@ lebnani: elon fa2de :D

----
I am really starting to like the Green Party of Lebanon.

They call for secularism, gender equality, gay rights and they like trees.I guess I am a supporter!

http://www.greenpartylebanon.org

^^ i am a supporter too.

Iran to supply Lebanon(LAF) with anti-missile system: report

BEIRUT, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran would supply Lebanon with a missile defense system, Lebanese news site Now Lebanon reported Saturday, citing an anonymous Lebanese diplomatic source.


Iran is expected to make the offer to Lebanon during Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Beirut shortly after the holy month of Ramadan. Iran would also offer to supply some other weapons during his visit, said the report.


Iran has offered to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) after some U.S. congressmen placed a hold on American military aid to Lebanon due to concerns about Shiite militant group Hezbollah's influence on the army.


According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli diplomats are asking the U.S. and France to cut aid to the LAF following the Aug. 3 Aadaiseh border skirmish between the Israeli and Lebanese armies.


During Wednesday's cabinet session, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called for continuing an armament plan to supply more weapons to the LAF, as well as establishing an aid plan to attract foreign states and willing Lebanese to support the army.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-08/22/c_13455880.htm

That would be great,but will this system works effectively against Israeli jets?

I am really starting to like the Green Party of Lebanon.

They call for secularism, gender equality, gay rights and they like trees.I guess I am a supporter!

http://www.greenpartylebanon.org

They remind me of Ralph Nader, I just hope they don't end up like him

Lebanon Puts Palestinians Underground to Keep Them From Phoning Home
Aug-21-2010
Belén Fernandez Salem-News.com

The idea that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should not be able to communicate with certain family members underscores the rootless existence to which they have been relegated by the Lebanese government

(BEIRUT, Lebanon) - Earlier this year in Lebanon, I paid a visit to Roumieh prison outside Beirut to see a Palestinian friend who had ended up there thanks to a business endeavor involving a series of fake checks and a fake ambassador of Somalia.

Shouting from behind two metal fences and surrounded by scores of other inmates also shouting to their visitors, my friend informed me that he had additionally been suspected of false patriotism and had been removed from Roumieh last year for a weeklong interrogation session to determine if he was an Israeli spy. Methods of determination reportedly included blindfolding and being inserted into a hole in the ground for several days.

Lebanese suspicion had been aroused in part by the discovery that my friend had been telephoning his relatives in Israel, the descendants of an uncle who had avoided expulsion in 1948. Impediments to phoning the enemy state from Lebanese territory were skirted either via phone cards that directed the calls through a third country or via a certain Western Union in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, where one was permitted to call Israel as long as one referred to it as Occupied Palestine; another way to get around communications restrictions vis-à-vis the occupied entity is presumably to work for Lebanon’s Alfa mobile phone network.

I had recently been quizzed on the proper name for Lebanon’s southern neighbor during my own interrogation at the hands of Lebanese General Security, which was conducted above ground and consisted of 4 hours of questions such as whether I had ever talked to anyone in Israel. It was never established why my interrogators were permitted to use this term and I was not, or why they claimed to be on a tight schedule but still managed an extensive critique of the manner in which I held a pen.<

As for other Lebanese contradictions, the idea that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should not be able to communicate with certain family members underscores the rootless existence to which they have been relegated by the Lebanese government, which capitalizes on the excuse that Palestinian assimilation will weaken the struggle to render Occupied Palestine unoccupied. Other forms of Palestinian occupation have meanwhile been addressed by my friend at Roumieh, who suggested that a livelihood unrelated to fake checks and Somali ambassadors might have been more feasible were Palestinians not prohibited from pursuing the majority of professions in Lebanon.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august212010/lebanon-palestine-bf.php

Dont you guys get tired of this? I mean, we are on our 313th page!

It gets tiring from time to time, but the little conflicts/arguments keep things spicy and interesting. :D :banana:

That would be great,but will this system works effectively against Israeli jets?

my answer would be no, not effectively. in fact Iran itself is struggling to build its own long-range anti-missile/aircraft systems and so far Iran has not achieved any significant breakthrough. but for medim-range flying objects it can be problematic for Israeli pilots. but we should wait to see more details on this delivery. in fact there are lots of things that Iran should give lebanon to improve lebanon's air space.
this news can have psychological impacts on Israeli pilots. they know that this time when they are flying over lebanon it's not just like a play station game that they return safely without a scratch to their bases. I believe if Iran equips lebanon with phased-array radars, an iranian improved version of S-200, some man portable air defense systems like Misagh-2 and some anti-aircraft guns and so forth definitely it will make problems for Israeli pilots. especially because they have never been in real wars for long years. (after the 6 day war)

for other parts, we should wait. I don't know what things Iran wants to offer to lebanon, but I think for air-defense, Iran can't be of help as Iran itself is weak in anti-missile/aircraft systems. but for lebanese Naval forces and ground forces, if Iran equips lebanon with torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, anti-tank missiles it can significantly increase lebanon's strength to several times than now and it will decrease the risk of a new war to approximately zero. Israeli Merkava IV tanks are the safest of the world and they are one of the bests in the world, but still they had eye-catching casualties during the 2006 war which surprised Israelis and it questioned Merkava's abilities. even they reported that they would discontinue the production line of Merkava tanks due to its failure.

BBC news: Tough lessons for Israeli armour
One of the major military surprises of the fighting in Lebanon has been the apparent vulnerability of Israeli armour to Hezbollah anti-tank rockets.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4794829.stm

Ynet news: Why did Armored Corps fail in Lebanon?
Despite Merkava tank's rank of safest tank in the world, massive damage caused by antitank missiles. Armored Corps claims soldiers were not trained enough, basic tank gear missing
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3297431,00.html

^^ thanx for the info. :)

@QWEXCZ,

You seem to know much more about military technology than me, but Israel has made a lot of technological improvements since (and in response to) the conflict in 2006 with Hizbullah.

Examples:
8T6BJqGFbo0


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3919257,00.html

Israel's secret new weapon?

Israeli company uses nanotechnology to develop paint that makes planes disappear off radar

*Article is available by clicking on the link*

@QWEXCZ,

You seem to know much more about military technology than me, but Israel has made a lot of technological improvements since (and in response to) the conflict in 2006 with Hizbullah.

Examples:
8T6BJqGFbo0


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3919257,00.html

Israel's secret new weapon?

Israeli company uses nanotechnology to develop paint that makes planes disappear off radar

actually there's no doubt that Israel is pretty advanced in military fields. as I said before Merkava tanks are among the best designed tanks and military experts believe its safest of the world. but there are different factors in a war that they decide the result of it. at least, when hizbullah soldiers have succeeded to damage Israeli tanks and take casualties from them it means that they had analyzed it from before and that means they had good information about Israeli military programs. When Nasrallah showed pictures captured from israeli drones flying over lebanon, it means that the Hizbullah's side wass able to decode military communications of israel which should be very alarming for Israeli experts. as you know all communications between drones and satellites and receivers are encrypted and such claims should be taken very seriously.

and using nanotechnology for building stealth equipments isn't new or secret. there are different ways to decrease the chance of being detected by radars. one of the most apparent ones is to design your equipments with low RCS(Radar Cross Section), the other one which is the main subject of this article is to use materials that they can absorb radar waves and emit them in sophisticating waves. Israel is in talks with the USA to be equipped with numbers of Raptors (F-22's) and lightnings (F-35's) which are stealth jet fighters. I think within a short time, like less than 2 years, the US will deliver them to Israel and then none of these systems will be useful but still because lebanon has found some offensive strength in its Naval and Ground forces, the risk of a war will be very low. unless some surprising changes happen.

Has anyone seen "Predators"? One of the characters is supposedly IDF and all through the movie she carries the sweetest sniper ever.

9u8vZwvP57Y

ف.ب": الإشكال بدأ على خلفيّة ركن سيّارة وتطوّر إلى تعارك فإطلاق نار

أفاد متحدث عسكري لبناني وكالة "فرانس برس" أنّ شخصين قتلا في اشتباكات مسلحة وقعت بين عناصر من "حزب الله" وآخرين من "جمعية المشاريع الخيرية الاسلامية"، المعروفة بـ"الاحباش" في منطقة برج أبي حيدر، موضحًا أنّ "حادثاً فردياً بين عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخر من الأحباش تطوّر إلى اشتباك في منطقة برج أبي حيدر قتل فيه عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخر لم يعرف انتماؤه". وأشار إلى أنّ الجيش اللبناني تدخّل لتهدئة الوضع
.
إلى ذلك، أوضح شاهد لمراسل "فرانس برس" أنّه كان يمر بدراجته النارية قرب مسجد معروف بـ"مسجد الاحباش" عندما بدأ تلاسن بين عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخرين من "الأحباش" على خلفيّة ركن سيارة الأوّل في المكان ومحاولة الآخرين منعه"، وتطوّر التلاسن إلى تعارك بالايدي ثم إلى إطلاق رصاص مع وصول مسلحين من الجانبين
.
وأوضح مصدر أمني أنّ المسلحين استخدموا الأسلحة الرشاشة والقذائف الصاروخيّة، في وقت أفاد مراسل وكالة "فرانس برس" أنّ الجيش اللبناني أقفل كل الطرق المؤديّة إلى المنطقة، بينما شوهدت سيارات إسعاف في المنطقة

3 DEAD, MANY INJURED, RPGS AND B7 ROCKETS FIRED, OVER A PARKING SPOT...

WHERE ELSE OTHER THAN IN THIS GOD**** ******** FARM WE CALL LEBANON. :bash:

^^ this is what happens when parties are armed , la 7ayata leman tonady.

ف.ب": الإشكال بدأ على خلفيّة ركن سيّارة وتطوّر إلى تعارك فإطلاق نار

أفاد متحدث عسكري لبناني وكالة "فرانس برس" أنّ شخصين قتلا في اشتباكات مسلحة وقعت بين عناصر من "حزب الله" وآخرين من "جمعية المشاريع الخيرية الاسلامية"، المعروفة بـ"الاحباش" في منطقة برج أبي حيدر، موضحًا أنّ "حادثاً فردياً بين عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخر من الأحباش تطوّر إلى اشتباك في منطقة برج أبي حيدر قتل فيه عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخر لم يعرف انتماؤه". وأشار إلى أنّ الجيش اللبناني تدخّل لتهدئة الوضع
.
إلى ذلك، أوضح شاهد لمراسل "فرانس برس" أنّه كان يمر بدراجته النارية قرب مسجد معروف بـ"مسجد الاحباش" عندما بدأ تلاسن بين عنصر من "حزب الله" وآخرين من "الأحباش" على خلفيّة ركن سيارة الأوّل في المكان ومحاولة الآخرين منعه"، وتطوّر التلاسن إلى تعارك بالايدي ثم إلى إطلاق رصاص مع وصول مسلحين من الجانبين
.
وأوضح مصدر أمني أنّ المسلحين استخدموا الأسلحة الرشاشة والقذائف الصاروخيّة، في وقت أفاد مراسل وكالة "فرانس برس" أنّ الجيش اللبناني أقفل كل الطرق المؤديّة إلى المنطقة، بينما شوهدت سيارات إسعاف في المنطقة

3 DEAD, MANY INJURED, RPGS AND B7 ROCKETS FIRED, OVER A PARKING SPOT...

WHERE ELSE OTHER THAN IN THIS GOD**** ******** FARM WE CALL LEBANON. :bash:

3 people got killed over a parking spot? You guys are even crazier than we are. :ohno:

w ana 2oul shou hal 2was elli kent 3am besma3o...I thought they were fire works! Thanx to SSC for being my news source, as I don't (care to) watch TV news! Alla yer7am elli met, ra7et 3alli ra7, wel az3ar ba3do bel shere3...:ohno:

^^ this means u don't watch any Lebanese tv channel :lol:

^^ Ur right Hassoun...indeed!!! LOL

from Daily star:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=118584#axzz0xZTVnAe9


BEIRUT: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called Tuesday on the Lebanese Cabinet to ask Arab states and Iran to provide equipment to the Lebanese Army.

Nasrallah also urged the Cabinet to consider the establishment of a nuclear reactor to meet the country’s future demand for electricity.

“All Arab states express love for Lebanon along with other friendly states and thus I suggest that the Cabinet determines the quality of weapons needed to equip the army and then submit its proposal to Arab states,” Nasrallah said.

He added that Lebanon’s regional position, “neighboring the Israeli enemy” called on the Cabinet to act swiftly to acquire weapons rather than discuss a long-term plan to equip the army.

“We do not want money but weapons because it will rust in your storage houses,” Nasrallah said with regard to the Cabinet proposal that should be submitted to Arab states.

He also called on the government to ask Iran for military aid, stressing that “Hizbullah will work hard through his friendship with Iran to equip the Lebanese Army.”

Following a recent cross-border clash between the Lebanese Army and Israeli troops, Israel launched a diplomatic campaign to halt Western military aid to Lebanon while certain US congressmen called for stopping US military aid to the Lebanese Army.

The clash killed two Lebanese soldiers, a journalist and a high-ranking Israeli officer, after which US lawmakers criticized equipping the Lebanese Army under the pretext that the latter was cooperating with Hizbullah.

“What happened in Adaysseh proves that Americans assume that the weapons donated to the army are not given to fight Israel but rather for internal purposes which the US claims to be terrorist threats,” Nasrallah added.

But Nasrallah stressed that the US would continue to equip the army since Washington believes that halting military aid would undermine the Lebanese state’s authority and strengthen Hizbullah.

Nasrallah also dismissed the option of allocating a Cabinet budget to buy weapons as an expensive plan that would lead to debate among political parties since it required the government to impose a greater tax burden on the Lebanese.

Tackling recent protests against electricity rationing, Nasrallah called on the Cabinet to consider building a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes to guarantee long-term production of electricity.

Extensive electricity rationing, coupled with an intense heat wave, has fueled protests in a number of regions, with demonstrators burning tires and blocking roads.

Commenting on the protests, Nasrallah denied that the demonstrations masked intentions by opposition groups to organize large-scale protests in the upcoming period, aimed at bringing down the government.

“If we want to bring down the Cabinet, we can do it in Parliament,” he said. “Hizbullah does not need to hide behind demonstrations demanding basic services. When we have a political stance, we announce it clearly,” he added.

Analysts fear that an indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) against Hizbullah members, as rumored by Western reports, would push the opposition to bring down the government.

Commenting on the UN probe investigating former Premier Rafik Hariri’s murder in 2005, Nasrallah reiterated that his party continues to reject cooperation with the STL. “We handed the information to the Lebanese judiciary but it does not mean we acknowledge [the authority of] the STL,” he said. Hizbullah security official Wafiq Safa handed documents to Lebanese Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, which Nasrallah unveiled at a recent conference, saying they implicated Israel.

Nasrallah also called on the judiciary to speed up administrative procedures to swiftly impose death sentences on spies for Israel. He also stressed that spies should alone be held accountable for their actions while their families should bear no responsibility for their acts and should be spared criticism from the society.

Man, he is just being stupid now. Take up nuclear power to cover our needs, rather than exploiting our hydro, solar, wind, wave and geothermal potentials which are purely renewable and environmentally friendly?

Bravo... he managed to pitch a poop idea.

Man, he is just being stupid now. Take up nuclear power to cover our needs, rather than exploiting our hydro, solar, wind, wave and geothermal potentials which are purely renewable and environmentally friendly?

Bravo... he managed to pitch a poop idea.

well, don't wanna butt in. but hydro needs huge dams, solar energy is expensive to produce and expensive for storage as well (in nights), wind turbines are good for large areas with winds and without inhabitants (they are usually too noisy to be located close to cities) and geothermal energy is good for places near to volcano belts. which one do you think suit lebanon's case the most? I don't think nuclear energy is the best choice, but it's an option that should be studied.

Nasrallah gets more stupid by the day... HE WANTS LEBANON TO BE A MINI IRAN.
anyone thinks he is full of wisdom is just as stupid as he is.

well, don't wanna butt in. but hydro needs huge dams, solar energy is expensive to produce and expensive for storage as well (in nights), wind turbines are good for large areas with winds and without inhabitants (they are usually too noisy to be located close to cities) and geothermal energy is good for places near to volcano belts. which one do you think suit lebanon's case the most? I don't think nuclear energy is the best choice, but it's an option that should be studied.

Well obviously I do not expect you to know everything that goes on in Lebanon, but

Wind energy - so far wind farms would be unfeasible, but personal wind mills have been used to run hotels, and resorts in the mountains.
Solar energy - we have 300 days of full sun. Its becoming increasingly popular to add PV cells to buildings and houses for water heating, and general electricity needs. Cities in the north have been expirementing to power all public lights (parks, street lights etc) using solar energy. So far so good.
Geothermal - we sit on a rift, apparently its not strong enough to generate enough energy, but it could so far cover 5-10% of our needs.
Wave energy - expensive, but possible!
Hydro- we got many dams, and 4 more on the way! They can generate enough to power its nearby towns, thus pulling them off the national grid.

And I forgot solid waste energy, we have a few plants with them converting garbage to electricity... Nuclear just is pointless. What if it malfunctions (or what if it gets bombed by Israel or some idiot) and we get nuclear contamination? That would actually ruin a small country like lebanon... ruin it!

Well obviously I do not expect you to know everything that goes on in Lebanon, but

Wind energy - so far wind farms would be unfeasible, but personal wind mills have been used to run hotels, and resorts in the mountains.
Solar energy - we have 300 days of full sun. Its becoming increasingly popular to add PV cells to buildings and houses for water heating, and general electricity needs. Cities in the north have been expirementing to power all public lights (parks, street lights etc) using solar energy. So far so good.
Geothermal - we sit on a rift, apparently its not strong enough to generate enough energy, but it could so far cover 5-10% of our needs.
Wave energy - expensive, but possible!

And I forgot solid waste energy, we have a few plants with them converting garbage to electricity... Nuclear just is pointless. What if it malfunctions (or what if it gets bombed by Israel or some idiot) and we get nuclear contamination? That would actually ruin a small country like lebanon... ruin it!

well, two factors that we should take into account before saying anything else are 1- the capacity of electricity you want to produce? 10 MWh? 100 MWh? 1000 MWh? 10,000 MWh? 2- the budget you want to dedicate for this project? 500 million? 5 billion? 50 billion?

I guess we should talk about something that makes sense. surely nuclear plants are out of question now I think. I just wanted to know your reasons. even if lebanon wants to build N plants, they won't let it do. I just wanted and want to know your opinion on the matter.

QWECXZ,

Why are you so keen on Lebanon building a nuclear power plant? You make it seem like nuclear power is a panacea--- some kind of cure-all for Lebanon's (and Iran's) problems. While it's true that nuclear power can provide abundant, affordable energy, you're ignoring the costs associated with constructing, maintaining and securing such a facility. Not to mention the costs of removing nuclear waste. Not to speak anything of the fact that Lebanon doesn't have enough political stability or infrastructure to accommidate such a facility.

I am surprised that more Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and perhaps Lebanon, don't make as much use of solar power as Israel does. I don't have exact percentages, but a significant portion of electricity in Israel comes from solar power (practically every building in the country has PV cells on top) and plus, Lebanon probably has the ideal conditions for setting up a wind farm.

Can you imagine what would happen if there was an accident/leak at a Lebanese nuclear power plant? Probably half the country would become like Chernobyl.

QWECXZ,

Why are you so keen on Lebanon building a nuclear power plant? You make it seem like nuclear power is a panacea--- some kind of cure-all for Lebanon's (and Iran's) problems. While it's true that nuclear power can provide abundant, affordable energy, you're ignoring the costs associated with constructing, maintaining and securing such a facility. Not to mention the costs of removing nuclear waste. Not to speak anything of the fact that Lebanon doesn't have enough political stability or infrastructure to accommidate such a facility.

I am surprised that more Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and perhaps Lebanon, don't make as much use of solar power as Israel does. I don't have exact percentages, but a significant portion of electricity in Israel comes from solar power (practically every building in the country has PV cells on top) and plus, Lebanon probably has the ideal conditions for setting up a wind farm.

Can you imagine what would happen if there was an accident/leak at a Lebanese nuclear power plant? Probably half the country would become like Chernobyl.

i'm not a fan of lebanon having nuclear plants because it brings more international problems for lebanon rather than benefits. but why are you against lebanon having a nuclear power plant chevre? I think they can have, nuclear power plants are not something that some special countries can use them.

I read somewhere that lebanon wants to invest 5 billion dollars in its energy sector to provide electricity for all citizens, if that's true, it can afford the cost to handle nuclear facilities.

well, lebanon can take israel as a role model but I think Iran's case is different. Iran is 80 times larger than israel and it's population is nearly 10 times of Israel. Iran's energy consumption is 15 times higher than japan and 10 times higher than the European Union. it exports electricity to neighboring states and if it doesn't increase its production it will fail to provide electricity to its customers. Iran uses almost all types of energy and it's working to develop them more, but I think nuclear energy is one of the best choices. i said the numbers because you asked about Iran's case.

5 billion dollars is a lot of money for lebanon's economy if you take lebanon's GDP and its public debt into account. they can invest this money for better things. I believe it's even better to import electricity from other countries.

i'm not a fan of lebanon having nuclear plants because it brings more international problems for lebanon rather than benefits. but why are you against lebanon having a nuclear power plant chevre? I think they can have, nuclear power plants are not something that some special countries can use them.

I am against every country in the Middle East having nuclear power, including Israel.

I read somewhere that lebanon wants to invest 5 billion dollars in its energy sector to provide electricity for all citizens, if that's true, it can afford the cost to handle nuclear facilities.

You really think a country like Lebanon, which has so many pressing issues, can afford to devote the equivalent of 10% of its GDP to energy? And when you factor in the costs of securing and maintaining the facility and removing nuclear waste, the costs go up significantly.

well, lebanon can take israel as a role model but I think Iran's case is different. Iran is 80 times larger than israel and it's population is nearly 10 times of Israel.

That's to Iran's advantage. It has 8x more land per person than Israel. They could establish some truely massive solar power plants and wind farms. The climate and geography in Iran would be ideal for this.

I am against every country in the Middle East having nuclear power, including Israel.


You really think a country like Lebanon, which has so many pressing issues, can afford to devote the equivalent of 10% of its GDP to energy? And when you factor in the costs of securing and maintaining the facility and removing nuclear waste, the costs go up significantly.


That's to Iran's advantage. It has 8x more land per person than Israel. They could establish some truely massive solar power plants and wind farms. The climate and geography in Iran would be ideal for this.

why middle eastern countries should not have nuclear plants?

yea I know. it's a little bit hard to believe it. although they've said that the private sector is also supposed to join in the project, but I think that's a lot of money for lebanon. they can do better things for lebanon. they can build a 1000 megawatt N plant with 1 billion dollars and I think 1000 MWh can make lebanon's nights like Sahara's days.

I believe Iran should first correct the model of consumption that people have get used to. that's even more profitable than building new power plants.

QWECXZ,

Why are you so keen on Lebanon building a nuclear power plant? You make it seem like nuclear power is a panacea--- some kind of cure-all for Lebanon's (and Iran's) problems. While it's true that nuclear power can provide abundant, affordable energy, you're ignoring the costs associated with constructing, maintaining and securing such a facility. Not to mention the costs of removing nuclear waste. Not to speak anything of the fact that Lebanon doesn't have enough political stability or infrastructure to accommidate such a facility.

I am surprised that more Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and perhaps Lebanon, don't make as much use of solar power as Israel does. I don't have exact percentages, but a significant portion of electricity in Israel comes from solar power (practically every building in the country has PV cells on top) and plus, Lebanon probably has the ideal conditions for setting up a wind farm.

Can you imagine what would happen if there was an accident/leak at a Lebanese nuclear power plant? Probably half the country would become like Chernobyl.

The reason they have that in Israel is because of a law that was passed that made it mandatory to install a water heating cell on top of all new residential buildings. It was a really great move, none of that sort has happened (yet) for us, but they do subsidize buying solar panels and there have been little raffles where 200 families win solar panels lol

Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia all utilize solar energy (there are probably others, but I don't know anything on it so I wont make assumptions)! Saudi Arabia uses it mainly to power up their de-salination plants, and egypt has a good portion of its production from the sun. North african countries are doing this joint solar farm in which they have projected they will be able to supply the entire MENA and EU with electricity (something like 20% of their needs)! That is going to be nuts when the project goes underway. As of now, they have towns being powered almost entirely by solar power.

As for wind farms in Lebanon, I took would love it (so far people only use personal windmills). But Elie pointed something out to me... a wind farm in Lebanon would destroy our landscape lol. Its too big, and would just symbolically destroy the mountain ranges they would need to be installed and sprawled across. But we do have ideal conditions for it,especially north lebanon.

http://almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/WebsiteImages/PicturesFolder/47318af9-1b7e-4dab-9009-753e1f896e79_top.png

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed freedom and sovereignty can only be achieved if Lebanon possessed the elements of power. “In this country, we face may difficulties, both internal and external, and our responsibility is to surmount the difficulties, not to fear them or to surrender to them. No one can elude this responsibility,” Sayyed Nasrallah said Tuesday during an iftar banquet organized by the Islamic Resistance Support Organization ‏ in Beirut.

