We can not let this continue

I was extremely disappointed in the media coverage of the elections.
I did nothing about it

It came as no shock to read today, that the big three TV networks did NOT report the full story regarding the Union violence in MI. It was mob violence plain and simple.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/12/12/ABC-NBC-CBS-ignore-union-violence

This country is going down the path of ancient Rome. We must stop that destructive path before it is too late.

Many people do not have the time to research the days events, and it is especially hard for people to know what is going on if their sources of information are clearly on an agenda, an agenda that does not even come close to being honest.

We must do something.
From now on, I am going to see who is paying the corrupt media's bills (by advertising) and not buy anything from those companies (if possible - somethings might not be possible to avoid.)


This is obviously an insignificant gesture, but we have to do something if we want to see this country survive.

The politicians are not going to do anything - it seems they only want to get themselves re-elected.

It seems we are becoming a nation of self-centered takers.

What other ideas do you have to turn around this country?

Amazing how the lies pour from their mouths so easily

Unless they are so stupid and really believe the corruption that spews from their minds / mouths.
Israel is going to 'Escalate the Violence' ?
I don't think so, it is the other way around. Just like spoiled children, the Palestinians are the ones who have repeatedly thown temper tantrums - except their tantrums involve war crimes by among other things, firing rockets at kindergardens etc.

Can you spot the "funny" ?

Now part of this is really funny:

Nassim Nissir , a Lebanese-born man to a Jewish Lebanese mother and a Shiite father, was exchanged with the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in the 2006 war yesterday. He was deported to Lebanon via the town of Naqoura. The International Red Cross arranged the exchange. His release was just a test according to the report

The first stage calls for exchanging Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser , two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah in 2006 and providing information on the Israeli pilot Ron Arad , against releasing 4 Hezbollah prisoners , Lebanese prisoner Samir Quntar, the remains of Hezbollah fighters killed during the war and providing the map that shows the locations of the Israeli mines and cluster bombs and

The second stage calls for freeing tens of Palestinian prisoners who are currently in Israeli jails.

Hezbollah leader hassan Nasrallah is insisting on this point in the agreement according to the report , because "he wants to show that he can stand up to Israel both militarily and diplomatically"

Gerhard Conrad , a German spy enjoys great respect from both parties according to Der Spiegel. He was asked by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

According to the report the German mediator is still waiting for the Israeli response regarding the execution of the agreement

Find the funny part? No?
Why it's the quote from Nasrallah. He and his organization can stand up to Israel militarily!
Now if they can do that, then why do they commit (a multitude) of war crimes, particularly hiding behind civilians when shooting?

More bad times for Pro-Lebanon Citizens?

Why do I think that they are already guilty of this crime in Lebanon?

The report by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted "observers" of Lebanese politics as saying that the motive behind efforts toward returning Siniora to the premiership "is to pave the way for his assassination and then use his blood to (achieve political gain) in the coming elections."

…

Many politicians in Lebanon are concerned that Iran which backs Hezbollah, militarily, politically and financially may follow Syria's lead and start its own hit list in Lebanon, to assassinate those that oppose the Wilayat al Faqih

And then we have a Christian acting like the puppy dog for Hezbollah who is the pit bull for their evil crazed masters.

How in the world can Michel Aoun think Iran has done anything positive in the world since the ’79 revolution?

"Iran surely had a positive and constructive role in helping Lebanese to achieve an accord and we thanked this country for this positive role," Aoun told.

Aoun (pictured ) , a key ally of the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition made the remarks in an interview with the Mehr News Agency reporter in Beirut concurrent with the election of Michel Suleiman as Lebanon's president last week.

Aoun said, "I have a message of friendship and brotherhood for Iranians and I see them as Lebanon lovers."

Has he been partaking in the LSD love fests?

He called on all "foreign friends and parties" to respect Lebanon's "independence and sovereignty" and avoid blocking efforts to resolve the problems.

Aoun also advised Lebanese to make decisions "independently and in line with their national interests".

Asked about a new Middle East proposed by the U.S., he said, "We are always in the new Middle East, but not the one (U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza) Rice talks about."

Ever since Aoun signed allied himself with Hezbollah he has been critical of US policies in Lebanon. During his 15 years of exile in Paris Aoun was a leading critic of Hezbollah, Syria and Iran.

Maybe his “foreign friends and parties” respect statement was his way of clearing his conscious, knowing, but not saying, that Syria and Iran are quite the opposite.

al-Dura setback for France 2

Only one last chance left for the Massive Fraud of al-Dura to be a propaganda (and lie) win for Pallywood.

What I love is the part about holding all those responsible for this Evil Propaganda Lie. Think of all that "rage" where people were killed because of the usual Propaganda.
Lives were lost because of it -sounds like pre-mediated Man Slaughter.

Biting the hand that feeds you

Once again the Palestinians attack the border crossing between Gaza "Hell On Earth" Strip and Israel.

I think we should put, on a rotating basis, all those who blame Israel for Gaza's woes at the crossings. Make it so that the Israel Haters have a representative at the crossing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Also put up some tent camps where the rockets are aimed at. Keep several thousand 'Haters' in these vacation camps full time too.

When an attacks occur, wave some Hamas' flags in support of the 'vacationers'

Let us start with the leaders of the countries who complain the loudest about Gaza Woes.

I can't believe what happened in Doha

The Pro-Lebanese forces capitulated.
The Pro-Iranian / Pro-Syrian occupation of Lebanon forces got what they wanted.

Expect more Pro-Lebanese people to be killed for their political views.
Expect less freedom for individuals.
Expect a Religious Dictatorship, under the Shia, to commence.

Sad times

Lebanon: The bleeding will go on

By Ghassan Karam,
Special to Ya Libnan
I must admit that the tendency to become preoccupied with symptoms rather than the root cause of a problem is a universal shortcoming.

This phenomenon is seen in the political arena as well as social and economic fields. An excellent example of the above is best illustrated by the total disconnect between the correct diagnosis of the gravity of the consequences of climate change and the suggested remedies. Al Gore, the Nobel laureate, spends over 90 minutes scaring the beejesus out of the audience only to suggest at the end of the movie that they should change their light bulbs. Somebody forgot to tell Mr. Gore that had the solution been so simple then the problem would not have been this grave.

Replace in the above the Climate Change with the Lebanese problematic, the suggested remedy of changing incandescent light bulbs with "No winners, no losers" and you get a clear picture of why history keeps repeating itself , at least in Lebanon.

The major structural flaw in the current Lebanese architecture, besides its failure to grow citizens is the tendency to settle for band aids when the wound is deep and is badly in need of a major surgical cleansing procedure. The band aid will slow or even stop the hemorrhage for a while but only at the risk of spreading the disease throughout the system. Then it will be too late to save the patient.

Lebanon is that patient who desperately needs a major Emergency Room care but the attending physicians only prescribe sedatives. The first step that needs to be recognized is the incongruity of the "modern" Lebanese project with the aims of Hezbollah. Many people recognized this clear incongruity at least from as far back as 2005, the year during which Hezbollah decided to play a major political role. A party that was created by the Iranian Mullahs for the sole purpose of establishing on the ground the conditions that will favour the return of the lost Imam and that is to be guided by the teachings of the Faqih was going to be at odds with the concepts of state sovereignty, personal freedom and democratic values that promote equal protection and diversity in all its forms. We cannot realistically expect Hezbollah not to be true to its ideals and therefore it was our mistake to seek their partnership. Expecting Hezbollah to be a productive partner in building a modern democratic state is akin to expecting a sworn pacifist to lead an army in an ongoing war to victory.

