Analysts: U.S. at root of effort to topple Lebanese government

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16188334.htm


By Tom Lasseter
McClatchy Newspapers

BEIRUT, Lebanon - American political leaders watched with alarm during the past week as the Hezbollah militia laid siege to the U.S.-backed Lebanese government, but few would acknowledge publicly what most analysts and politicians here say is obvious: American policy may bear much of the blame.


Many in Beirut say that U.S. failure to stop Israel's onslaught against Hezbollah last summer crippled the Lebanese government - a U.S. ally - while strengthening Hezbollah - a U.S. enemy. That created an environment in which the Shiite Muslim militia could call for overthrowing Sunni Muslim Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his Cabinet.


"Hezbollah has more support in the population now because they are the `victorious resistance,'" Cabinet member Ahmed Fatfat said. "And it weakened the government because we did not get any concessions ... the last war was a disaster for Lebanon and the image of the United States."

[MountainLaurel]

1. Now there's a shock.

:eyes:

[On the Road]

2. My Only Question Would be

if this was the result of design or imcompetence.

Bush and a lot of right-wingera seem to believe that aggressiveness is always good. I mean, what could go wrong?

[QuestionAll...]

5. design. no doubt at all in my mind.

competent intentional chaos

[radwriter0555]

3. Been saying this since it began. Also, Hezbollah is not the enemy of the people in

Lebanon. I suppose their intolerance of the US BS in Lebanon makes them an enemy to someone, but certainly not the people of Lebanon; without Hezbollah, Lebanon would cease to exist.

[originalpckelly]

4. Tell that to the Druze, Christians, and other minorities...

which were literally physically assaulted during the last election in Lebanon simply because of their affiliation. Hezbollah is by no means a friend to the people of Lebanon.

Because of the stupid Israelis, now a terrorist group is gaining more and more supporters.

[radwriter0555]

6. Because of the US as well. It seems the people of lebanon have no choice

since no one else has the ability to defend them.

It's a tough situation not made any better by the US.