The Hezbollah S.G. addressed the urging issue of arming the Lebanese army, which is also agreed upon by the different parties in Lebanon, particularly after the Odaisse incident in south Lebanon last month, in which two Lebanese army soldiers and a reporter were martyred and an Israeli colonel was killed. “What happened in Odaisse revealed that the Americans and the weapons they have been giving to our army are not meant to fight Israel but for internal purposes they call ‘fighting terrorism.’ Have the weapons grants stopped or not? some Congress members even demanded an inquiry to learn whether these weapons used by the Lebanese army against the Israeli army were American weapons or not!”

However, his eminence added, the Americans will continue to provide the Lebanese army with weapons under the following pretext: “To confront Hezbollah, because this will put Lebanon in the hands of Hezbollah. Therefore, we are doing Lebanon a good favor.”
“In a meeting with former PM martyr Rafiq Hariri, he told me: There are no concerns about an economic collapse in Lebanon because the world will not allow this, otherwise, they believe Lebanon will fall in Hazbollah’s hands.”

Sayyed Nasrallah elaborated saying that the international community is trying to persuade Israel to withdraw from the occupied Ghajar region because this will also undermine the resistance. “I tell them that Israel will not pull out of the Ghajar because there is a resistance in Lebanon, even if we are not engaged in an armed fight there,” the S.G. said.
“We are demanding that the Lebanese army be equipped with suitable arms either through a budget, and this is expensive; or through funds, and this is what President Michel Sleiman has called for. However, popular donations do not properly equip the army. Donations to the resistance do not create a resistance and this is also the case for the army. The third option is the Arab nations that claim they love Lebanon. I suggest that the government determines the kind of weapons it needs and then head to these friendly Arab states to tell them that we don’t want money; what we really want is some of the stockpiles of weapons that are going to rust in storage. We want the goods not the money. This can be done without a budget. We are in a exceptional situation and the region is tense. The Odaisse confrontation is far more dangerous that the capture of two soldiers (referring to the 2006 operation that prompted Israel to wage war on Lebanon). We had martyrs on our side, and on their side a colonel was killed. In the Keryat Shmona settlement, the settlers fled, but war did not break out. Anyway, we cannot keep studying our options; we have to act and equip the army through our Arab brothers. As for Iran, I said during general elections that we can resort to Iran and Syria to equip the army in case we won the elections and uproar followed my position because of the political division that had prevailed. Today, they accept arms from Iran unconditionally. Iran does not have conditions, and I call on the government to take the decision to ask Iran for help and I pledge that Hezbollah will work on this and will invest all its friendships to realize this. President Ahmadinejad will visit Lebanon and I believe that Iran has been helping Lebanon for the past 28 years and will not refrain from granting the Lebanese army any kind of help.”

On the Israeli spies issue, Sayyed Nasrallah warned that Lebanon is currently engaged in a daily security war with the Israeli enemy. “More than 100 spies have been arrested so far, and according to official counts, the number is 150. It is right to assume that we are in the middle of a real security war where juridical follow up is necessary. I call for the formation of field courts and for judges to act swiftly away from routine procedures because we are in a state of war. Vendetta is not our goal, yet putting the sentences into effect will affect the disposition to collaborate with Israel. Lots of spies have started working after 2005 and the doors are still open for them and recruiting is ongoing.”

The Hezbollah S.G. stressed Hezbollah was not infiltrated. “There is strong organizational structure in Hezbollah. The resistance has been engaged in war with Israel on daily basis and we gave great heed to preventing any sort of infiltration. This is why over the past 28 years, we have had an anti-spying body and I can say it’s the largest body ever. We have not been infiltrated; we are immune.”

Sayyed Nasrallah also tackled the issue of false witnesses in the international investigation into the assassination of PM Hariri. “The government has asked the justice ministry to study ways to approach this file, which is a good step. Yesterday, the spokeswoman for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said that the STL was not concerned in the false witnesses and we find this odd because they have deluded the STL for past four years. Has the Lebanese judiciary become under the jurisdiction of the STL? The Tribunal says the false witnesses issue is not under its jurisdiction and also says this not under the Lebanese Judiciary’s jurisdiction! If this is true, it is tantamount to the law of the jungle. I have delivered evidence to the Lebanese judiciary and I have nothing to do with the STL and I will state the reason why in the proper time. I am ready to cooperate with the Lebanese judiciary.”

The S.G. addressed the endemic electricity and water crisis in Lebanon saying that neither the current minister nor the former minister are responsible for it. “It has been said that some of the protests that have taken place recently were politically motivated, but I can confirm that there were no political groups behind these protests. I would like to address the problem from a general perspective. We have an electricity problem and now they are telling us that we should be expecting a water crisis. We have been told that the protests were an exercise to be ready when the government is brought down. This is nonsense; everyone wants this government to stay. The opposition does not need the street to topple the government in case it wanted to. It can do so in parliament. No one want to target the minister of energy or the government; there is a problem and the Cabinet endorsed a four-year plan, but what is needed right now is an extraordinary Cabinet meeting to act fast. With all due love, I call on the people in every region to cooperate and be patient because there is concern that someone would infiltrate such protests and take the country to undesired consequences. As Lebanese we have to find solutions, therefore I call on the government to consider building a nuclear plant for peaceful energy. The cost to build Iran’s Busheher plant is far less than what Lebanon has so far spent on the electricity sector. We have the right to think about the nuclear solution and our ambition can take us to where we want to be. Water will be the most important resource in the future, because the region is heading towards a water crisis. We have water that is unfortunately not being invested, so we should build damns to preserve this resource.”

Sayyed Nasrallah concluded his speech by underlining the tripartite formula that protects the country: ‘The army, the people and the resistance.”

Nasrallah gets more stupid by the day... HE WANTS LEBANON TO BE A MINI IRAN.
anyone thinks he is full of wisdom is just as stupid as he is.

Haahahaahhaha

You sound like a imature uncivilized 5 year old who has just learned how to curse.
Call down Jayme you will go nowhere in life by insulting people in politics, without knowing, or willing to learn anything about their geopolitical affairs. Please respect yourself and provide some sense and civility, and furthermore common sense in your replies. Also, do not blurt something out, and run away from it later on because you cannot back your fantatism. ::P

You're a fantatic! and Jayme will not call down. :lol:

P.S: Nasrallah is an Israeli spy! he 's just an Israeli tool used by them as a cover up. Ponder that one!

and i can fly

Uh oh...what kind of bullshit is Nasrallah going to pull out of his ass this time...

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=185938

UNIFIL releases findings of IDF-Lebanon border clash

Report says Israel did not cross the Blue Line int'l border as the Lebanese had claimed to justify their decision to open fire on IDF soldiers; IDF, LAF fully cooperative in probe.

UNIFIL released its findings Wednesday of its investigation into the shooting incident earlier this month between the IDF and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) along the northern border which ended in the death of IDF reserve battalion commander Lt.-Col. Dov Harari.

UNIFIL said Wednesday that the findings of the investigation confirmed the peace keeping forces' preliminary conclusion that the Israeli forces did not cross the Blue Line international border as the Lebanese had claimed to justify their decision to open fire at Harari and soldiers from his battalion.

The incident took place August third as Harari's unit was working to cut down a tree on the the northern side of the border fence, but still within Israeli sovereign territory.

The fence does not run parallel to the Blue Line international border. UNIFIL stated that both the IDF and the LAF fully cooperated with the investigation, and that it sent the report with the findings to the UN headquarters on Tuesday.

"UNIFIL's investigative report is a result of a professional and impartial work," said UNIFIL commander Maj.-Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas. "It is based on the facts and all the evidence available to UNIFIL at this stage. We hope this report will assist the parties to prevent the recurrence of such serious and tragic events."

^^ Blue line is NOT the international border.

Haahahaahhaha

You sound like a imature uncivilized 5 year old who has just learned how to curse.
Call down Jayme you will go nowhere in life by insulting people in politics, without knowing, or willing to learn anything about their geopolitical affairs. Please respect yourself and provide some sense and civility, and furthermore common sense in your replies. Also, do not blurt something out, and run away from it later on because you cannot back your fantatism. ::P

ok,mr grown up. did u miss last night's news?? what do u think of what happened? what were the "resistance" weapons against israel doing in Beirut?
elaborate please using ur EVIDENCES and FACTS please,can't wait :)

Excellent post by HumusNation


حادث فردي مؤسف

أثر الإشتباكات المسلحة التي وقعت عصر يوم الثلثاء في منطقة برج أبي حيدر، اصدر الحزبين اللذين ينتمي اليهما الشبان الذين اشتركوا في الإشتباكات بياناً اكدوا خلاله أن “الحادث الفردي المؤسف” الذي وقع “هو فردي ولا خلفيات سياسية أو مذهبية وراءه”. وإتفق الحزبين “على محاصرته وانهائه فورا ومنع أي ظهور مسلح بغية عودة المياه إلى مجاريها الطبيعية كما كانت”.


وإذ تهنيء وكالة الأنباء الرسمية المواطنين القاطنين في المنطقة بالنفاد بريشهم بعد هذا “الحادث المؤسف”، يهمها توضيح بعض العبارات التي وردت في البيان أعلاه في النقاط التالية وذلك منعاً للغط:


عبارة “حادث”: حادث؟ فعلاً؟ عن جد؟ ثلاثة قتلى وعدد من الجرحى يلخص بعبارة “حادث”؟ حديد بحديد يعني؟ إنو بدها خبير أو ما في لزوم؟ الهيئة ما في لزوم. حسناً، فليكن. حلو إنو بعد في عالم هيك على البركة… شو بدك… البلد بألف خير.


عبارة “فردي”: هذه عبارة واضحة جداً ولا تحمل التأويل. حادث فردي يعني واحد ضرب راسو بدرفة خزانة. أو واحد سكر باب السيارة على ايدو. هذه أمثلة عن حوادث فردية. أي أن شخصاً واحداً كان معني أو متورطاً أو مشاركاً بحادثة قد تكون مؤلمة، ولكن فردية. ولكن جبهة بأمها وأبوها فتحت في المنطقة وشارك فيها عشرات الشبان لا تقع تحت خانة الحادث “الفردي”. نرجو من القيمين على البيان العد جيداً. وإذا كانت الرياضيات ليست موطن قوة لديهم، فليستعينو بأحد أساتذة الرياضيات من رابطة الاساتذة المتفرغين. هودي ناطرين الشغل من غيمة.


عبارة “مؤسف”: عبارة مؤسف ليست معبرة فعلاً عما حصل. من المؤسف مثلاً أن يرسب تلميذ في إمتحان، أو أن إنفجار قنينة بببسي من كثرة الخض يعتبر أيضاً حادثاً مؤسفاً. ولكن أن تطلق على معارك طاحنة استعملت فيها صواريخ ب-٧ “بالمؤسف” هو المؤسف فعلاً. قد تكون عبارة “كارثة سوداء” أكثر ملاءمة وأكثر تعبيراً لوصف الحدث. أيضاً وأيضاً، الرجاء الإستعانة بأحد اساتذة اللغة العربية من رابطة الاساتذة المتفرغين للمساعدة في إيجاد بديل لهذه العبارة.


عبارة “لا خلفيات سياسية أو مذهبية وراءه”: طبعاً لا خلفيات سياسية أو مذهبية. فالمنطقة معروفة بانفتاحها على الفكر السياسي للآخر ورحابة الصدر و ألخ ألخ ألخ. والفريقين على فكرة، يموتون ببعضهم. يعني مش معقول! شو بدو يحكي الواحد. الكلمات تعجز عن التعبير.


عبارة “عودة المياه إلى مجاريها الطبيعية كما كانت”: الترجمة الواقعية لهذه العبارة هي التالية: “عودة الشبان المشتبكين إلى خلف متاريسهم وإنتظار بعضهم البعض على إي غلطة أو استفزاز مقصود أو غير مقصود ليولعو المنطقة عن بكرة أبيها ويحسبو الله ما خلقو بعضن”. هذه هي الحال “الطبيعية” كما كانت. هكذا جرت العادة، وهذه من شيمنا.


وعلى فكرة، أي مواطن أو مسؤول بيطلع وبيحكي شي عن إنعكاس هذا “الحادث الفردي والمؤسف” على حركة السياحة يعمل معروف يسدو أو ياكل خرى. يجوز الوجهان

^^ Excellent

bas baddik min yesma3!!!

Haahahaahhaha

You sound like a imature uncivilized 5 year old who has just learned how to curse.
Call down Jayme you will go nowhere in life by insulting people in politics, without knowing, or willing to learn anything about their geopolitical affairs. Please respect yourself and provide some sense and civility, and furthermore common sense in your replies. Also, do not blurt something out, and run away from it later on because you cannot back your fantatism. ::P

Please refrain from personal attacks. You're getting a free pass this time but next time it willl be another infraction.

I was watching a documentary on the Hells Angels last night... and wow, the crap they do is so similar to what our idiots of the country do. From missile launching, machine guns, drug wars,...and now parking lot wars. It was just really random, but as I watched it its all I kept likening them too.. maybe its a stretch, but if you saw the documentary you would likely see the resemblance.

We may not have an actual Hell's Angels presence, but those armed party retards-I say that because anyone who supports a douche politician who doesnt give a crap about you as a person (cuz they dont know you) is a social retard- are our equivalent "organized crime" losers.

btw, anyone hear how they are making a commission to handle arms use? Also.. potentially push through an arms free, military free Beirut?

I doubt the second one would come to fruition right now so long as we have people who think they are above the law, but I totally welcome the commission, I can see it becoming enforced with a zero tolerance and potential "all accountable" repercussions? For instance, if one clash happens, and guns are used, if there is any political backing that group should be collectively punished - even if the rest of the members had no doing. Zero tolerance!

Haahahaahhaha

You sound like a imature uncivilized 5 year old who has just learned how to curse.
Call down Jayme you will go nowhere in life by insulting people in politics, without knowing, or willing to learn anything about their geopolitical affairs. Please respect yourself and provide some sense and civility, and furthermore common sense in your replies. Also, do not blurt something out, and run away from it later on because you cannot back your fantatism. ::P


REPORTED

Ya3ne i have to say jader that you are all about civility and sense! ma ma32oul

ok,mr grown up. did u miss last night's news?? what do u think of what happened? what were the "resistance" weapons against israel doing in Beirut?
elaborate please using ur EVIDENCES and FACTS please,can't wait


The event had nothing to do with politics. It was a personal fight over a parking space. If that claim is genuine, and no other intelligence groups provoked the fight through shooting at each side(a new side that is surfacing), the people who took part are douche bags, and should all be put to jail.

Keep a open mind ::P

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Roken Abadi told Al-Manar television on Wednesday that his country is honored to provide the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with military equipment.

He said that Iran is ready to aid the LAF with new arsenal following the border clashes between the LAF and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) earlier in the month.

Lebanese and Israeli troops exchanged fire near the southern village of Aadaiseh in the fiercest clashes since the 2006 July War, with two Lebanese soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and a senior Israeli officer dying in the violence.

-NOW Lebanon

You're a fantatic! and Jayme will not call down. :lol:

P.S: Nasrallah is an Israeli spy! he 's just an Israeli tool used by them as a cover up. Ponder that one!

Call down ?? what the hell does that mean haha

If you say Hezbollah smells funny, all there supporters will go crazy ! they use there wepons thats uncivilised.
I wonder what Nasrallah does to pass the time in his rat hole ? .... does he even get laid. I think he really needs it at the moment.

^^ ya habibti why dont you answer what i said huh??????

Are you capable of answering me are can you only disrespect. You are really offending me, this man's son died fighting for the sovereignty of your country. His son died so that your people can stop being raped and decapitated, and terrorized. walou yani chu hal hake?? During ramadan too. I fell like puking after hearing what you are saying. Your comment is terrorizing and plain sick.

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

wtf?

I was asked a question really? lol I didnt even notice.

I simply dont care what Hezbollah has done.... I will never support them. They are a cancer and this cancer is spreding fast.

Hezbollah is the only reason why Lebanon is at risk of Israel, Hezbollah will pull Lebanon to another war with Israel... Hezbollah will do anything by illgeal means to achive their goals! .... ever since the Syrian Goverment withdrew in 2005, Hezbollah had the hunger to reach for more power at what ever means.

They knew they will be nothing without the Syrian goverment inside of Lebanon, they caused so much trouble for the Lebanese since 2006.

Roits and Tent city in 2006, more roits in 2007, and 2008 was just disgusting and unforgivable.... forcing Lebanon down to its knees and getting Veto Power !

You have the nerve to say such things!.... that makes me sick. knowing people still praise the mighty Nassrallah like he is a saint. That he has done nothing wrong!

Hezbollah will face its karma one day and it will hit them hard and their allies.

I cant wait for the day when Hezbollah is down on its Knee's and March 8 will just be a memory.

Lebanon will finally be free and no longer be at risk from its neighbours.

I was asked a question really? lol I didnt even notice.

I simply dont care what Hezbollah has done.... I will never support them. They are a cancer and this cancer is spreding fast.

Hezbollah is the only reason why Lebanon is at risk of Israel, Hezbollah will pull Lebanon to another war with Israel... Hezbollah will do anything by illgeal means to achive their goals! .... ever since the Syrian Goverment withdrew in 2005, Hezbollah had the hunger to reach for more power at what ever means.

They knew they will be nothing without the Syrian goverment inside of Lebanon, they caused so by troubles for the Lebanese people since 2006.

Roits and Tent city in 2006, more roits in 2007, and 2008 was just disgusting and unforgivable.... forcing Lebanon down to its knees and getting Veto Power !

You have the nerve to say such things!.... that makes me sick. knowing people still praise the mighty Nassrallah like he is a saint. That he has done nothing wrong!

Hezbollah will face its karma one day and it will hit them hard and their allies.

I cant wait for the day when Hezbollah is down on its Knee's and March 8 will just be a memory.

Lebanon will finally be free and no longer be at risk from its neighbours.

I agree but sadly we will likely have to suffer thru yet another war (which will be FAR more destructive) before that happens. We are being sucked in to the Ayotollah's fantasy of war with Israel. Lucky for them (cowardly too), it will be thousands of miles away instead of downtown Tehran.
Its sad seeing my country slowly being devoured by a militant organization that will stop at nothing until achieving full domination of Lebanon.

Lebanese have to live in fear, because of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has its own selfish goals... their allies are nothing but followers. Michel Aoun joined March 8 because he was simply scard. Thank god we have strong leaders in March 14. IMO Fouad Sinoria was one of the best Prime Ministers Lebanon has ever had. He was strong and spoke what we were all thinking about Hezbollah.

I live in Australia, I still worry about the future of Lebanon as if I live there. ( I assume many of you will be like that)

If you look at Hezbollahs track record, all there so called achievements are for selfish gain and not for Lebanon.

I can picture Lebanon free of Hezbollah... its paradise. no scary signs of there gods... I mean leaders how silly of me and Lebanese living without fear for what Hezbollah will do next.

Google Earth took some picture of Beirut from the sky, do you think they took part in the assainsation of Rafic Harri ? hrmmmmm Thats some damning evidence... I think the STL needs to take that into account.

Iran dosent give a fruit what happens as what sam mee said they are thousands of kilometers away from Lebanon.

IF Israel does strike Iran... Hezbollah will want to fight Israel, and will lead Lebanon to a war that has nothing to do with it.

Firstly Jayme I would like to thank you that you finally stoped insulting and only using extremely offending curse words in your reply. I appreciate it. :)

Since you have decided to uphold a civilized debate, I will send you links of my previous replies; because i do not see a reason to rewrite paragraphs I have composed 10-15 times before.

Firstly I would like to reiterate if you have yet not noticed, that I consider all politicians March 8, and March 14 alike to be criminals. From Aoun, to Berri, to Geagea. First and foremost, they are all extreme war criminals and have shocking amounts of innocent Lebanese blood on their hands, becuase of the acts of terror their militias committed in the horrible Lebanese civil war.

Secondly, all these politicians in my opinion are just trying to divide, and distract us in the sense that we do not see how much potential our country has. They do not want us to open our eyes and see all the beaches they have ruined for their financial gain, all the mountains terrain they have stolen for their financial gain, for pete's sake what kind of country allows their politicians to put all of the money in their pockets; and not provide their citizens with even 20 hour per day electricity service?? I think we need to dismiss all of the criminals in our parliament, and elect people that actually work for the Lebanese people; elect a government that are the slaves of the Lebanese people, not where we are the slaves of the Lebanese government. In this context, I find it quite aggravating to hear you so desperately rooting for these same criminals that have blood on their hands from the civil war, and that continue to divide the Lebanese people, and neither work or represent the urgent requirements of our society. Are you following me??


About Hezbollah's right to exist please reply to these paragraphs:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=404863&page=196

^^ I was thinking you were doing so well in writing that post, but that thought was killed with the "right to exist" proclamation!

Hey jader, why do you always insist on others to re-read your replies? Nobody cares about what you think or what makes you feel offended. This is not a political forum where you debate endlessly trying to convince. Please, cut the drama.

And green party of lebanon? are you sure.

Hey jader, why do you always insist on others to re-read your replies? Nobody cares about what you think or what makes you feel offended. This is not a political forum where you debate endlessly trying to convince. Please, cut the drama.

And green party of lebanon? are you sure.
Amen

Wow, þopsï is one tough chica! Lesson that I learned today: don't mess with her. :nono:

Hey jader, why do you always insist on others to re-read your replies? Nobody cares about what you think or what makes you feel offended. This is not a political forum where you debate endlessly trying to convince. Please, cut the drama.

And green party of lebanon? are you sure.

Correct me If I am wrong popsi, when someone is addressing a argument towards me, I find it logical to answer them, and when I have the exact answer I want to compose written before; I don't find it practical to re compose the whole thing. ::P

I was thinking you were doing so well in writing that post, but that thought was killed with the "right to exist" proclamation!

Thanks ::P, but tell me what you think, why should they not have a right to exist??

Is it not sensible what I have written on the link provided??

I didn't open it:) lol
People have the right to exist, not the groups they may form.

Correct me If I am wrong popsi, when someone is addressing a argument towards me, I find it logical to answer them, and when I have the exact answer I want to compose written before; I don't find it practical to re compose the whole thing. ::P

Then why do you bother to answer again and again? If I were you I would realize that I am not convincing enough, and probably people whom I am debating with have no time to open links and argue on every single detail then, I would stop.

Plus you seem to only come here when updates have something to do with Hezbolla or Nasrallah.Turn that radar off and enjoy some PSP :D

@ 0,1 : not my intention to give that impression. :smug:

Jasper with all due respect for your person and your quest to understand the regional culture but your views and convictions are very very far from reality. Sorry

First of all, my name is not Jasper, if my name would be Jasper I would write it down like (dutch pronouncation): يصبر

But my name is Jesper, an Danish variant of Jasper, so that's why I write:
يسبر

Second of all, I seem to be better informed about Lebanese shi3iyyien and 7izbullah than you are ;) see:

All of my Lebanese family members are Shia and no one of them ever was praising or talking about, or even mentioning Iran. All of my aunts and uncles have the Lebanese flags in/on their cars.

All the above discussion is crap :bash:

Dear brothers/sisters from Lebanon, open your eyes. We are one single entity! We are Lebanese, no matter what sect we come from, above all, we are Lebanese and I am so f**** sure that every single Shia, Maruni, Durze or Sunni feels him/herself 1000000% Lebanese, and to him Lebanon is above all!

:cheers: to all of you

Then why do you bother to answer again and again? If I were you I would realize that I am not convincing enough, and probably people whom I am debating with have no time to open links and argue on every single detail then, I would stop.

Plus you seem to only come here when updates have something to do with Hezbolla or Nasrallah.Turn that radar off and enjoy some PSP :D

@ 0,1 : not my intention to give that impression. :smug:

I am not going to get into any fights with you any time soon. I am leaving this for other people. :lol: :cheers:

Second of all, I seem to be better informed about Lebanese shi3iyyien and 7izbullah than you are ;) see:
Jasper Jesper esber whatever
I bet you are a specialist on the matter, especially that you live and work among Lebanese Shia and Hizballa supporters... miles away in europe. Right
Anyway i'd rather waste my time reading the useless trivia than argue with you.
regards

or call me the arab way, yesber / yezberz :D

Well I can be better informed about that subject yes. Even as a German student can be better informed about the people and situation in Groningen in the Netherlands than I am myself, because I'm almost never in Groningen and have not studied anything about Groningen!

I would really like the March 8th supporters to read this and COMMENT!!

Geagea tried; Hezbollah won’t listen
Hanin Ghaddar, August 21, 2010


http://www.nowlebanon.com/ContentPictures/geagea-tried-leader-420-082110013807.jpg
Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces (AFP photo).

Realistically, there is little hope for any concrete results regarding a Lebanese national defense strategy. The national dialogue sessions that have been taking place since 2006 are becoming a joke for the Lebanese, most of whom have stopped paying attention to the proceedings.

It is obvious that Hezbollah will not allow any serious discussion on its arms. State institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, are to be kept far from Hezbollah’s weapons, making the national dialogue sessions nothing more than a tool to waste time and keep the international community away from this issue by creating the illusion that Lebanese leaders are actually trying to agree among themselves on a solution to the party’s arsenal.

However, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea surprised us yesterday with an initiative that spiced up the impasse. Although there is no real chance that his proposal will be taken seriously by Hezbollah, Geagea has made a step toward the Party of God by suggesting that Hezbollah stay an independent unit under the army’s control.

Hezbollah officials immediately reacted negatively, and the main reason, other than their resolve to remain an independent entity, is General Michel Aoun, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, who remains the perfect Christian ally that the party will not allow to be bothered.

