Poll: Was the Lebanese gov't ever strong enough to disarm Hezbollah alone?

[Selatius]

Do you believe Lebanon's government was sufficiently capable of destroying Hezbollah or forcing it to disarm without provoking a second civil war in the country between pro-Hezbollah militias and anti-Hezbollah militias?

[Quixote1818]

1. Kick

[Dead_Parrot]

2. kick again...

I'd be surprised. It took the UK & Eire decades to disarm the IRA: The Brits have a (fairly well) deserved reputation in counter/intelligence, and the talks went on forever...

Given 50 years, maybe.

[Laotra]

3. Other

Hezbollah is part of Lebanese gov't.

[Selatius]

4. True, but the agreements said every militia must disarm.

They refused, and I don't think Lebanon's government was in the position to demand anything from Nasrallah and his 20,000-strong militia.

[Laotra]

5. What would Chomsky do?

Excuse my ignorance, but do you have links to the agreement texts, what was exactly agreed and between whom? With all the disinfo and half-truths around I'd like to research for myself.

And where is the 20 000 number from? I saw a 6K, but yours seems more plausible.

[Selatius]

7. The Taif Agreement text:

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Taif_Agreement

The 20,000 strong figure was derived from here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taif_agreement

[Laotra]

8. Thanks n/t

[TahitiNut]

9. Is it at all possible ...

... that there are decent human beings who are both members of the Lebanese government and associated with Hizb'allah? As members of the Lebanese government (possibly the legislature), it seems completely reasonable to me that they're not in agreement with every policy or act of that government, just as I'm NOT in agreement with many of the policies and acts of my government. Also, it seems completely reasonable to me to assume they're not in agreement with with every policy or act of Hizb'allah, just as many Democrats aren't in agreement with the positions and acts of the Democratic Party. As members of these organizations, however, they may regard themselves in the best position to change/improve them - just as I've heard virtually every politician say something to the effect that "change from within" is preferable.

I just shake my head at the simplistic and superficial characterizations of large numbers of people with whom they have almost no familiarity if any at all. Just because there's only room for a few words on a bumper sticker it doesn't mean that should be the limit of one's mental capacities - or that it should be assumed that's the limit of their audience's mental capacities.

:eyes:

[Igel]

6. Lebanon couldn't have disarmed Hezbollah, at least

not without a considerable amount of bloodshed.

But Lebanon could have prevented additional arming. And didn't.

Lebanon could have asked for help in disarming Hezbollah. But didn't.

The UNIFIL was reduced, in part to pressure Lebanon. Lebanon under Syria didn't want to displease their dungeon master, and under La Signiora was too busy arranging and de-linting its mantle of responsibility.

[jsamuel]

10. ding ding ding

maybe someone should have offered to help

[akushuki]

11. The UN resolution that called for it stated that the UN was ready to help

Lebanon if asked...

I dont believe they did.