This is the really scary part. The lost Imam or twelfth Imam (Imam Mahdi) is to show up at the end of time, bringing equity and justice. To the Shia he is alive but invisible; The Invisible ruler of the Universe. The apparent nutjob Mr. Ahmadinejad of Iran is trying to bring this about.
This is why Iran is so hell bent on causing total chaos in the world. The proxy armies of Amal and Hezbollah are just several of many tools of Iran, whose purpose is to bring about the illustrious end of the world.

'Imam Muhammad al-Mahdï entitled Sahib al-zamán, who is the last Shi'ite Imam, went into minor occultation upon the death of his father. From 260/873 to 329/940 he had four representatives (nä'ib) to whom he appeared from time to time and through whom he ruled the Shi'ite community. This period is thus called the minor occultation (al-ghaibat al-sughrä). Henceforth, there began the major occultation (al-ghaibat al-kubrä) which still endures. During this time, according to the Shi'ah, the Mahdi is alive but invisible. He is the axis mundi, the invisible ruler of the Universe. Before the end of time he will appear again on earth to bring equity and justice and to fill it with peace after it has been torn by war and injustice. The Mahdi is an ever-living spiritual being who guides in the spiritual path those who ask him and whose succour all the devout ask in their daily prayers. He who is spiritually qualified is, in fact, in inner contact with the Mahdi.'

(Seyyed Hossein Nasar, Ideals and Realities of Islam.
Mandala, Unwin Hyman Ltd.)

So true to form Hezbollah has spent the last three years obstructing the efforts of the government to govern at every level. Their latest outburst was the military take over of west Beirut, an attack on the Chouf, Blocking access to the only International airport and making the Beirut harbor inaccessible. The excuse this time around was their disagreement with the cabinet orders to remove the person in charge of airport security and to dismantle the illegal and unauthorized telecommunication network erected buy Hezbollah. In a democracy and in a civil society such disagreements are common. What is uncommon is the method used by the Lebanese opposition to express their disapproval. Instead of campaigning to win a majority in the Chamber of deputies so that they can rescind these two laws they decided to resort to violence by shooting, burning, intimidating and killing. They took us back to the center of the Hobbsian jungle where only hoodlums rule because they have more guns. To add to the above, Mr. Berri, one of their staunchest allies and a co conspirator had the temerity to call these barbaric acts of terrorism civil disobedience. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr must be turning in their graves.

Is it possible that the required reading of the youth in Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip is 'The Lord Of The Flies', with the emphasis on destructive behavior being 'divine'?

So how do we temporarily get out of this crisis? Give the unlawful perpetrators all what they have asked for; renew the partnership to build a state with those whose aim is its destruction. The current political leadership of March 14 has, at best bought time but make no mistake about it, we have failed for the umpteenth time to deal with the root cause of what ails us.

This so called settlement will come back to haunt us unless:


1. We can show the courage to keep Hezbollah out of the cabinet until they can win a majority in the Chamber of deputies;

2. Enforce UNSC 1559 if for no other reason but the fact that a viable democratic state cannot exist without exercising a monopoly over violence;

3. Restoration of all state institutions and reforming the laws that govern them to make sure that no one person is ever again to be allowed to take a nation hostage by shutting the doors of its Chamber of Deputies;

4. Elect and not nominate a president without having to resort to unconstitutional means, i.e. Rescind the nomination of General Suleiman on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. One should not be expected to uphold the law by breaking it;

5. The constitutional law and tradition of having the president hold consultations before he asks one person to form a cabinet is sacred and must be preserved;

6. The clause in the Taif agreement dealing with the elimination of sectarianism must be implemented immediately;

7. Every person who has taken part in the illegal activities as of May 8 2008 must be apprehended and tried in a court of law; and

8. A new electoral system that will decrease the power of the traditional "zoamah" must be implemented.

A new Lebanon will ultimately emerge. Neither the shameful opposition nor the bumbling performance of the majority can keep that from happening. The events of the past week have been momentous but the proposed formula looks like another band aid that will fail to stem the bleeding. Those who insist on neglecting the obvious solution do so at their peril.

This is a well written editorial. It cuts through all the crap being espoused by those who do not want things to be fixed, the right way.

Army Chief: Use of Hezbollah arms internally serves Israel

Beirut - Lebanon's Army Chief Gen. Michel Suleiman said that Hezbollah did the Israeli enemy a big favor when it used the resistance arms in internal fighting


Suleiman made the remark while inspecting his troops deployed in south Lebanon.

Suleiman said that the army refrained from "resorting to the cannon during the recent incidents and this does not mean that the army was neutralized, but it aimed at averting more bloodshed and further cracks in national ranks."


"Experience proved that stability cannot be achieved without entente," he concluded

Serves Israel? How stupid is this statement? It served Iran, not Israel. The Sunnis were humilated, something that Iran wants.

As per reason Army did not do its job, the "but it aimed at averting more bloodshed" is unbelievable! Because the Army did not do anything but assist Amal and Hezbollah in their savage coup. Because the Army did nothing, the assault on the Druze and Sunnis continued. I can not see how Suleiman being President is going to help.

Great Satan Feeding it's enemies, again

The US did it during the Cold War, selling food to the Soviet Union.
But now the US is giving it away to the most oppressive regime on Earth.

"The food aid of the US government will help settle the food shortage in the DPRK to a certain extent and contribute to promoting the understanding and confidence between the peoples of the two countries."

USAID, the US agency for international development, announced the shipments on Friday.

In a statement, it said 500,000 tonnes of emergency food aid will be provided over a 12-month period under a new deal with Pyongyang.

Previous aid shipments were suspended in 2006 over concern the aid was not reaching the right people.

Aid groups say soaring global food prices and reluctance by donors have helped to push North Korea close to famine.

If North Korea stopped putting all it's resources into war making (including atomic weapons), it could feed it's own people. Only an idiot believes that South Korea (and the US) are going to invade the North.

Food shortfall

Washington will supply 400,000 tonnes of food aid via the UN World Food Programme (WFP), while US non-governmental organisations will distribute 100,000 tonnes, the statement said.

Keep in mind that there are hungry people in the US too. Why feed an enemy? Tell China to step up to the plate, instead of sending refugees back to North Korea to face certain harsh punishment.

...

The United States was a major provider of food aid to North Korea from 1995 until 2005.

The US suspended the assistance after Pyongyang asked representatives of the WFP, which was channeling the aid, to leave.

That is because the food was not going to the right people. North Korea was diverting that free food for it's Military.

Gaza: Bomb explodes at Christian school

Unknown assailants detonated a bomb outside a Christian school in Gaza City before dawn Friday, causing no injuries.

The explosion was heard in surrounding neighborhoods at around 4 a.m. Damage was visible at the entrance to the Zahwa Rosary School, which is run by Catholic nuns but caters mainly to Muslim students.

Two nuns were in their convent adjacent to the school when the bomb went off, a school official said, and were shaken but unharmed. The official declined to be named, saying she was frightened by the incident and concerned for her safety.

The incident appeared to be the work of a poorly trained individual or group, she said - police told school officials that the bomb had been set incorrectly, and it caused little damage.

The bombing was the latest in a string of attacks on Christian institutions in the overwhelmingly Muslim territory. In the most serious attack, a local Christian activist was murdered in October. His killers have not been found.

Of course not. No one is seriously looking for the murderers.

Friday's bombing was not the first attack on the school run by the Rosary Sisters. The school was ransacked in June, 2007, along with the nuns' adjacent convent, during a week of intense fighting that ended with Hamas' seizure of power.

Police officials from Hamas said they were looking into the incident. But the school official said the police's inability to find perpetrators of previous attacks was cause for concern.

"We don't feel safe. There's no security here," she said.

