Many Western analysts, even at the highest levels, seem to think that if a country is holding more or less free elections, then it attained “freedom,” and that that in itself will be, in very large part if not in full, an effective antidote to the problem of “terrorism.” Yet in Iraq, Shi’ites in particular used the electoral process to advance their agenda of establishing a Shi’ite state in Iraq, and now Hizballah acknowledges that they, too, regard elections as a useful tool in their jihad. The next time someone tells you that Hizballah is moderating, and that its participation in the electoral process is an indication of that, remember this one.
“Hizbullah Official: Elections Part of Jihad Battle,” from Israel National News, May 28 (thanks to all who sent this in):
(IsraelNN.com) Lebanon’s June 7 parliamentary elections are part of “part of our jihadist and political battle in Lebanon” and an opportunity for obtaining support for the line of the resistance, said Hizbullah political council chairman Ibrahim Amin Al-Sayyid. His comments were translated by MEMRI from an Iranian News Agency report….