Geagea said that “the essential condition for the success of this plan is that the operational command for the defense of Lebanon be completely in the hands of the Lebanese army, with Hezbollah being asked to put its units and weapons under the Lebanese army’s command, without it knowing Hezbollah fighters’ locations.”

According to Geagea, the LAF demonstrated during the August 3 Aadaiseh border skirmish with the Israeli army that it can confront the Jewish State with the support of the Lebanese people and state, and its Arab allies.

The proposal suggests setting up the proper infrastructure and bolstering the current military units deployed in the South with 3,000 to 4,000 soldiers from the Special Forces. It also calls for “providing the necessary budget for the combat deployment of the army, knowing that it is not something fancy, and it can be immediately earmarked.”

Of course, Geagea believes that this is only “a transitional plan giving Lebanon the best possible opportunity to defend its borders at the present time, [given] the army’s abilities and Hezbollah’s situation.”

Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad immediately expressed displeasure with Geagea’s proposal, saying that it merely aimed to get rid of Hezbollah and its arms. Of course, no one would expect anything else from Raad or other Hezbollah officials, who repeatedly, before and after the Aadaiseh incident, stressed the cooperation among the Resistance, the army and the people as the only basis for any defense-strategy proposal.

While Hezbollah’s reaction was to be expected, Geagea’s proposal was a positive overture toward Hezbollah, compared to a previous proposition that suggested that Hezbollah be entirely absorbed into the Lebanese army. This plan offered Hezbollah autonomy and freedom of movement, which was considered a big step by many commentators.

Hezbollah could have turned down the proposal diplomatically, saying what it usually says in similar situations: “Thank you, but no thank you.” But not this time. Not only because it came from the leader of the Lebanese Forces, but mainly because it might have upset Aoun, who did not attend the session.

Hezbollah’s commitment to Aoun stipulates that the party cannot flatter, however vacuously, other Christian leaders, especially Geagea. In return, Aoun provides Hezbollah with the Christian cover it needs.

Lately, Aoun’s rhetoric has been empty of everything except a staunch defense of Hezbollah; in fact no one is echoing Hezbollah’s rhetoric as faithfully as Aoun is. Even Hezbollah’s closest pro-Syrian allies have been trying to set themselves apart from the Party of God since the Saudi-Syrian summit that took place recently in Beirut.

Amal boss and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed Geagea’s proposal and said that he was pleased because “for the first time, he has acknowledged the army-people-Resistance formula, and the rest is small details.”

Berri and Aoun fell out a year ago, when tensions between them were aggravated during the 2009 parliamentary elections, and then with this year’s municipal elections. However, Berri usually never contradicts or differs with Hezbollah when it comes to its weapons.

Berri’s more positive stance toward Geagea was therefore more of an attempt to distance himself from Hezbollah than an effort to alienate Aoun, even if he can’t do anything to make Hezbollah take Geagea’s proposal into consideration. Geagea, on the other hand, does not expect anything close to that. His initiative was mainly to shake up the national dialogue sessions and show – with his transitional plan – that there are still ways to discuss a national-defense strategy.

The international community has repeatedly demanded the disarmament of Hezbollah, and yet it is incapable of forcing the implementation of international resolutions, such as UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Internally, the helplessness is not dissimilar, as all thorny issues regarding the arms is left to the futile dialogue sessions, and the best that can be hoped for is that civil order be maintained.

In this context, Geagea’s initiative is an attempt to say that national dialogue is meant to discuss proposals and ways of implementing them. He said: Here’s my proposal; at least I tried.

Hanin Ghaddar is managing editor of NOW Lebanon.

Hmm, even though I'm not a phalangist supporter, I think this is a reasonable proposal over which can be negotiated. Independent strong Hezbollah units, but only coming into action when the LAF agrees and needs them.

^^ Phalangist?

or call me the arab way, yesber / yezberz :D

Well I can be better informed about that subject yes. Even as a German student can be better informed about the people and situation in Groningen in the Netherlands than I am myself, because I'm almost never in Groningen and have not studied anything about Groningen!


yazebr... your sounding like an 18th century colonialist/ orientalist. Your opinion doesnt really hold any weight. And while your opinion might sound interesting, I'd rather hear another nasrallah speech than another European colonialist telling me whats good for my country.

Even Jesper thinks Geagea's proposal is a good idea.
but do u know Jesper that hizbullah thinks this proposal an israeli proposal? :lol:

I'm not for colonizing lebanon :lol: Even though I wouldn't mind it if you would let me colonize a small part of Lebanon with hot Lebanese women :naughty: I think you should stop looking at your saoudi or irani interests. But coorporate with anybody and don't be the slave of the USA who only want to give you weapons if you don't want to defend yourself against israel! Help eachother as Lebanese, shi3i, sinni, dirzi, 3alawi, suryoyo, kildani, maruni or whatever, and coorporate with defending and liberating your country.

I'm not a fan of geagea, not at all. But I think that this kind of proposal is in the middle of what both parties want and could be a path to a solution. Yes, maybe Hezbollah is now reacting like this, but maybe on the diplomatic road they are thinking: hmm maybe we can talk with him? Last time witht he border clash they already coorporated with the LAF and acted very much like in the proposal of Geagea.

An unnamed security source told As-Safir newspaper in an interview published on Friday that security forces investigating Beirut’s Tuesday clashes have preliminary information that “foreign intelligence” had a hand in the incident, which, he added, led to the clashes.

Clashes broke out in the Beirut neighborhood of Bourj Abi Haidar on Tuesday between supporters of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects—also known as Al-Ahbash—and Hezbollah, leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Al-Ahbash is a Sunni pro-Syrian group and describes itself as a charitable organization promoting Islamic culture.

-NOW Lebanon

Jesper, tell me, at what point in your life did you become brainwashed? I am curious.

preliminary information that “foreign intelligence” had a hand in the incident, which, he added, led to the clashes.


-NOW Lebanon

and u obviously believe that, is everything a conspiracy theory to you?

Jesper, tell me, at what point in your life did you become brainwashed? I am curious.

they are not brainwashed, they understand the problem when they see stuff like this on the net:

'Israel ready to destroy LAF in 4 hours'

The US warned Lebanon that if it did not prevent any recurrence of the border-fire incident that occurred earlier this month, the IDF would destroy the Lebanese Armed Forces within four hours, Israel Radio cited a report by Lebanese newspaper A-Liwaa on Friday.

According to the report, Frederick Hoff, assistant to US Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell, told Lebanese Army chief of staff Jean Kahwaji that Israel was ready to implement a plan to destroy within four hours all Lebanese military infrastructure, including army bases and offices, should a similar confrontation occur in the future.


http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=186197

^^ oh, i thought it was 4 hours and a half :S

damn,we r getting weaker and weaker by time :S

^^ oh, i thought it was 4 hours and a half :S

damn,we r getting weaker and weaker by time :S

the funniest part is
According to the report, Frederick Hoff, assistant to US Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell ....
is that how they want to establish peace in the middle east? lol

they are not brainwashed, they understand the problem when they see stuff like this on the net:

'Israel ready to destroy LAF in 4 hours'



http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=186197

Jesper is doggedly pro-Hizbullah/pro-Iran/pro-Syria.

Let's think this through sequentially...

(1) Israel threatens to destroy Lebanon's army in 4 hours. (this wasn't the case by the way)
----------->
(2) Lebanese and Lebanese supporters get pissed off.
----------->
(3a) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese increase their support for the "resistance".
OR
(3b) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese DO NOT increase their support for the "resistance".

What I want to know is how does one, as a Dutch Protestant without any personal/familial bond to Lebanon, get from (1) to (3a), when a significant percent of Lebanese people, whose lives are directly affected by (1) decide that (3b) is the better course of action?

Jesper is doggedly pro-Hizbullah/pro-Iran/pro-Syria.

Let's think this through sequentially...

(1) Israel threatens to destroy Lebanon's army in 4 hours. (this wasn't the case by the way)
----------->
(2) Lebanese and Lebanese supporters get pissed off.
----------->
(3a) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese increase their support for the "resistance".
OR
(3b) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese DO NOT increase their support for the "resistance".

What I want to know is how does one, as a Dutch Protestant without any personal/familial bond to Lebanon, get from (1) to (3a), when a significant percent of Lebanese people, whose lives are directly affected by (1) decide that (3b) is the better course of action?

well, I can give you an answer but I don't know how much it would be convincing.
I don't want to talk about lebanon's situation, but my point of view is hizbullah has many supporters in lebanon, especially in southern parts. they gained more than 45% of votes in the last election. why? well, the US stupid policies in the middle east has created a situation that any lunatic like khomeini who comes and stands against it gains public support. the US has helped Iran's regime to grow like a cancerous tumor with its proxies in the region, and now in the world. that's also concerning for the Iranians trying to get rid of their regime. I believe Hizbullah is very popular in lebanon and in palestine as a resistance movement, and we don't see that on this forum because 1- not all lebanese know english fluently 2- the atmosphere of this forum doesn't encourage them to join in. as long as the US continues with its irrational and bullying policies in the region, groups like Hizbullah will have more supporters everyday. if you want to discuss it, I'm in.

Melkart this one is for you habibi ;)

A US lawmaker on Friday warned France not to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, saying they could end up being used against Israel amid pro-Iranian influence in the Lebanese government.

US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the warning after As-Sharq al-Awsat reported the planned sale.

"The influence of Hezbollah militants and their Iranian and Syrian backers in the Lebanese government is rising," Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement.

"Therefore, to sell weapons to Lebanon at this time would be very irresponsible, and could jeopardize security and stability in the region," she said.

"France should do the responsible thing and cancel this sale unless and until the Lebanese government takes the steps necessary to root out extremists from its own ranks and disarm Hezbollah," she added.

The daily said French Defense Minister Herve Morin had sent a letter to his Lebanese counterpart Elias al-Murr in May informing him that Paris was "ready" to deliver 100 HOT missiles to Beirut.

The French official "categorically denied" that Paris had "given in to pressure" and that this was why the sale had not been completed, said the report.

On August 10, US Congressman Howard Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced he had placed on hold $100 million in aid to Lebanon's military, following clashes earlier this month between Israeli and Lebanese troops in Aadaiseh, South Lebanon.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon

^^ At 1.0 there are millions of resistance supporters everywhere in the world, open your eyes, and look beyond the mainstream media. Everywhere in the world you go you see people that look beyond the surface and recognize that the Israeli government and military are the largest group of terrorists this world has ever witnessed, they recognize that the usurpation of Palestine, and they recognize that they cannot and will not support a regime that continues to terrorize innocent civilians each and every day. Is it that hard to understand?? The reason Jasper condemns Israel, is ONLY BEACUASE HE HAS HUMANITY IN HIM. nothing more nothing less.

And jasper people in Lebanon are usually not this rude and closed-minded to foreigners as you see on this forum. 3ahla sa7la fek in Lebanon, when you come tell me I will tour you all of Lebanon. as we say in lebanon il beit beitak :))

^^ you hear lots of voices against providing Lebanese army with weapons everywhere,including iranian opposition,so what's the point?actually we don't need them anymore,we shall provide the army with weapons from OUR OWN MONEY.
and let's start by giving hizbullah weapons to our army,instead of using it in Beirut,and this is FACT. ;) how about that?

this one is for you jader ;)

Hizbullah's weapons in Beirut

http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/MainPagePictures/Grand-mufti-basta-main-420.jpg
Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani delivers Friday prayers at a partially burnt mosque in the al-Basta region on Friday. (AFP/Anwar Amro)

^^ At 1.0 there are millions of resistance supporters everywhere in the world, open your eyes, and look beyond the mainstream media. Everywhere in the world you go you see people that look beyond the surface and recognize that the Israeli government and military are the largest group of terrorists this world has ever witnessed, they recognize that the usurpation of Palestine, and they recognize that they cannot and will not support a regime that continues to terrorize innocent civilians each and every day. Is it that hard to understand?? The reason Jasper condemns Israel, is ONLY BEACUASE HE HAS HUMANITY IN HIM. nothing more nothing less.

And jasper people in Lebanon are usually not this rude and closed-minded to foreigners as you see on this forum. 3ahla sa7la fek in Lebanon, when you come tell me I will tour you all of Lebanon. as we say in lebanon il beit beitak :))

I have to agree with Jader on this one, there are millions of resistance supporters around the world, namely the Harakat al Mujahidin, Asbat al-Ansar, Abu Nidal Organization, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas, al-Qa'ida international, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and their followers, every Liberty loathing entity out there that wants to drive the whole world back into the veiled dark ages.

In Lebanon we don't say "A3LA w Sa7la" and i have always doubted you being a Lebanese national because apparently you want to replace the current regime with medieval theocracy. And i think Lebanani made the point of all free lebanese loud and clear when he addressed "Yazebr"^^

^^ you hear lots of voices against providing Lebanese army with weapons everywhere,including iranian opposition,so what's the point?actually we don't need them anymore,we shall provide the army with weapons from OUR OWN MONEY.
and let's start by giving hizbullah weapons to our army,instead of using it in Beirut,and this is FACT. ;) how about that?

Iranian opposition? who? I didn't know that any one in Iran opposes the delivery.
you know, the real question here is to train the LAF for different tactics and new military equipments. equipping with weapons is just one part of the story, well-trained soldiers are the main part of the story.

Adwan says disregarding Bourj Abi Haidar clashes harms Lebanon
August 28, 2010

Lebanese Forces bloc MP George Adwan told Voice of Lebanon (VOL) radio station on Saturday that disregarding Tuesday’s Bourj Abi Haidar clashes is harmful to Lebanon.

The clashes between supporters of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects – also known as Al-Ahbash – and Hezbollah led to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.

Al-Ahbash is a Sunni pro-Syrian group and describes itself as a charitable organization promoting Islamic culture.

Provocative talks are not the only reason behind the clashes but also the cabinet’s gradual abandonment of its role, Adwan said.

The MP stated that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) must impose security and that anyone carrying an arm, other than the security forces, is an outlaw.

“Hezbollah’s arms are to fight Israel,” he also said, adding that arms used internally are illegitimate.

Regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Adwan said postponing the indictment would politicize it.

-NOW Lebanon

I believe Hizbullah is very popular in lebanon and in palestine as a resistance movement, and we don't see that on this forum because 1- not all lebanese know english fluently
are you implying that hizb (ma khasson bi) allah supporters are illiterate ??

are you implying that hizb (ma khasson bi) allah supporters are illiterate ??

I didn't understand what ma khasson bi meant :D but no I didn't say that. I said not all lebanese people can speak english fluently enough to discuss politics like any other non-english speaking country in the world. and the definition of literacy has nothing to do with speaking english as a second language fluently.

@Jader,

Ignoring my personal beliefs for a moment... so if someone disagrees with you by NOT supporting the 'resistance' than they lack humanity? Do you mean to tell me that some 50% (+/-) of Lebanese lack humanity?

I didn't understand what ma khasson bi meant :D but no I didn't say that. I said not all lebanese people can speak english fluently enough to discuss politics like any other non-english speaking country in the world. and the definition of literacy has nothing to do with speaking english as a second language fluently.

But surely the same could be said for people who oppose the 'resistance'...there are surely many of them who also can't speak english fluently...

@Jader,

Ignoring my personal beliefs for a moment... so if someone disagrees with you by NOT supporting the 'resistance' than they lack humanity? Do you mean to tell me that some 50% (+/-) of Lebanese lack humanity?

No bro; I said that someone who blindly supports the Israeli government, and military and their actions, Is someone without humanity. Because someone who supports the IDF's actions is someone supporting and endorsing acts of crimes, and acts against humanity itself. (:

this one is for you jader

Hizbullah's weapons in Beirut

Hassan, I dont think you read what I composed earlier on page 315 here it is again :):

The event had nothing to do with politics. It was a personal fight over a parking space. If that claim is genuine, and no other intelligence groups provoked the fight through shooting at each side(a new side that is surfacing), the people who took part are douche bags, and should all be put to jail.

Keep a open mind ::P
__________________

No bro; I said that someone who blindly supports the Israeli government, and military and their actions, Is someone without humanity. Because someone who supports the IDF's actions is someone supporting and endorsing acts of crimes, and acts against humanity itself. (:


We aren't the ones who defend ourselves by using civilian populations as shields/cover for our army. On the other hand, HA does this. And every Lebanese person knows this. So HA (and its supporters) aren't ones to be preaching "humanism" either.

Jesper, tell me, at what point in your life did you become brainwashed? I am curious.

I woke up from my childhood into a responsible man when I saw the pictures in the newspapers over here of an ostrich missing one leg in the Zoo in the Ghaza strip after the Israeli Army had been there and some other pictures that had nothing to do with "attacking military targets / terrorists".

That moment I realised that something was going very wrong over there and I realised the conscienceless and missing human values of a big part of the israeli side of the story. At that moment I woke up and started to read more, to think instead of getting feed by Israeli propaganda.

Everyone wants to live in peace, in freedom, tranquility. But in Jowlan, Libnaan and Palestine this is impossible because of a big unstable factor: Israel, a stat that was erupted out of blood and can only prolong it's occupation and destruction of people's lives by continuing that style of life with bloodshedding and lots of military violence instead of using their brains and sit down and have a little chat. People all over the world have the right to fight against occupation, discrimination and ethnical cleansing, and so have the people in the Middle-East the right to fight (even an armed fight! Resistance!) against the violation of human rights, occupation, ethnical cleansing and discrimination (don't gonna tell me that israel is democratic, it has a extremistic right-wing athmosphere or the power is at least in the hands of those idiots since it's existence, because it is not, lot's of things are forbidden that are not pro-zionistic etc. just as anti-zionistic parties and they are not allowing to let the occupied people vote about their own future while being occupied without having a state). If all these things would happen in my neighbourhoud, I would also organise a Resistance Movement, every healthy minded person would do that! The right to resist. Or would you sit down on your balcony and drink thee while looking at bulldozers and the army destroing everything you loved and grew up with!?

Israel must be put under big pressure, or being hit hard militarily, so that they loose their violence monopoly and really have to negiotate. Because now there is no need to negiotate at all. They can do whatever they want!

the funniest part is
is that how they want to establish peace in the middle east? lol

Yes that is how the USA thinks about "PEACE" and "DEMOCRACY" in the middle east (Read: "POWER", only democracy if their own corrupt friends are in power, or how they killed democracy in the 50's in Iran). They don't give a damn shit about people or people in the middle east, they care about power, money, and selling weapons to Israel and using it as a tool to endorse their power in the region. Obama didn't change a thing at all! And so is my own goverment one shitty hypocrit mess when you look at their foreing policy.

I woke up from my childhood into a responsible man when I saw the pictures in the newspapers over here of an ostrich missing one leg in the Zoo in the Ghaza strip after the Israeli Army had been there and some other pictures that had nothing to do with "attacking military targets / terrorists".

That moment I realised that something was going very wrong over there and I realised the conscienceless and missing human values of a big part of the israeli side of the story. At that moment I woke up and started to read more, to think instead of getting feed by Israeli propaganda.

Everyone wants to live in peace, in freedom, tranquility. But in Jowlan, Libnaan and Palestine this is impossible because of a big unstable factor: Israel, a stat that was erupted out of blood and can only prolong it's occupation and destruction of people's lives by continuing that style of life with bloodshedding and lots of military violence instead of using their brains and sit down and have a little chat. People all over the world have the right to fight against occupation, discrimination and ethnical cleansing, and so have the people in the Middle-East the right to fight (even an armed fight! Resistance!) against the violation of human rights, occupation, ethnical cleansing and discrimination (don't gonna tell me that israel is democratic, it has a extremistic right-wing athmosphere or the power is at least in the hands of those idiots since it's existence, because it is not, lot's of things are forbidden that are not pro-zionistic etc. just as anti-zionistic parties and they are not allowing to let the occupied people vote about their own future while being occupied without having a state). If all these things would happen in my neighbourhoud, I would also organise a Resistance Movement, every healthy minded person would do that! The right to resist. Or would you sit down on your balcony and drink thee while looking at bulldozers and the army destroing everything you loved and grew up with!?

Israel must be put under big pressure, or being hit hard militarily, so that they loose their violence monopoly and really have to negiotate. Because now there is no need to negiotate at all. They can do whatever they want!

Points taken. But why not support 14 March? Surely they are just as anti-Israel as 8 March.

To jb_nl :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

To Chevre: Hezbollah has never EVER shot any rocket at Israel within a kilometer of any house or village. I know this as a fact, Hezbollah is not Hamas their secrecy and extremely advanced tactics and technology, and swiftness is incomparable to your "human shields claim". Go to any southerner and ask them if they have ever seen a rocket fired and Israel they will say no, ask them if they have ever seen a soldier or anything about Hezbollah they will say no. In case you didn't know people in Lebanon never see Hezbollah, they are invisible my friend. In fact I find your drastic claim to be quite unfounded. Does it really take a huge effort to recognize crimes your militarily have committed, without making ungeuine claims against Hezbollah. I have always told you what I condemn about Hezbollah.

And second, you can answer your question about March 14, by some of the users on this forum; that utilize every situation to bash Hezbollah, and demand Hezbollah to be disarmed, and furthermore justify all of Israel's actions in front of their own people's. One thing I respect about Israeli's, is their unity to work together as a people, and never turn their backs on each other. ::P

Points taken. But why not support 14 March? Surely they are just as anti-Israel as 8 March.

now Jasper you REALLY ought out to weigh your words in replying to this question.

Hezbollah has never EVER shot any rocket at Israel within a kilometer of any house or village.

now i know for sure that you live on Mars, possibly beyond

Jader, they also hit Israeli houses when it's war yes, but as an reaction mostly. Sadly enough they don't have advanced enough weapons to hit military bases in Israel acuratly. But fear is also a big weapon in warfare and in media warfare by showing what they are still able to do with rockets and didn't loose any power. I don't see why this kind of warfare would be worse than the israeli bombing houses and infrastructure warfare, which is planned and not at random by good luck where the rockets are going to land.

Jesper is doggedly pro-Hizbullah/pro-Iran/pro-Syria.

Let's think this through sequentially...

(1) Israel threatens to destroy Lebanon's army in 4 hours. (this wasn't the case by the way)
----------->
(2) Lebanese and Lebanese supporters get pissed off.
----------->
(3a) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese increase their support for the "resistance".
OR
(3b) Lebanese/pro-Lebanese DO NOT increase their support for the "resistance".

What I want to know is how does one, as a Dutch Protestant without any personal/familial bond to Lebanon, get from (1) to (3a), when a significant percent of Lebanese people, whose lives are directly affected by (1) decide that (3b) is the better course of action?

I'm a supporter of armed resistence when needed. I don't agree with all things of Hezbollah at all, and I think I would vote on something else. But they are a very effective defence. I think that the more seculare Jabha Sha3biyye la ta7rier falasteen would fit me much better. (@ ELIE so I'm not with march 8 or march 14, I'm with Lebanon, Syria and Palestine! Start stopping to think in therms of march 8 against march 14 and become a unity! I even gave a compliment to the Geagea proposal ;) if you read what I said)

What do you think you are? You don't know anything about me. Where did you read I'm a Protestant? I'm not at all! I'm not religious at all! I'm an Atheist/Agnost mix, so are my parents and so are my grandparents. But we don't go claiming that we are "one people as atheists" and that we should emigrate to another country, kill al the original inhabitants and start an ethnical cleansing and start an occupation. Even though also my family was hit in WW2, their hometown, Rotterdam, bombed and testroyed, some family members, including my grandfather, being deported to eastern Germany in a working camp (Dresden) etc. And just because of that (like Norman Finkelstein says!) you should support human rights and fight for it and fight against the loads of cruelties of Israel!

Second of all. Most people, even in the north near tripoli where they hate hezbollah, do support the armed resistance of hezbollah, just like me, even though politically seen they would never vote on them! So most seem to be with option 3a.

well, I can give you an answer but I don't know how much it would be convincing.
I don't want to talk about lebanon's situation, but my point of view is hizbullah has many supporters in lebanon, especially in southern parts. they gained more than 45% of votes in the last election. why? well, the US stupid policies in the middle east has created a situation that any lunatic like khomeini who comes and stands against it gains public support. the US has helped Iran's regime to grow like a cancerous tumor with its proxies in the region, and now in the world. that's also concerning for the Iranians trying to get rid of their regime. I believe Hizbullah is very popular in lebanon and in palestine as a resistance movement, and we don't see that on this forum because 1- not all lebanese know english fluently 2- the atmosphere of this forum doesn't encourage them to join in. as long as the US continues with its irrational and bullying policies in the region, groups like Hizbullah will have more supporters everyday. if you want to discuss it, I'm in.

True. Also now with the weapons to the LAF they are even broadening the gap between the USA and middle-east instead of getting closer! By their stupid actions by blindly supporting Israel and its cruelties they push much of the middle-east into other "alternatives" like Iran. The USA is responsible for this! I CARE about the middle-east because I've been there more than once and love the place and the people and don't want people there to live in occupation or getting bombed or destroyed! USA DOESNT CARE AT ALL about the people there! They don't care about people dead on the street. They don't care about "freedom" for others than themselves.

