Native Lebanese Christians rally against Hezbollah

[kataphraktoi]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060925/...ast_christians

Qoutes:

Samir Geagea, a notorious former leader of a Christian militia, scoffed at Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's declaration that his guerrillas achieved "a victory" against Israel.

"I don't feel victory because the majority of the Lebanese people do not feel victory. Rather, they feel that a major catastrophe had befallen them and made their present and future uncertain," he said.

Hezbollah's fight with Israel sent its support soaring among Shiites. But a large sector — particularly among Christians and Sunni Muslims — opposes Hezbollah and resents it for provoking the monthlong fight by capturing two Israeli soldiers on July 12.

No real winners here except terrorism and domestic chaos. Hezbollah is a state within a state and acting beyond constitutional boundaries...it is a treasonous cancer to Lebanon's peace and stability.

[Tribesman]

from the article

Geagea, who served more than a decade in prison on multiple counts of murder dating to the 1975-90 civil war, backs the Western-leaning government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. His party is a member of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority in Lebanon.

nice man eh .
also from the article .

tens of thousands of his supporters rallied Sunday in a show of strength that highlighted Lebanon's sharp divisions.

Sharp devisions right enough . the current government is on its way out , it is seen as having US backing which ain't too popular for some reason or other .
The main rising star in politics over there is currently also an anti-Syrian ex-christian militia leading murderer , strangely enough from the same militia as Geagea , but he has declared his division of that particular Christian faction as allied with Hezballah .

Strange country isn't it , truly fascinating in fact .

[Incongruous]

Wonder is he has a Phalangist badge?
Probably good mates with Sharon's cronies.

[Reenk Roink]

It figures that Hezbollah's popularity will be waning now...

For example, support for Hezbollah's inital action of "kidnapping" ("capturing" for Pannonian) the two Israeli soldiers wasn't too high among non-Shi'ites. It was 40% among Druze, 55% among Christians, and 70% among Sunnis.

But support for Hezbollah after Israel began their attack was an overwhelming majority across the board. 80% for Christians and Druze, 89% for Sunnis, and 96% for Shi'ites.

Now that the war is over, and the handouts have stopped, I suspect support will go down for non-Shi'ite groups to pre-war levels.

[Tribesman]

It figures that Hezbollah's popularity will be waning now...

For example, support for Hezbollah's inital action of "kidnapping" ("capturing" for Pannonian) the two Israeli soldiers wasn't too high among non-Shi'ites. It was 40% among Druze, 55% among Christians, and 70% among Sunnis.

But support for Hezbollah after Israel began their attack was an overwhelming majority across the board. 80% for Christians and Druze, 89% for Sunnis, and 96% for Shi'ites.

Now that the war is over, and the handouts have stopped, I suspect support will go down for non-Shi'ite groups to pre-war levels.

Reenk , the other march that is mentioned in that article absolutely dwarfed this one . So how do you figure that they are on the wane ?

The Hezballah handouts have not stopped , however those by the government have hardly even started .
So think again , who is it that you suspect is losing support ?

[Reenk Roink]

Reenk , the other march that is mentioned in that article absolutely dwarfed this one . So how do you figure that they are on the wane ?

The Hezballah handouts have not stopped , however those by the government have hardly even started .
So think again , who is it that you suspect is losing support ?

Naturally, the support for Hezbollah would be highest during the war itself, and would go across sectarian lines. Hezbollah would be seen as defending Lebanon against Israel.

But I do think that the aftermath of the war will get rid of some of that support (aside from the Shi'ites). It struck me as intriguing that Nasrallah basically said that he "regretted" going after the soldiers, and that if he had known Israel's response would be what it was, he wouldn't have done it.

I did think that the handouts had stopped, but I was mistaken. They do give handouts to non-Shi'ites, right?

Perhaps Hezbollah popularity has better staying power than I inferred, but its peak has already been passed.

*By the way, I know that the government is not seen to kindly in the eyes of the Lebanese. Data from the same poll on Hezbollah popularity showed that...*

[Dâriûsh]

Oh, Don Geagea is rattling his itty bitty sabre. Golly, Lebanese militiamen sure know when to party.

The main rising star in politics over there is currently also an anti-Syrian ex-christian militia leading murderer , strangely enough from the same militia as Geagea , but he has declared his division of that particular Christian faction as allied with Hezballah .

Do you mean Michel Aoun?

[Tribesman]

Do you mean Michel Aoun?

Do I mean the recently returned Aoun who changes his alliegances more often than an Afghan warlord .

[Dâriûsh]

Do I mean the recently returned Aoun who changes his alliegances more often than an Afghan warlord .

I think the term is "Jumblatting".

[Watchman]

A so-called "weathercock", I take it ?

[Tribesman]

I think the term is "Jumblatting".

Now that is a terrible name , is himself still sitting in his fortress with his disarmed ex-terrorist militia , who just happen to be still armed and still terrorist ? That particular bugger should be doing some serious prison time , how many villages was it that he wiped out for being the "wrong" faith ?

Though leaving him aside for now , isn't it funny that Aoun was instrumental in getting Gaegea released from prison .

[InsaneApache]

I thought Walid was a deceased terrorist. He had ceased to be.

[Tribesman]

I thought Walid was a deceased terrorist. He had ceased to be.

Is that diseased or deceased

[Dâriûsh]

Now that is a terrible name , is himself still sitting in his fortress with his disarmed ex-terrorist militia , who just happen to be still armed and still terrorist ? That particular bugger should be doing some serious prison time , how many villages was it that he wiped out for being the "wrong" faith ?

Silly Tribesman. You know the only terrorist organization in Cedarland is the Hizbullah.

Though leaving him aside for now , isn't it funny that Aoun was instrumental in getting Gaegea released from prison .

Yeah. I just found that out today. I genuinely wonder what his game is. Alliance? Aoun wants to play nice with the Hizbullah and pro-Syrians, but I assume Don Geagea’s Mafia, uh, Lebanese Forces, will need some really good reason to do the same.

Oh, I give up. It is way too late at night to try and understand Lebanese politics.

[Tribesman]

Silly Tribesman. You know the only terrorist organization in Cedarland is the Hizbullah.

Come on , be fair , you know the General Command gets a mention every now and then ......oh but they ain't Lebanese are they .

Oh, I give up. It is way too late at night to try and understand Lebanese politics.

Will anyone ever understand Lebanese politics ?
An impossible task so it seems , just when you think you are getting a little bit of understanding of the basics , they go and change everything .

[kataphraktoi]

Lebanon - reads better than the Da Vinci Code....

1) Plot twists

2) Exasperating mood swings

3) Extraordinary decisions made by leaders

4) Cover-ups

5) Centuries in the making

Go home Dan Brown...

[Watchman]

Better action scenes too no doubt.

[kataphraktoi]

Better action scenes too no doubt.

how could I forget that...doh!!

Lol, is Lebanon meant to be a problem that is suppose to be solved or do we let violence set make everything decisive :P