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 Lebanon’s AntiheroesPosted on May 21, 2007
By Dahr Jamail “The history of liberty is a history of resistance.” —Woodrow T. Wilson “We rely on Hezbollah and these other countries which are helping us now because it’s all we have,” Abu Khalil, an unemployed construction worker injured by bomb shrapnel during last summer’s war in Lebanon, told me. As we stood talking in the warm spring sun outside his largely destroyed village of Aita Ech Chaab, a few hundred yards from Lebanon’s southern border, he added, “And we rely on Hezbollah to protect us again from the next Israeli aggression, because our own government cannot and will not do that job.” In its savage 34-day assault on Lebanon, the Israeli government had hoped to knock down precisely that sentiment. One of the stated aims of the war, in which more than a thousand Lebanese and more than 40 Israelis were killed, was to turn the Lebanese against Hezbollah for having triggered the conflict. An ironic assumption considering that the creation of Hezbollah was a direct response to an earlier Israeli attack. Formed in 1982 to resist the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah became a political entity in 1985. As a sworn enemy of staunch U.S. ally Israel, it has been labeled a “terrorist organization” by Washington. The sustained propaganda and bellicose posturing of the U.S. government regarding the outfit have kept most Americans ignorant of its true nature and of the fact that a large number of Lebanese are currently aligning with Hezbollah in a bid to thwart the policy of global hegemony being pushed by the Bush administration in Lebanon. Another irony is that nearly half the members of the massive opposition alliance joining Hezbollah against the U.S.-backed Lebanese government are Christians. Michel Samaha, a Maronite Christian who was Lebanon’s information minister from 1992 to ’95 and in 2003-04, is among the growing number of Christians, Druse and Sunnis to have joined the Lebanese Shiites in moving Hezbollah toward a democratic government in Lebanon. His reasons, like those of many others, lie in the perception of U.S. policy as being injurious to his country. Samaha says Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Ministers Saad Hariri and Walid Jumblatt are seeking to strengthen themselves by accommodating the priorities of the United States, Israeli hawks and U.S. neocons in administering Lebanon. Of the much touted Hezbollah-Iran link, Samaha said that the Shiites in Lebanon who support Hezbollah are “… not Iranians; they are Lebanese and they have their independent agenda. It is this resistance who fought in the south. These are the Lebanese Shiites who fought. What we have witnessed during the second Israeli war on Lebanon is the defeat of Israel in Israel itself. It is not Iranians. It is the Lebanese fighters, the Lebanese mujahedeen, who fought in this important war and emerged victorious.” Today the credibility of Hezbollah has gone beyond that of a legitimate resistance movement. Extensive social programs in times of peace and ongoing rehabilitation efforts after the war have brought Hezbollah greater appreciation and acclaim among the Lebanese people. The civilian population of south Lebanon comprises the poor of the country, who have survived on farming and had little if any support from the government. It is Hezbollah that has provided them education, healthcare and other social support services, particularly during the Israeli occupation that lasted until May 2000. Ostensibly to teach an unforgettable lesson to Hezbollah leadership and to Tehran, the Israeli military, with the endorsement of the Bush administration, plastered southern Lebanon with 100,000 artillery shells and 1 million cluster bombs. Unexploded, the latter are a menace and continue to make farming impossible. Israel’s air force, armed with U.S.-manufactured and -fueled F-16s, went on a rampage with more than 14 combat missions every single hour of the war, destroying, among other things, 73 bridges, 400 miles of roads, 25 gas stations, 900 commercial structures, two hospitals, 350 schools and 15,000 Lebanese homes. Political fallout from the war has been disastrous in Israel, where Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s public approval rating reached an all-time low of 2 percent in March, according to the daily Yediot Ahronoth. More recently, an Israeli investigative commission released a damning preliminary report on Olmert’s handling of the war that found he had “made up his mind hastily” to launch the air, sea and land attack last July. It accused him of “a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and prudence,” and described his stated goals of freeing two captured Israeli soldiers and crushing Hezbollah as “overly ambitious and impossible to achieve.”