Father Manuel Musallem, the leader of Gaza's Catholics, played down Friday's attack. "This is the work of a dark individual," Musallem said. "We have excellent relations with Muslims. They enter our houses and we enter theirs. There's no campaign of Muslims against Christians here," he said.

I feel that he was not speaking the truth here. This isn't the work of a dark individual, but a group. The same group responsible for ransacking the school back in June.

About 3,200 Christians live in Gaza among 1.4 million Muslims. Relations between Christians and Muslims have traditionally been good, and Christians have held a respected place in Gaza's society as members of the territory's small elite, running schools, hospitals and businesses.

But members of the tiny community have grown increasingly uneasy since Hamas routed forces of the secular Fatah movement and became the sole power in the territory.

What is wrong with these people in the Gaza Strip? It is as if the concepts of Human Decency, strong positive Morals, compassion do not exist.
Note to the Leftists in the west, this is not Israel's fault.

Top-level talks in Qatar

Lebanon's US-backed ruling coalition challenged their Hizbullah-led rivals Saturday, demanding that top-level talks in Qatar on ending Lebanon's 18-month old political crisis - which turned violent a week ago - also tackle the issue of Hizbullah's weapons.

However, the Hizbullah side insisted the group's arsenal was not to be touched, according to Lebanese media reports on the first day of the negotiations in the Qatari capital.

They can not get their way without those weapons. It is plainly obvious now, those weapons are not for "Resistance", unless the definition of "Resistance" is any action to get their way. Most of Lebanon does not want to live under the Iranian dictated conditions of Religious Dictatorship.

The Doha-hosted meeting between the Lebanese factions on forming a national unity government and electing a president was agreed under an Arab League-mediated deal to end Lebanon's worst violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Following Arab mediation, the feuding sides flew to Qatar on Friday, after agreeing that the talks would lead to the election of compromise candidate Army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president.

Lebanon's official National News Agency said the talks became tense when parliament majority leader Saad Hariri, a Sunni, and hard-line pro-government Christian politician Samir Geagea brought up the issue of Hizbullah's weapons.

The private LBC Television said the feuding sides engaged in "heated discussions" over the subject, which took up most of the morning session. The TV said pro-government leaders stressed that the sectarian fighting, which erupted in Beirut and other areas last week, must not be allowed to recur.

This indicated that Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's side was looking for guarantees in Qatar that Hizbullah won't again take to the streets as it did when it overrun Muslim Sunni west Beirut neighborhoods last week.

Geagea had warned Hizbullah that Doha talks would fail if the Shi'ite Islamist group sticks to keeping its weapons. "We can no longer accept Hizbullah as it is," he told the Qatari Al-Jazeera TV.

Here is the root of the problem. Syria allowed only Hizbullah to retain the weapons, in violation of the agreement to stop the civil war. I seriously doubt the recent events were the first time those illegal weapons were used on Lebanese.

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh told The Associated Press from Qatar that he expected "three critical days" before any sort of compromise is reached, but that the Doha talks would include "Hizbullah's use of its weapons to achieve internal political aims."

The eruption last week was triggered by government measures to rein in Hizbullah, whose fighters then responded by taking up arms. The clashes left 67 people dead and over 200 wounded.

The violence eventually forced the government to revoke the measures, giving Hizbullah an upper hand in its standoff with the government.

The standoff has paralyzed Lebanon politically, and left it without a president since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term ended last November. It started in Nov. 2006, when six Hizbullah ministers and their allies resigned from the Cabinet because it would not give them veto power on government decisions.


That important veto power is needed to stop the International Special Tribunal from trying former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hizbullah is not just worried about the murders of Hariri coming to light, but ALL the political assinations that have been happening.


Lawmaker Mohammed Raad, who heads Hizbullah's delegation in Qatar, defended the group's keeping its arsenal, saying the weapons were meant to fight against Israel and "must not be touched," according to LBC.

And let's not forget what group would be the one to start the hostilities again. If the weapons were only meant to start another war with Israel, the assumption is the recent coup attempt was a mistake? Odd, it continued for days. No mistake there, those very weapons were specifically and intentionally used to kill Lebanese.

Subsequently, Qatari host Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani asked the two sides to stick for now to discussions on a national unity government. According to NNA, they set up a four-party committee to draft a new election law.

"It's not easy," Amin Gemayel, a pro-government politician and former president, was quoted by NNA as saying in Doha.

Still, Saniora struck an upbeat note, saying Saturday's session showed "all parties are eager to reach an understanding that will lead to the beginning of a solution to this crisis," the private Voice of Lebanon Radio reported.

Washington and Saniora's faction have accused Iran and Syria of seeking to undermine the Lebanese government and Middle East stability, while Hizbullah accuses the prime minister and his allies in the anti-Syrian coalition of being America's servants.

Of course Hizbullah leaders see the Pro-Lebanon faction of being servants. Why? Because Hizubllah is a servant to Iran and Syria. This is a classic case of "Projection".

Blaming personal shortcomings on someone else is called projection. The student who is late explains that "My roomate was not ready." The truth is that the student started late. A student misses a question on a test and explains the mistake with "It was a trick question." Projection is transferring responsibility for unacceptable ideas, wishes, or thoughts to another. Projection is used more often by persons with mental illness than the healthy person.

US President George W. Bush and Saudi King Abdullah shared their concerns over the Lebanon violence during a meeting Friday in Riyadh, Bush's national security adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters.

The two were concerned the Lebanon events would "embolden Iran," Hadley said, adding that the US and Saudi Arabia both condemn "what Hizbullah did in bringing pressure on the duly elected government of Lebanon."

Talks in Qatar are the first time top leaders from the Lebanese sides came face-to-face in the 18 months crisis.

Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is in hiding fearing an assassination by Israel, did not attend.

Unfortunately even if Israel was to get rid of Narallah, there is a steady source of replacements.

Suleiman warns Hamas to release Schalit - Like that is going to do anything

If ceasefire negotiations will not include the safe return to Israel of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, held by terrorists in Gaza for almost two years, Israel will embark on a massive operation against Hamas in Gaza, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman reportedly conveyed to Hamas's Gaza rulers.

Suleiman is playing an instrumental role in indirect ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, which have been ongoing for several weeks.

The recent report, by the Lebanese Al Akhbar, also quoted Palestinian sources as saying that the Hamas negotiators, shuttling between Gaza and Cairo, were willing to show some flexibility on the details of the agreement, but that their insistence to have some high profile prisoners released by Israel still stalled an agreement from being achieved.

Sources quoted by Al Akhbar said that according to Suleiman, Israel will carry out "serious attacks" against Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza, unless the ceasefire deal currently being hammered out includes the release of Schalit.

The paper reported that a meeting between Suleiman and Hamas top officials dealt mainly with the option of tying Schalit's release to a general ceasefire.

Hamas "is not interested in keeping Schalit [hostage] forever," the group's spokesman Ayman Taha said. "If Israel will abide by the resistance's demands, we shall release him forthwith."

Meanwhile, Abu Mujhad, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees [PRC], one of the groups responsible for kidnapping Schalit, said his group "agrees to tie the issue of a ceasefire to Schalit."

He added that the Schalit affair was still "standing at the same point" because of Israeli "stubbornness."

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to arrive in Sharm el Sheikh for the World Economic Forum, headed by US President George W. Bush. Sources in Jerusalem said Livni might convene with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and also with his expected successor, his son Gamal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit is also expected to meet with Livni.

Hamas doesn't understand or care about this warning. The misery of ordinary citizens is of no concern, other than their propaganda value to other hate filled people or idiotic Leftists.

Maybe Hamas needs to see what total war looks like. Instead they hide behind 'civilians' and launch their rockets against truly civilian targets - an unmistakable War Crime. Israel retaliates with pinprick attacks. Total war would show those that have a Culture Of Death what it is they strive for. The charter of Hamas calls for the genocide of Jews. That is total war.

