May 8, 2008
Brief Dispatches from the New Lebanon War
by Michael J. Totten
Is there actually a new war in Lebanon? Maybe. That's what it looks like if you read the brief dispatches on my friend Charles Malik's blog. He is in Beirut now and hearing gunfire and rockets in his neighborhood. That used to be my neighborhood. Anyway, more war in Lebanon is inevitable as long as Hezbollah exists.
Another friend told me in an email today that Lebanon is actually in worse shape than it appears in the media. This is new. It is usually the other way around.
Posted by Michael J. Totten at May 8, 2008 12:51 PMWho exactly are Amal and how significant are they now?
Posted by: Daniel E.
at May 8, 2008 1:42 PM
Amal is Hezbollah's secular Shia ally. The party's leader is Nabih Berri, Speaker of Parliament.
They are significant, but would be no threat on their own without Hezbollah.
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at May 8, 2008 2:11 PM
You have got it wrong Michael. War in Lebanon is inevitable as long as the government is based on a flawed and outdated sectarian model.
If all Hizb'Allah leaders and fighters disappear tomorrow their would still be a war in the future. There can be no peace as long as such an unjustice and discriminatory governmental system is in place.
If it wasnt Hizb'Allah, it would be a different group. You are address the SYMPTOMS of the issue, not the cause of it.
Posted by: Marc at May 9, 2008 10:04 AM
If it wasnt Hizb'Allah, it would be a different group. You are address the SYMPTOMS of the issue, not the cause of it.
Isn't the real cause though that it's an artificial state created by France?
Posted by: Daniel E. at May 9, 2008 11:50 AM
Another friend told me in an email today that Lebanon is actually in worse shape than it appears in the media. This is new. It is usually the other way around.
Hmm… what's the difference between now and the crises of 2006 and 2007? Israeli not that difficult to figure out.
Posted by: calbear at May 9, 2008 5:42 PM
