March 10, 2005

ALL THEY WERE ASKING:

U.S. Called Ready to See Hezbollah in Lebanon Role (STEVEN R. WEISMAN, 3/10/05, NY Times)

After years of campaigning against Hezbollah, the radical Shiite Muslim party in Lebanon, as a terrorist pariah, the Bush administration is grudgingly going along with efforts by France and the United Nations to steer the party into the Lebanese political mainstream, administration officials say.

The administration's shift was described by American, European and United Nations officials as a reluctant recognition that Hezbollah, besides having a militia and sponsoring attacks on Israelis, is an enormous political force in Lebanon that could block Western efforts to get Syria to withdraw its troops.


Iraq should have demonstrated the wisdom of bringing the Shi'a into the tent.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 10, 2005 6:46 AM
Comments

Sorry, OJ, I have to disagree. These murdering scum killed 241 Marines and got away with it. Kill their leadership first, then let the remainder in the process.

Posted by: Bob at March 10, 2005 9:24 AM

Bob:

That certainly worked with Hamas, but hardly matters to the outcome.

Posted by: oj at March 10, 2005 9:34 AM

Two points --

This is an instance in which we are going to have to let these guys show they are more interested in being a political party in a democratic state than a troublemaker regime. As henchmen for Syria and Iran, all their value was in troublemaking. The incentive structure changes when they are part of an indigenous of the country. But their biggest incentive MUST be: knowing that there will be consequences of repeating past mistakes.

By definition, almost any Arab/Persian group who has had any power in the Islamic Middle East in the last 50 years used that power for mischief. Counting on them to reform from within is difficult. Remember that next time you question the Administration's strategy of "de-stabilizing" Iraq by "de-Baathisfying" first.

Posted by: Moe from NC at March 10, 2005 9:46 AM

OJ: It matters to me.

Posted by: Bob at March 10, 2005 11:13 AM

Bob:

Fairly thin basis for geopolitical policy though, no?

Posted by: oj at March 10, 2005 11:54 AM

Even Richard Armitage said we had a blood price coming with Hezbollah. At the least we are going to have to sever the Iranian connection. At the neck.

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 10, 2005 1:34 PM
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