So when is the next round of elections for the Palestinians? Maybe a new set of leaders can be elected!
Imagine if there had been leaders other than the corrupt "Perpetually Aggrieved" [PA] or Hamas. When Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians in the Gaza could have been living peaceful lives, with their standard of living increasing. Instead they are still Welfare people. And given the amount of time they have been welfare recipients, they are now parasites.

Off Topic - but creepy interesting

check out this site:
http://www.japanesebugfights.com/

30 different bug fights (usually to the death)
Apparently the person has access to a lot of scorpions (which I hate!)

Iranian diplomats wounded in Iraq - boo hoo

Armed men have ambushed an Iranian embassy convoy in Baghdad, wounding three Iranians, including two diplomats, and an Iraqi, according to a diplomatic spokesman.

The convoy was on its way to a Shia shrine in the northern neighbourhood of Kazimiya when it came under fire, Manoucher Taslimi, an Iranian embassy spokesman, said on Friday.

The attack occurred the previous day as the convoy approached a bridge that links Kazimiya with the predominantly Sunni area of Azamiya, according to Taslimi.

He said those wounded, including an Iranian and an Iraqi administrative employee, were in stable condition.

Iran blamed the US for the ambush, saying Washington's threats against it encourage terrorist attacks against Iranian interests in Iraq.
"The suspicious behavior of US forces in security issues has brought increasing insecurity in Iraq," Mohammad Ali Hosseini, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement, a copy of which was made available to the Associated Press news agency.
"Responsibility for providing security to diplomats as well as diplomatic and international bodies in Iraq rests with the occupiers."
Hosseini said threatening statements by US authorities against Iran were only encouraging fighters to carry out terror attacks.

The level of hypocrisy astounds me. The last thing in the world this regime can whine about is security to diplomats.

Let us also take Hosseini’s statement about threatening statements further. The daily “Death to America, Death to Israel” that comes from regime members are threatening.

And how is it that Syria and Iran say that their proxies in Lebanon were justified in their mayhem, but when Iraqi citizens attack the Iranians it is terrorist attacks? Iran is supporting massive amounts of killings in Iraq. Iran is not trying to stabilize Iraq – Iranian leaders do not want a stable democracy sitting next door to them.

Great roundup of effects of Iran's takeover attempt

From Across The Bay, I highly suggest you read it.
Given Iran's boys took the media centers of legitimate political parties down, it has been hard to get a good idea of what was really happening.

I was happy to see that the Druze did much better than I had read before; they kicked butt!

Hopefully this coup attempt will bring down the illegal militia for good!

Surprise, U.N. stabs Lebanon in the Back (again)

Beirut- The United States is pushing for a strong U.N. resolution condemning Syria and Hezbollah for their actions in violence-torn Lebanon, but diplomats said on Wednesday there would be broad resistance to tough measures.

Broad resistance? Why? Isn’t it plain and obvious what is happening in Lebanaon? People are dying because of Iran’s takeover attempt!

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said consultations were ongoing with U.N. Security Council members over how to tackle the worst spate of violence since the 1975-90 civil war, which the United States has blamed on Hezbollah and its backers Syria and Iran.

"At this point, it is not entirely clear what kind of action might come out of those discussions but certainly it is important for the Council to be able to speak strongly on this issue," said Casey, who declined to provide details.

"This is something that is of great concern to many Council members and we will be working closely to see what we can come up with," he added.

At least 81 people have been killed since violence broke out on May 7 following Lebanon's cabinet decisions against Hezbollah that prompted the Iranian and Syrian-backed movement to blockade the airport and run a civil disobedience campaign.

Hang on there a second. This is not a “civil disobedience campaign” This is murder. But the “opposition” seems to believe in pre-meditated murder. For a long time I have strongly suspected that the opposition is behind the assignations of the Pro-Lebanese. (Everyone else wants to call them Anti-Syrian, they aren’t. They are Pro-Lebanese!) When I heard of the spy camera trained on the runway at the airport, my suspicions increased ten-fold.

One option is to push for a strong, Chapter 7 U.N. Security Council resolution which would tag Hezbollah a terrorist group. However, a more likely scenario would be a non-legally binding presidential statement which would be easier to get.

Diplomats said a legally binding Chapter 7 resolution was very unlikely to get through the Council, and veto-wielding members such as Russia would never agree to it.

Got that Lebanon? Russia doesn’t want you to have a stable, free society. No, they are more interested in giving Iran and Syria the cover to kill your friends and family.

"We should be pragmatic at this stage," said one European diplomat when asked what the United Nations should do.

"We feel that the priority should be to take the high ground in Lebanon and put all our support towards ongoing Arab mediation and giving that wide international support," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named as he did not wish to antagonize the United States by his comments.

A high-level Arab League delegation began a mediation mission in Beirut on Wednesday to defuse tension between the U.S.-backed governing coalition and Hezbollah.

Arab mediation? Are you kidding me? We know who turned the guns on whom. Those blood thirsty gunman shouldn’t be ‘mediated’ with. They should be arrested for murder.

DIVISIONS

One diplomatic source said other options being considered by the United States included expanding the role of U.N. peacekeepers and there also was talk of a no-fly zone over Syria as a means of putting pressure on Damascus. U.S. officials declined comment on these issues.

"These are not new ideas," said a Western diplomat of an expanded U.N. peacekeeper role. "Whether they are realistic ideas is another question."

Divisions between the United States and other countries over how to handle the latest crisis emerged on Monday in a conference call between ministers and officials from France, Italy, Germany, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and others.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wanted the participants to sign onto a toughly worded statement which specifically mentioned Hezbollah's role in the latest violence. Ultimately, a blander version was agreed on.

The draft, obtained by Reuters, said the participants joined the Lebanese people in "rejecting the pursuit of politics at gunpoint by Hezbollah and its allies, who resorted to violence to protect their state-within-a-state."

"Having turned its weapons on Lebanese civilians, Hezbollah has belied its 'resistance' credentials, specious as they were, and broken its promise never to use its arms against its fellow citizens," said the draft.

The final document never referred to Hezbollah and instead was more measured, welcoming the Arab League initiative and expressing support for Lebanese constitutional institutions.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined comment on the draft and said such documents were always subject to negotiation.

"They would look different if we wrote them up by ourselves, but that is not how it is. It is a multilateral statement ... nonetheless, it is a strong statement," he told Reuters.

So the final document never referred to those with the guns, killing.
What good is the U.N.?

After You, Nasrallah - Gathering Sunni storm?

What the wise have been warning of has happened. The extremism of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah coupled with Syrian support and encouragement has clearly led to the rousing of the fundamentalist Sunni trend, which has emerged to counteract the Iranian coup carried out by Hassan Nasrallah on Lebanon.

On Tuesday, the founder of the Salafist trend in Tripoli [Lebanon], Daii al Islam al Shahal mobilized the Sunni followers and “…those who are concerned… to start a new phase,” as he stated in a press conference.

Is this the beginning of Sunni payback? Recall that Al-Qaeda has called for supporters to come to the rescue of the Sunnis in Lebanon.

Al Shahal stressed that, “In light of the present circumstances, the dangerous allegations and the deep wound that has been inflicted upon the Sunni sect, to its body and dignity, we proclaim the necessity of a general mobilization to organize the Sunni sect.”

Hezbollah and Amal shamed the Sunnis, the Druze and most importantly the Army. The Sunnis let the armed thugs take over easily. The Druze put up a hell of a fight, given that they are not armed to the teeth by Iran. The Army on the other hand did not do their job. What they did do was follow the illegal militia members like puppies, and hold the ground the militia members took over, so that the militia members could carry out the mayhem elsewhere.

