The Billiken's Bluff

This Louie Dumps
owes me $10 dollars.

It's been two weeks, and whenever
he sees me he keeps dodging me.

He's becoming a pain in the ass.
Should I crack him one?

What's the matter?
What have I been telling you?

Sometimes hurting somebody
ain't the answer.

- Is he a good friend of yours?
- No, I don't even like him.

There's your answer right there.

It costs you 10 dollars
to get rid of him.

He's never bother you again. He's never
gonna ask you for money again.

He's out of your life for 10
dollars. You got off cheap.

You're always right.

Maybe two days after Israel's heavy artillery stopped falling on Lebanon, Hezbollah, began handing out $12,000 payments, in cash, to any individual who lost their home during the month long fighting. Estimates say 15,000 homes were destroyed in Lebanon. High end estimate then... $200 million in Hezbollah payouts.



1 or 2 days and they were already mobilized...



faster than cruise ships became temporary housing for Katrina victims. Almost faster than George W. Bush made his way to survey the site and connect with victims of Rita, after he knew better a month later. Is Hezbollah that well-organized, that savvy public relations-wise? Are they close enough to the people and streets, grass roots enough to react more quickly and move more nimbly than the UN or US? Something along the lines of you can't make quick turns in a Range Rover or Hummer, too big, too bulky, however a Hyundai corners better, can turn on a dime.

It's almost as if…. Hezbollah had a plan. Monies counted, ready to distribute.

In the absence of swift government aid, people in Khiam hope Hezbollah will make good on a pledge to rebuild their homes.

The group has handed out wads of cash - $12,000 in US banknotes - to hundreds of displaced families in Beirut’s shattered suburbs, and says it will continue distributing funds throughout the country.

Ali Rahhal is expecting some money soon. His house flattened by an Israeli air strike last week, he now drives a bulldozer through its remains in the first step of rebuilding.

"My house looks just like this," he said, gesturing to the hundreds of yards of rubble strewn with clothes, broken furniture and other reminders of the people who once lived here.

"Hezbollah has taken names and said tomorrow they will pay everyone. In a few weeks my wife and children will come back and we will rebuild."

Officials in Israel and the US, which lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation, say the cash is bolstering support for the group and Iran is the source.

Of course it is.





Steal from the rich or attack the rich and give back to the poor. Gain stronger footing in community. Gain more seats in Parliament (democratically actually). Nevermind that Hezbollah brought this on their host nation. When the fighting ended last week it should have been like...

Lebanese people: "Get out of my house"
Hezbollah: "But---"
The people: "You brought this here, now get out."

If the US and Israel acknowledge that these relief payouts turn the terrorist group into the good guys in their communities why didn’t they get there first? We're only talking about $10, $12,000, $200,000,000.

Iran yesterday denied it was sponsoring Hezbollah’s handouts but said it was working on an aid package of its own.

The US has also been trying to accelerate aid and encourage Arab states to step in quickly to help rebuild.

Deputy Mayor Abdallah said Khiam would take whatever funds came first.

"It is a race. If the government does its role and protects the people, that’s great," he said. "But if it doesn’t, if it is to slow to help, okay. Just know that Hezbollah will not waste a single day."

200 million, the US should have funneled this money to the neighborhoods where Hezbollah is strongest as soon as the cease fire went into effect. The US or Israel couldn't distribute directly but channel it through the Lebanese government. Let them be the good guys, a viable alternative to Hezbollah. This money is nothing, small. If we want to discredit and vilify axis’s of evil and their terrorist franchises why wouldn’t we move quicker, give more freely, no security council resolutions or filibustering, just get there first, try to win the hearts and minds.

Fighting two swords with a stick and winning.