Tiny Minority of Extremists Update. "3 killed as protesters paralyze Lebanon," by Sam F. Ghattas for Associated Press:
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah-led protesters paralyzed Lebanon Tuesday, clashing with government supporters and burning tires and cars on roads in and around the capital to enforce a general strike aimed at toppling U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Three people were killed and dozens injured.
What had been planned as a peaceful work-stoppage around the country turned into the worst violence since the pro-Syrian Shiite Hezbollah and its allies launched a campaign two months ago to oust the government.
In a televised speech, Saniora called for a special session of parliament to defuse the crisis, and gave every indication that he intended to stay in office.
"We will stand together against intimidation and confront sedition for the sake of Lebanon," he said. He added he remained ready for talks with the opposition.
Police said three people were killed and 43 others sustained gunshot wounds in clashes in the towns of central and northern Lebanon, including two bodyguards of a prominent pro-government politician. Commuters were stranded and business came to halt in many parts of the capital.
"The opposition is attempting a coup by force," Cabinet minister Ahmed Fatfat said. "This is not a strike. This is military action, a true aggression and I'm afraid this could develop into clashes between citizens," Fatfat, the youth and sports minister, told Al-Arabiya television.
Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and other opposition leaders called the strike, which was backed by labor unions. The Hezbollah-led opposition is demanding a new coalition government giving them more power, which Saniora has rejected.
The opposition has been camped out since Dec. 1 in front of the prime minister's office in downtown Beirut and has staged several protests to press its demands but Tuesday's strike escalated the nearly two-month demonstration. Troops have been deployed in central Beirut for weeks to keep order. But the action has largely been peaceful.
The conflict has strained the already fragile sectarian lines in a country that fought a 1975-1990 civil war between Muslims and Christians. In the current power struggle, Lebanon's Sunni Muslims largely support Saniora, while the Shiites back Hezbollah and the opposition. Many Christians back Saniora.
Nicholas Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, called Tuesday for Arabs, the U.S. and Europe to support Saniora.
"We have indications they will try to go into the streets this week to overturn a democratically elected government, through the rule of people in the streets, through mobs," he said in a speech in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, black clouds billowed over parts of Beirut as opposition supporters set up burning roadblocks on main routes and at entrances to the capital, as well as in other major cities to enforce the strike. Opposition supporters clustered in small groups to man blazing roadblocks.
Police and troops deployed by the thousands across the country in an attempt to open roads and break up clashes. In some cases, troops negotiated the lifting of roadblocks. Elsewhere, they charged crowds to separate battling protesters and push open roads.
Hezbollah's deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassem, told al-Jazeera television that the opposition would decide later in the day whether to call off the action or continue the escalating campaign.
"It was very successful and a clear message" to the government and its international backers, said Kassem.
Other opposition activists expressed frustration that the protests so far had not succeeded. Many workers stayed home, either in support of the strike or in fear of violence. Some schools closed due to unrest.
Blazing roadblocks cut off the road to Beirut international airport and the highway linking Beirut with the mountains and the road to Damascus, the Syrian capital.
"Nicholas Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, called Tuesday for Arabs, the U.S. and Europe to support Saniora".
Interesting how Israel is omitted. Israel supported Saniora in a way when it fought Hezbollah but I guess he didn't want that help since he complained about all that killing the evil Jews were doing. Well, had he shut up Israel might have done him one hell of a favor but the moment has passed and now the poor man is probably cowering in fear. Oh well, if you want the beheaders to survive sooner or later they will lop off your head in gratitude.
Telling sign of what thug Islamocommunists do once they feel empowered. They circumvent elections and attempt coups.
The Judeans had better be paying attention as the Jordanians, because they both will have their governments removed by "fire tire" protest.
Olmert deliberately blew the Lebanon operation and unless Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria and Iran are neutralized the world is going to be facing no oil as these culprits will blow the Saudi fields and then all it will be is Egypt in riots and Europe under Russian blackmail.
Big problems are about to explode further over there.
I'm afraid this could develop into clashes between citizens," Fatfat, the youth and sports minister, told Al-Arabiya television.
GOOD.. They're picking up where the Israelis left off. All at no expense to us. We should avoid sending aid in any form after they're done leveling the place.
And NO "refugees" please!
One more example of islam showing its true face.
I think the koran was written by the devil himself.
If Prime Minister Saniora gets desperate enough he'll probably ask for Israeli help. He certainly can't count on Anerican, Arab or European help.
If he does ask the Israelis for help, the Israelis should tell him flat out, If he wants their help, he'll have to ask them openly, and before the whole world, that there won't be any behind the scenes request accepted.