Moreover, al Shahal went on to reassure Sunni politicians that the goal was not to compete with them over leadership. He also reassured the Maronite Christians when he said, “We are fundamentalists that are disciplined by our orthodox Shariah; we do not oppress and are against aggressors.”

I would not be assured by that statement.

This is where we say: After you, Hassan Nasrallah. All talk and no action; this is the result of extremism and arrogance in a society that is solely based on pluralism. What Nasrallah committed is a crime at the expense of the honorable Shia of Lebanon before it is a crime against the Sunnis and the Druze. Nasrallah’s crime is collaborating with Tehran at the expense of Lebanon.

Nasrallah’s problem is that he was blinded by the arrogance of bearing arms, causing him to forget that his extremist Sunni counterparts could do the same. We have witnessed extremist madness that far surpasses all the different types of weapons – are those who want Nasrallah dead, his Iranian party destroyed and the Amal agents (who have revealed an even uglier face than Hezbollah) eliminated, unable to supply weapons?

Can we expect to see similar activities that we have seen in Iraq? (Where attacks against the Shia were large and numerous.) I suppose that the Iranians, Syrians and Shia are going to increase their intelligence gathering activities.

Tehran is capable of planting its agents in the Arab world and it can also pounce on Arab states using ruses and via its agents or even through cowardly and conspiring Arab countries. The day will come when it will pay the price, without a doubt, however it is equally certain that Iran will be not be able to extinguish the fires of sedition that it has ignited.

Of course, the Syrian regime must realize that it is playing with fire. The Syrians are submerged in a Sunni sea and in the case of a Sunni-Shia battle, all the cards will become mixed and others will be burnt.

The Syrian leadership appears blinded to the resentment the Sunnis are developing against them.

And thus we see the Beirut Secretariat for the Damascus Declaration describing the events in Beirut as the waging of a sectarian war by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah against the Sunnis, in coordination with the Syrian regime. Based on that, the secretariat urged Sunni clerics in Syria to “prepare the Syrian street for a civilian demonstration to counteract the Persian Shia wave.”

Al Shahal's statements are but the first step forward; there is an alarming suppression on the Sunni street and the circulating reports indicate that there are immense pressures on Saad Hariri to arm the Sunnis but that Hariri wants to be remembered as the son of Rafik Hariri who lived and died without causing bloodshed – not as Saad Nasrallah.

Unfortunately at this time the moderates are on the defensive. But I admire Hariri if this is true.

The question today is: Will the loyalists hold steadfast? Or will they become consumed by anger while al Shahal and others fill the arena? And all of this, of course, is a product of Nasrallah and Hezbollah's extremism, with Syria's support.

I have a strong feeling that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement have seriously underestimated the ramifications of their actions. Much like the 2006 war Hezbollah started.

I am happy I found Tariq Alhomayed. I enjoy reading his writing. He does not repeat the usual venom usually coming out of the Middle East.

North Korea close to imploding?

Has anyone read any (believable) info regarding China preparing to move into North Korea?
With the impending famine once again threating North Korea, could China think this one will be the end of 'Dear Kim's' rule?

For the last four years, China has been holding an increasing number of exercises to test their ability to come to the aid of North Korea, in the event of a war with South Korea (and the United States). On in the event of a collapse of the North Korean government. More Chinese ground units have been moved to areas just across the Yalu river from North Korea (and many of the troops set to work guarding the border against the growing number of desperate North Koreans trying to get out.) There have also been exercises with engineers practicing erecting bridges across the rivers that form most of the border between North Korea and China (on the assumption that U.S. or South Korean warplanes would quickly destroy the existing bridges.) The latest development has been the deployment of Su-27 fighters (the most modern in the Chinese Air Force) to the border area. Formerly, most of these Su-27s were stationed near the coast opposite Taiwan.

What caught my eye was the movement of Su-27's away from Taiwan.

Time is running out for Arabs to stop Iran's expansion

The calls from the Arab world, for the Arabs to stand up to Iran are increasing. The realization that doing nothing now will only make things harder in the future.

Hamas’s Iranian sponsored takeover of the Gaza Strip went unpunished. So Gaza II was launched. The actions taken by Iran in Iraq have gone unpunished. Things will continue down a horrible path until Iran is given the big smack down. And honestly, this smack down needs to come from the Arab World.

Amidst the political classification in the region and talk of the moderate and extremist states, other states seem to have been overlooked – and they are the states that deserve to be called the 'fearful Arab' states. Clearly, they have come to the forefront of the events in Lebanon once again and those who attended the exceptional summit in Cairo are aware of that.

The fearful Arab states are making it difficult for the moderate states in the region to carry out their tasks, and they also send wrong messages to all parties. Such states are the ones affirming, without conviction, that the Lebanese crisis is an internal matter and they are calling against confrontation with Iran.

I wouldn’t classify Saudi Arabia as a moderate state, so who is he referring to? Egypt, Jordan?

The fearful Arab states are unaware of the fact that the conflict with Iran will prevail and that it will not just end in Beirut. Iran is an actual occupier in Iraq and it also occupies three islands that belong to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and moreover supports Hamas and drives it towards igniting a crisis with Egypt to preoccupy it.

The Iranians are stirring up trouble for the Yemenis and threatening the Kuwaitis and Bahrainis. And all of this is achieved through funding, some agents and the exploitation of some foreign organizations whilst facilitating their missions – and this also applies to Al-Qaeda.

Thus the question is: How long will these Arab states continue to be afraid, after Beirut fell into the hands of the Iranians and Fouad Siniora's government continues to be held under siege in much the same way as the legislative Lebanese leadership? Moreover, the Palestinian cause is no longer under Arab control after Hamas has become a puppet in the hands of the Iranians and Syrians.

Try as they may, Hamas does not listen to the Arabs anymore. They are full instruments of Chaos for Iran and Syria. The Arabs abet their Chaos by continuing to blame Israel for the siege of the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the other instruments of Chaos in the Gaza attack the very terminals that Israel tries to send in food, fuel and medicine through. How do the Arabs expect Israel to supply Gaza when they are attacked when doing it. Instead of publically stating who causes the limited supplies, the Arabs cower behind rhetoric blaming Israel. Iran and their agents in Gaza do not care about the well being of the non-combatants. The non-combatants are merely human shields or publicity stunts.

Confrontation is the only option that the Arabs have with Iran and the lesser degree of confrontation is to hold steadfast onto political positions without retreating or lagging behind through inaction. What they fear today will happen tomorrow since Iran is expanding in all the Arab states; it is critical for the Arabs to counteract the collapse of the Arab nation and prevent it from being ripped apart internally.

The “Fearful” and moderate Arab states can start by becoming vocal and speaking the truth to their citizens and the world at large. Israel is not their military enemy (Israel will not attack them if they do not attack Israel.) But the mere fact that Israel is a democracy in a sea of fascist dictatorships, that alone is a threat.

Furthermore, the Arab states must face those seeking to occupy other Arab states – or else why was Saddam's invasion of Kuwait rejected and confronted by arms and yet today, some accept Iran and Syria's occupation of Lebanon?

Iran is interfering in Arab affairs without a right and is consequently a threat to our national security – and this is the message. This is why the Saudi-Egyptian action to confront the Iranian expansion must prevail and Tehran's attempts to seize control of the Arab world must come to grinding halt.

The fearful Arab states must know that it is their duty to protect their countries against Iran's tampering and to not be afraid of its agents. Those who respect the rights of citizenship must respect and protect their rights, and those who conspire with Iran against their country must bear the consequences.