BTW Khever:
I DON'T SUPPORT THE REGIME IN IRAN! Not at all, It's very sad that there wasn't another revolution last year with the demonstrations :( The whole shitty system should change over there and real democracy should come over there without the religious dictatorship layer! I supported the uprisings. But don't think that the opposition would suddenly start loving Israel! They hate it as much as others in the region. That would be a big mistake, to think that the opposition, who wants real freedom and democracy in Iran, wants to be the next dog of the USA and starts becoming friends with "Axis of Evil" Israel. They won't. Israel helped training the Shah's regimes special forces and letting thousands of people suddenly "dissapear" under his regime.

Melkart this one is for you habibi ;)

A US lawmaker on Friday warned France not to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, saying they could end up being used against Israel amid pro-Iranian influence in the Lebanese government.

US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the warning after As-Sharq al-Awsat reported the planned sale.

"The influence of Hezbollah militants and their Iranian and Syrian backers in the Lebanese government is rising," Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement.

"Therefore, to sell weapons to Lebanon at this time would be very irresponsible, and could jeopardize security and stability in the region," she said.

"France should do the responsible thing and cancel this sale unless and until the Lebanese government takes the steps necessary to root out extremists from its own ranks and disarm Hezbollah," she added.

The daily said French Defense Minister Herve Morin had sent a letter to his Lebanese counterpart Elias al-Murr in May informing him that Paris was "ready" to deliver 100 HOT missiles to Beirut.

The French official "categorically denied" that Paris had "given in to pressure" and that this was why the sale had not been completed, said the report.

On August 10, US Congressman Howard Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced he had placed on hold $100 million in aid to Lebanon's military, following clashes earlier this month between Israeli and Lebanese troops in Aadaiseh, South Lebanon.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon

^^ At 1.0 there are millions of resistance supporters everywhere in the world, open your eyes, and look beyond the mainstream media. Everywhere in the world you go you see people that look beyond the surface and recognize that the Israeli government and military are the largest group of terrorists this world has ever witnessed, they recognize that the usurpation of Palestine, and they recognize that they cannot and will not support a regime that continues to terrorize innocent civilians each and every day. Is it that hard to understand?? The reason Jasper condemns Israel, is ONLY BEACUASE HE HAS HUMANITY IN HIM. nothing more nothing less.

And jasper people in Lebanon are usually not this rude and closed-minded to foreigners as you see on this forum. 3ahla sa7la fek in Lebanon, when you come tell me I will tour you all of Lebanon. as we say in lebanon il beit beitak :))

As I said: again the USA DOESNT CARE about the middle-east at all! In this way they only make it worse. If they would put pressure on israel, support others defending themselves against Israeli terror, hate against the USA would be much less intense, and the region would be much more stable and peacefull and maybe then real democracy could have developed when others have no excuse to look away from democracy and freedom by pointing at the mess the USA and it's baby Israel are making of the Middle-East.

Yes, I do have humanity, something a lot of Israeli's don't seem to have. If someone would have supported the Resistence in the Netherlands in WW2 or during the Indepence War against Spain (1568-1648, 80 years war, the first country with a high degree of freedom of religion, the Netherlands! With a lot of refugees from other countries where there was no such freedom!) someone should have equal feelings for human rights and the right to resist in conflicts like in Libanon, Jowlan, Palestina, Zimbabwe, Iran, Egypt or Birma.

Again, my name is Jesper (how did you guys get my name? Is the Mossad watching me and one of you a spy? :lol:). And understand me, I want peace over there, rational people like Akiva Eldar to have the power in Israel and to negiotate in peace, but the situation is not like that at all! So then armed resistence is 100% allowed.

Jesper, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mossad is watching you. ;)

Points taken. But why not support 14 March? Surely they are just as anti-Israel as 8 March.

See what I just said about my political views ;) I'm not thinking in march 14 / march 8 lines ;) I would vote on a secular leftist party which is of course not pro-zionistic and would support (armed) resistance. Maybe I should start my own Oktober the 15th movement :lol:

This is the picture I saw in the Dutch Newspaper on a big scale when I was around 12 I think and started to realise that the world isn't as simple as it seems to be as a child, but that there are a lot of cruel things that happen, a famous picture

http://palestinechronicle.com/uploads/1234078302rafah_zoo_bird.jpg

toghether with images like these, are these people ought to love Israel and the USA later when they've grown up?

Would you feel love for Israel/USA as a child when you're house is destroyed by them, where you grew up, and your pets are killed by them and are found like this by you? I was already very sad when a pet of mine died in normal circumstances:
http://www.rafahtoday.org/newsphotos/04/may/may10/Ramiandhistwodoves.jpg

Future lovers of zionism?
http://www.rafahtoday.org/newsphotos/04/may/may24/snap9.jpg

israel is creating more potential freedom fighters instead of killing them with their own terror!

Is she going to develop a deep love for the ethnical cleansing and terror of israel?

hEpoBpT1WxY

Jesper, the reason I asked my last question is because you seem more militantly pro-HA (pro 8 March) than many Lebanese. I understand that you love Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, etc. But do you really think that 14 March supporters love THEIR country any less than you do? Do you think they don't believe in defending THEIR country? You claim to be neutral in the whole 8 March vs. 14 March issue, but I think for most people here, it's perfectly clear that your views appear to be more in line with those of 8 March. I am not saying this as a criticism of you. It's your opinion, your right. I am just trying to figure out how a Dutch atheist becomes more militantly "pro-Lebanon" than many Lebanese themselves.

Khever, go and visit Lebanon yourself. Visit Tripoli and the vallies near Tripoli. Harcore march 14 sinni 7ariri supporters that hate Hezbollah. Go and talk with them and you'll hear that they also support the resistance of Hezbollah a lot! Just as I do and just as I don't think that I would vote Hezbollah. I hate the whole constitional democracy system of lebanon and the march 14/8 thinking thing. Lebanese politics should be organized among secular parties with all kinds of religions in them but with clear political views and what they want to do to develop and defend Lebanon. You are the one that wants to put me in the box "march 8" but I'm not. I'm somewhere in between. Even though I hate phalangists (right extremists) more than people defending their country (Hezbollah), I am surprised about the job that 7ariri junior is doing and I do have a positive view about his party now, and guess what, he's march 14! ;)

Jesper, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mossad is watching you. ;)

me too, even though it would be a waste of time, because I'm not a violent person at all, I'm a normal calm person who wants to end up just like everybody, to grow old with a wife and children, I have brains and because there are lots of interesting things to do.

@Jesper,

That's a sad reflection of your country.

me too, even though it would be a waste of time, because I'm not a violent person at all, I'm a normal calm person who wants to end up just like everybody, to grow old with a wife and children, I have brains and because there are lots of interesting things to do.

Just because they know where you live, what you do, etc., doesn't mean that they would waste their time coming after you. Trust me, they know what hand I masturbate with and I am pretty sure I never told anyone. They have eyes and ears everywhere.

Khever, wat are you doing in this Lebanon section? Unlike me you don't seem to love Lebanon and are only here to defend the cruelties that Israel is commiting. I never hear you saying that Israel is doing this wrong or that wrong or that it should to this to improve peace in the region! Why don't you admit your country's own mistakes? I have no problems with saying that my government is shitty at all. Or that they commited crimes in indonesia in the 1940/50's.

Khever, wat are you doing in this Lebanon section? Unlike me you don't seem to love Lebanon and are only here to defend the cruelties that Israel is commiting. I never hear you saying that Israel is doing this wrong or that wrong or that it should to this to improve peace in the region! Why don't you admit your country's own mistakes? I have no problems with saying that my government is shitty at all. Or that they commited crimes in indonesia in the 1940/50's.

I am here because I am fascinated by Lebanon. As for my country, I don't see why I should have to put down my country in order to (1) be allowed to express my opinions here and (2) to have a fascination with Lebanon.

And for the record, I have and I do criticize my government when I disagree with something that it does. I think I've been very open about this on SSC.

To jb_nl :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

To Chevre: Hezbollah has never EVER shot any rocket at Israel within a kilometer of any house or village.

That's bullshit because one of their rockets landed within 200m of my car in northern Israel in 2004. And between 2000 and 2006, they fired quite a few rockets, almost all of them landing in civilian areas in northern Israel.

Can you tell me, how, by driving my car in northern Israel in 2004, I posed a threat to Lebanese people and Lebanese territory? How did I aggress your country?

Jesper, how can you call for a secular movement while supporting Hizballah, bro listen, Lebanese will not stand and watch their country being invaded, but you have to understand this, no party ( or sect) has the right to monopolize the resistance, if the resistance movement was secular everyone would support it, PROVIDED it was under the mandate of the state, not under an almighty infallible high religious commander or ayatollah.
Maybe i was quick to shoot, but here's our take, HA is a fringe military group that is undermining the authority of the republic. it is composed of a single sectarian group, a group that is heavily heavily heavily armed, whereas all the other lebanese are called to be unarmed. They threaten and tantalize their fellow Lebanese with instability and internal strife (something that has happened over and over again, and lately 2 days ago in something that was called a "sad accident"). They even manged to skew the concept of Democracy by fabricating "consensual democracy" to their own benefit. Jesper, it is you that has to spend more time with more lebanese and listen to their POV before acting as a regional advisor on international affairs. Lebanese above all want security, peace, integrity of their land, independence form foreign interference (something we don't get even on a freaking forum), and above all prosperity. The occupied lands will be eventually retrieved hopefully without spilling any more blood from either side, therefore there is no need for the constant provocation; but you have to understand also that HA officials use fuliginous speeches to threaten the Lebanese just like they address their enemies, how would you like us to react to this, how would you like the Zionists to react to this. In two words, HA is an illegal barbarian threat that aims to establish a theocratic regime eventually, an objective that was made clear in 1982 but was erased from the public consciousness by projecting fake images of tolerance. but of course you would not know of this. anyway, it is you who is quick to judge from waaaaaay outside. and for the record some tripolians are not so fond of Hariri who is a great man of state btw.

PS. i admire your sympathy for the regional causes, but the case of lebanon is very particular, sensitive and complex and you don't seem to grasp the tip of the web. read more, try to wear a different hat and research into the "others" POV's like the people you call "phalangists " for ex.

But surely the same could be said for people who oppose the 'resistance'...there are surely many of them who also can't speak english fluently...

nope chevre, because the people those who don't support the resistance are mostly those lebanese who have been to outside of the country and they have seen that the resistance has brought awful labels like terrorist for lebanon and they are under the influence of the foreign media. surely you can't learn english when you don't feel yourself close to the western culture and countries those who have been bullying you, but the opposite side learn english with pleasure. It's more like a social discussion rather than a political one.

and chevre, I guess you now know me after a month of discussing things together, I'm not an anti-Israel or Pro-IRI and I have no problem with jewish people, but what the Israeli regime is doing, is considered state terrorism. the Israeli regime uses its military power to make ordinary people in neighboring countries afraid of its mighty IDF to follow its interests. That's the definition of terrorism. to kill civilians and create fear among them for political purposes mean terrorism. let alone your government's violations of international war/peace rules. I don't say regimes and movements against Israel are all good, ours is bad as well, but Israeli government is crappy.

nope chevre, because the people those who don't support the resistance are mostly those lebanese who have been to outside of the country and they have seen that the resistance has brought awful labels like terrorist for lebanon and they are under the influence of the foreign media. surely you can't learn english when you don't feel yourself close to the western culture and countries those who have been bullying you, but the opposite side learn english with pleasure. It's more like a social discussion rather than a political one.

and chevre, I guess you now know me after a month of discussing things together, I'm not an anti-Israel or Pro-IRI and I have no problem with jewish people, but what the Israeli regime is doing, is considered state terrorism. the Israeli regime uses its military power to make ordinary people in neighboring countries afraid of its mighty IDF to follow its interests. That's the definition of terrorism. to kill civilians and create fear among them for political purposes mean terrorism. let alone your government's violations of international war/peace rules. I don't say regimes and movements against Israel are all good, ours is bad as well, but Israeli government is crappy.

QWECXZ,

It's funny how you try to lump HA supporters as basically poor, uneducated people who never leave Lebanon (I am sure Jader, for instance, would beg to differ). I am Israeli, and even I am not so ignorant.

@QWECXZ,

I understand that you hate my government, but I love my country. I only have to look at the tattoo on my grandfather's arm to realize how important my country is to me.

QWECXZ,

It's funny how you try to lump HA supporters as basically poor, uneducated people who never leave Lebanon (I am sure Jader, for instance, would beg to differ). I am Israeli, and even I am not so ignorant.

I never said that chevre. it's a simple thing i think. when you feel out of place in a western country, where they insult your favorite group and they see you and hizbullah supporters as terrorists. would you get encouraged to follow them? my question is easy i think. I don't say none of hizbullah supporters know english, I'm making a comparison, not an absolute generalization. I'm saying the number of anti-hizbullah people knowing english fluently enough to talk politics is more than the number of pro-hizbullah people knowing english fluently enough to talk politics. that's a comparison, not a generalization.

@QWECXZ,

I understand that you hate my government, but I love my country. I only have to look at the tattoo on my grandfather's arm to realize how important my country is to me.

I know what you mean and I completely understand your patriotic feelings, but sometimes it's better to loud your voice against your government when you see there's something obviously wrong. not in every case though, but in some special cases, it's better this way. it will tell anti-Israel people that a large group of Israelis are not in agreement with wrong moves of their government, that will make people come closer to each other to reach a conclusion based on mutual respect.

@QWECXZ,

I understand that you hate my government, but I love my country. I only have to look at the tattoo on my grandfather's arm to realize how important my country is to me.

So people with those tatoo's can't just be Dutch and live here? As Dutch citizens which they always have been? My grandfather should also have emigrated and made his own country by ethnical cleansing? It's not an excuse! See Norman Finkelstein!

Abadi(Iran): We are Ready to Supply Lebanon with Arms and Solve the Electricity File in Six Months

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Abadi voiced Iran's readiness to provide Lebanon with weapons, an issue that he discussed with President Michel Suleiman and Defense Minister Elias Murr.
He told the daily An Nahar Saturday: "We are prepared to answer President Suleiman's call to arm the Lebanese army, and the meeting with minister Murr on this matter was excellent."

Asked if the army may be equipped with advanced rocket systems, he said: "I am a diplomat and do not interfere in military issues but the Iranian defense minister was clear on this matter. Everything is open before Lebanon in supplying it with arms and supporting it other fields."

Abadi stated that Iranian President Mahmoud Admadinejad will visit Lebanon in October, noting: "The trip should have happened earlier, especially after President Suleiman's visit to Tehran."

Addressing Lebanon's electricity file, the ambassador said that there have been no advances in Lebanon in this field in 15 years, announcing that Iran is ready to solve this problem if requested by Lebanese officials.

"We are ready to solve the electricity problem in Lebanon. We can implement the plan in six months and with the best international prices. We have informed Energy Minister Jebran Bassil of this," he added.

The problem, he noted, lies in Cabinet as it needs to take a serious political decision on this matter.

Abadi also revealed that Iran is ready to help Lebanon in drilling for petroleum.

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/A902F815774A9EC1C225778D00250FF9?OpenDocument

So people with those tatoo's can't just be Dutch and live here? As Dutch citizens which they always have been? My grandfather should also have emigrated and made his own country by ethnical cleansing? It's not an excuse! See Norman Finkelstein!

Your grandfather has his country...

I would just like to say its a lot harder nowadays to find any Lebanese who cannot speak english... French, maybe its losing its popularity in the grand scheme, but english is soo evident. Half our shows on MTV Lebanon are in english lol

^^ It seems abit try hard when they speak English on there Music shows etc.

I think its more of the fact they are trying to do 50/50 between arabic and english.. and since its live you kinda mess up in deciding which language to use in order to arrive at that ratio. Plus no matter how difficult it sounds coming out of them, fact of the matter is they do comprehend it at the very least, even if they dont have perfect grammar. I was just saying this to point out its not like one class of people knows english and the other doesnt.. it just doesnt make sense.

We do blend our 3 languages obviously, but lets say I am with my friends and we are talking, its almost always 90% english and the odd arabic or french phrase is thrown in... its not very equalized amongst the languages as one would..expect? lol

If the israelis are smart at all,now it would be the perfect time to pull out of Ghajar and shebaa farms,hizbullan now are weaker internally.
just a thought.

^^ And you call yourself Lebanese, your rooting for a army that have raped your women, and killed your children. This is the perfect example for Chevre's March 14, March 8 question. In 2006 you where without a doubt praying that Israel exercise their "right of defense" and destroy "the terrorist organization" Hezbollah. :puke:

Lebanon will truly never go anywhere with this type of wicked attitude from Lebanese. This thread is truly very depressing.

^^ And you call yourself Lebanese, your rooting for a army that have raped your women, and killed your children. This is the perfect example for Chevre's March 14, March 8 question. In 2006 you where without a doubt praying that Israel exercise their "right of defense" and destroy "the terrorist organization" Hezbollah. :puke:

Lebanon will truly never go anywhere with this type of wicked attitude from Lebanese. This thread is truly very depressing.
flagged :)

^^ lolz (:

Thats ironic considering the context of your first few posts.
It looks like you trying to make up for it. (;

Jader... I believe you would be able to comprehend the fact that Lebanon will not be able to go anywhere when 90% of government talks are focused on Hezb arms, the Hezb entity, and the Hezbs outside influences trying to control us.

I would like to think you could realize that. If there was no talk of a Hizb, then the government might actually talk of something important - ie. the Lebanese people that need assistance. But ya3ni whatever, we are not Lebanese because we want to grow as a country, you are Lebanese because you want to defend the country.

Clearly we are at odds at what it means to be Lebanese.

^^ lolz (:

Thats ironic considering the context of your first few posts.
It looks like you trying to make up for it. (;
so now you get what irony is? last time u resorted to calling people crap

Guys.... you are arguing with a 16 year old kid not with a minister or something. Khalas ray7ooha.

Jader, I hope you grow up to be less condescending, it gets you no respect and no friends at all. Also Jader. you've spent most of your life outside of Lebanon, I think you should speak to people who have lived there all their lives and are tired of hearing the same arguments being thrown at them everytime.

Why are we STILL talking about militia arms in 2010 when there are so many other problems that need to be addressed. This is why young people leave Lebanon, because one generation passes on the same conversations to the next, and so we never move on as a society.

People have only one life to live, and they are not going to spend it listening to mindless speeches and empty promises about weapons and freedom. No wonder people are dying to leave Lebanon.

Jader, if you are in Lebanon ... go out get some sun... go to a beach... walk down hamra, walk around gemmeyze, sit on the corniche ... Not only because all those things are wonderful and precious in our country ... but these are things you should enjoy and understand... maybe after you enjoyed them you can start to value the non militant part of society and understand what you are putting at risk.

It baffles me, our country is full of things to Enjoy... and so many people are busy not enjoying them.

Guys.... you are arguing with a 16 year old kid not with a minister or something. Khalas ray7ooha.

Jader, I hope you grow up to be less condescending, it gets you no respect and no friends at all. Also Jader. you've spent most of your life outside of Lebanon, I think you should speak to people who have lived there all their lives and are tired of hearing the same arguments being thrown at them everytime.

Why are we STILL talking about militia arms in 2010 when there are so many other problems that need to be addressed. This is why young people leave Lebanon, because one generation passes on the same conversations to the next, and so we never move on as a society.

People have only one life to live, and they are not going to spend it listening to mindless speeches and empty promises about weapons and freedom. No wonder people are dying to leave Lebanon.

Jader, if you are in Lebanon ... go out get some sun... go to a beach... walk down hamra, walk around gemmeyze, sit on the corniche ... Not only because all those things are wonderful and precious in our country ... but these are things you should enjoy and understand... maybe after you enjoyed them you can start to value the non militant part of society and understand what you are putting at risk.

It baffles me, our country is full of things to Enjoy... and so many people are busy not enjoying them.

Lebnani, If you would of listened to my previous posts I am dedicated to helping Lebanon, I wake up every morning, and sleep every night thinking and thinking how I can In my life ever help this country. I always say that we as a people need to lock up all our politicians, becuase they are all criminals, we need to get people that work for the economic development for our country. In every post i preach this, I always keep an open mind around here, the people I argue with are sometimes very extreme in their views, that really gets me worked up. When I hear people prefer Israel over Lebanon it is truly disappointing; correct me if I am wrong even If you hate Hezbollah, I hate many things about Hezbollah, and I always say this. At the end of the day all us Lebanese just want stability, and prosperity for our beloved country, and we spend each and every day pondering how we can reach this. This is why I think we are so emotional when it comes to politics. I ask all of you guys to tell me how would you think our country would be right now if no-one ever resisted the occupation. Itafdolu, please answer this one question for me guys.

Peace and love for all :):)

It baffles me, our country is full of things to Enjoy... and so many people are busy not enjoying them.

Especially the locals living in Lebanon. I have noticed they never leave Beirut or their hometown. Ex. my family Beirut- Khiam- Beirut

Dont worry I enjoy all of Lebanon's treasures ;)

^^where are you now?

Guys.... you are arguing with a 16 year old kid not with a minister or something. Khalas ray7ooha.

Jader, I hope you grow up to be less condescending, it gets you no respect and no friends at all. Also Jader. you've spent most of your life outside of Lebanon, I think you should speak to people who have lived there all their lives and are tired of hearing the same arguments being thrown at them everytime.

Why are we STILL talking about militia arms in 2010 when there are so many other problems that need to be addressed. This is why young people leave Lebanon, because one generation passes on the same conversations to the next, and so we never move on as a society.

People have only one life to live, and they are not going to spend it listening to mindless speeches and empty promises about weapons and freedom. No wonder people are dying to leave Lebanon.

Jader, if you are in Lebanon ... go out get some sun... go to a beach... walk down hamra, walk around gemmeyze, sit on the corniche ... Not only because all those things are wonderful and precious in our country ... but these are things you should enjoy and understand... maybe after you enjoyed them you can start to value the non militant part of society and understand what you are putting at risk.

It baffles me, our country is full of things to Enjoy... and so many people are busy not enjoying them.

+1

Jader, if you are in Lebanon ... go out get some sun... go to a beach... walk down hamra, walk around gemmeyze, sit on the corniche

Im actually in Abu Dhabi im getting plentyyy of sunshine. But dont worry, when I am in Leb i never go on ssc. Its just in bo dhabi there is not much to do. (:

^^ And you call yourself Lebanese, your rooting for a army that have raped your women, and killed your children. This is the perfect example for Chevre's March 14, March 8 question. In 2006 you where without a doubt praying that Israel exercise their "right of defense" and destroy "the terrorist organization" Hezbollah. :puke:

Lebanon will truly never go anywhere with this type of wicked attitude from Lebanese. This thread is truly very depressing.


Are you kidding me???????

how the hell am i rooting for the israeli army? :nuts:

i want them to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese land and at the same time weaken hizbullah.and if they want to do so (which i doubt) now is the right time for them.

Guys.... you are arguing with a 16 year old kid not with a minister or something. Khalas ray7ooha.

Hey, it passes the time well while im on the bus.. The longer I'm paying attention to something on my phone, the less likely I will be catching a glimpse of the creep at the other end licking his fingers staring at me... lol

However, I agree with the rest of your post :)

'Mystery' explosions rock south Lebanon town

SHEHABIYEH | AFP - September 03, 2010

A series of explosions on Friday ripped through a house rumoured to be serving as an arms depot in south Lebanon, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold, state media reported.

The state-run National News Agency said the blasts were in a three-storey building that was being used as an arms warehouse on the outskirts of the town of Shehabiyeh, just south of the Litani River, an area under surveillance of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

But the agency later withdrew its report, saying only that a series of explosions had been heard in the area. A Lebanese army spokesman confirmed that there had been three explosions in the house, but said the nature and cause of the blasts was still unclear. UNIFIL said it had no information on the incident. A helicopter bearing the multi-national force's blue logo was seen hovering briefly over the area before leaving.

"At this time all I'm able to tell you is that we are coordinating with the Lebanese army and we have sent patrols to the location," UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh told AFP.

Hezbollah issued a statement saying there were no casualties in what it said was a fire, although it did not comment on the cause of the "blaze". "Hezbollah's media relations denies that there have been casualties in the fire in Shehabiyeh as has been reported by media organisations," the statement said. "The army is currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire," it said.

The fire was quickly put out as troops cordoned off the area, an AFP correspondent said. Ambulances also arrived at the site. Journalists were kept away from the scene by Hezbollah members in their party's military garb and signature yellow berets, the correspondent said. A nearby resident, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that the building had been rented out by the Shiite militant party.

An arms cache believed to belong to Hezbollah exploded last summer in an abandoned house in the southern village of Khirbet Selm, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Israeli border. In October 2009, a rocket exploded in a garage in Tayr Felsay, a village some 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of the southern coastal city of Tyre. Tensions have been high in south Lebanon as Israel, which fought a devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006, has repeatedly accused the Shiite militant group of stockpiling weapons in residential areas.

UN reports on the implementation of Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war, regularly express concern over the continued presence of arms in south Lebanon.

lol what a cool sig!

lol did you bother to read the article, and thanks :D

Of course I didn't! I just wanna troll this thread, in the good way. :D

i like your sig too! its not fair i should have thought of that before you did... i've been sigless for quite a while now : (

I really did not want to post here again, but this is dedicated to the 2 years I have been debating on this forum, and Is dedicated to all of you who still have their eyes closed, and are dreaming in another world, while even your leader has woke up. :p

Hariri comes clean on Syria accusations

http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20100906/shamseddin20100906084238077.jpg

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri acknowledges that he made a mistake to accuse Syria of the murder of his father in a 2005 bombing in Beirut.


