Tony,
Do you have any insight on what is going on?
It appears the Hezbollah and Amal have taken over West Beirut, and defeated the mini-hariri militia. The army seems to be positioned down the green line, separating East and West Beirut, but staying out of the fight.
That much I get.
But what is the goal? And what is the context? And why at this moment?
I know about the conflict around the communications system.
But there must be more going on than that.
Any analysis?
jim,
It is straight forward. USrael has tried to do in Lebanon what it has done in Iraq and what it tried to do in Gaza. Namely, defeat the national resistance from within the country (divide and conquer).
Do you remember the coup attempted in Gaza by the Dahlan goons, armed and trained by the US, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, etc, on the orders of Elliott Abrams? Well, Hamas took care of that in quick order and routed the thugs in a few days.
This was intended to be a replay. The stupid Elliott Abrams and Condoleezza Rice are incapable of learning. Back in January, Hariri and Jumblat's envoys to Washington were told to wait just a few months, because "things will change in Lebanon."
In my opinion, an USraeli attack on Lebanon, Syria and Iran is coming. Before the attack, USrael wanted to exhaust Hizbullah from within, by fighting a "civil war." That way, when the USraeli invasion comes, Hizbullah would not be as strong as it was not last time.
Once again they misunderestimated Hizbullah and its brilliant leader Nasrallah. I listened to his entire press conference yesterday; I realized that he will act firmly and quickly this time and he did. He was asked several questions about sectarianism and "civil war." He said that would not happen. He said if and when Hizbullah acts it would be acting in self-defense.
Agree with Tony.
This debacle was a moronic repetition of the strategy which had been tried - and failed - in Gaza. I also agree that the idiocy and ideological blindness of Abrams et al know no bounds. Their silly strategy failed miserably in the open-air prison that is Gaza, how on earth did they think it would work with the far more formidable Hizballah?
Truly, we are witnessing the end of the American era in the ME. Birth pangs of a new Middle East? Maybe - but not the ME Condi dreamed of.
Commenting by HaloScan