Another point is Iran’s population is young. And a large part of Iran’s citizens are hostile to the religious dictatorship ruling them with an iron fist. If Iran wants to interfere in the Arab countries, maybe they should get a taste of their own medicine. (Although I do not think that appealing to the youth in Iran to replace one set of religious dictators with another will work.)

This is not unfounded hostility towards Iran nor does it seek to back one group against another or one sect over the other; rather it is in order to preserve Lebanon so that it can remain to be a homeland for all the Lebanese people, with all their communities and religions, and the same thing applies to Iraq and the rest of the Arab world.

This is why it is crucial that the Saudi-Arab position remains firm and it is important that the fearful Arab states become aware of the fact that their fear will not protect them and that they will face an endless night as a result of the Iranian expansion. The more the Arabs cringe in fear, the more the Iranians will expand in the region.

Suffice it to point out that we are faced with the second coup carried out by an armed group against a legislative government in less than one year; first Hamas and now Hezbollah.

Fear does not protect and neither does it guarantee safety for the Arabs.

Iran will not stop at Lebanon, just like they did not stop with the Gaza Strip. It is time for the Arabs to put up, or shut up and accept the Iranian Yoke.

Iranian onslaught on Lebanon continues

What exactly is Iran trying to accomplish? Their militias are still killing Lebanese people. Their militias are still operating outside of their normal occupation zone. Iranian Hezbullah and Amal has been slating their lust for blood in Druze areas. At least 81 people have been killed, and for what other than expanding the occupation zone?

One of the things that is being reported is that the Army has stayed neutral. In my opinion this is wrong on several accounts. It really looks like the Army is acting on behalf of the Iranian militias.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have swept through Beirut and hills to the east, defeating loyalists of the U.S.-backed government before handing its conquests to the Lebanese army, which has stayed out of the fighting.

One source said the dead in Sunday's battles included 14 Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah-led forces overran several posts held by gunmen loyal to Walid Jumblatt in the Aley district before the Druze leader agreed to hand them over to the army.

Swallowing his pride, Jumblatt had authorized Talal Arsalan, a rival Syrian-backed Druze leader, to mediate with Hezbollah.

Arsalan said Jumblatt's men had handed over most of their offices and strongholds in Aley to the army, but said he was still waiting for them to turn in heavy weapons and arms depots.

Now why should the Sunnis and Druze have to be the ones handing over their weapons to the Army? What the Army is doing is holding the territory conquered by the Iranian militias. The Army’s responsibility is to protect the citizens of Lebanon. And how did they fulfill that responsibility during the Iranian military onslaught? Why they warned employees of a legal TV station to evacuate, because the station was next on the list to suppress press freedom.

The army, which had stayed on the sidelines until moving into Beirut neighborhoods on Saturday, brought in more armor and troops to seal off neighborhoods where top pro-government leaders - Hariri of the Sunnis and Walid Jumblatt of the Druze - were holed up in their residences.

Violence also erupted in the mountain town of Aley east of Beirut. Eight people were killed there on Friday night. Another civilian died in the clashes in the southern city of Sidon.

Hezbollah's power was demonstrated dramatically Friday morning when it forced off the air the TV station affiliated with Hariri's party. Gunmen also set the offices of the party's newspaper, Al-Mustaqbal, on fire in the coastal neighborhood of Ramlet el-Bayda. Shi'ite gunmen from Hezbollah and Amal, and allied group, roamed unopposed through the deserted streets of neighborhoods once dominated by supporters of Hariri and the government.

Lebanon's army only intervened after the building was set ablaze. Troops provided cover for firefighters, who eventually extinguished the flames.

The army also evacuated employees from the TV station, but only after gunmen massed near it and threatened to destroy it, said Nadim Mounla, the station's chief.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asked the Army to declare a state of emergency once the militias started their murder of Lebanese citizens. Instead General Michel Suleiman refused and threatened instead to order the troops back to their barracks. But he is content to do the bidding for Iran. Hezbollah’s media outlets are still operating, but Suleiman enforced the orders to keep Future TV off the air.

The Government has been abandoned by their Arab supporters. Words are not going to help. Who could have militarily come to their aid? Jordan, doubtful. The United States, by multiple means possible (air strikes via Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and by basing air craft in Israel.) France yes. Saudi Arabia possible if they were allowed to go thru Jordan. Israel possible, but they are sitting on the sidelines, for now. Things change if the military option includes strikes on Syria. Now you have Turkey able to bring pressure to bear.

Now another interesting thing has happened. Al-Qaeda has called upon its supporters to come in to support the Sunnis.

Al-Qaeda Declares War On Hezbollah

Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its operatives to go to Lebanon and defend what it called the Sunni community of the country.

The report came while some Arab media outlets described the current clashes in Lebanon as a fight between Sunni and Shia communities.

In an interviews with Sunni clerics with links to Saad Hariri's pro-government bloc, Al-Arabiya TV network described the ongoing clashes as a sectarian strife.

Sheikh Ali al-Jozo, Mufti of the Jebel region, who is well known for his harsh stance against Hezbollah told the TV network that the clashes are a battle between Lebanon's Shia and Sunni communities and called on Arab leaders to prevent "Iran's influence in the country."

The TV network reported that al-Qaeda on all of its websites urged its operatives to defend the Sunni community of Lebanon.

The reports came while in interviews with NBN and al-Manar TV stations on Thursday, a number of Sunni clerics said that the clashes are not a sectarian strife and many Sunni Muslims in Lebanon support Hezbollah.

Can also be seen at

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=54916&sectionid=351020203

I have not read of anything other than calls to action. Maybe the Al-Qaeda operatives are on their way? Where will they strike, assuming they decide to? It is hard to know, as they could strike Iran and / or Syria as they are the puppet masters behind the carnage in Lebanon. They could strike in Lebanon, but then they would have to transit thru Syria. Time will tell.

What are the US Presidental candidates saying about the armed thugs in Lebanon?

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the situaton [sic] in Lebanon

Chicago, IL | May 09, 2008

Hezbollah's power grab in Beirut has once more plunged that city into violence and chaos. This effort to undermine Lebanon's elected government needs to stop, and all those who have influence with Hezbollah must press them to stand down immediately. It's time to engage in diplomatic efforts to help build a new Lebanese consensus that focuses on electoral reform, an end to the current corrupt patronage system, and the development of the economy that provides for a fair distribution of services, opportunities and employment. We must support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions that reinforce Lebanon's sovereignty, especially resolution 1701 banning the provision of arms to Hezbollah, which is violated by Iran and Syria. As we push for this national consensus, we should continue to support the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Siniora, strengthen the Lebanese army, and insist on the disarming of Hezbollah before it drags Lebanon into another unnecessary war. As we do this, it is vital that the United States continues to work with the international community and the private sector to rebuild Lebanon and get its economy back on its feet.

Just what does he think diplomacy is going to accomplish? Does he think that Iran's leaders are going to say "Awe shucks you are right, we need to act in a responsible manner in the World."

Talking to those who thrive on chaos, who forment armed insurrections is not going to work.
These people only know strength. Right now they are willing to maim, kill or subjugate anyone who doesn't bow to their demands. They haven't paid an unmanageable price for their actions yet. Just wait till the test their atomics - they will have no fear anymore.

Hillary Clinton Statement on Lebanon

I am very concerned about the current situation in Lebanon. Hezbollah-allied militias, using weapons supplied by Iran and Syria, have seized control of West Beirut and are demanding that Prime Minister Fouad Siniora resign and hand over power to a military government. This is both an illegal challenge to a democratically-elected government and an issue of regional stability with international consequences.

The United States must actively support the sovereignty of the Lebanese government and the independence of Lebanon.

The United States needs to engage in vigorous diplomacy with its regional allies to support the Lebanese government. Outside parties, such as Iran and Syria, must immediately stop their interference in Lebanon and allow the election of the President to proceed.