"At some point, we made a mistake," AFP quoted Hariri as telling the Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat on Monday.

"At one stage, we accused Syria of assassinating the martyred premier...that was a political accusation, and that political accusation is over," he told the London-based paper.

"There is a (UN) court that is doing its job, and we for our part must reassess what happened," he went on to say.

Former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri was killed, along with more than 20 others, in a massive bombing in the Lebanese capital on February 14, 2005.

Lebanon's Western-backed parties blamed the assassination on Syria, a charge Damascus vehemently rejected.

- Press TV


Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri admitted that he had erred in accusing Syria of assassinating his father after five years of rupturing ties with the neighboring country.

Hariri told the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published on Monday that the charge had been politically motivated and that when he assessed this mistake, he found that it had harmed the Syrian people and the ties between the two countries.

Initial suspicions on martyr Hariri’s 2005 assassination fell on Syria, and four Lebanese army generals. They were the ready-made suspects to be arrested during the UN investigation based on the testimonies of false witnesses. They were detained without charge for four years before they were released on April 29, 2009 by a recommendation from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for “complete absence of reliable evidence”. Dozens of Syrian workers were assailed and in many cases killed because of the tense rhetoric against Syria by the so called March 14 choral. The country was literally on the verge of disaster because of the division caused by the political accusation to Syria. There were the March 8 forces who demanded the truth behind the assassination of Hariri and the March 14 who wanted the truth to point only to Syria, then President Emile Lahoud and the four generals.

“One has to assess (events) in previous years so that past mistakes are not repeated,” Hariri said in his first clear confession to date of his earlier accusations against Syria.

Five years after the assassination, when the Saudi-Syrian ties went back to normal, Syria welcomed Hariri after he became prime minister.
Hariri told Asharq al-Awsat that he feels he is going to a friendly country when he travels to Damascus.

The investigation, by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, into Hariri’s assassination led by investigator Daniel Bellemare assumed in the first two reports that the Syrian government may be linked to the assassination. The same UN tribunal acquitted Syria from the political accusations in a 2009 report.

Concerning false witnesses, Hariri said: “Some people have misled the probe and harmed Syria and Lebanon … They have harmed ties between the two countries and politicized the assassination.”

“There is a (UN) court that is doing its job, and we for our part must reassess what happened,” he said. “The tribunal is completely independent of our political accusations, which were made prematurely,” Hariri added. “The tribunal only takes into consideration evidence.”

Hezbollah Secretary General in a July press conference called on so-called March 14 powers to review their position after they accused Syria in the first minutes after the assassination “because the results of their stances and their policies have affected Lebanon and the region.” “You were the prosecutor and you were the punishers.”

Al- Manar

That shows how weak our leaders are against the Syrian regime! Remeber who killed Kamal Jumblat, but Walid won't admit that at least not at the momment, perhaps we can wait 15 minutes he might change his mind!

@ jader even if Hariri bows down and kisses Bashar's feet imploring him for forgiveness; we all know who is behind Hariri's killing. It's just a shame that true justice won't be achieved! and Lebanon will remain nothing but a puppet to the Syrian/ Iranian regimes.

That shows how weak our leaders are against the Syrian regime! Remeber who killed Kamal Jumblat, but Walid won't admit that at least not at the momment, perhaps we can wait 15 minutes he might change his mind!

@ jader even if Hariri bows down and kisses Bashar's feet imploring him for forgiveness; we all know who is behind Hariri's killing. It's just a shame that true justice won't be achieved! and Lebanon will remain nothing but a puppet to the Syrian/ Iranian regimes.


I agree :ohno:

@jader, the "apology" is just his way of saying that the STL will ultimately determine the culprits and until then accusations are meaningless. He is just being a diplomatic and civilized leader. When the STL finds Syria and Hizballah responsible, then we will see his reaction. Hariri is actually being a very smart polititian by removing the sense that there is bias in the STL and that his accusation had some infulence on the investigation.

^^ r u for real? Hariri said it plainly clear...that they rushed to accuse Syria for political reasons...that false witnesses have damaged the relations between both countries...it's not like he's a student who just admitted to cheating in a mid term exam...he is the Prime Minister of a nation admitting to having accused a the gov of a neighbouring nation of the assassination of his father!ur efforts to try to reshape the reality can't hide the fact that his statement is brutally clear...Hariri is kissing syrian ass bcz he tried kicking it hard w ma zabatit ma3o for watever reason...

w annie...u agree? come on girl!!! u agree with melkart? don't put me down...

in fact let me add, that people have been arrested and imprisoned for years without proof, for political reasons...those people have the universal right to a compensation and to open legal procedures against those responsible for their arrest. This is how justice works in the modern world...

^^ It is quite clear that the Syria/Iran/Hizballah axis was involved in some way in the assassination, as they were responsible for numerous other assassinations. This is not some crazy conspiracy theory. Hariri is now simply attempting to de-politicize the STL so that when the indictment comes out people wont say it was biased.

im with beiruti on this one, he should have said it a while ago because it was his professional duty not to accuse unjustly, even if we all believe syria did it. Fact of the matter syria is our neighbour and in all honesty bashing it will only fuel its greed to own us in some way but staying NEUTRAL will maybe give it reason to eff off a bit (nothing positive bout it just neutral statements as these)

beiruti...."It is quite clear"...really? is it? plz define quite clear...do you have any proof to support your claim? or is it based on a personal perception? do you have a 6th sense? or do you belong to the CIA and have access to classified information? if you want to throw accusations bala ta3me do it, but please take a few seconds to elaborate on the other assassinations that took place in lebanon during the last 10 years...those of hizbullah members, the assassination of a patriot like Georges Hawi, the assassination of François el Hajj, or the assassination of Elie Hobeika, or the assassination of palestinian militants to name a few...plz enlighten me coz i'm lost. Ok that u want to drag HA into your shit, ok that you want peace with israel, ok that you want to turn lebanon into a fake Dubai...but at least make the effort to sound serious...nothing personal my friend :)

... to drag HA into your shit
that's rude and disrespectful, why do you get so worked up over this?
Anyway ^^FLAGGED

beiruti...."It is quite clear"...really? is it? plz define quite clear...do you have any proof to support your claim? or is it based on a personal perception? do you have a 6th sense? or do you belong to the CIA and have access to classified information? if you want to throw accusations bala ta3me do it, but please take a few seconds to elaborate on the other assassinations that took place in lebanon during the last 10 years...those of hizbullah members, the assassination of a patriot like Georges Hawi, the assassination of François el Hajj, or the assassination of Elie Hobeika, or the assassination of palestinian militants to name a few...plz enlighten me coz i'm lost. Ok that u want to drag HA into your shit, ok that you want peace with israel, ok that you want to turn lebanon into a fake Dubai...but at least make the effort to sound serious...nothing personal my friend :)

I'm not going to get into a debate with you, but it's clear to me, you are free to believe what you want. The point is that it doesnt matter until the STL, who has all the evidence, makes their indictment. I cant imagine that the Mehlis report was not even slightly accurate.

Why do you neglect to mention the attack on Marwan Hamede and the assassination of Kamal Jumblatt for instance? it is absurd to think Syria didnt have a hand in any assassinations.

Oh and I'll be waiting for Assad's apology for saying he will break Lebanon over Hariri's head and for threatening Jumblatt with ethnic cleansing of the Druze in syria.

that's rude and disrespectful, why do you get so worked up over this?
Anyway ^^FLAGGED


Noted.

There is no place for this type of language/attitude at this forum. Consider yourself warned aezzeddi.

beiruti...."It is quite clear"...really? is it? plz define quite clear...do you have any proof to support your claim? or is it based on a personal perception? do you have a 6th sense? or do you belong to the CIA and have access to classified information? if you want to throw accusations bala ta3me do it, but please take a few seconds to elaborate on the other assassinations that took place in lebanon during the last 10 years...those of hizbullah members, the assassination of a patriot like Georges Hawi, the assassination of François el Hajj, or the assassination of Elie Hobeika, or the assassination of palestinian militants to name a few...plz enlighten me coz i'm lost. Ok that u want to drag HA into your shit, ok that you want peace with israel, ok that you want to turn lebanon into a fake Dubai...but at least make the effort to sound serious...nothing personal my friend :)

I don't think anyone misses Elie Hobeika! May he rot in hell! and PS we don't want to turn Lebanon into a fake Dubai we would rather fight other people's wars and keep Lebanon in a state of war, mired in misery and poverty!

Oh and I'll be waiting for Assad's apology for saying he will break Lebanon over Hariri's head and for threatening Jumblatt with ethnic cleansing of the Druze in syria.

Hariri and Jumblatt's actions and words throughout the years weren't any less offensive.

Jumblatt had a loose tongue at all of those "Thawratil Arz" speeches infront of thousands. His tongue needed cutting. He once even called Bashar il Assad, who is a President of a COUNTRY, "qird," which is why they always make fun of him saying "Ya Qird."

As a Lebanese, I admit, our actions and words towards Syria have always been condescending. Just look at the map for God's sake, Lebanon is nothing but a small piece of Syria (barely makes up 1/17th of Syria). Look at our attitude towards Syria, and look at our size, and you'll see the problem. Syria doesn't need us, WE need them. -_-


Just quit it and go watch some Bab al Hara :lol:

...Lebanon is nothing but a small piece of Syria...
You call yourself a Lebanese??, you have the audacity to have an avatar like that? Shame on you!

What does country size have to do with anything?


Look it comes down to the simple facts that our borders have not been demarcated and our relations have not normalized. Syria and Lebanon do not know how to conduct themselves with each other.

And Lebanon does not need syria... we may not afford to piss them off because they surround our borders, but we dont need them. And they dont need us... but we'd be a fucking fantastic jewel in their crown. Did we forget that lebanon is one of the only middle eastern countries to have an abundance of water, and we are the trading gateway to the middle east.

And I'd rather watch 3ayza et gawaz more than bab el hara, I'm tired of these political stories of colonizers.

You call yourself a Lebanese??, you have the audacity to have an avatar like that? Shame on you!


and YOU have the audacity of saying "shame on you?"

Why? Who are you to question my Lebanese Nationality?

I am not saying that we are a territory of Syria, but look at what we are trying to face, look at its location. Inno shoo badnan di2 rasna bil 7et?

I feel like you guys have more tolerance towards Israel, like "lets make peace with Israel," but when its towards Syria, you fail to even want to shake its hand.

I end here.

Hariri and Jumblatt's actions and words throughout the years weren't any less offensive.

Jumblatt had a loose tongue at all of those "Thawratil Arz" speeches infront of thousands. His tongue needed cutting. He once even called Bashar il Assad, who is a President of a COUNTRY, "qird," which is why they always make fun of him saying "Ya Qird."

As a Lebanese, I admit, our actions and words towards Syria have always been condescending. Just look at the map for God's sake, Lebanon is nothing but a small piece of Syria (barely makes up 1/17th of Syria). Look at our attitude towards Syria, and look at our size, and you'll see the problem. Syria doesn't need us, WE need them. -_-


Just quit it and go watch some Bab al Hara :lol:


And didnt both Jumblatt and Hariri make their apologies for the rhetoric? That is what civilized leaders do, they swallow their pride for the sake of the nation. Assad can start by apologizing for his insults, threats, etc.

umm Jumblatt swallowed more than his pride! he is a full time ass kisser- wiper for Bashar now!

^^ Please try and keep the dialogue mature.

Ok more like a yes man to bashar how about that?

EID MUBARAK


:cheers::nuts::):ohno::bash:^^:banana::lol:


GJCQDd4vYjg

3ala fikra this thread should be closed for holidays. we should celebrate not b7del each other.

isnt Eid on Friday? Today is Wednesday

Well, depends.. I'm celebrating it today (Thursday)

^^ don't u live in KSA? in KSA,Eid is on Friday.

Summer is not over yet for me :D

3eid mbarak guys!! :banana:

Late to the discussion but i echo everything beiruti said! You guys we have very short memories of Syria threats to Lebanon and past assassinations. What we have is a very intelligent and strategic thinking Prime minister. He is boosting the STL image for being fair and transparent so when a charge comes about people will not accuse it of being political.

And btw "Turning into a dubai?????" Those of you who know me on this site ...knows my comments about that. Dont get me started...:):):)

lashou 3am min 3ayed bi EAYOR?

Anyways, yen3eid 3alaykon bi sou7a w salameh

an off topic question, but Eid? is Fetr an important eid in lebanon? is that your new year?

its an important eid in Lebanon, but no it doesnt replace the new Year's celebration.

Ah okay. so your new year starts by the first day of the Gregorian Calendar? and how important fetr is in lebanon?

its important.... its a 3 day national holiday.

Ah okay. so your new year starts by the first day of the Gregorian Calendar? and how important fetr is in lebanon?

^^ in Lebanon we celebrate both Christian and Muslim holidays as national holidays and serve both equal importance, we also take into account some religious Armenian holidays and soon we may also be celebrating Jewish holidays.

^^ in Lebanon we celebrate both Christian and Muslim holidays as national holidays and serve both equal importance, we also take into account some religious Armenian holidays and soon we may also be celebrating Jewish holidays.


In the USA, only Christian and Jewish holidays are national holidays, nobody ever even thinks of making Eid il Fatr or Eid il Adha as a national holiday. That tells you there is seriously something wrong with the country! :ohno:

Most holidays in the US are secular in nature
Christian holidays such as easter and Christmas are considered official holidays due to the judeo Christian background. Jewish holidays however are not official You are exempted to take a religious day off from work. It isn't practical to shutdown an entire nation for every religious holiday. We also have other religions to consider such as budhism hinduims, etc. Not really sure why you think that Jewish holidays are official national holidays. Where did you get that idea from.

^^ lol if in the USA they were to take into account every single religious holiday of every single sect residing, everyday would be a religious holiday. But seriously I think they should implement that work exemption for Jewish holidays on Muslim holidays as well, for the sake of equality. Muslims are viewed as second class citizens in America, which violates their basic human rights to equality.

In the USA, only Christian and Jewish holidays are national holidays, nobody ever even thinks of making Eid il Fatr or Eid il Adha as a national holiday. That tells you there is seriously something wrong with the country! :ohno:

Since when are Jewish holidays considered as national holidays in the US? The only religious holidays in the US that are national holidays are Christian ones (i.e., Christmas).

BTW- Obama just held a Ramadan dinner at the White House a few weeks ago.

^^ in Lebanon we celebrate both Christian and Muslim holidays as national holidays and serve both equal importance, we also take into account some religious Armenian holidays and soon we may also be celebrating Jewish holidays.

Armenian holidays are christian holidays as far as I know. Armenians belong to a unique sect of Christianity and they have their own church called the Armenian church. I doubt they would have anything else except those, some of them may be orthodoxies as well. please tell me more or correct me if i'm wrong.
but the Gregorian Calendar is the official calendar which fiscal years and other official things are counted based on it, am i right?
another question, does anyone know what religion lebanon had in ancient times? I mean before the French invasion of lebanon and the Islamic invasion, something like in period of Phoenicia.

They used to believe in the Gods of trees/thunder/Sun/Beauty/Love etc..

Armenian holidays are christian holidays as far as I know. Armenians belong to a unique sect of Christianity and they have their own church called the Armenian church. I doubt they would have anything else except those, some of them may be orthodoxies as well. please tell me more or correct me if i'm wrong.
but the Gregorian Calendar is the official calendar which fiscal years and other official things are counted based on it, am i right?
another question, does anyone know what religion lebanon had in ancient times? I mean before the French invasion of lebanon and the Islamic invasion, something like in period of Phoenicia.

^^ that is true the Armenians in Lebanon belong mainly to the Orthodox Church with a Catholic minority; however, they celebrate their Christmas and Easter differently than the other Christian sects in Lebanon, Armenian Christmas for example is on January 6th, which is a national holiday in Lebanon for that manner, and on particular years we may celebrate Easter on 2 or even 3 different occasions. The official calender in Lebanon is the Gregorian Calender and other formalities are counted accordingly.
The period of Phoenicia is not remotely close to any of the French or Islamic invasions, Phoenicia existed as an independent group of city states namely : Tyros (Tyre)- Saidoon (Sidon)- Berytus (Beirut)- Jubail (Byblos) and their surrounding territories where each city state had a different patron God, the Phoenician Gods gave inspiration to the Greek and Egyptian civilizations which adopted them and worshiped their respective forms, such Gods are : Baal (Greek ZEUS) and Set (Egyptian SETH) and Goddesses Astarte (Greek : Hera)
and as Popsi stated there were different Gods to each of beauty, rain, war..ect
There are 81 Phoenician Gods.

^^ Phoenician Gods can be found in all pre-Abrahamic Semitic religions. The same Gods were found in Canaan, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia and Arabia. Claiming them all as Phoenician is baseless.

I always wondered this but when people refer to armenians they automatically link them to christianity. I know 6 families myself who are armenian muslims and not through marriage, its likely they converted upon reaching lebanon or something. Anyone else know any, or are they not avtually a minority just exceptional cases?

Same goes for the greek lebs, most of the ones I know are muslim but they are generally viewed as being all christian

^^ I can understand that for the Armenians, because the term "Armenian" denotes an ethnicity rather than a religion but Greek Lebs? Are they originally Greek? 'cos I thought they're ethnically Arab or Phoenician but their Christian denomination is Greek Orthodox.

yes ethnically greek but naturalized during our independence

Most holidays in the US are secular in nature
Christian holidays such as easter and Christmas are considered official holidays due to the judeo Christian background. Jewish holidays however are not official You are exempted to take a religious day off from work. It isn't practical to shutdown an entire nation for every religious holiday. We also have other religions to consider such as budhism hinduims, etc. Not really sure why you think that Jewish holidays are official national holidays. Where did you get that idea from.

lol, you can picture two easter holidays the cathlic easter and the Orthodoxs easter... and two Christmas Holidays.. for the Eastern Orthodoxs who have Christmas on 7th of Jan... double the amount!

^^ I can understand that for the Armenians, because the term "Armenian" denotes an ethnicity rather than a religion but Greek Lebs? Are they originally Greek? 'cos I thought they're ethnically Arab or Phoenician but their Christian denomination is Greek Orthodox.

The Greek Orthodox are not necessarily Greek! but yes we do have Greeks also who came to Lebanon during the population exchange that took place between Turkey and Greece (during the first world war).

^^ lol if in the USA they were to take into account every single religious holiday of every single sect residing, everyday would be a religious holiday. But seriously I think they should implement that work exemption for Jewish holidays on Muslim holidays as well, for the sake of equality. Muslims are viewed as second class citizens in America, which violates their basic human rights to equality.

Muslims are exempted too! as matter fact even pagans can take a day off from work!

what about this?

March 14 Secretariat: Lebanon Subject to Fierce Coup Attempt
Readers Number : 322



15/09/2010 The so-called March 14 General Secretariat warned Wednesday that Lebanon is currently being subject to what it called a "fierce coup attempt" the aim of which is to restore the situation in the country to what it was before March 14, 2005.

In a statement it released following its weekly meeting and read by its coordinator Fares Soaid, the March 14 General Secretariat claimed that "Hezbollah revealed this plan itself when it announced its refusal of the facts and political, national, and popular equations."

"It aims to change the situation through a general who represents the previous security regime in the country, who was followed by MP Michel Aoun and his call to citizens to civil disobedience," the statement said.

Soaid went on to say that the March 14 forces adopted openness towards Hezbollah even after they won a majority in the 2009 parliamentary elections, forming a national unity government that included party members. "Unfortunately, the Hezbollah leadership welcomed all this with attempts to thwart matters of that enjoyed Lebanese consensus: the STL, resolution 1701, Palestinian possession of arms outside refugee camps, Lebanese desire to overcome the memories of the civil war," said Soaid.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=154252&language=en

^^ that is true the Armenians in Lebanon belong mainly to the Orthodox Church with a Catholic minority; however, they celebrate their Christmas and Easter differently than the other Christian sects in Lebanon, Armenian Christmas for example is on January 6th, which is a national holiday in Lebanon for that manner, and on particular years we may celebrate Easter on 2 or even 3 different occasions. The official calender in Lebanon is the Gregorian Calender and other formalities are counted accordingly.
The period of Phoenicia is not remotely close to any of the French or Islamic invasions, Phoenicia existed as an independent group of city states namely : Tyros (Tyre)- Saidoon (Sidon)- Berytus (Beirut)- Jubail (Byblos) and their surrounding territories where each city state had a different patron God, the Phoenician Gods gave inspiration to the Greek and Egyptian civilizations which adopted them and worshiped their respective forms, such Gods are : Baal (Greek ZEUS) and Set (Egyptian SETH) and Goddesses Astarte (Greek : Hera)
and as Popsi stated there were different Gods to each of beauty, rain, war..ect
There are 81 Phoenician Gods.

well, as far as I know, Armenians do not belong to the Orthodox church. they belong to the Armenian church. they have their own sect. but a minority of Armenians belong to the Orthodox church due to being an ex-USSR state.
also I guess orthodoxies celebrate Xmass on January 7th. not January 6th.

well, as far as I know, Armenians do not belong to the Orthodox church. they belong to the Armenian church. they have their own sect. but a minority of Armenians belong to the Orthodox church due to being an ex-USSR state.
also I guess orthodoxies celebrate Xmass on January 7th. not January 6th.

The vast majority of Armenians belong the The Armenian Orthodox Church! meaning they are orthodox. and FYI all Orthodox sects uesed to celebrate Xmass on Jan 6th. It is only within the past century that the Greek Orthodox/Antiochian Orthodox have adopted the 25th of December as a date.

The vast majority of Armenians belong the The Armenian Orthodox Church! meaning they are orthodox. and FYI all Orthodox sects uesed to celebrate Xmass on Jan 6th. It is only within the past century that the Greek Orthodox/Antiochian Orthodox have adopted the 25th of December as a date.

well, you're right. it's an orthodox church, but not like eastern orthodox church that most Russians are or greek orthodox church. I was wrong, I should've said a minority of Armenians belong to eastern orthodox church.

“I resist; you don’t exist”
Hanin Ghaddar, September 25, 2010


The feeling of being stepped on as a citizen or humiliated to the core is one that cannot be underestimated in today’s Lebanon. It is difficult to overcome the challenges facing those of us who live in this accursed region without the protection of state institutions. But any semblance of the state, again in a region where the notion of the state is so often a moveable feast, has been systematically crushed, the latest example being Hezbollah’s total disregard for national security when it broke into Rafik Hariri International Airport last Saturday to pick up the former head of General Security, Jamil as-Sayyed, when he returned from Paris.

What is left to hold onto in a country controlled by an arrogant and sectarian militia that protects itself with Iranian arms, deludes itself that it has the unyielding support of the Shia community and believes that it can thrive on the past glories of its war of resistance against Israel?

Indeed, the Resistance was supposed to solely resist the Israeli occupying forces in South Lebanon, and despite the reservations many people had regarding the ideology and evolution of Hezbollah, the Party of God fulfilled its mandate in 2000 and won the thanks of a grateful nation.

So what has happened since then? When Hezbollah inherited the Lebanese political scene from the Syrians in 2005, it focused its efforts on fighting the Lebanese government, its institutions and its people.

Its “divine victory” against Israel in 2006 could not be questioned, and Hezbollah became greedier and more arrogant. It wanted everything, and the power game got ugly. Today, it has exceeded itself, even by its own outrageous standards.

To be fair, the mask of the Resistance fell away over two years ago on May 7 on the streets of Beirut and days later in the Druze Mountains. We’ve been trying to resist it ever since, but the tools we made in 2005 have been taken from us one by one. The May 7 attempted coup, an imposed government of so-called national unity and the Saudi-Syrian “deal” are just a few of the events that have slowly eroded the gains of March 14, 2005, and today all we have to cling to is the hope that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) ensures that justice prevails.

However, this last hope is under attack every day by Hezbollah because the party wants to put an end to the court, and when Hezbollah demands something from the Lebanese, it is not enough to say no. “No” is tantamount to treason because it is “no” to the Divine Resistance. “No” means a long fight that will more often than not unfold into lethal mayhem.

Because of its resistance activities, Hezbollah feels it has the right to hijack the country and force its agenda on all Lebanese, because we are nothing more than its mignons. Because the Resistance insists it is cut from more honorable cloth, the rest of us have to endure the wounds – physical and mental – that have been inflicted upon us and give up our right to try to know who has been killing our leaders since February 14, 2005. Simply, Hezbollah does not want the STL to find out the truth.

Because of the Resistance, Lebanon has to bury its potential to grow as a hub of freedom, development, co-existence and culture in the region. Hezbollah prefers Lebanon to be a battlefield for regional confrontation. Without conflict it is nothing.

Because of the Resistance, the government and state institutions cannot make or implement sovereign decisions. It cannot even issue an arrest warrant for Sayyed when he defames the prime minister. Hezbollah wants Sayyed to say what he said and wants to send a message to the Lebanese authorities that Hezbollah is the final decision maker on everything.

Hezbollah won’t stop repeating the phrase forced into the ministerial statement that the defense of Lebanon consists of the army, the Resistance and the people, although more than half of the Lebanese (as it was established in the parliamentary elections in 2009) do not want to resist. As for the rest, they are merely expected to applaud and blindly follow instructions.

