through. My bad...

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-05-09 12:41|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-05-09 12:41|| Front Page Top

#5 Well, OP .... indiscriminate bombing raids on entire swaths of countries has gone out of style since VietNam it would seem. Especially where we've no declaration of war and are in fact trying to support the democratic government retain power. Annoying hindrances, you might say, but there it is.

Posted by lotp 2008-05-09 18:30|| 2008-05-09 18:30|| Front Page Top

#6 Beyond being a sock puppet for Iran and Syria, Hizb'allah has something to prove after provoking the destruction of southern Lebanon. From what I understand there are an awful lot of buildings still not rebuilt, which means even more unhappy Shiites. Not to mention the rest of Lebanon saw Hisb'allah getting their tails whipped, then trying to claim victory. That gives rather more poignancy to current developments, I think.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-05-09 21:21|| 2008-05-09 21:21|| Front Page Top

#7 DEBKA [paraph]> LEBANESE ARMY CHIEF DEFIES GOVT. AS SYRIA STEPS IN TO BACK HEZB/HIZB SEIZURE OF BERUIT DISTRICTS.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-05-09 22:00|| 2008-05-09 22:00|| Front Page Top

23:41 RD
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22:56 USN,Ret. (from home)
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