Her campaign seems grounded more in reality when it comes to the Middle East.
Although diplomacy is not going to get Iran and Syria to stop subverting the laws of Lebanon.


I did not find anything on McCain’s official website.

McCain Calls For Pressure On Syria To Cease Lebanon Violence

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds Reports: Speaking to reporters in Columbia, South Carolina today, John McCain called for pressure "to be brought to bear on Syria” for their role in the recent violence in Lebanon. The Republican presumptive nominee called Syria a “major motivator” of Hezbollah and called for the United Nations to take firmer action to secure peace in the region.

McCain also cited the United Nations Security Council’s “failure to implement” its resolution to disarm Hezbollah and a called for greater sense of urgency from nations with interests in the Middle East to work towards bringing a long term end to the fighting.

I am surprised he did not mention the real problem, Iran. Syria is becoming a vassal state to Iran. Iran is a threat to more than just the Middle East, and growing each day.

There is no need to hope for anything intelligent to come from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Maybe she needs to make another trip to visit her friends in Syria?

Blood Lust in Beirut

Hezbollah's existence is fully dependent on war and conflict, the militia has no future in a peaceful and civil Lebanon. The decisions made by the government to secure its future as a militia free country have clearly threatened to bring order to the perpetual chaos Hezbollah thrives on.

What frightens me the most is the intricate premeditated plan Hezbollah had clearly assembled to be able to seize control of the entire West Beirut in less than 48 hours, and the joy on the faces of the militiamen, like the Hezbollah gunman pictured right, as they proceed to terrorize fellow countrymen.

Goto the site, and look at the picture of the gunman.

One has to wonder if it has something to do with this:

LSD is the latest trend in Lebanon's drug scene

Gaza Strip II – Iran’s recent “coup d’état.”

Saturday round up

It appears that Iran’s takeover of Lebanon is proceeding well. The legitimate actions taken by the Government are being overruled by the Iranian infiltrated Army.

Less than an hour after Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s statement seemed to pave the way for some sort of resolution to the clashes which have plagued Beirut, Aley, and North Lebanon, the Army Command announced that it would revoke the government’s two decisions. The army announced that it was ready to take control of the probe into Hezbollah’s communications network, and would interrogate Brigadier General Wafik Shoukair, but would not remove him from his position as head of airport security.

Hezbollah and its allies, after assuming control of central, southern, and western Beirut, have called on the government to surrender in what March 14 leaders are calling a “coup d’état.”

However, in a step toward a solution to the crisis, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, son of slain Premier Rafik Hariri, and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt agreed to the Army Command’s terms moments after the statement was issued.

Siniora’s speech, therefore, seems to have formed a sort of turning point – though the results have not yet been seen on the ground.

“To the sons of besieged and occupied Beirut, steadfast and patient, to our loved ones in every city, town and village, and neighborhood and home, to the Lebanese in the diaspora...Your country will not fall under the coup,” stated Siniora from the Grand Serail on Saturday. “We will not return to hegemony and terrorism.”

Siniora accused Hezbollah of dealing the Lebanese “a poisoned stab” and taking over the homes, possessions and morale of the people. “They were calling for dialogue and preparing for escalations, talking of calm and preparing for war,” he added.

Siniora expressed regret that the support of the Lebanese people and its government for Hezbollah during the 2006 war with Israel was met with accusations of treachery, and charges that the March 14 forces were conspiring with Israel.

“We believed them when they said that their arms would never be turned inward,” said Siniora.

I hope Siniora is just saying he didn’t believe the illegal arms would be turned inward. I am sure he is a smart and courageous man. I feel all of the Pro-Lebanese know that the illegal militia wants desperately to cut their throats. He had to know the day would be coming, but just couldn’t do anything about it.

It is sad that the Army couldn’t stop the violent aggression of the militia. But it isn’t a professional Army. The Army command is afraid that, had the Army done its job, the Iranian infiltrated Shia portions would revolt. In the long term, the Army needs to be overhauled. Loyalty to the State needs to be paramount, not loyalty along secretarian lines. Soldiers and Officers should be court martialed when they masquerade as a professional whereas they are just militia hiding in uniform.

Siniora denied that the government had ever made a decision to call for Hezbollah’s disarmament, and asserted that he shared their belief that Israel was Lebanon’s enemy. However, he explained that the government’s problem with Hezbollah “is that they decided to monopolize the decision of when and where to go to war,” and that “they decided to force their beliefs on the Lebanese without concern for the Lebanese and their will.”

Again, I hope he is just saying things the does not believe in his heart, because he has to (proverbial gun pointing at his head.) The U.N. calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament. And more importantly the Taif Agreement calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The Taif Agreement (Arabic: اتفاقية الطائف) (also "National Reconciliation Accord," or "Document of National Accord") was an agreement reached to provide "the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon."^[1] Negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, politically accommodate the demographic shift to a Muslim majority, reassert Lebanese authority in South Lebanon (then occupied by Israel), and legitimize the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. It was signed on October 22, 1989 and ratified on November 4, 1989.

The treaty was negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia by the surviving members of Lebanon's 1972 parliament; fathered by Parliament Speaker President Hussein El-Husseini. The agreement covered political reform, the ending of the Lebanese Civil War, the establishment of special relations between Lebanon and Syria, and a framework for the beginning of complete Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.

The agreement restructured the National Pact political system in Lebanon by transferring some of the power away from the Maronite Christian community, which had been given a privileged status in Lebanon under French colonial rule. Prior to Taif, the Sunni Muslim Prime Minister was appointed by and responsible to the Maronite President. After Taif the Prime Minister was responsible to the legislature, as in a traditional parliamentary system. At the time of the Taif negotiations, a Maronite Christian Prime Minister, General Michel Aoun, had controversially been appointed by President Amine Gemayel, contrary to the National Pact.

The agreement also provided for the disarmament of all national and non national militias. All have disarmed^{[citation needed]} apart from the Shiite Hezbollah and the non-Lebanese Fatah and Hamas, PFLP-GC. The Hezbollah was allowed to stay armed in its capacity as a "resistance force" rather than a militia, fighting Israel in the south, a privilege obtained, according to Magnus Ranstorp, in part by using its leverage as holder of a number of Western hostages ,^[2] Hezbollah remained armed and in control of the area after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000.

Although the Taif Agreement identified the abolition of political sectarianism as a national priority, it provided no timeframe for doing so. The Chamber of Deputies was increased in size to 128 members, shared equally between Christians and Muslims, rather than elected by universal suffrage that would have provided a Muslim majority (excluding the expatriate community, a majority of which is Christian). A cabinet was established similarly divided equally between Christians and Muslims.

The agreement was ratified on November 4, 1989. Parliament met on the following day at Qoleiat air base in North Lebanon and elected President Rene Mouawad 409 days after Amine Gemayel vacated this position upon the expiration of his term in 1988. Mouawad was unable to occupy the Presidential Palace which was still in use by General Michel Aoun. Mouawad was assassinated 17 days later in a car bombing in Beirut on November 22 as his motorcade returned from Lebanese independence day ceremonies. He was succeeded by Elias Hrawi, who remained in office until 1998.

And who exactly “allowed” Hezbollah to remain armed? Was there a (legitimate) vote? Or was this blackmail by Syria and Iran?

Why was Israel in southern Lebanon? To create a buffer zone – one that pushes back the illegal militias that were firing rockets into Israel (much like what is happening by the mad men in the Gaza Strip.)

Let s get it straight, Israel is not occupying any Lebanese soil now. Israel is occupying SYRIAN soil. The notoriously bias, stridently Anti-Israel, corrupt U.N. says Israel is not occupying Lebanese soil.

