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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
W. Thomas Smith, Jr :: Townhall.com Columnist
Hezbollah Scores Political Win, But Resistance Groups Forming
by W. Thomas Smith, Jr
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But Hezbollah has been able to skirt the “militia” and “armed groups” labeling by calling itself a “resistance [against foreign aggression].” Problem is the near-70 people who were killed as a result of Hezbollah’s attacks this month were not foreigners, and the neighborhoods and villages shot-up, rocketed, and burned, and the roads seized were all inside sovereign Lebanese territory. At a minimum, the United Nations Implementation Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) should have kept the air and seaports opened per its authority under 1701. But UNIFIL did absolutely nothing while the world watched.

Now we learn that in an attempt to “avert further crisis,” Arab League negotiators in Qatar have granted the terrorist group even more concessions: Veto power on any government decision (Hezbollah’s army apparently already wielded that from the muzzles of its AK-47s) and 11 cabinet seats for Hezbollah and its allies (over a period of time, the terrorists had managed to snake themselves into six.)

However, despite Sleiman’s unwillingness to fight and the government’s willingness to negotiate with mass murderers; the majority pro-democracy movement in Lebanon is not taking it on the chin.

In an international radio broadcast, Saturday, Dr. Walid Phares, director of the Future of Terrorism Project for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, appealed to the Lebanese people to resist Hezbollah.

According to Phares:

“Lebanese citizens have the fundamental right to resist Hezbollah’s terror and invasion of west Beirut, the mountains and the north. … All efforts by Lebanese citizens to oppose terrorism and to do so in defense of democracy will be endorsed worldwide.”

On Sunday, I learned that members of Lebanon’s pro-democracy movement were indeed forming a “resistance group against terrorism.” That group – originating in Beirut – is composed of Christians, Druze, and Muslims (both Sunni and Shiia). This week, other reports indicate there may be like-minded resistance groups forming elsewhere in the country.

Sources tell me, Hezbollah may have temporarily gained the upper hand. Concessions – which are being inaccurately reported as a victory for all Lebanese – have temporarily bandaged the wounds. And resistance against the terrorist group may have had to go underground. But this fight is far from over.

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About The Author
W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a former U.S. Marine rifle-squad leader and counterterrorism instructor. He is the author of six books, and he has covered war and conflict in the Balkans, on the West Bank, in Iraq, and Lebanon. Visit him online at http://www.uswriter.com.
 
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Cordial Invitation
Click my name for the latest in political parodies. Two new ones today! Find your smile.

Hope vs reality
Lebanon has been surrendered to the Iranians without resistance. The "western backed" government cratered, and why shouldn't it; it has no military to defend it.
The Lebanon military is just another part of a puzzle, independent, it would seem of serving the nation's defense. It's commander will soon be the Lebanese President; unfortunately he is but another pawn of the Syrians.
The reality is that Lebanon is lost, and it was lost in fact on Reagan's watch!
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