He should be required to call Hezbollah a terrorist organization, and to call upon the Lebonese population to support any Israeli intervention, the Israelis should insist also that Saniora call them saviors, and not invaders, as he did the last time.
In short, he should be forced to take a stand.
If he can't stick his neck out, The Israelis shouldn't stick theirs out.
Once your head is filled with koran there is no room for anything else. If we don't send aid every time they screw up one or several of their countries will they learn their lesson? No I don;t think they will. But maybe they'll be in less of a condition to do more damage in the future.
We the West are acting like we Stockholm syndrome. They do all this nasty stuff and it's beginning to have negative effects on our own lives - IN OUR LANDS!
And what do we do? We blame ourselves for the state these animals are in.
If all men are created equal - then they should be able to solve their problems. No visas and "immigration" needed.
It's the koran, stupid!
I really resent spending OUR money so they can riot and pray five times a day. The only way we ought to spend our money is to bomb whenever they provoke us in any way.
Other than that.. let them pick up the pieces and fix their problems. Maybe then the 'umma' will finally implode.
As of now we are providing the steam valve. Whenever they throw a tantrum and thorw their food all over the place we patienly fix them yet another plate.
I am SICK and TIRED of constantly holding these people's hands!!
Time to grow up!
Lebanon.
Spin-off effects from Iraq the Model.
Everybody Wants Freedom.
Cedars Revolution.
Democracy On The March.
But there is one good thing resulting both from Hezbullah's attempt to overthrow the Lebanese government, and even more, Shi'a efforts at converting Sunnis in Syria and Lebanon: the more the Shi'a endanger the Christian-Druse-Sunni Muslim alliance now to be oberved in Lebanon, however short-lived it may be, and the more Iranian weaponry and money and agents are sent to Lebanon, the more fearful become the Sunnis in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf sheikdoms. And the more fearful they become, the more likely it is that they will give it their all in Iraq -- volunteers, money, war materiel -- to defeat the "Rafidite dogs," those "Persian" Shi'a.
"Hugh, Lebanon was already one of the few democracies in the middle east - it has been the muslims (Hezbollah and the Palestinians) in the past 2-3 decades that have been destroying that."
-- from a posting above
"Democracy Is On the March" should be taken in the spirit in which it was written.
And before Democracy Was On the March, there was a confessional power-sharing arrangement, based on the figures for the 1932 Census, which is not exactly "democracy" though it does contain elements of it.
We will stand together against intimidation and confront sedition for the sake of Lebanon.
It would be wonderful to hear an American leader make this proclamation in the face of the emergent Moslem acitivist intimidation and sedition right here in the States.
Whoops, forget we already have. We get intimidated here and then go help Lebanon confront their threat there.
What I'm saying is we need to move our stand-taking back home to this country. Resist the Moslem activists right here at home.
You gotta fight,
for your right
to jiiiiiiiii-had.
"Nicholas Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, called Tuesday for Arabs, the U.S. and Europe to support Saniora."
Did anyone bother to tell Mr Burns, the UN already has ughhh "peace keeping forces" in Lebanon.
Is he not aware of the fine job they are doing?
The UN in Lebanon is but a paper tiger with no fangs....
The UN in Lebanon probably helps Hizbollah unload their weapons shipments from Iran...
I remember Bridgitte Gabriel discussing on TV a while back what a prosperous and happy place Lebanon used to be. Then the moslems came. The Christian Lebanese welcomed them generously, offering financial assistance and access to their thriving economy and institutions of higher learning which were near the very best in the Middle East at the time. The subhuman, ungrateful Mo's paid them back with death and terror and Lebanon being the nightmare land it is today. Lebanon should serve as a sad example (and a warning) to the rest of the world of what happens to any place where muslims are allowed to immigrate in any significant numbers.
I hope that Israeli and US Armies can march into Southern Lebanon to help the UN Peacekeeping forces.
The new guy at the un has some big shoes to fill, maybe he will have enough guts to stand up to the muslim killers, if not time will tell,anyway, if you live with dogs , your going to get fleas, time for that countries real heros to stand up and be real patriots!!!
Whats the big surprise about this "peaceful" demonstration gone deadly? The zombie master nassralla just played everyone like all the masters do.
I remember reading him saying it will be a peaceful demonstration because he would never allow an armed one,not against the lebanese people.
How many dead and injured?
How many christians were the victims?
What a guy wouldn't give for a sniper rifle and camos,to be dropped off on the nearest roof top.I would part that piece of craps hair for him.
