January 29, 2008
GOOD BORDERS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS:
Cleric warns of more Beirut unrest (AsharqAlawat, 29/01/2008)
The army, seeking to ease tensions with the Shiite community that has long been a strong ally, said Monday it regretted the loss of life and pledged "extreme seriousness" in an investigation into what happened.The violence "only serves the enemies of the nation, first and foremost the Israeli enemy," said a military statement, issued after the army chief met the parliament speaker and Amal opposition leader, Nabih Berri.
Lebanon's top Shiite Muslim cleric joined the main Shiite groups, Hezbollah and Amal, in calling for an investigation into the "cold-blooded killings" and warned that matters could get out of control.
The army "must clarify as soon as possible" the events of Sunday, "so that matters will not aggravate as a result of the state of political turmoil and public discontent," Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah of Lebanon's 1.2 million Shiites said in a statement.
The fighting ignited memories of the 1975-90 civil war and came during a political fight over who will become Lebanon's next president. The clashes erupted along the war's former demarcation line between Christian and Muslim areas and near a district where the bloody conflict, which killed 150,000, began.
What nation? Posted by Orrin Judd at January 29, 2008 8:27 AM
GOOD BORDERS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS
Express that sentiment with regards to Mexico, and around here you are automatically a racist.
No No No. This is completely different.
And I'm pretty sure you're a racist for even bringing it up.
It's all very clear in OJ's mind...
Posted by: Benny at January 29, 2008 2:16 PMNations need borders in order to keep the "races" separate. America isn't a nation.
Posted by: oj at January 29, 2008 2:21 PMBut Mexico is trying to be, keeping its southern border tightly controlled and pushing the Indians around.
Posted by: ratbert at January 30, 2008 1:34 AMWhy do you think their Christians are fleeing?
Posted by: oj at January 30, 2008 8:33 AMRegarding the Lebanese Shi'ites, why haven't they just declared sovereignty over the South? I doubt if the national government or the Army is stopping them. They probably aren't afraid of what Israel might do, expecially after the debacle of the last 'war'. The pathetic UN forces are no obstacle.
Could it be Hezbollah, directed by the mullahs in Tehran, doesn't want to do it? Or could the Alawite thugs be stopping them?
Why the stasis?
Posted by: ratbert at January 30, 2008 6:11 PMThese situations typically take a while, especially for a people who have never governed themselves. Consider how long it's taking the Scots.
Posted by: oj at January 30, 2008 8:25 PM