Hizbollah Tells Lebanese to Cool Anti-Syria Line

[truthpusher]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050219/ts_nm/lebanon_dc_54

Hizbollah Tells Lebanese to Cool Anti-Syria Line

24 minutes ago Top Stories - Reuters

By Alistair Lyon

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Saturday that popular agitation against Syria's grip on Lebanon after the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri could plunge the country back into civil war.

Opposition leaders are urging Lebanese to join a peaceful "independence uprising" to free their country from Syria's military and political dominance, intensifying a war of words after Hariri's assassination in a huge bomb blast Monday.

"God forbid, if the roof collapses, it collapses on all of us," Nasrallah told at least 100,000 Shi'ite Muslims gathered for Ashura, the most solemn event in their calendar.

"Today we are responsible for a nation that came out of the civil war ... but we face acute problems, especially this year and in the past few months," the black-turbaned cleric said.

complete story:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050219/ts_nm/lebanon_dc_54

[bin.dare]

1. did the Iraqi insurgents kill Hariri ?

Who Killed Rafik Hariri?
By MANUEL GARCÍA, Jr.

I do not know, what follows is speculation.

Consider this hypothesis: Rafik Hariri was declared a "collaborator" by the Iraqi Sunni Insurgency, who killed him.
Who stands to gain?, and why?

1. Israel: because it increases US pressure on Syria, and could lead to a weakening of Hizbollah (1) (Jansen, Jordan Times, 17 Feb.),

2. U.S.A.: provides an opportunity to push ahead with the neo-con Middle East Campaign, by increasing pressure on Syria, which the US accuses of aiding the Iraqi (Sunni) Insurgency (3) (Fisk, 16 Feb.)

3. al-Qaeda: striking at a Saudi-linked political power -- Hariri had dual Lebanese-Saudi citizenship -- with close ties to the West (France) and who was opposed to Hizbollah attacks on Israel (2) (Fisk, 15 Feb.), (5) (Juan Cole 14 & 16 Feb.)

4. Iraqi Sunni Insurgency: to draw Syria further into the Insurgent struggle against the U.S.A. -- and Shi'ite electoral power -- for the control of Iraq.

(more great stuff)
http://www.counterpunch.org/garcia02192005.html

[Igel]

2. If the roof collapses on all of them, it's likely to be

Hizbullah that brings it down.

It's amazing that "civil war" could result from getting Syria out. I don't think the Christians, Druze, or Sunnis are well armed enough to start it. Syria, Hizbullah, and the current Lebanese government all seem to be on the same page.

And since this morning I've wondered off and on who the "we" is in one sentence: "Today we are responsible for a nation that came out of the civil war ... but we face acute problems, especially this year and in the past few months," the black-turbaned cleric said.

On the other hand, it's good to see people speaking out.

[LinuxInsurgent]

3. I think Syria should leave Lebanon

no nation should be occupied by another...so on that I disagree with Hizbollah...

That being said, I don't support a fractioning of Lebanon, or the opportunistic usage of this crisis by American officials. I just support the Lebanese's self-determination rights. Besides...Syria's got bigger fish to fry now than its occupation of Lebanon. The U.S. has it in its sights.