Also one has to wonder exactly what is CAIR saying about the 102 slaves freed in the sudan?
Who was CAIR using on thier web site to rib us racist Americans with and to probably garner support from the african american community?
Muslims still actively dealing in slavery?
What more proof does one need to see what filth and disgust islam is full of than what it did to just the 102 of these human beings?
If anyone has an excuse to make for these people i hope your tongue falls out of your filthy mouths.
This action was not by just "a few extremists".This was sanctioned by the sudanese gov. all that the sudanese had has been taken by the lazy filthy muslim zombie horde.
You may very well notice that all the 102 were christians.You also may take note that they were FORCED to convert to filth,the islamic way of the future.
It makes me happy knowing that soon all words will run dry,all threats possible made and action unavoidable.
The future will be my honor and a privilage to usher in and be a part of.
As it is written so shall it be done....tick tock!
Maybe I just see this latest Lebanese matter in more insidious terms. Hizballa there increases the level of strife just at the time, December 1, 2006, when the United Nations is getting down to terms on Iran's nuclear ambitions, and agreeing upon sanctions against Iran. Simultaneously, the feckless Republican hold on the U.S. Congress loses it's control to the moonbat left, leaving this country with an internal argument over the future of allied troops in Iraq.
So what does an egomaniacle, nuclear-threat-slinging Iranian President do? Stoke the fire of fear and discontent in another area of his ayatollahs' control, namely Lebanon and it's tiny death squad called Hizballa. Put off the world's attention to another direction, stir up strife in the name of political policy and representation, whilst the centrifuges are unloaded here, whilst the uranium is mined here. Additionally, the Muslim world witnesses the struggle of freedom fighting Hisballa there, whilst the Iranian economy here languishes, unreported for the large part. "Those damned Westerners again, interfering in countries where there is no support for them."
I wish I could agree that this immediate matter is of little concern, I cannot.
If Hizballa succeeds in it's aim to bring down the Saniora government in Lebanon, it will not be long until the place looks like Gaza. With little or no western investment there, the Syrian/Iranian influence will spread even more; no jobs, no infrastructure, but lots of shiny new mosques amid the destruction which was once the flower of the Middle East. Under the country's new name, North Somalia, or maybe West Syria, a new launchpad arises for even further spread of Islamic rule and Shiria.
Instead this upswing in Hizballa activity needs to be countered now, maybe not 'once and for all', yet effectively with a heavy hand. Take Shiek Nasrallah down by arresting him, putting him on trial. Let the U.N. sanctions continue to hurt the Iranian economy, as the U.S. builds up its naval fleet in the Gulf, and as Israel prepares a pre-emptive plan of attack. When the time eventually comes that our wise Congress demands that we pull out of the morass in Iraq, let's send our troops to the Iraqi-Syrian border, looking all prepared to bring it on into Syria. And again, let Israel do her thing in the same direction, effectively diverting Syrian and Iranian wealth, weapons and attention away from Lebanon.
It is playing the same game, only hopefully better, as the ayatollahs play. This heightened tension need last only until a dissatisfied majority of voters in Iran defeat the little warmonger, in what, 2008 or 2009, and redirect that nations policies into a less fateful direction.
Somehow, the democrats think that diplomacy will heal the war torn Islamic countries which will bring them to the Peace Table with civilized negotiations. I wonder what's wrong with that thought ?
Nasrallah learned his tactics from those disgusting pro illegal alien marches last spring, next are the tactics learned from liberal college pukes, then they can move on to their own tactics of bullets, bombs, and beheadings.
Posted by: rational
If Prime Minister Saniora gets desperate enough he'll probably ask for Israeli help. He certainly can't count on Anerican, Arab or European help.
Saniora refused to co-operate with Isreal last year at the UN,when Dan Gillerman asked Saniora,s help to tackle Hizbollah.
As a breath of fresh air and sparkling sanity at the UN meeting, came the unscripted speech given by Israel's Dan Gillerman,and Saniora blew it
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, let me take you back to a warm summer's day in Beirut 32 years ago -- exactly this very significant day for you and your people -- the 14th of July, 1974. I want to describe the scene to you and to my Lebanese colleague. Cafes and bars bustling with young people, beaches filled with happy holiday-makers -- the Switzerland of the Middle East.
