NYT comments--- The protest dwarfed recent rallies by anti-Syrian groups, suggesting that any changeover in Lebanon might not be as swift or smooth as the recent changing of the guard in Ukraine, which some hopeful analysts had likened to the situation in Lebanon.
I think--- pundits are jumping the gun here...
A large demonstration highlights the existing continued schism in a country that has suffered 15 years of civil war between 1975 and 1990. Thousands of people who responded to Hizbollah calls to take to the streets of Beirut in support of Syria's presence epitomize the faults lines between Lebanon religious communities.
Hariri was a Sunni who had chosen the way of demanding full freedom from the protectorate status Lebanon now has. In his death he has been able to unite Christians, Muslims, Druze and other factions of Lebanon colorful ideological mosaic. That sacrifice shall not be wasted with one puppeteered demonstration!
Syrian-Iranian strategic cooperation has come together as both the nations are facing global isolation. They have been singled out as spoilers and instigators of violence in Iraq, although Iraqi Shiites have shown a different alignment by supporting US invasions of Iraq without Shiite support the invasion would have not met its logical conclusion of delivering freedom does to the entire Arab world, that seed has been planted with Shiite help, here unlike Sistani of Iraq, Nasarullah has his own agenda of maintaining his influence through militia and continue its struggle against Israel, moreover, Hezbollah is dependent on its arms and ideological closeness to Syrian minority baathists Assad, as Allawite ‘follower of trinity’ that equates Imam Ali proximity to God and Prophet is more admired than majority Syrian populace.
The Shiite of Lebanon forgetting the freedom of Najaf and 25 million of their brethren in Iraq from clutches of other baathists are demanding continuation of their subservient status as far as it guarantees them leeway in their territory, a free Lebanon will firmly tackle enclaves from which attacks are carried out o Israel. For Syrians it is important that they have a forward base in Bekaa valley that keeps their touts in the region firm, Shiite of Lebanon in larger perspective have gone for local politics, their survival depends on Syrian presence of course their allegiance to Iran is at much higher level than that of Sistani, Sistani is a true ideologue who wants to restore the all important Najaf at the heart of Shiite orthodoxy, the three some Shiite game in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon is like musical chairs, the present occupants of positions will not stay in that position once one of the player is knocked out, I see Syrians being knocked out, the Hezb demonstrations in Lebanon means nothing, it is Beirut that is at the heart of Lebanon and its citizens/occupants will decide the future of Lebanon, free Lebanon will be a major development for the continued waft of freedom within ME.
Bush today reiterated in face of these demonstrations his desire to export freedom..
Yet even as Mr. Bush spoke, there were reports from Lebanon that hundreds of thousands of people had taken to the streets in Beirut at the behest of Hezbollah, a militant Shiite Muslim organization founded by Iran and backed by Syria, to demonstrate against any immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces.
"We meet at a time of great consequence for the security of our nation, a time when the defense of freedom requires the advance of freedom, a time with echoes in our history," Mr. Bush said, declaring that the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had called the United States to a mission much as the attack on Pearl Harbor had summoned an earlier generation.
"America is answering new dangers with firm resolve," the president said in a speech at National Defense University here. "No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult the task, we will fight the enemy and lift the shadow of fear and lead free nations to victory."
Mr. Bush's tone was at times aggressive, even though he laced his remarks with conciliatory references to countries with little or no traditions of democracy and free elections. For example, he again prodded Syria "to end its nearly 30-year occupation of Lebanon or become even more isolated from the world." |