Today Hezbollah wants to put an end to the course of justice, but the party’s ego stops it from seeing that the urge for revenge can easily replace justice. Revenge does not need evidence and does not differentiate between the killer and the community he comes from.

If the STL is abandoned at the barrel of a gun, the Shia, all of the Shia, will be punished for a crime no one knows who committed. Does Hezbollah really want this to happen to those who have already sacrificed enough for their so-called party? Who will then save the Lebanese from the poisoning hatred that expresses itself every day in Sunni-Shia neighborhoods of Beirut?

Hezbollah has convinced everyone that the Shia stand behind it no matter what happens, and now the human shield it has been protecting itself with for years will have to once again pay the price for the party’s arrogance, with more blood and more tears.

The fault is not only Hezbollah’s, as nobody has tried to understand the Shia community’s dynamics, which are more complicated than what Hezbollah is trying to convey. This misconception can make the urge for revenge that much more aggressive and primitive.

The only tool we are left with in order to avoid revenge is the STL. We need to hold on to it, stand up for it and trust it. The fear we feel today should push us to break the stereotypes we have of each other instead of adopting them as an excuse for vengeance.

Civil wars can start because of preconceived ideas, and we know better than most how brutal and long civil wars can be. Have we learned nothing from our past?

Saadallah Wannous, a Syrian playwright and intellectual, said before he died in 1997: “We are dominated by hope.” In Lebanon, we have no choice but to stay hopeful, because if we don’t, we will lose ourselves.

^^ alas, the ugly truth

what a great read that was! thanks for sharing.

Not sure how accurate this is.

The Lebanese forces have arrested three members of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for allegedly spying for Israel.


The Lebanese military intelligence service launched crackdown on foreign informants in the coastal city of Jounieh, north of the capital Beirut last week, Journal of Turkish Weekly reported on Saturday.

The ongoing operation has so far resulted in the arrest of three PKK militants among other suspected Tel Aviv-commissioned spies.

Since last year, Lebanon has arrested dozens of people, including security officials and telecom employees, on suspicion of spying for Israel.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community, took up arms in 1984 in quest for an independent state in southeastern Turkey. The conflict has so far claimed some 45,000 lives.

The PKK militants launch their attacks from the Qandil Mountains where Israel and Israeli firms reportedly operate.

Earlier in June, Sedat Laciner, the head of Turkish think tank International Strategic Research Organization, said Israeli intelligence agents and military retirees had been sighted providing training to PKK militants in Iraqi Kurdistan.

On Tuesday, the PKK acting chief declared allegiance to Tel Aviv -- amid reports that Israel had been supporting the militants in their armed campaign against Turkey.

Murat Karayilan urged Israel to sever its military ties with Turkey, which he described as a common enemy.

"Our enemies are also the enemies of Israel," Karayilan told Israeli Channel 2 television, speaking from the group's strongholds in the northern Iraq mountains, Reuters reported.

"Our problem lies in the military ties between Israel and Turkey. Those ties harm us," he said.

The developments come as Ankara's relations with Tel Aviv remain at their worst following the May 31 Israeli attack on Freedom Flotilla, a Turkish-backed aid convoy, which was sailing for the Gaza Strip. The assault in international waters killed nine Turkish human rights activists.

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/144094.html

I don't doubt it. kel zbelet l alam hone. :|

Organization of Reporters Against Violence calls for detaining Moussawi
September 27, 2010 share
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The Organization of Reporters Against Violence called for stripping Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi of his parliamentary immunity and detaining him on “charges of intellectual terrorism,” according to a statement issued by the organization on Monday.

Moussawi said on Friday that any group in Lebanon that “abides by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL)[pending] indictment will be dealt with on the basis that it is one of the tools of US-Israeli aggression.”

The organization also criticized Moussawi’s statement on the incident at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport. Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Moussawi as saying on Monday, “What happened at the airport was [our] right as MPs, and it will happen again whenever we want.”

On September 18, Hezbollah MPs and armed bodyguards escorted former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed from the airport after his arrival from Paris. Earlier that week, Sayyed had been summoned by the Lebanese judiciary for questioning over speeches in which he threatened Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Democracy and political freedom cannot be set right when there are parties who fulfill the aims of their Iranian and Syrian masters, the Organization of Reporters Against Violence added.

-NOW Lebanon



To read more: http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=204257#ixzz10l7VzWJN
Only 25% of a given NOW Lebanon article can be republished. For information on republishing rights from NOW Lebanon: http://www.nowlebanon.com/Sub.aspx?ID=125478

Jumblatt is stupid.

what makes you say that. Did I miss something?

Other than the fact he is... I probably should have explained myself.

He was interviewed saying he is surprised how little of Beirut's heritage is left, and how rampant urbanization is making the city lose its character.

My annoyance was with the fact the dude lives in Lebanon, spends most of his time throughout Beirut and he just realized this now? He could have easily talked about it in government meetings, got some proposal movements going.. done something. Rather than being "surprised" 10 years late...

^^ Ramy, ur the one who's missing something here I think.

2 days ago (I think yesterday kamen), there has been talks about a serious plan for removing the Beirut Municipality Stadium (al mal3ab l baladi), and turning it into a mall and a parking lot. This is why he brought that subject to the surface in that interview...

my bad.... I probably should have listened to the whole thing

thanks for correcting me

I found this on asad abukhalil's blog (I'm sure many of you know who he is), can anyone translate what it means please:

"داود داود
ردّاً على ما ورد في جريدتكم للكاتب أسعد أبو خليل تحت عنوان «كشف اللثام الحريري»(«الأخبار»، 25/10/2010): نأسف أن يتعرض أحد قادة المقاومة الأخ داود داود لمثل هذا التهجّم، ولكن العجب يزول عندما يتجلبب الكاتب بجلباب مخلّفات الإقطاع.
حركة أمل
المكتب الإعلامي المركزي"

Thanks in advance :)

Mohamad Shmaysani

http://almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/WebsiteImages/PicturesFolder/a956c351-f808-4ef2-b5b0-189ac18f6cec_top.jpg

Between theory and practice, calming down the deteriorating political situation in Lebanon could determine the fate of the country, and even the region.

What had started as a debate on whether false witnesses in the Rafiq Hariri murder case existed or not, whether the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was politicized or not, or even whether Israel was behind the assassination or not, has turned into political wrangling and tense rhetoric.

Worse, March 14 bloc members have taken their speech to a more dangerous sectarian level.

Last week, Lebanon First parliamentary bloc member MP Mohamad Kabbara accused Hezbollah of aiming at “the leader of the Sunnis in Lebanon,” in reference to Hariri.
Before him, Mustaqbal [Future] Movement MP Ammar Houri made similar comments.
Hezbollah retorted by warning against bids to take the country into sectarian strife.
“We will not allow sedition to infiltrate” regardless of the tense rhetoric, Hezbollah MPs have stressed. According to Houri, “Hariri did not give me or colleague Kabbara any remarks about our recent comments.”

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is expected to issue an indictment over the assassination case of former Prime Minister martyr Rafiq Hariri. However, the date set for issuance remains undisclosed, although expectations have put the date sometime next December.

According to ‘leaks’ to the German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’, the indictment will implicate “undisciplined members of Hezbollah.” The party’s S.G. Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah also said that Prime Minister Saad Hariri had told him that the STL’s indictment is inclined to accuse Hezbollah members. Hariri’s bloc, or at least part of it, denied this conversation ever took place although Hariri himself did not.

However, Hezbollah stressed it has not taken its final stance with regards to the STL.
“We are waiting for the outcome of Arab – and particularly Saudi – efforts in light of the Lebanese-Syrian-Saudi commitment to seek ways to keep the STL away from politicization and unfair accusations,” Hezbollah’s Deputy S.G. Sheikh Naim Qassem told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai on Thursday.

Qassem added that S.G. Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah will announce the party’s finale stance “after the time limit of Arab efforts expires, and then we will see whether the STL will redirect its investigation in light of the evidence that implicate Israel in the Rafiq Hariri assassination, which Sayyed Nasrallah has presented.”

The end of September could mark the end of the time limit, according to opposition sources.

Hezbollah maintains that it will regard the STL as politicized as long as it rules out Israel’s involvement in the Hariri murder, and as long as the false witnesses who diverted the course of the international investigation are not tried.

In a recent interview with the Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hariri acknowledged the existence of false witnesses, after years of denial by his March 14 bloc. He also acknowledged that accusing Syria of assassinating his father was a mistake.

DEMONIZING HEZBOLLAH, A DÉJÀ VU PRIOR TO 1982 INVASION

Demonizing Hezbollah in Lebanon and the world is a prerequisite to achieve a number of objectives within the framework of the US-Israeli scheme being planned for the region.

Hezbollah constitutes an example of resistance revered by all resistance movements in the region and criminalizing it would gradually dismantle, or at least weaken, other resistance movements in occupied Palestine, Iraq, and elsewhere.
With its arsenal of defensive weapons a few meters away from “Israel,” Hezbollah constitutes a crucial element preventing – so far – the Zionist entity from striking Lebanon, Iran, and maybe Syria. Disarming Hezbollah has been a demand by Israel and the US and was internationally endorsed through UNSCR 1559.

In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon under the pretext of crushing the Palestinian resistance, mainly operating in south Lebanon and Beirut. Some in the southern community welcomed the Israeli forces with rice and flowers. Israel had relentlessly worked on paving the ground for its invasion; its tool was its network of collaborators.
Prior to the invasion, dozens of clashes, skirmishes, and scuffles took place in south Lebanon between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and active forces in the southern community; some were pro-Palestinian. The PLO was eventually deemed an aggressive force to the community harboring it. The invasion happened and one year later, then President Amine Gemayel signed the humiliating May 17 agreement with Israel, but it was destined to be brought down by national forces in Lebanon.

Despite its failure in 2006, Israel’s strive to crush Hezbollah as a resistance force has not changed; and so is its endeavor to strike another May 17 agreement to isolate Lebanon from, Syria, Iran, and the whole Arab-Israeli struggle.


NEXT INVASION?

Playing on the sectarian chord has proved to be the most effective way to keep a people divided; it’s been tried in Lebanon before, and the 1982 invasion came as civil war was reaching its peak.

The STL today is under Hezbollah’s microscope until it proves it is handling the Hariri assassination case properly, in light of the provided evidence that point to Israel, the persecution of the false witnesses who deluded the investigation for five years, and the upcoming indictment.

“If the indictment echoed the Der Spiegel report, this will mark the beginning of a US-Israeli invasion similar to that of 1982. Every invasion necessitates a proper confrontation. The objective of the 1982 invasion was the May 17, 1983 agreement and the new invasion, should it happen, aims at a new May 17 agreement which we will categorically refuse. When Lebanon comes under invasion, the resistance has an obligation to defend the country,” Hezbollah MP Nawaf Moussawi said in a televised interview Wednesday.

Pending the outcome of the tripartite Arab efforts and the indictment, Hezbollah sees no possible settlement to the political deterioration in Lebanon. Calm, amid incitement and sectarian mobilization by some March 14 officials, could only be a temporary solution.

The ultimate solution for Hezbollah is to stop targeting the resistance.

With Israel preparing for worst case scenarios, the US striking multi-billion dollar arms deals with Gulf States, and US-Israeli threats to strike Iran are on the rise, the sectarian rhetoric by some March 14 officials in Lebanon is giving US-Israeli warmongers the strategic advantage, the power and the needed spark to enflame the region.

Stand up to Hezbollah, not the Shia
Hanin Ghaddar, October 2, 2010


Hezbollah officials were very flagrant this past week about their plan to fight the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). They hinted at a number of scenarios, none of them comforting, in which they would target any individual or institution that supports the court.

Civil strife or even a coup d’état are very possible. In case any of the suggested scenarios take place, a cycle of revenge will take hold, and it will be very difficult to control the consequences.

Several March 8 politicians are calling for the abolition of the STL. Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi said last week that any group in Lebanon that “abides by the tribunal’s pending indictment will be dealt with on the basis that it is one of the tools of US-Israeli aggression.”

The issue of financing the tribunal, to be addressed during the cabinet meeting on Monday, might be the spark. Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hassan Fadlallah said during last week’s parliamentary Finance and Budget Commission session that parliament should vote to dissolve the STL before the end of September, otherwise “the matter [will be] very dangerous.”

Then, in an interview on LBC, the party’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, noted that Hezbollah has not yet been informed of "the outcome of contacts conducted by the parties of the tripartite summit on the [STL] indictment issue."

"We may receive an answer within two weeks," he added. By the end of those two weeks, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will probably be in Lebanon, and Hezbollah is lobbying for a huge reception for him and a tour of the South. Some say this might be the time when the situation deteriorates.

Hezbollah agreed to the Ministerial Statement, which stated Lebanon’s commitment to the STL, both judicially and financially. Yet today, the party has breached that agreement. Will it also breach the Doha Accord, which ended the street violence in 2008?

What would civil strife engendered by Hezbollah’s assault on the STL look like? As no other Lebanese party is as well armed as Hezbollah, a war between it and other factions is unlikely. The May events of 2008 were a very clear example of Hezbollah’s power. However, many individuals, especially those who live in areas where there have been armed clashes, have their own weapons to defend themselves should anything erupt.

Hezbollah’s behavior and political rhetoric has widened the gap between the Shia and Sunni in Lebanon. It has managed to exacerbate a profound abhorrence between the two communities. The Sunnis now fear the Shia, whom they think are protected by the same arms that were used to invade Beirut on May 7, 2008 and which might have killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. As for the Shia, Hezbollah has managed to convince the majority of them that the STL is an Israeli-American tool to sabotage the party, and that those who support it are enemies of both the party and the entire Shia community.

Underlying animosities and the fear of “the other” in mixed Sunni-Shia neighborhoods might turn into violence the moment Hezbollah decides to carry out its threats. Whether motivated to demonstrate against, or to defend the Hariri government, whether driven by fear or revenge, sectarianism will be at the root of any street fighting.

There will be no place for logic or dialogue. The Shia community will be part of an ugly game of revenge, while the secular and independent among them will find themselves victims of a conflict that has been imposed on them.

Who will protect them, or the other Lebanese who refuse to be part of yet another sectarian conflict? Unfortunately, no one. Hezbollah will only protect those who support the party’s arms with their blood, while the rest will have to face the madness on their own, either by fleeing the battle, or becoming part of it.

The only way to avoid these scenarios is to focus the fight on Hezbollah as an institution, not as a community. Hezbollah is fighting the Lebanese state, its institutions and the STL. To avoid attacks on any of them, Lebanon needs to protect itself as a state and defend the UN resolutions passed to preserve its national integrity. The government must hold its nerve and not be forced to make the choice between the tribunal and civil strife.

No one will benefit from any street clashes, government changes or civil disobedience except Hezbollah and possibly Syria, which might see violence as an excuse to “help” by returning to Lebanon militarily.

Druze leader MP Walid Jumblatt can flip the equation if he decides to side with Hariri on the issue of the tribunal, especially as President Michel Sleiman’s cabinet ministers seem to support it too. (In the worst-case scenario, they might abstain from voting this week on the STL’s funding).

Jumblatt expressed recently serious concerns regarding the situation in Lebanon. Will he be able to play the role of bringing justice and security? We will have to see.

Hanin Ghaddar is managing editor of NOW Lebanon

Goodbye Damascus & Hello Tehran!

Bassil travels to Tehran
October 2, 2010 share

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Gebran Bassil traveled to Tehran on Saturday for talks with various Iranian officials, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

-NOW Lebanon



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خاص Kataeb.org : انتشار مسلح لعناصر القومي السوري وتوزيع أسلحة خلال الليل

يرصد المواطنون في منطقة الجميزات في طرابلس حركة ليلية غير اعتيادية في مركز الحزب السوري القومي وسط انتشار مسلح لعناصر من الحزب يتم استقدامها من بلدة اميون في الكورة و ترددت معلومات عن قبام بعض المجموعات القومية بتوزيع أسلحة خلال الليل في شارع الثقافة والمئتين في طرابلس

Israeli Rabbi Says It's Okay for Women to Sleep with the Enemy
Jewish law allows women to sleep with the enemy in order to get intelligence vital to Israel's security, a rabbi was quoted as saying in a local newspaper Monday.
The mass-selling Yediot Aharonot quoted an academic article by Ari Shvat, an expert in Jewish law, in which he said it was acceptable to have sex with "terrorists" in order to obtain information leading to their arrest.

His study, which only referred to female agents, appeared under the title "Illicit Sex for the Sake of National Security" in a journal published by a religious studies institute in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc near Jerusalem.

It invoked biblical stories in which women seduced enemy combatants in order to gain valuable information, adding that it was "best to entrust such missions to licentious women."

In cases where a woman must marry an enemy combatant in order to gain his trust, Shvat suggests first divorcing her real husband.

The advice appeared to be directed at Israel's Mossad spy agency, and is an exception to the traditional religious prohibition of deception and sex outside of marriage.(AFP)

Beirut, 04 Oct 10, 17:11

Franklin Lamb
October 04, 2010

Part I: “ Know thy enemy”…. Sun Tzu






On a clear day you can see Akka, Palestine from my favorite Lebanese village, Maron al Ras, where more than a few analysts here conjecture that the next and 6th aggression by Israel against Lebanon will begin.

On any day, but particularly since 9/21/10, you can also see beefed up Zionist military patrols, assorted electronic listening posts, sundry spy devices, new Raytheon produced surveillance equipment, two new supposedly camouflaged cinder block one room shacks with Zionist soldiers peering out menacingly while talking on their, Hezbollah monitored, cell phones to girlfriends, mothers, pals and their HQ’s.

They frequently glare from widows heavily screened to keep out stones that tourists on the Lebanon side of the ‘blue line’ regularly throw at them when UNIFIL guys aren’t paying attention or shoo them away. You can also see land mine fields, wide soft sand swatches along the wire fences to detect trespassing neighbors footprints, a couple of orchards, and the edges of three colonial settlements. And if one were to squint, like really squint, or better yet, risk getting shot between the eyes by a Zionist sniper with an American 7.62 mm, Sniper Weapon System, M24 (called a “system” because it can be used with various detachable telescopic sights and other accessories) and were to use some Barska Cosmos 25X100 binoculars, one might see, well, vent holes.

These air ducts, according to imaginative and joking village kids, are guarded by specially trained scorpions, the holes bringing in fresh air for scores of 130 feet plus bunkers that some miscreants are rumored to have gone and built all over northern Palestine as far south as Safad.

The increase in activity along the Blue line, especially near Fatima’s Gate is only partially in preparation for the rumored visit of Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in mid- October. An Israeli invasion could be launched at any time and locals explain that, for their part, they have selected their targets, completed their surveillance, so far eluded capture and are ready to attack deep into Palestine when commanded.

President Ahmadinejad is also expected to appear and speak at Maron al Ras, presumably without binoculars and resisting the temptation to cast a few stones in solidarity with the Palestinian intifadas. UNIFIL personnel at the scene reveal that several Israeli military leaders have been visiting the area this past month, including Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.

It is here in this ancient verdant, war scared hillside village of Maron al Ras where tradition instructs that Jesus (Issa) from Nazareth, less than a day’s walk to the South, accompanying his sainted mother Mary (Miriam), paused to rest on their trek to a wedding feast at Qana, some 30 km west.

At Qana, the site of unspeakable massacres in 1996 and 2006, two of the more than 60 committed by Zionist forces over the past six decades, the bearded Palestinian “terrorist”, so-listed by the Sanhedrin judges, performed at his mother’s request his first miracle. Qana residents are quick to point out that it was this same Sanhedrin that would later pay Judas Iscariot 30 pieces of silver to deliver up Jesus for trial on false death penalty charges of Blasphemy and would sentence his brother James to death by stoning.* According to a local priest who conducts tours of the Grotto of the Virgin Mary in Qana, where Mary and her son visited with the family of the soon to be newlyweds, “By turning water into wine, Jesus dutifully fulfilled his mother Mary’s request to provide additional refreshment for the larger than expected gathering of nearby villagers.” The priest explains to visitors that the parents of the bride and groom wanted to avoid the acute social embarrassment of running out of refreshments and were concerned for the comfort of last minute uninvited guests, who they anticipated would arrive for their children’s wedding as word quickly spread that Jesus and his mother would be attending.

One guest who is receiving invitations even from March 14 pro-Saudi political parties for frank discussions this month and who has already been invited to Qana, but who probably won’t imbibe local the “miracle wine” sold by local entrepreneurs, from under the tent so to speak, will be the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is said to be a devotee of Prophet Issa and Miriam, both venerated in the Holy Qur’an.

In Lebanon, it sometimes appears even to the “particularly obtuse” - to borrow a phrase from my favorite constitutional law professor and scholar, Henry Paul Monaghan, who sometimes called us first year law students “particularly obtuse” - that everything is viewed thru the smoky prism of local politics and sects. Two lovely and politically passionate Qana villagers (one giggling and claiming to be a “Shia-Christian” and her friend interjecting “I’m a Christian-Shia!”), both Muslims who follow the teachings of “Prophet Issa”, explained to this foreigner that while many Rabbi’s disparage Jesus’ miracle in Qana by claiming that it was the Hebrew Moses who was first able to turn water into another substance. They then gleefully counter that “Moses may well have done, but Moses turned water into blood as a message of harsh judgment and violence, whereas “our” Palestinian Issa turned water into wine as a message of love, generosity and hospitality.” The discussion ended when an American Yeshiva student from Brooklyn appeared and entered the discussion announcing to the villagers that both Bible stories “suck” and that that when the next war comes Qana may witness itself being miraculously turned into depleted uranium dust.

In both Maron al Ras and Qana, villagers believe it’s just a matter of time before Israel will invade Lebanon and it’s a subject of rare unanimous sectarian consensus in all of Lebanon. For example, in the course of no more than two hours the other day, while running errands around Beirut, this observer was informed, without even bringing up the subject, by (1) my Shia Muslim Hezbollah motorcycle mechanic patching up my bike after a slight mishap (again!) (2) Miss Idriss, the Maronite Christian lady who works at the corner bank and who truly adores “al Hakim” Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces (since 2006, Geagea and the LF has been siphoning off alienated cadres and youth from the ranks of Geagea’s rivals including the Gemayals' Phalange and Michel Aoun’s Christian pro-Hezbollah Free Patriotic Movement, and (3) my Sunni Muslim greengrocer lady who has absolutely no use for any of the above, that a major war is coming and probably sooner rather than later.

Purveyors of Israeli Hasbara are also keeping busy with predictions of a World War I type inevitability of major war in Lebanon given the claimed rapid arming of the national Lebanese resistance led by Hezbollah, and the Israeli touted collection of yet more new ‘ultra-tech super weapons’ including robotic insects, new stealth drones, Iron Domes, David Sling I and II missile shields, yet even more improvements to the “impenetrable” Merkava Mark IV tank that took such a beating in 2006 that three countries, including Belgium, cancelled Merkava purchase orders. Israel and its “academic agents” tout more than 20 other spectacular “game changing” technological breakthroughs ‘just since the 2006 war which, according to Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic & International Studies and Jane’s Defense Weekly, likely will not function in real war conditions - despite the largess of the unknowing American taxpayers who pick up the tab for their R & D.

Virtually the whole waterfall of Hasbara studies, many handsomely paid for by various Israel lobby funders, conclude that the next Hezbollah Israel war will be nothing like the 2006 July War. In addition, pro-Israel authors routinely skew their research to reassure their paymasters that Hezbollah will lose to the spruced up, better-equipped and trained Israeli soldiers and that their defeat will not only shatter Hezbollah, but destroy Syria and Iran’s political power base and fundamentally changed the political scene in Beirut.
This they confidently predict will lead to a pro-American and Israel-tolerant realignment of political parties and even achieve the long sought Lebanon-Israel “peace treaty.” Some “Lobby papers” conclude that the next battle will deliver changes as far away as Iran, and destroy Hamas.

Designed to bolster the increasingly dubious Israeli public opinion, some Israeli think tanks claim that the massive US taxpayer funded therapy program for returning 2006 Israeli troops has succeeded in lowering the rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has lowered the percentage of “shell shock” disability cases in Israel. No mention of the skyrocketing rates of PTSD among US troops returning from various deployments in the Middle East which are skyrocketing, and American family complaints that needed medical help in being denied due to Pentagon budget “priorities.” A Rand study in 2008 estimated the total number of American service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan who returned with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or “had their bell rung” to use the terminology employed by some staff in Ward E7 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, outside Washington, is more than 320,000.

Today the figure is thought to be near 350,000. Only a small percentage are being properly treated according to the Department of Veterans Affairs and Bethesda medical staff, both of which admit they are not equipped to handle them—most severely maimed for life. Increasingly, some family members are becoming bitter and complaining about budget cuts. One mother recently complained to Congressman Steny Hoyer, veteran not of the US military but of more than a dozen US taxpayer paid trips to Israel, that “Israel always comes first and we pay for treatment and therapy for their soldiers and we sent our boys and girls to Iraq and Afghanistan because they told us to.” As reported by Ray McGovern, writing in Counterpunch recently, “Just this past week at Fort Hood, Texas, four decorated veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan took their own lives, adding to the 14 other suicides this year at Fort Hood alone.

Timur Goskel, former advisor to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), is dismissive of many of these “Research Papers” and their almost without exception, Zionist authors: “They don’t know the other side of the story. They don’t know what is happening here in Lebanon or what is Hezbollah doing or what is Hezbollah capable of. They will likely be shocked when they find out. They guess from newspapers and whatever and Hezbollah is not the organization you can read about in newspapers accurately. They don’t talk too much.” Goskel added.