How different this scene is from the one on Beirut streets today, 32 years later. But this difference did not start this week or last year. The difference started only one year after the scene I just described, in 1975, when the Lebanese began their long dissent into oppression, depression and terror. This is a country that has been held hostage for more than 32 years by tyrants from the north and terrorists in the south, a country whose fun-loving, business-minded entrepreneurial and liberal population has been tormented by decades of oppression, sectarian strife, fundamentalist violence, religious conflict, Syrian control, political assassinations, terror, and full- fledged civil war...
In May 2000, Israel took the painful and politically difficult decision to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon, having been compelled a few years earlier to establish a security zone there in order to prevent terrorist attacks and rocket-shelling from Lebanon into Israeli towns and villages. This council acknowledged Israel's complete withdrawal from southern Lebanon and its full compliance with Security Council Resolution 425 in a presidential statement on June 18th, 2000.
This was Lebanon's moment of truth. Would its government look inward and free its people from the stranglehold of terror, or would it allow its territory to become a base from which Hezbollah terrorists would launch attacks against Israeli civilians.
Tragically, Mr. President, the Lebanese government chose the latter.
The Lebanese government got a second chance after the partial implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which resulted in the withdrawal of most Syrian forces from Lebanese territory. Again, this council and the entire world were waiting to see how Lebanon would respond to this historic opportunity. Yet again, unfortunately, the Lebanese government chose to succumb to terror rather than vanquish it, to let its southern region be occupied by terrorism rather than disarm it, and to relinquish control over its country rather than exercise its full sovereignty.
Seldom before has the description of a people as never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity been so apt. Lebanon sadly did not heed the demands of the international community and did not obey the repeated resolutions of this aghast council. Today, sadly, the Lebanese people are burying the costs of this inaction and ineptitude.
Mr. President, two days ago Hezbollah terrorists, operating with impunity in southern Lebanon, unleashed a sudden and unprovoked attack into Israeli territory. Scores of Katyusha rockets rained down on Israeli towns and villages, causing many civilian casualties. In the midst of this horrific assault, Hezbollah terrorists infiltrated Israel, killing a number of soldiers and kidnapping two more, who were taken deep into the terrorist stronghold of southern Lebanon. Israel had no choice but to react, as would indeed any other responsible, democratic government.
Having shown unparalleled restraint for six years while bearing the brunt of countless attacks, Israel had to respond to this absolutely unprovoked assault, whose scale and depth was unprecedented in recent years.
Let me emphasize this indisputable fact -- Israel's actions were in direct response to an act of war from Lebanon. Although Israel holds the government of Lebanon responsible, it is concentrating its response carefully, mainly on Hezbollah strongholds, positions and infrastructure.
The hundreds of Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon in the last few days demonstrate the magnitude of the immense arsenal of rockets and weapons that Hezbollah has amassed over the last few years, a danger we have repeatedly warned against. Many of the long-range missiles that have hit Israeli towns, including Nahariya, Safed, Rosh Pina, and the port city of Haifa, were launched from private homes, with families residing inside, where a special room was designated as a launching pad, with a family playing host to the missile. This is yet another example of the cynical and brutal way the Hezbollah organization uses civilians as human shields, with complete disregard for human life.
Mr. President, over the last 48 hours, more than 500 Katyushas and mortar shells were fired into the northern part of Israel, killing two civilians and wounding hundreds more, among them women and children. Israeli civilians and eight soldiers have been killed, hundreds have been wounded.
It is very important for the international community to understand that while Hezbollah executes this vicious terrorism, it is merely the finger on the bloodstained, long-reaching arms of Syria and Iran. Hezbollah, together with Hamas, Syria and Iran, comprise the world's new and ominous axis of terror, an infamous club -- infamous club, the entry fee to which is the blood of innocents and the terrorizing of the entire world.
Membership to this club requires an unfathomable capacity for evil. The president of Iran has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, while gleefully preparing the next one. Many of the long-range missiles fired into Israel in recent days were Iranian missiles, made by the same regime that is now trying to possess nuclear weapons, the same region that is funding Hezbollah to the sum of $100 million a year.
Do we dare to ask ourselves how many families in Lebanon today are being prepared to house dirty bombs and other weapons of mass destruction courtesy of Iran?
Syria, another member of this club, is a well-known protector and financier of terrorist organizations, playing host to them in its capital, Damascus. The Syrian government, which still regards Lebanon as "southern Syria," works ceaselessly to undermine all efforts towards a peaceful future in the region.
Lebanon is today occupied by terror, whether in the south, where it is directed at Israel, or in Beirut, where it kills opponents of Syria and former prime ministers. The real occupying power in Lebanon is terror, terror instigated by Hezbollah, but initiated, funded and perpetrated by Syria and Iran.
