Bad news. Very bad. While the neo cons focused on Iraq, the Syrians and Lebannese are now set for the great fall.
Hamas is not the issue. Hezbullah is Irans proxy.
Maybe the Israelis will have to return to Lebbanon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080509/ts_nm/lebanon_conflict_dc_34
quote:
Originally posted by FOTD
Bad news. Very bad. While the neo cons focused on Iraq, the Syrians and Lebannese are now set for the great fall.
Hamas is not the issue. Hezbullah is Irans proxy.
Maybe the Israelis will have to return to Lebbanon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080509/ts_nm/lebanon_conflict_dc_34
Didn't they both endorse Obama?
Sorry I couldn't resist! [:D]
quote:
Originally posted by Gaspar
quote:
Originally posted by FOTD
Bad news. Very bad. While the neo cons focused on Iraq, the Syrians and Lebannese are now set for the great fall.
Hamas is not the issue. Hezbullah is Irans proxy.
Maybe the Israelis will have to return to Lebbanon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080509/ts_nm/lebanon_conflict_dc_34
Didn't they both endorse Obama?
Sorry I couldn't resist! [:D]
Well, you know he is a Muslim.....
Does anyone know the situation?
I understand Hezbollah is a Syrian/Iranian backed "political party" that also engages in blowing up school buses and militant over throws over governments when possible. But is it as simple as some people wanting an Islamic government or Syrian/Iranian factions wanting control of Lebanon or is there other things going on? The media is pretty much painting it as sectarian fighting.
I don't know anyone with real Lebanese ties (ie. not just Lebanese descent) that can give me a feel for what the underlying issues are. Is this "just" another case of Sunni's killing Shiites? If so, will it descend into a proxy war between Western and Saudi backed forces and Iranian backed Syrian forces?
There isn't even any oil in Lebanon. [xx(]
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Does anyone know the situation?
I understand Hezbollah is a Syrian/Iranian backed "political party" that also engages in blowing up school buses and militant over throws over governments when possible. But is it as simple as some people wanting an Islamic government or Syrian/Iranian factions wanting control of Lebanon or is there other things going on? The media is pretty much painting it as sectarian fighting.
I don't know anyone with real Lebanese ties (ie. not just Lebanese descent) that can give me a feel for what the underlying issues are. Is this "just" another case of Sunni's killing Shiites? If so, will it descend into a proxy war between Western and Saudi backed forces and Iranian backed Syrian forces?
There isn't even any oil in Lebanon. [xx(]
If a Democrat is is in office we will lob million dollar bombs from ships hundreds of miles away, and it will be called "peace keeping".
If a Republican is in office it will be a war for
Oil Falafels!
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Does anyone know the situation?
I understand Hezbollah is a Syrian/Iranian backed "political party" that also engages in blowing up school buses and militant over throws over governments when possible. But is it as simple as some people wanting an Islamic government or Syrian/Iranian factions wanting control of Lebanon or is there other things going on? The media is pretty much painting it as sectarian fighting.
I don't know anyone with real Lebanese ties (ie. not just Lebanese descent) that can give me a feel for what the underlying issues are. Is this "just" another case of Sunni's killing Shiites? If so, will it descend into a proxy war between Western and Saudi backed forces and Iranian backed Syrian forces?
There isn't even any oil in Lebanon. [xx(]
I get my info from a Christian National from Lebannon and he thinks Iran needs to be wiped off the earth for their continued backing of Hezbollah in Syria and Lebannon.
I hate it when FOTD's third party is my best source. [;)]
quote:
Originally posted by FOTD
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Does anyone know the situation?
I understand Hezbollah is a Syrian/Iranian backed "political party" that also engages in blowing up school buses and militant over throws over governments when possible. But is it as simple as some people wanting an Islamic government or Syrian/Iranian factions wanting control of Lebanon or is there other things going on? The media is pretty much painting it as sectarian fighting.
I don't know anyone with real Lebanese ties (ie. not just Lebanese descent) that can give me a feel for what the underlying issues are. Is this "just" another case of Sunni's killing Shiites? If so, will it descend into a proxy war between Western and Saudi backed forces and Iranian backed Syrian forces?
