... was that it simply wasn't very possible.
Now, I'm sure they can be faulted in various ways, but keep in mind that Israel couldn't crush Hezbollah in 18 years of occupation - Israel, the most powerful army in the ME. How is Lebanon's government, weak, having just emerged from civil war and having just expelled the Syrians, supposed to have disarmed the most powerful force in the country without sinking the country BACK into civil war?
I'll post a couple perspectives from Lebanon on the issue:
The first is from Michael Totten, an American blogger (kind of neo-conish) who has lived extensively in Lebanon and Beirut while traveling the Middle East. I should add that he's generally quite pro-Israel. In this case, however, he is very opposed to the actions of the Israeli government:
... allow me to clarify a few things so (some of you) can stop thinking I've decided Israel is the enemy or that Hassan Nasrallah deserves anything but a headstone or a war crimes tribunal.
Obviously Hezbollah started this and Hezbollah is the main problem. Not only did they drag my second home into a war, the bastards also threatened me personally. So I hardly see the point in telling you what I think about them right about now. I'll get to them later.
I sympathize one hundred percent with what Israel is trying to do here. But they aren't going about it the right way, and they're punishing far too many of the wrong people. Lord knows I could be wrong, and the situation is rapidly changing, but at this particular moment it looks bad for Israel, bad for Lebanon, bad for the United States, good for Syria, and good for Iran.
There is no alternate universe where the Lebanese government could have disarmed an Iranian-trained terrorist/guerilla militia that even the Israelis could not defeat in years of grinding war. There is no alternate universe where it was in Lebanon's interest to restart the civil war on Israel's behalf, to burn down their country all over again right at the moment where they finally had hope after 30 years of convulsive conflict and Baath Party overlordship.The Lebanese government should have asked for more help from the international community. The Lebanese government should have been far less reactionary in its attitude toward the Israelis. They made more mistakes than just two, but I'd say these are the principal ones.
What should the Israelis have done instead? They should have treated Hezbollahland as a country, which it basically is, and attacked it. They should have treated Lebanon as a separate country, which it basically is, and left it alone. Mainstream Lebanese have no problem when Israel hammers Hezbollah in its little enclave. Somebody has to do it, and it cannot be them. If you want to embolden Lebanese to work with Israelis against Hezbollah, or at least move in to Hezbollah's bombed out positions, don't attack all of Lebanon.
Israel should not have bombed Central Beirut, which was almost monolithically anti-Hezbollah. They should not have bombed my old neighborhood, which was almost monolithically anti-Hezbollah. They should not have bombed the Maronite city of Jounieh, which was not merely anti-Hezbollah but also somewhat pro-Israel.Israelis thinks everyone hates them. It isn't true, especially not in Lebanon. But they will make it so if they do not pay more attention to the internal characteristics of neighboring countries. "The Arabs" do not exist as a bloc except in the feverish dreams of the Nasserists and the Baath.
>
http://www.michaeltotten.com The second is from a Lebanese blogger at Lebanese Politics Blog:
http://lebop.blogspot.comhttp://lebop.blogspot.com/2006/07/israel-allow-us-to-take-power-of-our.htmlFriday, July 14, 2006
Israel, Allow Us to Take Power of Our Country
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claims that Hezbollah's military strategy has changed. They claim they will now attack Israel without restraint.
We believe Nasrallah is not joking when he offers Lebanese up to be slaughtered by Israelis. He offered to make the entire country a target for Israeli bombs.
Nasrallah indirectly insulted Saudi Arabia for their statements against Hezbollah's actions. Calling his militia sons of the Prophet, he is now trying to appeal to anti-semitic, pan-Arabist, Islamists in all Arab and Muslim countries.
The Lebanese government is unable to challenge Hezbollah or join in the fight with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Saniora is now complaining bitterly about Israeli aggression, as he should. However, the government is allowing Hezbollah to decide the fate of the nation.
Friends in Beirut, Saida, Nabatieh, Jounieh, Zahle, Baalbak, Koura, and Tripoli are incredibly afraid.
Hopefully, Israel will not escalate attacks. In fact, Israel should have called for a ceasefire today, but domestic policy probably would not allow it.
Today, and after Nasrallah's speech, the Lebanese government and Lebanese politicians opposing Hezbollah might have been completely castrated. Before this evening, opposing politicians could call Hezbollah reckless and the destroyer of Hariri's legacy. Now, all we have to fear is more destruction from Israel.
Israel would be making a grave mistake to attack areas where Hezbollah militants do not operate. What do they expect now? Do they expect us to rise up in arms against Hezbollah? Do they expect us to re-start the Lebanese civil war?
The National Dialogue and all of the international travel and UN Resolutions were the way we were going about trying to disarm Hezbollah. They are allied with Syria and Iran, countries willing to assassinate prominent Lebanese members of parliament and journalists. Countries willing to support militias. Countries that refuse to join the international community and respect law and order.
Uniformed Syrian troops were in this country just over a year ago. Their intelligence agents are still here. Damascus still coordinates political affairs with its cronies. And their reach goes deep into every aspect of Lebanese life. What do you expect after 30 years of occupation?
If Israel's bombing doesn't stop now, they will only further empower Hezbollah. If any Lebanese politician rises up against Hezbollah, that means civil war. It means that politician will be a target for assassination by Syrian agents. It means that whatever community does rise up against Hezbollah will be massacred because Hezbollah has all the weapons. The other militias were disarmed. Not even the Lebanese military could combat Hezbollah. Hezbollah could probably take on the Syrian military.
ISRAEL! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? WAIT FOR YOUR BOMBS!!! I don't support Hezbollah. You're destroying any chance we have of taking power away from Hezbollah.
We aren't supporting them. We didn't vote for them in the first place. We have been campaigning against their weapons for over a year. Even the United States acknowledged that there is no easy way to disarm Hezbollah and that the noose had to gradually tighten.
There's nothing left for you to do here. Attack Syria. Attack Iran. Then, you'll have a more even match. Then, you'll face foes that hate you as much as you hate them.
We just want to be left alone. We've been fighting Hezbollah through words, UN resolutions, and actions, all the while being called traitors, Zionists, and becoming targets of violence.
Israel, the ball's in your court. There's nothing that we can do until you stop. As it stands, Hezbollah won't turn their weapons on us. We'll negotiate with them. Our politicians have already offered to negotiate directly with you to return your soldiers.
We are afraid of you and the destruction you can cause in seconds. Don't doubt that for an instance. But allow us to take power of our country.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