Some of the Israeli Lobby think tank predictions may indeed materialize but the history of Hezbollah and Israel on the battlefield and other factors, ignored by pro-Israel “scholars" who either aren’t aware of them, or don’t want to risk their sinecures by mentioning unpleasant facts to their employers, suggest that Israel will lose its next aggression against Lebanon. It is clear that Hezbollah has been studying its enemy.

Scorecard: Four Hezbollah conflicts with Israeli forces

The June 1982 Israeli invasion is not included in this brief consideration because Hezbollah was not fully organized and in fact its birth was partially the result of the 1982 “Peace for Galilee” aggression that slaughtered nearly 20,000 Lebanese civilians and Palestinian refugees as well as setting the stage for the Sabra-Shatila Massacre. On August 30, 1982, Israel did achieve its goal of expelling most of its PLO nemesis but catastrophically failed in its main objective of ending Lebanese resistance activity. As a PLO replacement Hezbollah quickly became a far stronger and more sophisticated adversary. Many fighters who eventually joined Hezbollah but who fought in 1982 with the PLO or with a variety of affiliated militia inflicted much damage on Israeli forces during numerous mountain battles and at Khaldeh on the coast south of Beirut.

1985: Hezbollah pushes their Zionist enemy out of the mountain areas

Between 1978 and 1985, Zionist forces occupied approximately 1/3 of Lebanon including 801 towns and villages. The newly forming Hezbollah never stopped its resistance attacks. An important Hezbollah political victory against Israel was achieved on March 5, 1984 when its work to achieve the Lebanese Council of Ministers cancellation of the U.S.-Israel created May 17, 1983 agreement that would have yielded significant Lebanese sovereignty and territory to Israel. Another was the expulsion of foreign “peacekeeping forces” that increasingly attacked the civilian population of Lebanon on behalf of Israel and its local allies.

During this period Hezbollah and its allies surprised and hit Israeli forces hard all over the mountains and valleys and on January 14, 1985 Israel began withdrawing from 168 villages, being 55% of South Lebanon or 11% of Lebanon including Sidon, Tyre, Nabatieh and parts of the Western Bekaa.

The July 1993 Aggression—so called “Operation Accountability”

Israeli Chief of Staff Ehud Barak, told the Lebanese government on 7/31/93, “Disarm Hezbollah or watch Israeli do it.” He said about the same thing to the Obama administration on 9/30/10 at the Pentagon.

Despite, 1,224 bombing attacks, according to UNIFIL data, and firing more than 30,000 artillery shells and rockets, Hezbollah retaliated with what AFP on 7/25/93 called, “A hell of a shelling last[ing] 10 hours without a pause.”

For seven days resistance forces conducted at least 30 operations along the Blue line targeting Zionist forces and their Lebanese surrogates. The US and Israel, shocked that the CIA-Mossad intelligence estimates that Hezbollah had only 500 rockets and this supply would be depleted in three days, decided to call for a cease-fire. The “July Accord” took effect at 6 p.m. on 7/31/93 and Israel withdrew and stood down, failing to achieve any of its objectives which frankly are always the same: Disarm the Resistance, break Hezbollah’s relationships with the Lebanese public, and force the Lebanese government to dismantle the Resistance. On 8/19/93 Israel’s PM Rabin told his cabinet: “I regret saying this, but Hezbollah has defeated us.”

The April 1996 Aggression:--the so-called “Grapes of Wrath”

This aggression started on April 11, 1996 with bombing attacks in Baalbeck and down south in Tyre at the Lebanese army base and for the first time since 1982, attacks on Dahiyeh in South Beirut. Israel bombed a wider area that in 1993 over a period of 16 days.

This invasion became known among some in South Lebanon as the “Four Massacres aggression”: Suhmor on 4/12/96; the bombing of the Al-Mansouri ambulance on 4/13/96; Nabatieh on Day 7; and the Qana massacre on the same day when 118 civilians were slaughter and 127 injured. Hundreds of thousands were displaced with 7,000 homes completely or partially destroyed. Total civilian casualties exceeded 250.

Having studied each preceding war with its enemy, Hezbollah succeeded in anticipating Israeli tactics, paths of entrance into Lebanon and targeting actions. Israel, not being able to find any, failed to target a single resistance fighter or to prevent any rocket pads from launching at will. Until the moment the US-Israel requested ceasefire took hold, having been arranged by US Sec. of State Warren Christopher, Hezbollah’s retaliation with Katuysha rockets continued unabated. Israel’s goals were again those noted above. There was one addition and that was to present Shimon Peres with a military victory to help his election campaign which was backed by President Clinton and staffed with some key Clinton campaign staff. On May 29, 1996 Peres lost the election and Hezbollah emerged from “Grapes of Wrath” victorious and widely perceived in Washington and Tel Aviv as having exposed Israeli battle field errors or what the Resistance called “impotence”.

The May 24, 2000 withdrawal of Israeli forces and the complete collapse of their surrogate collaborationist Lahdist forces.

Israel’s notorious prison at Khiam was liberated by villagers and their loved ones freed. This resistance victory was perhaps its sweetest to date. No cheap political deals to help the Zionists save faced. Total defeat as Israeli faces snuck out during one night without even telling their collaborators. A half century after Israel started its inroads into Lebanon, except for some border enclaves like Shebaa, Kfar Kouba and Ghajar that Hezbollah and the Lebanese army aims to recover during the coming war, it was out.

This victory was especially valuable to the Resistance and Lebanon as it demonstrated qualities that will determine the outcome of the next war. It blended a deep belief in God, magnanimous in victory, human treatment of the vanquished, care for the families of martyrs, insistence on dialogue with internal adversaries, confidence in the victory of good over evil, and thorough preparation for future aggressions and acceptance of sacrifice.

The July 2006 War, the mis-named “Second Lebanon War”

The results of the 2006 33-day Israeli aggression are well known and documented, with none of Israel’s stated goals of, destroying Hezbollah, a treaty with Lebanon, breaking popular Lebanese support for the National Lebanese Resistance, being achieved. Hezbollah’s victory resulted in a deep sea change in Lebanese sectarian attitude towards Israel partly because living during the war all of Lebanon saw through the Hasbara articles produced for cash at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP was set up by AIPAC in 1985), the American Enterprise Institute, the Hudson Institute, the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and the Foreign Policy Initiative, among several others.

Preparing for the coming war- knowing the enemy

Sometimes Hezbollah members complain to this observer, as one did recently, that “we spend so much time studying every imaginable aspect of the Zionist forces and their corrupt society, from their psychology, strengths and weaknesses on the battle field, every battle and every little encounter over the past 28 years, favorite foods, drugs, and video games. Really, I don’t find them all that interesting I just want to expel them from the rest of Lebanon and all of Palestine. The sooner the better!”

Among past wars involving Israel that Hezbollah is said to microscopically study, in addition to all its own battles during Israeli wars and invasions, are those of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1978, as well as the serial aggressions inside occupied Palestine including Gaza.

Hezbollah believes Israel will indeed attack Lebanon and that the Zionist battle plan will include the use of the following Israeli units which Hezbollah has been carefully studying and preparing to confront. Among these are the 91st “Galilee Division” which Hezbollah believes will be backed by multiple regular and reserve brigades trying to seal Lebanon’s southern border to stop Resistance/Lebanese Army units from moving deep inside occupied Palestine.

Additionally, Hezbollah is preparing to seek out and cripple the 162nd Armored Division which it damaged regularly during the 2006 war as well as confronting the 36th Armored Division normally assigned to the Golan Heights, (unless Syria fights this time) and at least three reserve armored divisions (Hezbollah sources believe probably the 366th and 319th).

Hezbollah has prepared meticulous plans to destroy the 98th Paratroop Division, the much touted “Special Forces Quality” Golani Infantry Brigade (which Hezbollah reserve forces mauled badly in 2006), the 35th Paratroop Brigade, the 551st “Spearhead” Brigade, the Givati Infantry Brigade, the Alexandroni Reserve Infantry Brigade, the Kfir Infantry Brigade specializing in “Urban Warfare”, the Carmeli Infantry Reserve Brigade, the Sayeret Matkal Reconnaissance Unit, the Sayeret Egoz reconnaissance unit attached to the Golani Brigade, the Shayetet 13 Naval Commando Reconnaissance and Raiding Unit, the Sayeret Yael Engineering Unit, plus a variety of units specializing in combat intelligence, supply, transport and communications.

Both Hezbollah and Israel have declined comment on current rumors coming from concerned Pentagon staff in Washington that Hezbollah intelligence agents inside Israel have provided the Lebanese Resistance with the names, addresses, mobile phone numbers and email addresses of each personnel assigned to every one of the above units to be in its crosshairs when the battle begins.

Is Hezbollah prepared to fight Israeli collaborators on additional fronts?

Lebanese national resistance allies in and around Parliament are claiming that the US is frantically trying to organize a "northern second front" to help Israel in the coming war by enticing right wing Christian militias, Al Qaeda mixed-bag “Salafists for lease”, and anyone else willing to fight a back door war against the Resistance while Israel kicks in the front door north of Safad and Nahariyah down south. The White House has reportedly vetoed one scheme to bring in Blackwater type private contractors.

Former MP Nasr Kandil who is close to Hezbollah stated on 9/30/10: “Egypt is also training hundreds of young gunmen in military camps in north Lebanon that were set up under the guise of mobile hospitals while Jordan is training more than 700 Sunni militia members” at the behest of the US Embassy in Beirut and Jordan as part of “subversive initiatives against Lebanon for Israel's benefit”.

These militias are claimed by Kandil and other politicians in Lebanon including Senior Arab Democratic Party member Rifat Ali Eid, to be Salafi groups with links to Al Qaeda organized by the CIA and Saudi Intelligence Services similar to the Fatah al Islam group that fought a summer long battle from the Palestinian camp of Nahr al Bared in 2007, and whose ranks are being replenished in Lebanon.

This week the Lebanese Forces were accused by Hezbollah’s Sheik Naim Qassim, Deputy to SG Hassan Nasrallah, of running new LF militia training camps with speculation that they are being trained on Russian-made BKC machine guns and the American MAG and small mortars. If so, they are not the only ones participating in an arms acquisition frenzy. A weapons run ignited during the May 8, 2008 violence, cooled down over the past two years but flared up again last month with virtually all political parties and many private citizens buying up available stocks of M4’s (with a launcher $12,000) M16’s ($1,500) and AK47 Kalashnikov’s rifles (ranging between $750-$1,000) out of the back of cars or on road sides and alleys. Truck loads have been reported arriving from Iraq hauling US military supplies ‘shrinkage’.

Some analysts believe that once the Israeli attack date is imminent, northern Sunni militia being clustered around Tripoli and Akkar and other locations will attack Shia targets diverting Hezbollah units and weakening its southern and eastern (Bekaa) resistance.

They expect beefed up Saudi financed “Security-Plus Inc." type units that were attempted in May of 2008. It may be recalled that effort soon fizzled and was ridiculed in Lebanese media as “Security-Minus Inc.” because when the green recruits got off their buses down in Hamra they quickly defected en masse deciding they did not want to fight Hezbollah “second team” forces after all.

For the past three years, Israel has been instructing the White House and Congress, as Ehud Barak told Bill Clinton on 9/21/10 at the opening of the Clinton Global Initiative in NYC: “This time Hezbollah must be totally eradicated from Lebanon. We don’t even want to find their residue after the next operation!”

Despite Barak’s instructions, the Pentagon’s J-8 Directorate for Force Structure Resources and Assessment, which among other duties conducts analysis, assessments, and evaluates strategies for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and some special American friends, agrees with Israeli military planners and Hezbollah on at least one subject. The next Hezbollah-Israel war will not see Israel using many ground forces outside of armored personnel carriers once they enter Lebanon. The reason is that all three agree with the Pentagon’s J-8 Directorates opinion that based on previous battlefield performance; it will likely require 5 Israeli soldiers to offset one Hezbollah defender’s battlefield acumen.


Franklin Lamb is doing research in Lebanon and can be reached at
fplamb@gmail.com

Hezbollah is lame.

^^ +1

Twisted logic, crippled justice
Hussain Abdel Hussain , October 6, 2010

http://www.nowlebanon.com/ContentPictures/Hezbullah-420-10610035725.jpg
Hezbollah uses twisted logic to convince its supporters that justice and not crime will lead to instability in Lebanon. :nuts:

It is mindboggling how, in the logic of Hezbollah and its affiliated propagandist politicians, justice – not crime – can lead to instability in Lebanon. It is even more puzzling how Hezbollah has managed to convince its supporters that the problem in the Rafik Hariri assassination was not the death of Hariri himself, but the “politicization” of the UN-created Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try those charged with its perpetration.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by Hezbollah’s logic. After all, Hezbollah started a war when it killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers on July 12, 2006 and then called it self-defense.

By the same token, when Israel kills more than 1,200 Lebanese and wipes out complete neighborhoods in Beirut and the South, in return for 120 Israelis killed and a few potholes caused by Hezbollah missiles, Hezbollah claims a “Divine Victory.” And with divinity, there is no room to argue.

That same year, Hezbollah raised hell when it felt underrepresented in government. It demanded that the Shia community of Lebanon be given its due share of power. But when Sunni politicians complained of the latest Shia-Syrian campaign against Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Hezbollah MPs accused the Sunnis of provoking sectarianism.

Hezbollah adores consensus when it comes to the election of the Maronite president and the selection of the Sunni prime minister and his cabinet. But when it comes to the election of the Shia speaker, the affair becomes a strictly Shia one, with other sects expected to rubberstamp the Hezbollah-Amal choice.

And while consensus also covers minor issues of governance, such as public budgeting, it does not cover the issue of Hezbollah’s arms and the activities of the Resistance. Presumably this is because the Resistance too is divine, and none of Hezbollah’s rivals can interpret this divine will. Only the Party of God has links with the heavens, and the Resistance is an undisputable heavenly truth.

Moving on. Hezbollah claims Israel killed former PM Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005. The logic behind such a claim is that Israel planned a trap for Lebanon and Syria. The murder forced Syrian troops out of Lebanon and provoked Sunni-Shia tension that Israel hoped would lead to a new Lebanese civil war.

Even if we go along with Hezbollah, and its laughable cinematic evidence, and accept that Israel killed Hariri to force Syria out and ignite civil war, then who killed Samir Kassir, George Hawi and Gebran Tueni – all of whom were Greek Orthodox – after Syria had withdrawn its troops from Lebanon? What was Israel’s point behind killing Maronite lawmakers Pierre Gemayel and Antoine Ghanem? A Maronite war on the Shia?

When the UN Security Council created the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Hezbollah initially supported the concept of the court during the first sessions of “national dialogue” held in parliament, and then withdrew its ministers to obstruct the tribunal’s creation.

Hezbollah argued that the STL was politicized. However, it later allowed international investigators to interrogate a batch of 18 Hezbollah officials. Afterward, Hezbollah turned down another tribunal request for the interrogation of a second batch of its militants.

Time and again, Hezbollah has reverted to its favorite pastime of twisting logic. Hezbollah argues that Israel killed Hariri, but the Party of God has no plans to avenge the crime like it usually does for smaller Israeli offenses on Lebanese sovereignty and interests. Instead, the party has become preoccupied with proving that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is a US-Israeli plan to sow discord in Lebanon.

So instead of calming its rank and file, Hezbollah is doing exactly what the US and Israel presumably want it to do through the Hariri murder and later through the politicization of the tribunal: taking the country to civil war. Instead of being outraged by the crime, Hezbollah and its supporters are outraged by justice, blaming it on an imminent war. In short, justice undermines stability.

Hezbollah therefore expects every Lebanese, who trembles at the thought of Hezbollah’s formidable militia, to choose stability over justice. Shooting down justice, as Hezbollah and many Lebanese intellectuals argue, would maintain Lebanon’s delicate sectarian balance and fragile civil peace.

They have forgotten one fact: stability in the absence of justice means the powerful has oppressed the weak. Stability without justice also means that whenever Lebanon seeks justice for this or that murder, the country will be threatened with more murders until everyone is silenced.

Hezbollah’s recipe for Lebanon is not stability in return for peace. It is more conflict. Stability should not be mistaken for surrender and blackmail. A stable Lebanon is only possible when justice is served and when everyone is equal.

Hussain Abdel-Hussain is a visiting fellow at Chatham House and a correspondent for Al-Rai newspaper.

arrogance + mind control = Hizbullet

good read, its all very true.

Lebanon will be battle ground for Iran, Hezbollah needs more control of Lebanon in order for that to Happen.

The fear of a coup lead by Hezbollah is growing stronger by the day, hopfully it never happens.

I dont know how FPM supporters can support such a group like Hezbollah, they sadly have been brain washed. before 2005, FPM supporters against Syria and hosting protest against the Syrian Army in Lebanon... now all of a sudden they support Syria.

This made my day.

Geagea describes Aoun as a liar who has reached 'very low levels'

BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces (LF) chief Samir Geagea lashed out at his Christian rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun Tuesday, describing him as a liar.


Geagea’s words come a day after Aoun, addressing reporters Tuesday, said “Christian areas would be spared” if violence erupted in the country as a result of tensions over a potential indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN body tasked with probing the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.


“Christian areas would be spared the violence of a potential civil strife in the country if Samir Geagea avoided using schemes or resorting to weapons,” Aoun said.


In a letter sent to Aoun, Geagea said Aoun had reached “very low levels” and accused him of convincing his allies, in reference to Hizbullah, of attacking the LF.



“I did not expect you to make up so many lies … Tell me General [Aoun], is it the LF or your allies that possess weapons?”


“Yesterday you justified Syria’s arrest warrants by saying the Lebanese judiciary was too slow in carrying out its duties, does this mean every Lebanese citizen who believes the judiciary is being lax should resort to a foreign judiciary to speed up his demands?” Over the weekend, it was revealed that the Syrian judiciary issued 33 arrest warrants against individuals who allegedly provided false testimony in the Hariri murder.


“My dear friend, General [Aoun], I had predicted an unsuccessful political end for you, but nothing like the disgraceful end we are witnessing today,” Geagea’s letter concluded. – The Daily Star



Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=120099#ixzz11cYLeiZL
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

What a couple of clowns who ended the war in the most hideous way a Christian can imagine. and they still argue about the Christian-pissing contest.

Hezbollah is lame
arrogance + mind control = Hizbullet

Jayme, this article is not the actions of your 5th grade friend, that you label as "lame". Our country is heading into it's darkest days since 1990, and possibly worse. Occupation of our lands, and the deep division of our people is on the table. I once again say, I would appreciate it if you would respect this situation, and respect yourself, and everyone in this forum. As for you elie, you defiantly deserve the award for the most creative insults; it's a creative way to substitute a civilized, and thorough argument.

As for the situation, I am against Syria's arrest warrants for one reason; they put my country in a unstable state. Considering this point, it is 100 percent justified. Men spend years in horrid jail conditions away from their families, their life. Their life's and their family's life were put in complete disarray. They did this to solely provide frameworks for the ungeiniene theory that Syria killed the martyr Rafic Harriri. They were finally released because of course there was NO evidence what so ever, that they had ANY part in the crime. This is preposterous under any civilized terms. EVERY PERSON THAT WAS BEHIND THIS MUST BE ARRESTED. Under the terms of:

1. Illegal, and unlawful arrests.
2. Arrests without any evidence, what so ever; in fact not even a trace.
3. Plunging the country into instability, and complete disarray.
4. Working, and endorsing the illegal interests of foreign forces that are attempting to plunge Lebanon into war.

Under what International Law, under what civilization does a figure commit crimes like these and does not get arrested? It is our duty as Lebanese people to arrest the people behind this. Furthermore, what country continues to endorse, support, and FUND(when your people need the money) a tribunal that has, and continues to do this. What people supports a tribunal that's past 11 leaders have resigned, and leaks information left, and right?

Even if we go along with Hezbollah, and its laughable cinematic evidence, and accept that Israel killed Hariri to force Syria out and ignite civil war, then who killed Samir Kassir, George Hawi and Gebran Tueni – all of whom were Greek Orthodox – after Syria had withdrawn its troops from Lebanon? What was Israel’s point behind killing Maronite lawmakers Pierre Gemayel and Antoine Ghanem? A Maronite war on the Shia?

Are you serious? I feel like I am reading something out of a joke book, in fact without the source I would of believed that. What bogus point is this, can you really not put the puzzle pieces together? You think the strongest army in the world is not capable of stringing multiple assassinations, to hoodwink a clueless population?

This is BS. I once again reiterate, within seconds of the assassination, WITH NO EVIDENCE, the population of our country put all blame on Syria. Since then NO ONE has been able to come up with a spit of evidence, and your beloved premier who has thrown this country into war, has admitted he was wrong of accusing Syria. This makes me laugh. Furthermore, you have thrown away within seconds, clear concise evidence, and you guys are not willing to comprehend any evidence even if it was given to you on a silver plate.

This is nothing more then pure bigotry.

We all have to work together for our country to reach peace. I'm looking forward to answers. :)

New Opinion: Where is the logic?
October 7, 2010


The March 8 coalition wants us to believe that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is politicized while the arrest warrants issued by a Syrian court against 33 individuals to be the result of a pure untarnished legal process.
If we are to believe the March 8, Hezbollah-led opposition’s logic that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has been tarred by the brush of political intrigue, then following this premise, the court would have to be abolished to avoid the sectarian fighting we are assured will happen should the STL hand down indictments to Hezbollah members for their alleged role in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others.

And yet, when former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed filed complaints through a Syrian court against 33 individuals mainly politicians, judges, security officials and journalists – all of whom he believes conspired against him and led him to wrongly serve four years in prison on suspicion of being involved in the Hariri murder – we have to accept the Syrian court’s arrest warrants to be the result of a pure untarnished legal process, even after the former chief investigator in the case, Detlev Mehlis, who is also one of those on the list, called the warrants “baseless, illegal and politically motivated, without any practical implications.”

March 8 politicians and Syria’s allies have lost no time in telling us of the seriousness of the writ. Even Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt, who testified to investigators and presumably told them of the well-documented threats made at the time against Hariri and other Lebanese leaders by the Syrian regime, has since made his peace with Damascus and sees nothing wrong with the arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, Syrian propagandist and the leader of the so-called Tawhid Movement, Wiam Wahhab, has also weighed in, declaring that Syria might cancel its 1951 judicial agreement with Lebanon if the latter does not respond to Damascus’ arrest warrants. His comments follow a statement by Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reminding the Lebanese that they are legally bound to abide by the indictments. Now, Amal Movement ministers have threatened to walk out of any cabinet session that does not address the issue of the so-called false witnesses.

So there we have it: March 8 has hit back with its very own judicial process, one that it would have us believe will expose the work carried out by UN-mandated investigators as politicized, flawed and Israeli-sponsored.

It is a depressing sign of the times that we are expected to accept as legally sound the decision of an opaque and state-manipulated Syrian legal system and reject a UN court with its team of transparent, professional and multi-national investigators.

By the same token, it is scandalous that we should still be listening to, let alone taking seriously, the dubious legal darts of a man who, before filing his writ, allegedly tried to blackmail the very people he is charging with his unjustified incarceration; a man who, ironically, was instrumental in the passing of a law allowing the indefinite detention of suspects, and a man whose very name was a byword for fear, intimidation and the suppression of any activity that challenged the presence of his Syrian masters when they ruled Lebanon.

Yet, when the international community – in an unprecedented show of commitment to once and for all send a message to those who have used political murder as an instrument of policy – decides to represent the Lebanese people in their quest for justice in hopes that they can turn a new page in their short but troubled history, we are scolded by those who are clearly neither interested in sovereignty nor nation building; we are told that we must deny it and accept the buffoonery of a man who has no credibility and who is nothing more than a catalyst for sedition.

Where is the logic?

Exclusive
خاص Kataeb.org:حرس ثوري ايراني في محيط سن الفيل واحصاء سكاني ميداني تمهيدا لزيارة احمدي نجاد لبنان


علم موقع Kataeb.org ان القوى الامنية اللبنانية قامت باحصاء دقيق وشامل عن الشقق السكنية في مناطق سن الفيل وجسر الباشا والدكوانة وفرن الشباك، حيث طلبت من السكان معلومات شاملة تتعلق بعدد الاشخاص القاطنين في كلّ منزل اضافة الى اسمائهم وارقام هواتفهم وماهية وظائفهم.


كما ابلغت القوى الامنية السكان ان التواجد على اسطح البنايات ممنوع اعتبارا من ليل 12 تشرين الاول وحتى الخامس عشر منه، اضافة الى قيامها بعدد من الاجراءات الامنية الاخرى، ما ازعج المواطنين ووّلد لديهم شعورا بالغضب وانتهاكا للخصوصية وحرمة المنازل وتقييدا لحرية حركتهم.


وتبيّن لاحقا ان سبب هذه الاجراءات يعود الى الزيارة المقررة للرئيس الايراني احمدي نجاد لبنان في 13 تشرين الاول، حيث سيمكث في فندق متروبوليتين في سن الفيل.
الى ذلك علم موقع Kataeb.org ان عددا كبيرا من الحرس الثوري الايراني ينتشر في محيط فندق متروبوليتين وفي ازقة سن الفيل، الدكوانة، جسر الباشا وفرن الشباك، حيث يقومون بعملية مراقبة دائمة وبشكل سرّي.


