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Fasten, fit closely, bind together.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Strange Bed Fellows
The U.S. is ready to see Hezbollah take an official role in Lebanonese politics.
For years the US has classified Hezbollah, a radical Shiite party, as a terrorist organization. Up until a few weeks ago, the US was still campaigning in Europe to have France officially label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. But on Tuesday, Hezbollah showed just how much support it has in Lebanon by staging a massive pro-Syrian, anti-American rally in Beirut, that drew hundreds of thousands of Shiite supporters.
The Bush administration is now going along with efforts by France and the United Nations to turn Hezbollah into a mainstream political party.
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What is also apparent from reading this NY Times article is that my suggestion on Tuesday, that the US should reconsider its aggressive insistence that Syria withdraw all of its troops immediately, turned out to be not so silly after all.
Tuesday I wrote:
Maybe America should try playing a less visible role in pressuring Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. Then the Lebanese people will be able to decide what alliance, if any, they want to have with Syria.
US involvement only gives fodder for groups like Hezbollah to distract their followers from the real debate that should be going on. Rather than exploring the merits of current Lebanese/Syrian relations, Hezbollah can shout rhetoric about the Zionists and the Americans.
gotim | 03.08.05 - 9:16 pm | #
N-Dot responded:
That sounds like a horrible idea.
N-Dot | 03.08.05 - 10:32 pm | #
And then today, the NY Times writes:
One question the United States must consider is whether keeping up pressure to get Syrian troops out in time for the elections could backfire by enhancing Hezbollah's appeal.
"Why don't they realize that once America makes a case for something, the Middle East will go in the opposite direction?" said an Arab diplomat, asking not to be identified as criticizing the administration. "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, but now its hand is strengthened because of American opposition."
|
For years the US has classified Hezbollah, a radical Shiite party, as a terrorist organization. Up until a few weeks ago, the US was still campaigning in Europe to have France officially label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. But on Tuesday, Hezbollah showed just how much support it has in Lebanon by staging a massive pro-Syrian, anti-American rally in Beirut, that drew hundreds of thousands of Shiite supporters.
The Bush administration is now going along with efforts by France and the United Nations to turn Hezbollah into a mainstream political party.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is also apparent from reading this NY Times article is that my suggestion on Tuesday, that the US should reconsider its aggressive insistence that Syria withdraw all of its troops immediately, turned out to be not so silly after all.
Tuesday I wrote:
Maybe America should try playing a less visible role in pressuring Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. Then the Lebanese people will be able to decide what alliance, if any, they want to have with Syria.
US involvement only gives fodder for groups like Hezbollah to distract their followers from the real debate that should be going on. Rather than exploring the merits of current Lebanese/Syrian relations, Hezbollah can shout rhetoric about the Zionists and the Americans.
gotim | 03.08.05 - 9:16 pm | #
N-Dot responded:
That sounds like a horrible idea.
N-Dot | 03.08.05 - 10:32 pm | #
And then today, the NY Times writes:
One question the United States must consider is whether keeping up pressure to get Syrian troops out in time for the elections could backfire by enhancing Hezbollah's appeal.
"Why don't they realize that once America makes a case for something, the Middle East will go in the opposite direction?" said an Arab diplomat, asking not to be identified as criticizing the administration. "Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, but now its hand is strengthened because of American opposition."
