August 18, 2006
THE TRICK IS GETTING THE WEST TO ATTACK YOU:
U.S., Hezbollah vie to rebuild for Lebanese (Sharon Behn, 8/18/06, THE WASHINGTON TIMES)
The United States and its allies are rushing billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Lebanon while Iran provides cash through its proxy, Hezbollah, in a race to establish long-term political influence among the country's war-ravaged Shi'ite communities.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are sending $2 billion, said a Lebanese source close to the majority party in government, and the United States has publicly promised $50 million in humanitarian assistance. That sum will likely be increased at an international pledging conference later this month.
Hezbollah, which successfully held off the Israeli military in the monthlong war that ended Monday, is already working with residents of the south to rebuild homes and businesses destroyed in the conflict.
"This is an opportunity to do more than just rebuild, but to help to shape Lebanon's future, and probably that is the biggest challenge," said Rick Barton, who studies post-conflict reconstruction at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
South Lebanon's future.
MORE:
Start Talking to Hezbollah (LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, 8/18/06, NY Times)
WHAT a waste that it took more than 30 days to adopt a United Nations Security Council resolution for a cease-fire in Lebanon. Thirty days during which nothing positive was achieved and a great deal of pain, suffering and damage was inflicted on innocent people. [...][W]e must recall that Hezbollah came into existence as a consequence of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Like all movements, it has evolved: it was initially a militia and a resistance movement against foreign occupation. It then developed into both a political party and a social organization, providing valuable services to its impoverished community.
Rather than trying to isolate Hezbollah, we should be encouraging it to play a responsible role in the internal dynamics of Lebanon.
isolation would be ideal, in its own Shi'a state. If it results in sovereignty for the South Lebanese and a rebuilding effort the war won't have been a waste at all.
Posted by Orrin Judd at August 18, 2006 9:21 AM
Maybe they can build an Autobahn.
Posted by: Lou Gots at August 18, 2006 6:48 PMLet us remember that as part of the Arab league,
Brahimi, whose daughter married into some CNN
reporter's family) negotiated the Taif accord,
which was supposed to resolve this problem back
in 1990! Of course, he leaves out the fact that
Hezbollah was split off from the more moderate
(yet hardly trustworthy) core of the Amal militia;
captained by Nabih Berri
No, it wasn't. It was supposed to keep the Shi'ites from taking their fair share of power.
Posted by: oj at August 18, 2006 9:58 PMoj,
Their fair share of power?
They're an Islamic extremist group, dedicated to the killing of all Jews until Israel no longer exists! They have no other agenda!
Here in the US, what religious group is being denied it's "fair share of power", and who would define such a division?
You and I have parted company on only two issues, the success of Red Sox management, and the possibility that Islam can, in any way, be compatible with Western Judeo/Christian thinking.
Your always quoted example of Turkey is only possible because of a mostly secular army reigning in the Islamic nutjobs!
Northern Iraq Kurds would seem to be the best bet, but appears the entire Muslim world hates them! Wonder why?
Mike
Mike:
You miss your own point. If Protestants were systematically denied the presidency and congressional leadership in favor of Catholics and Jews we'd be at war.
Posted by: oj at August 18, 2006 11:04 PMOJ - perhaps. But would we assault Mexico if Chuck Schumer were the enemy?
Posted by: ratbert at August 19, 2006 12:30 AMWe are.
Posted by: oj at August 19, 2006 8:10 AM