The Lebanese government, having missed so many chances in the past, at such a horrendous cost to its people, today has another chance to free itself from the stranglehold of terror, another chance, Mr. President, to release itself from the evil control of Syria and the deadly influence of Iran, and deploy its forces in the south, exercising its sovereignty over a free Lebanon.
Mr. President, there are words that speak far louder and clearer than anything I can voice today. These are voices of Lebanese -- brave, patriotic Lebanese parliamentarians and ministers who, just over the last two days, have cried out to all of us from the brink of the abyss in their beloved country. Let me quote some of these courageous statements to you.
The words of Lebanon's communications minister, Mr. Marwan Hamadeh, only yesterday saying that -- and I quote -- "Damascus gives the orders, Iran supplies the equipment, Israel reacts, and Lebanon is the victim."
Or the words of Alias Attala (sp), a Lebanese politician representing the majority of its parliamentary members, and I quote, "We welcome any Arab and international support, but strongly oppose any enforced involvement of Lebanon by regional players' considerations" -- a reference to Syria and Iran -- "that are not within the interests of the Lebanese people, for the sole attempt to achieve opportunistic benefits at the expense of the Lebanese people. The Syrian regime indulges itself in teaching Lebanon and Palestine lessons according to its own interests through these peoples. Why do those who always protect their regime express understanding of its reasons and preferences and do not express any understanding of Lebanon's reasons and preferences?"
Or the words of an unnamed Lebanese minister who said, again only yesterday, and I quote, "The Hezbollah has not only kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, it has taken the whole of Lebanon hostage," end quote.
Mr. President, with your permission I would like to make a personal appeal to my esteemed Lebanese colleague.
Your Excellency, you know deep down that if you could you would add your own brave voice to those voices of your brave compatriots and colleagues. You know deep in your heart that if you could you would be sitting here right next to me right now because you know that we are doing the right thing, and that if we succeed, Lebanon will be the beneficiary. And I believe that most members around this table, as well as many in this chamber, including our neighbors, realize this reality.
Mr. President, this council and the international community have a duty today to help the Lebanese people achieve the goal of a free, prosperous, democratic Lebanon. The sad and tormented life of this war-torn land has today entered another sad chapter in its history. It is up to every one of us to help right this chapter to ensure that this opportunity is seized not only for the benefit of the Lebanese and Israeli people, but for the sake of generations to come.
Thank you, Mr. President.
It is sad that the Shi'ites are once again trying to hold the country of Lebanon captive. I only wish the people here would understand that it is not as simple as "letting the Israelis in". First, Israel is no friend of Christians. They shelled Christian AND Muslim neighborhoods in Lebanon. They often conduct military operations against Hamas from Christian neighborhoods, such as Beit Jalla, which they use as "buffer zones" so as not to fight from Jewish neighborhoods.
Just as the Pope has to walk a tight-rope when he comments about Islam due to welfare of the millions of Christians living in Muslim countries around the world, so too must the Lebanese government walk a tight-rope when commenting on and dealing with Hizballah. Unfortunately, the Lebanese are not the only ones being held "hostage" these days.
Burning tires and cars? - In that case it'll be "youths". We've probably been alienating them for years. Surely many of us deserve to die for that.
-Stefcho.
"Burning tires and cars? - In that case it'll be "youths". We've probably been alienating them for years. Surely many of us deserve to die for that.
-Stefcho."
...........I believe it is the other way....they have alienated themselves and it is not us who deserve to die....
Not beating around the bush:
http://sheikyermami.com/2007/01/24/lebanon-jihad-in-full-swing/
From another thread:
"Sparking discord among Muslims, especially between the Shiites and Sunnis, is a plot hatched by the Zionists and the US for dominating regional nations and looting their resources," Ahmadinejad added, according to the report.
Talk about a classic case of projecting! As though Iran has no control over Hezbollah and it had nothing to do with the bombing of the golden mosque that provided a lot of momentum for the Badr brigades and Mahdi armies in Iraq.
It is true that Lebanon used to be a Christian majority country and that it used to be known as the Paris of the Middle East. A bastion of learning and civilization, a shinning jewel of what could be or what was. This is a small taste of what will be the real Paris or real Europe. What happened in Lebanon? The Christians were outbread and are now minorities in thier own country, thus the slow but sure degradation of what once was a jewel into a train wreck. This is what happens to a country when it gets an Islmaic majority. Lebanon is lost to civilization unless the Muslims can somehow be removed from the power structure. Europe will be lost in the same way unless similar measures are taken.