There isn't even any oil in Lebanon. [xx(]
I get my info from a Christian National from Lebannon and he thinks Iran needs to be wiped off the earth for their continued backing of Hezbollah in Syria and Lebannon.
I agree with your friend. Hezbollah is a creation of the Iranians.
Lebanon used to be a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society that worked reasonably well, and was very prosperous by Middle-East standards.
The Palestians that poured into Lebanon from Jordan in 1970, after their failed Black September uprising against King Hussein of Jordan, eventually used their arms and militancy to start a civil war.
The Lebanese civil war lasted from 1975-1990, and tore the country apart.
Looks like it heading that way again.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Does anyone know the situation?
There isn't even any oil in Lebanon. [xx(]
I hear there are big trees...maybe they need them to build their boats. Gopher wood right?
[:D][:D]
Temporary good news. The Hezbollah must have been delivered a message. Something like, back off or we'll send in the Israeli's!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080510/ts_nm/lebanon_conflict_dc_59
"Hariri's supporters on Saturday still controlled areas in the north of the country where they have taken over several offices of opposition groups, and kept a key crossing point with Syria in the Bekaa Valley shut. "
Major conflict avoided?
Let's hope so.
^Send in the Israelis? as in refugees?
Things must be quite difficult among the peoples in that land, what, with the tug of war going on between Damascus-Tehran VS USA's invading Crusaders. Way before "operation infininte justice" was set in array, one could have plainly deduced, that even against all the meanace and might of an un-virtuous dealer, the Muslims were not going to just bow down, or go without principle themselves.
I'll assume you don't realize that aside from Israel all the conflict in the Middle East is some group of Mulsims killing another group of Mulsims. Which is exactly what is happening in Lebanon at the moment. So I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.
Note: even Iraq most killing is Mulsim on Mulsim. And Shiite on Shiite for that matter.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I'll assume you don't realize that aside from Israel all the conflict in the Middle East is some group of Mulsims killing another group of Mulsims. Which is exactly what is happening in Lebanon at the moment. So I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.
Note: even Iraq most killing is Mulsim on Mulsim. And Shiite on Shiite for that matter.
Actually Lebanon is a bit more complicated that that, its a multi ethnic and multi religoius country where wars have involved Muslims, Christians, Jews (Israel) and Druze.
I understand si_uk, but the current strife is between rival Muslim factions. He was trying to over simplify things, so I did so the other way. But thanks for the correction lest I mislead anyone. The potential for a very complicated situation (like the civil war) is dangerous close.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I understand si_uk, but the current strife is between rival Muslim factions. He was trying to over simplify things, so I did so the other way. But thanks for the correction lest I mislead anyone. The potential for a very complicated situation (like the civil war) is dangerous close.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the conflict is between Hezbollah and pro government forces which consist of Muslims, Druze and Christians.
I found out today even the trouble in Kurdistan isn't Muslim vs Muslim. I work with a catholic Iraqi Kurd and he told me that Kurds are made up of over four religions. Learn something everyday.
As I understand it, the situation in Lebanon is complex. BUT, in general, the Syrian/Iranian forces are Shiite forces and the government is "everyone else" including the Sunni forces.
Lebanon itself breaks out
Muslim 58%, Christian 38% , other 4%
I didn't find any data on Shiite/Sunni %, so perhaps I am off base. There are a lot more Christians than I thought. As I indicated above, I do not have a good feel for what's going on there and over simplified in response to the simplified comments.
Per Iraq, it is 3% "Christian and other" religions and 97% Muslim. So i feel confident in my assertion that religion differences within Islam is the primary driver there.
Unfortunately, in the Middle East the melting pot model doesn't work very well. Jews - Muslims. Muslims & Christians. Or Muslims & different Muslims just don't seem to mix well. The only stable places have a majority of one and do their best to exclude all others and/or keep them at such a minority as to not be a threat. Then, just for fun, throw in nationalism, tribalism, and some long simmering vendettas... maybe oil is really formed by blood filtered through sand?