هذا ويطالب سكان هذه المناطق المسؤولين بوقف هذه الاجراءات التي تسبب لهم ازعاجا وتقيّد تحركاتهم، مقترحين ان يمكث نجاد في فندق آخر بعيد من الشقق السكنية اذا ما كانت كلّ هذه الاجراءات الامنية ضرورية حفاظا على سلامته، فلا يتأثر احد من المواطنين اللبنانينين سلبا في حياته اليومية جراء هذه الزيارة.

http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/MainPagePictures/najad-pic-road-tarik-matar-.jpg
A billboard of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is raised over the airport road in Beirut on Wednesday. (AFP/Joseph Eid)

^^ Niyelna

eh walla.. baddak t2elleh law la mousriyyet balado ken t3ammar chi bel jnoub? ma t2elleh mouse3adet douwaliyyeh w paris III w maleyin el 7ariri, ma 7ada seham bi i3adet e3mar el jnoub ad Iran...

e3mar l jnoub ??? you mean tahdim l jnoub right ??

eh walla.. baddak t2elleh law la mousriyyet balado ken t3ammar chi bel jnoub? ma t2elleh mouse3adet douwaliyyeh w paris III w maleyin el 7ariri, ma 7ada seham bi i3adet e3mar el jnoub ad Iran...

oh,so we give him the country in return?

Hizbullah don't just get it.

e3mar l jnoub ??? you mean tahdim l jnoub right ??

+1

He is destroying the jnoub politically, socially and culturally as well.

Legitimate question guys... but we are all from various faiths on this forum and I want to know what you think of the following scenario:

A lot of the politicians have been speaking lately as they are improving the situation of the [christians, muslims, or druze] or that politician X's role is promoting relations between the [christians, muslims or druze] and "some country/organization".

In all honesty... do anyone of you feel any benefits from these politicians? For the most part, everything in Lebanon is secular minus marriage/divorce and things that fall under it. So, when lets say Jumblatt says that his bettered relations with Syria is improving the situation for the Druze... wtf does he mean. How could you benefit one sect? We all have the same needs in Lebanon.... food, electricity, water, education etc. I really dont think we lack religious institutions..lol

I actually do not understand... and if one of you could put it in perspective.. I would appreciate it lol

e3mar l jnoub ??? you mean tahdim l jnoub right ??

I THINK I know a bit more than you about that..

oh,so we give him the country in return?

Where do you see that? But since you brought this, better than giving it to israel or saudi arabia.

^^ i don't think Saudi Arabia needs our country for anything,they already have the money needed,and they never fought any other country , has no territorial claims with any other country,so if u have one small mind to use,u wouldn't really mention saudi arabia in this,now about israel,don't be naive,give me one just one example that prove that pount right.
March 14 wants Lebanon to stop being used as the only "resistance" power against israelis,while the rest of the world,including iran and syria enjoy peace.while the two countries i mentioned use Lebanon CLEARLY,,walla ma badda fahheem.

I THINK I know a bit more than you about that..



Where do you see that? But since you brought this, better than giving it to israel or saudi arabia.

Just because you're from the south doesn't mean you know more than me ... obviously we can just take the july war 2006 as a clear example, entire villages were destroyed in a war fought for the sake of Iran and triggered by Iran and we don't know when the next one is going to be, and all the reconstruction projects were lead either by Qatar or Kuwait or some other gulf states... All i ever saw built by Iran are a couple of lame walking bridges on the airport road and a ridiculous hideous 5 metres park "i don't know if we even can call that a park" in Ouza3i... as well as a some religious schools in a few southern villages... and the funny thing is that all these stupid constructions are decorated with huge Iranian flags even bigger than the projects themselves

^^ Lebkm while your at it, respond to what I wrote last on the last page.

I cant wait for Ahmadinijad to come. a7la wu sa7la feik. I thank Suliman with all my heart for inviting him.

Just because you're from the south doesn't mean you know more than me ... obviously we can just take the july war 2006 as a clear example, entire villages were destroyed in a war fought for the sake of Iran and triggered by Iran and we don't know when the next one is going to be, and all the reconstruction projects were lead either by Qatar or Kuwait or some other gulf states... All i ever saw built by Iran are a couple of lame walking bridges on the airport road and a ridiculous hideous 5 metres park "i don't know if we even can call that a park" in Ouza3i... as well as a some religious schools in a few southern villages... and the funny thing is that all these stupid constructions are decorated with huge Iranian flags even bigger than the projects themselves
__________________

HAH

I will not even waste my time. Do your research buddy. At then please attempt to make a point. Your words are completely a joke, and furthermore appallingly false.

Jader don't waste your time coz i wasn't talking to you, secondly i shouldn't be even replying to you, you're so childish ever since i joined this forum i see you repeating the same words and the same lines to every1 in this forum, every1 who disagrees with you is either a retard or stupid or a joke, as if you were the only one who owns the "absolute truth" and knows everything about everything, well just for the record fellow i believe all ur political views and speeches are BALONEY !!!

^^:lol:

wow I am very childish.

People who actually take their time to put together a civilized reply with facts, and which is free of insults is very childish. And insulting is a very mature thing to do. I was just looking forward to holding a debate with you, because I remember that you used to actually compose very developed replies. But it's your choice man, If you don't want to reply, don't reply. I just have a problem I cant leave this crap thread. Especially when our country is bordering on war. :)

Everybody is talking about war. making up scenarios. this is stressful.

^^ Lebkm while your at it, respond to what I wrote last on the last page.

I cant wait for Ahmadinijad to come. a7la wu sa7la feik. I thank Suliman with all my heart for inviting him.

That man could be the one who is responsible for the destruction of your country. And you are proud of this? You call yourself a proud Lebanese? :puke:

You know what's sad? I probably love your country more than you do. And I am the enemy. Go figure. :ohno:

^^

PLEASE, just shut up!!

Can you get out of this thread. Because what you just said is sickening to a extreme extent. Words cannot describe how pissed off I am that YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO COMPOSE THOSE WORDS. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR BRAVERY.

I will not reply hoping you can reread your words, and take them back.

I MEAN WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST CANNOT GET OVER YOUR ABNORMAL AMOUNTS OF IGNORANCE.

IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I ADVISE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART TO SEE A THERAPIST. AND DO US BOTH A FAVOR AND LEAVE THIS THREAD, BEFORE ANY MORE DAMAGE CAN BE DONE. BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I WILL LOAD 333 PAGES ON YOU. BECAUSE I AM HOLDING BACK MANY WORDS RIGHT NOW. AND I AM SHOCKED I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS REPLIED TO YOU. :bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

I agree with חבר1.0.

and I dont know why you find what he said is disgusting.

Ahmadinejad can SUCK IT! Not only is he a dictator and horrible president in his own country (remember the election incidents) he wants to fuck up our country too, through his proxy little puppets aka hizballa...shame shame that we are rolling out the red carpet for this idiot!

In Tripoli,Lebanon.

http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/MainPagePictures/poster-najad-tripoli-420.jpg

Baroud promises to investigate threats against journalist
October 8, 2010

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud has promised to investigate threats received by an MTV journalistic team that prepared a report on Hezbollah’s purchase of land in Jdeideh, MTV reported on Friday.

The report said that Hezbollah had purchased the land through an educational institute headed by Agriculture Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hassan. MTV quoted Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel describing the purchase as “dangerous” and part of a “plan to change the face of the region politically and demographically.”

-NOW Lebanon

^^ although i don't understand why is it dangerous that a Lebanese can buy land ina ny part of Lebanon,but when it comes to hizbullah i can understand it,again the arms is the problem.and i can't blame the people of Jdeideh.

^^

PLEASE, just shut up!!

Can you get out of this thread. Because what you just said is sickening to a extreme extent. Words cannot describe how pissed off I am that YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE GUTS TO COMPOSE THOSE WORDS. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR BRAVERY.

I will not reply hoping you can reread your words, and take them back.

I MEAN WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST CANNOT GET OVER YOUR ABNORMAL AMOUNTS OF IGNORANCE.

IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I ADVISE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART TO SEE A THERAPIST. AND DO US BOTH A FAVOR AND LEAVE THIS THREAD, BEFORE ANY MORE DAMAGE CAN BE DONE. BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I WILL LOAD 333 PAGES ON YOU. BECAUSE I AM HOLDING BACK MANY WORDS RIGHT NOW. AND I AM SHOCKED I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS REPLIED TO YOU. :bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

Please stop being so dramatic and insulting other members. You have no right to tell someone that loves Lebanon that he cant visit our forum or this thread.

^^:lol:

wow I am very childish.

People who actually take their time to put together a civilized reply with facts, and which is free of insults is very childish. And insulting is a very mature thing to do. I was just looking forward to holding a debate with you, because I remember that you used to actually compose very developed replies. But it's your choice man, If you don't want to reply, don't reply. I just have a problem I cant leave this crap thread. Especially when our country is bordering on war. :)

just tell me how on earth a reply with hahahas as if you're laughing at the person you're talking to, and with words such as "your words are a joke", "you know nothing", "what you said is retarded" and much more, for the love of god how is that a civilized reply??? how do you want me to debate with someone who's laughing in my face and using such lines? i have no problem replying to you all night long, even if we had different opinions we're both Lebanese after all, furthermore we're both human beings and that's even much more important... if you really want to have a debate try not to be so provocative

^^he's like 13 or something lol

I agree with חבר1.0.

and I dont know why you find what he said is disgusting.

Are you kidding me. I will now reply to him.

1.0.

I am having trouble believing that no one has replied to this man. When i started replying, I was going to make a big deal, but I will keep in simple, I don't want to sound like a broken record. I am truly saddened though. If you guys cannot recognize:

1. That Israel is responsible for the most heinous crimes that ever happened to your people, and is responsible of the most brutal occupation, and massacres that ever happened on this land.
2. That Iran has never committed one crime on this land,(when Iran commits 1 crime on this land I will be the first to spit on his posters) without Iran number 1 would still be happening each and every day, and I would not even be here to share this discussion with y'all.

As long as you guys are not willing to recognize these undeniable facts, and recorded history and furthermore, as long as you guys do not care about the blood of all Lebanese, and what has happened to our country as a whole, as long as you guys wont shed a tear on those 18 years, and are content for it to happen again, you will never see peace. I have always preached peace, and harmony for all Lebanese, and kept a open mind. I seriously think you should declare your own state, because this page on this thread, has confirmed to me that truth, and made me embrace Hezbollah even more, and erase all doubts, and tolerate all their negatives(that I have proudly shared with you guys) Because boy, where we would be without them. Maybe even worse, then Gaza; with Beirut playing the role as Egypt. Thanks for proving to me, that we need Hezbollah in this country, without it WE WOULD be like Egypt and Gaza.

Are you kidding me. I will now reply to him.

1.0.

I am having trouble believing that no one has replied to this man. When i started replying, I was going to make a big deal, but I will keep in simple, I don't want to sound like a broken record. I am truly saddened though. If you guys cannot recognize:

1. That Israel is responsible for the most heinous crimes that ever happened to your people, and is responsible of the most brutal occupation, and massacres that ever happened on this land.
2. That Iran has never committed one crime on this land,(when Iran commits 1 crime on this land I will be the first to spit on his posters) without Iran number 1 would still be happening each and every day, and I would not even be here to share this discussion with y'all.


First of all, I am speaking to you as a citizen, not as a government or a soldier. My personal 'agenda' is quite simple: I like Lebanon and I am also a proud Israeli/Zionist at the same time. There is no contradiction in my position since I have no personal involvement in the 'crimes' which you accuse my country of.

Second, if it weren't for #2 then there wouldn't be #1.

Third, whose interests does Hizbullah represent when it goes to war with Israel- Lebanon's or Iran's? Although both countries share a mutual hatred for Israel, the two countries do not appear to have compatible interests. Iran wants Israel's destruction. This would result in Lebanon's destruction. Lebanon doesn't want to get destroyed. Lebanon wants the Shebaa Farms and an end to Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory. If Lebanon and Israel fight wars, then in theory, this serves Iran's interests since this 'destroys' Israel. On the other hand, if there is no war between Israel and Lebanon, then what other means does Iran have with which to destroy Israel? Iran is unlikely to directly confront Israel itself, since it doesn't want to see itself get bombed to the stone age by Israel.

^^ I will not keep running around in circles with you. Every time I reply to you in the exact subject you have just composed about, you cannot, and will not answer back. When you answer the 10 + arguments that I directed at you that you have run away from, I will began to debate with you again. Give me the green light, and I will sent you the many links.

First of all, I am speaking to you as a citizen, not as a government or a soldier. My personal 'agenda' is quite simple: I like Lebanon and I am also a proud Israeli/Zionist at the same time. There is no contradiction in my position since I have no personal involvement in the 'crimes' which you accuse my country of.

Second, if it weren't for #2 then there wouldn't be #1.

Third, whose interests does Hizbullah represent when it goes to war with Israel- Lebanon's or Iran's? Although both countries share a mutual hatred for Israel, the two countries do not appear to have compatible interests. Iran wants Israel's destruction. This would result in Lebanon's destruction. Lebanon doesn't want to get destroyed. Lebanon wants the Shebaa Farms and an end to Israeli incursions into Lebanese territory. If Lebanon and Israel fight wars, then in theory, this serves Iran's interests since this 'destroys' Israel. On the other hand, if there is no war between Israel and Lebanon, then what other means does Iran have with which to destroy Israel? Iran is unlikely to directly confront Israel itself, since it doesn't want to see itself get bombed to the stone age by Israel.

u don't seem to understand...as a Lebanese I don't care much about Iran's agenda. i only care about Lebanon's future as a viable state. Israel is our biggest obstacle in our path to building a strong state, bcz it is a source of continuous violence and instability. Your oppression against the palestinian people is deeply disturbing as arabs and muslims, and goes against our key interests as lebanese, cz without a viable Palestinian state, Lebanon won't be able to develop into a first world country. Also, it is of common knowledge that Israel, in its zionist nature, aims at becoming a home for the world's jews. It is well known that Israel in its current borders does not have enough space to accomodate nor resources to maintain its growing population. That is why we will always live in fear knowing that zionist books establish israel's northern borders in the Litani river. Don't pretend to be so innocent. The "pro-iran" speech is a boring one. Lebanon must take advantage of iranian, turkish, chinese or sri lankan ressources to secure its survival.

what????

Yes.... lets worry about Israel's hidden agenda, and forget Iran's agenda. Why dont we ask WHY iran is helping lebanon out. God knows its not because we are BFFs.

If we were smart we wouldn't deal with Iran simply because we dont want to have a proxy battle being fought on our land. But this is exactly whats happening and what hezbollah has allowed to happen. They have given Iran a Levantine presence. Now if Israel ever wanted to attack Iran, they definitely wont exclude lebanon.

We have always said as lebanese is that we dont want to fight other people's battles, and It goes to show you we have not learned a thing.

Because we are dealing with a state that is not having the best relations with the west, we have also black balled ourselves. Why are we looking to a country whose internal policies and regime are crippling it.

Dont you guys see the internal conflicts this is causing in Lebanon. Also, I dunno if I would want to have israel agitated. Not that I wanna appease them... but its in our best interest to NOT be in war.

2006 might have been lauded as a victory for us because we defended ourselves, but we didnt "WIN". The country was crippled and it took us almost 5 years to re-build. also, WE DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO ISRAEL. We are not a country that has a strong offensive.

I think neutrality is Lebanon's best option. But we know thats a pipe dream.

u don't seem to understand...as a Lebanese I don't care much about Iran's agenda. i only care about Lebanon's future as a viable state.Israel is our biggest obstacle in our path to building a strong state, bcz it is a source of continuous violence and instability.

I understand where you are coming from here, and considering the events of the last 30 years, it's not an unreasonable perspective. BUT I don't quite agree with your characterization of Israel for the following reason: Israel is like an open at book. First and foremost, its priority is security. And the way a typical Israeli thinks is like this: "If you attack me, if you threaten my life, I will kill you. If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone." It is very black and white. I don't think that anyone here is motivated by a desire to cause 'continuous violence and instability' in Lebanon. From a practical level, it would work against our own interests.


Your oppression against the palestinian people is deeply disturbing as arabs and muslims, and goes against our key interests as lebanese, cz without a viable Palestinian state, Lebanon won't be able to develop into a first world country.

Please read this article written by a Jordanian-Palestinian academic: http://qudosi.com/politics/64-mid-east--south-asia/932-israel-the-good-enemy


Also, it is of common knowledge that Israel, in its zionist nature, aims at becoming a home for the world's jews.

This is true.

It is well known that Israel in its current borders does not have enough space to accomodate nor resources to maintain its growing population.

The shortage of space is mostly in central Israel, around Tel Aviv. Northern Israel, which borders Lebanon, probably has the opposite problem since most people prefer to live near Tel Aviv and not in this part of the country.

That is why we will always live in fear knowing that zionist books establish israel's northern borders in the Litani river. Don't pretend to be so innocent. The "pro-iran" speech is a boring one. Lebanon must take advantage of iranian, turkish, chinese or sri lankan ressources to secure its survival.

I understand your fears about survival, because as Israelis, we have this same fear. The only thing I am trying to say is that concerning Lebanon, Israel isn't driven by ideology. It's main concern is security, which also seems to be a concern of Lebanese. That's why I think if there is a demilitarization along the border (beginning in south Lebanon with Hizbullah), it would benefit both countries. Israel would no longer have to worry about a major threat to its security along its northern border; Lebanon would no longer have to worry about Israeli forays into Lebanese territory. And moreover, Israel does have a track-record of maintaining peace along its borders with Jordan and Egypt. So there's no reason why the same wouldn't be done along the Lebanese border.

Jader you are not one to criticize, let's keep this civil. you are being rude and disrespectful. If you have something to say? say it without offending people. everyone has a right to express their opinion.

PLEASE ALL READ ALL OF THIS

what????

Yes.... lets worry about Israel's hidden agenda, and forget Iran's agenda. Why dont we ask WHY iran is helping lebanon out. God knows its not because we are BFFs.

If we were smart we wouldn't deal with Iran simply because we dont want to have a proxy battle being fought on our land. But this is exactly whats happening and what hezbollah has allowed to happen. They have given Iran a Levantine presence. Now if Israel ever wanted to attack Iran, they definitely wont exclude lebanon.

We have always said as lebanese is that we dont want to fight other people's battles, and It goes to show you we have not learned a thing.

Because we are dealing with a state that is not having the best relations with the west, we have also black balled ourselves. Why are we looking to a country whose internal policies and regime are crippling it.

Dont you guys see the internal conflicts this is causing in Lebanon. Also, I dunno if I would want to have israel agitated. Not that I wanna appease them... but its in our best interest to NOT be in war.

2006 might have been lauded as a victory for us because we defended ourselves, but we didnt "WIN". The country was crippled and it took us almost 5 years to re-build. also, WE DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO ISRAEL. We are not a country that has a strong offensive.

I think neutrality is Lebanon's best option. But we know thats a pipe dream.

Lebnani, It would of been a dream come true for us as a nation to be neutral. But dreams are not reality. A country bordering Israel cannot be neutral why do you not understand this man. You are erasing history once again, you are erasing 70 years of history. Why is it so hard for you to understand that Iran is a genuine state:

1. It has never in it's existence committed any war crime, occupied any land, declared war on any country.
2. It has never in it's existence discriminated against any people.

It has:

1. Stopped war, occupation, terrorism, rape, brutality in Lebanon.
2. Is solely responsible for Lebanon's sovereignty as a nation.
3. Pumped billions of dollars into Lebanon's infrastructure, building hospitals, schools, planting 1 million trees, building roads. In overall they funded 60 percent of Lebanon's reconstruction after the wars in 1993, 1996 and 2006. And the government of Lebanon 40 percent. A speech lasts for about one hour just reading everything they have done i will post the link.

All i ever saw built by Iran are a couple of lame walking bridges on the airport road and a ridiculous hideous 5 metres park "i don't know if we even can call that a park" in Ouza3i... as well as a some religious schools in a few southern villages... and the funny thing is that all these stupid constructions are decorated with huge Iranian flags even bigger than the projects themselves

You know why you havent heard of what he has done, this is why:



In a Saturday televised addressed in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah expressed gratitude for Tehran's contribution to the reconstruction of Lebanon following 1993, 1996 and 2006 Israeli offensives against the country.

Nasrallah said Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had declined to participate in any formalities, celebrating the launch of any Tehran-financed reconstruction projects.

"Our brothers in Iran will not mention this," he said.

"I told the Iranian president that maybe some of the projects which Iran implemented in Lebanon especially how it helped in reconstruct[ing] certain areas in southern Beirut, lets make a ceremony, whereby the Iranian president will inaugurate certain projects, which Iran has helped, which has contributed to [sic]."

"The Iranian president answered me and said any project, any inauguration, any ceremonies, which could make the Lebanese people feel that they owe the Iranians or that I want to show them that I have done something, Iran has done something for Lebanon, I do not want to do this. Meaning I do not want to make the Lebanese feel they are indebted to Iran."

THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT has done 100000000x more to this country then our own Government. And they still are offering to:

1. Fund, and completely arm the Lebanese Air Force, Navy, and Ground forces.
2. Create world class power plants that offer ALL Lebanese round the clock power, and create world-class water plants to provide water round the clock for ALL Lebanese.

AND YOU GUYS ARE SAYING
http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/MainPagePictures/poster-najad-tripoli-420.jpg

This is truly sad. Just because he is shia, you do not want the president that has rebuild your country 5 times( while the government steals our money), created around 20,000++ infrastructure projects, and is meeting with our arms, energy, water, and agriculture ministers too provide ALL Lebanese with round the clock water, power, provide our army with very sophisticated weapons, and plant 1 million trees in Lebanon( the 1 millionth was planted yesterday ) .

After all of this, you would rather kiss the asses of Israel and America that have only destroyed this country.

Comon guys, what is going on in your heads. Take religion, and fear of the unknown out of the concept at least for a second. This is complete bigotry, for any of you guys not to welcome this president, who does not even want the credit for what his nation has done for our country. Today Sayyed spend over 3 hours reading of official papers all the projects Iran has build, all the homes, the people they have helped, the roads, and what he is planning to do.NONE of this you hear on Now Lebanon. What is wrong with you people. At least open your eyes a little bit.

For anyone who does not believe me I will post the official, and long list tomorrow. :) Just please for the love of god dont say he is not welcome in this country.

Jader Iran has only helped Hezballah not the whole country

And 2nd thing if it hadn't been for Hariri,even if he stole as they say,and now don't accuse me as being pro Hariri because I don't care ,no tourists would've entered Lebanon

3d even if there is energy or water projects contracts with Iran ,doesn't mean they're going to Iranize the country

Lebnani, It would of been a dream come true for us as a nation to be neutral. But dreams are not reality. A country bordering Israel cannot be neutral why do you not understand this man.

Why can't a country bordering Israel not be neutral?

You are erasing history once again, you are erasing 70 years of history. Why is it so hard for you to understand that Iran is a genuine state:

1. It has never in it's existence committed any war crime, occupied any land, declared war on any country.
2. It has never in it's existence discriminated against any people.

Both of your points are nonsense.

(1) At the very least, Iran has brutally suppressed its own people following last year's elections. This much is clear to everyone. And I don't understand how you can justify Hizbullah's participation in the brutal beatdown of those people in Iran: http://www.yalibnan.com/2010/06/27/iranian-elections-and-hezbollah/

(2) Iran regularly discriminates against religious minorities: Bahaiis, Zorastrians, Jews, etc.

It has:

1. Stopped war, occupation, terrorism, rape, brutality in Lebanon.
2. Is solely responsible for Lebanon's sovereignty as a nation.
3. Pumped billions of dollars into Lebanon's infrastructure, building hospitals, schools, planting 1 million trees, building roads. In overall they funded 60 percent of Lebanon's reconstruction after the wars in 1993, 1996 and 2006. And the government of Lebanon 40 percent. A speech lasts for about one hour just reading everything they have done i will post the link.

(1) On the contrary, it has both promoted and sustained war in Lebanon, both between Lebanon and Israel but also amongst Lebanese.

(2) On the contrary, Iran might single handedly be responsible for Lebanon's destruction. If Hizbullah and Iran decide to both start attacking Israel at the same time, do you think Israel is going to have the option of showing restraint in Lebanon? No. And as much harm as Hizbullah will do to Israel, Israel can do much worse to Lebanon. Everyone knows this, including Nasrallah. It doesn't have the will/desire to go all-out on Lebanon, but if left with no other option, Israel could do this.

(3) If it weren't for Iran and Hizbullah, many of those homes and roads would have been destroyed in the first place.

1. Fund, and completely arm the Lebanese Air Force, Navy, and Ground forces.
2. Create world class power plants that offer ALL Lebanese round the clock power, and create world-class water plants to provide water round the clock for ALL Lebanese.

(1) Remember, we are talking about the same country that has to photoshop its missile tests: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/in-an-iranian-image-a-missile-too-many/. :lol:

Today Sayyed spend over 3 hours reading of official papers all the projects Iran has build, all the homes, the people they have helped, the roads, and what he is planning to do.NONE of this you hear on Now Lebanon. What is wrong with you people. At least open your eyes a little bit.

If it weren't for Iran and Hizbullah, none of those homes and roads would have been destroyed in the first place.