People of reason, who can actually use their brains, know full well if Hezbullah and any other Iranian/Syrian stooges were to stop the aggression against Israel, Lebanon would be a peaceful place.

The Shia of the south could be doing constructive things, making a better life for them and their families. But then guess what happens? Those positive forces of Iran and Syria would lose their influence. Can’t have that now can we.

I suppose that if rockets aimed a civilian locations in Syria (coming from Israel) or Iran (coming from their neighbors) started happening on a constant basis the dictators in Syria and Iran might (or then again might not) change their course. Especially when any retaliation by Syria and Iran would be condemned in the U.N. as ‘excessive and war crimes’. (I know it sounds like I’m living in a fantasy land.)

Back to the Now Lebanon article:

“However, Siniora also sounded a conciliatory note. He announced that the solution to Lebanon’s crisis was not through more violence, but through negotiation and dialogue. He presented a five-point plan which seems to have paved a way out of Lebanon’s political deadlock.”

“The first step was to declare that the government’s two decisions “have not yet been decreed,” and their implementation would be left up to the army – a position that seems to have been confirmed by Hariri and Jumblatt’s recent statements.”

He is speaking from weakness here. Iran and Syria, and by extension Hezbullah do not want any progress. The feared International Tribunal is just around the corner. I for one will NOT be surprised to hear that Hezbullah and/or Amal have been part and parcel of the assignations against the Sunnis and Christians. The naive belief that those two groups would not turn guns (and hence murder) on orders by Iran and Syria should now be shattered. Any idiot who continues to profess these horrible lies should be sent to visit paradise in North Korea, Libya, Gaza Strip (number one!) or even Hezbullah land. And while visiting these beacons of Human Rights Paradises, make sure you criticize your hosts, just for fun. (Make sure to take some photos to share with the rest of us your fun filled extravaganza.)

‘Next, Siniora called for the withdrawal of armed militiamen from the streets, the end to the sit-in occupying downtown Beirut, and the transferal of all national security decisions to the army. From there, Siniora appealed for the election of a consensus President and the establishment of a national unity government where no party could enforce its beliefs. After that step, Parliament could meet to discuss a revised electoral law. Finally, Siniora called for the parties to abide by “a code of media ethics.” ‘

There is the deal breaker right there! Blood thirsty militia members, just like sharks when they smell blood, can not revert back to peaceful men. The only way that would happen is if they were defeated militarily.

It remains to be seen whether Siniora’s speech will mark the beginning of the end of the crisis. “We have brought a state of oppression down before, and we will not allow it to return,” Siniora announced in conclusion. “I therefore call on all my brothers in Lebanon to prepare for a solution.”

The oppression is still there. It has never left. If it wasn’t there Siniora would not be afraid to speak the truth without fear. The Governement is in the right here, the Iranians just tried (and seem to have mostly succeeded) to overthrow the legitimate powers.

The editorial from Now Lebanon: “The new rules of the game”

Calls it like it really is.

“So these are the new rules as laid down by Hezbollah: Our security network is untouchable. If you mess with it, we will hold the country ransom until you back off, and we will fight anyone who opposes us.

It is a message that will no doubt have been understood by the residents of West Beirut, who this morning emerged from a night of fear and ghosts they thought they had buried 17 years earlier.”

Keep in mind, Hezbollah is preparing to launch another unprovoked war against their evil southern neighbor. Their ‘Divine Victory’ (defeat) must be repeated. The mad men in Iran are nervous that Iraq is getting upset about the Iranian occupation of Iraq.

“Welcome to the real resistance. In his Thursday press conference, Nasrallah spoke of fighting only in self defense. However, it appears his version of self defense involves, among others, incidents of grand thuggery, taking over Future TV, ransacking the house of Grand Mufti Qabbani and firing rocket-propelled grenades at Qoreitem. Self defense indeed. Let us be under no illusion: This is a coup d’état, and Hezbollah has shown its true colors.

Armed with an initial set of demands – submitting to Speaker Nabih Berri’s call for national dialogue, backing off its internal telecom network and reinstating General Wafiq Choucair as head of airport security – Nasrallah made a half-baked attempt to convince his followers that he did not want a fight, especially with Lebanon’s Sunnis, but within 30 minutes of his press conference, the scenes in mixed Sunni-Shia neighborhoods of Beirut told a different story: Hezbollah and Amal (let us not forget that Amal’s leader, Nabih Berri, is the speaker of the Lebanese parliament) were invading West Beirut, an objective that was reached before dawn.”

Glad to see that Amal is being credited with participating in the Iranian war against Sunnis and Christians.

“Given this sleight of hand and his overwhelming military superiority, it is no surprise that he has rejected March 14 leader Saad Hariri’s offer of placing the crisis in the hands of the army and allowing the government to exercise its authority across Lebanon, the withdrawal of armed factions from the streets, the election of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman, and a return to the dialogue table under Sleiman’s auspices.

Why should Nasrallah have accepted? After all, when he declared war, he claimed it was not against the Lebanese state – Hezbollah would never embark upon such a dishonorable enterprise – but to thwart a US-inspired Zionist plot, one he accused the Siniora (or is it the Jumblatt) government of being in cahoots with. It is after all an easy line to sell to a constituency weaned on such intrigue. “

Easy stuff to get the non-critical thinking minds to buy. Those minds are everywhere including in my country. (We call them Moonbats, or dumb-assed Leftists)

“But however he dresses it up, however hard he tries to tar the government with the brush of international conspiracy, and no matter how robust his portrayal of Hezbollah as the last line of defense against the “monstrous” Zionist entity, the bottom line is that Hezbollah had finally broken the biggest taboo and compromised its ideological integrity. Gone forever is the credo of martial purity.

Despite appearing to hold all the tactical cards, these might still prove difficult days for an organization that only two years ago was limbering up for its finest hour. Hezbollah may have given Israel a bloody nose in the 2006 summer war and won the admiration of the Arab street, but today, like its Hamas allies in Gaza, Hezbollah, wearing the uniform of the street-fighting thug, is squaring up to the state and igniting a much-feared Sunni-Shia conflict.

So what now? West Beirut is in opposition hands, and so it is safe to assume the stand-off has begun. The Pandora’s Box is open, and its contents may prove more terrible than anyone realized. By showing us all how mighty it is – as if we needed reminding – Hezbollah, through its arrogance and vanity, may have also sown the seeds for a backlash that might make yesterday’s events feel like a walk in the park. Was it worth it?”

The “Monstrous” entity is not Zionism, it is Militant Islam. Last I checked, Muslims were allowed to pray to their God (which is NOT the same one Jews or Christians believe in!) The Jewish and Christian people are not trying (especially by the sword – beheadings, or gun) to force their religion on those who do not believe.

Hezbollah did give Israel a bloody nose in 2006. But Israel doesn’t fight like Hezbullah. Keep in mind the ignorant were accusing Israel of war crimes whereas it was Hezbullah committing those crimes! The Devil is in those reality based Details!

34 people have lost their lives so far. Many more would be had the ‘Resistance’ been meet with resistance to the barbaric acts.

‘Hezbollah on Saturday accused supporters of Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, a member of the ruling coalition, of kidnapping three of its members and killing two of them.

"They were shot and stabbed with knives and their bodies were thrown in front of the Iman Hospital in Aley," a mostly Druze town east of Beirut, the group said in a statement, adding that the fate of the third was unknown.

The statement said that "Hezbollah holds Druze leader Walid Jumblatt personally responsible for the fate of the third person still missing." ‘

Wow, let us ignore the fact that Hezbollah militia members even fired at the Government leaders’ houses. The illegal militia members were not out playing with paint ball guns here.

What is Hezbollah’s definition of ‘God’ in their name (Party of God)?