Last summer, Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon announced on Israeli army radio that “all those in south Lebanon are terrorists who are related in some way to Hezbollah” and “villages should be flattened by the Israeli air force before ground troops move in.” Such rhetoric and the ensuing actions have not had the effect desired by the U.S. and Israel. Instead of becoming unpopular, Hezbollah has garnered massive political alliances. Said Samaha: “I’m a Christian, but I’m a Lebanese too. I can’t disassociate myself from the Shiites when faced with Israel. ... It is unacceptable to me if the resistance is excluded from decision-making. It may be the Shiite mujahedeen, but it is a Lebanese resistance embedded in Lebanese society of which Christians, Shiites, Druse and Sunnis are the bedrock.” The Bush administration policy on Lebanon and its unbridled support for Israel have galvanized a powerful opposition to the Lebanese government. However, George W. Bush made a brazen assault on reality at a news conference the day the U.N.-brokered cease-fire took place between Hezbollah and Israel on Aug. 14, 2006. “Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis,” he declared. “How can you claim victory when you were a state within a state in southern Lebanon, and now you’re going to be replaced by an international force?” “There’s going to be a new power in the south of Lebanon,” he added, referring to the UNIFIL force [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] that was to assist the Lebanese army in controlling the area. Having just returned from southern Lebanon, I can tell you that UNIFIL has not replaced Hezbollah in any capacity. Loyalty to Hezbollah and to countries like Iran that are involved in postwar reconstruction projects is at an all-time high. Languid UNIFIL soldiers stand speckled across the border, smoking cigarettes and watching cars pass. UNIFIL is also seen by many in Lebanon as an indirect sign of favoritism toward Israel. Mohammed Kundoulay, a 17-year-old secondary school student, said: “… It’s a good thing for UNIFIL to help us get our land back.” When I asked him about UNIFIL mine-removal operations he said, “We need this help now after the Israelis conducted terrorism against us.”
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By Marshall, May 23, 2007 at 4:55 pm # To John - Hezbollah is already a participant in the Lebanese government (holding a number of seats). You’re absolutely right about Hezbollah attempting to win favor with the Lebanese populace (just as Hamas does with the Palestinians). However, this could backfire just as well I think since it’s well known that Israel’s attack followed a cross-border action resulting in the killing and capture of several Israeli soldiers followed by hundreds of Hezbollah rockets. In any case, I agree that Hezbollah may be playing this card.
By John, May 22, 2007 at 8:34 pm # Just a thought here: Suppose I had a grudge against a country. A grudge so bad I was willing to publicly call for the annihilation of said country (think Iran vs. Israel.) Now, the militia I support is based in a neighboring country (think Hezbollah in Lebanon.) OK, now, follow me on this. Imagine Lebanon cozying up to the United States, and true to guilt by association, Israel. Naturally, at some point, the U. S. and Israel are going to call for the elimination of Hezbollah, and that’s the end of my militia that I have spent so much time and money training and grooming. So, I suppose I can tell my militia to outright provoke Israel into a heavy handed military action. With a little forethought, I can imagine this scenario: The Israelis, motivated by rage, basically obliterate a good portion of the country trying to get rid of Hezbollah. This is kind of like burning the house down to kill the mice. Anyways, that’s what they do. Now, of course they aren’t going to get all of my militia guys, and Israel isn’t going to be in this for the long fight. So, when they withdraw, I load my remaining militia guys with truckloads of money, so that the population can see my militia doing the whole “We are really the good guys here, after all, who is helping you out? Where is the government?” Here comes the Islamic Robin Hood to the rescue, nevermind that we caused all this trouble in the first place. It might take a few years, but eventually Lebanon will wind up under the governmental direction of elected Hezbollah representatives, thereby becoming a puppet state for Iran. Israel will have one more enemy, and we will have one less friend in the region.
By Celeste, May 22, 2007 at 2:16 pm # Yeah for Israel, they alone in the world have the nerve to stand up to terrorist scum. No one else has the guts. Israel has been attacked over and over and over again from the very moment she became a country. And the only land Israel ever “took” was because they were ATTACKED! And what other country on earth was ever expected to give back land won in warfare? That is absurdity gone wild. I say bomb away, Israel, kill as many terrorists as you would like, the more the better. Let us know if we can help. Sincerely,
By James Yell, May 22, 2007 at 6:23 am # The article says Hezbollah is popular with many Lebanese, but what are they meaning--Lebanese? Few people today seem to remember that Lebanon was once a prosperous nation of historic Christian population, balancing power with a large intrusive Moslem population. The flood of moslem palestinians into Lebanon because they largely left their homes in the hope that Moslem Armies would kill the Jews (their cousins and fount of their religion)had left them homeless and the political balance of Lebanon overwhelmed. In some ways they behave like the Cubans in Florida, called American citizens, but hold our country hostage while trying to effect politics in a country that they no longer live in. Because of their fundmentalism Moslems make bad neighbors and there is an object lesson in this for us, fundmentalist Christians are working to sow the same distress in this country that Islam has done in Lebanon. That is why it is so important to enforce the Bill of Rights and to punish political and appointed leaders who are clearly violating the laws they are sworn to up hold. Separation of Church and State was established at a time in this country that people knew the chaos of a wedding between church and state. We can not abandoned this judgement of our founding fathers as if it were not well thought out and has in fact made us a largely peaceful society at lest in our borders.
By Joe Baker, May 22, 2007 at 3:57 am # So ‘Lefty’ believes that because of the popularity of Hezbullah in Lebanon “Lebanese should consider themselves, and deserve to be, fair targets for Israeli bombs.” I assume therefore that he would agree that because of the general support for the persecution of the Palestinians amongst Israeli Jews, Israelis should consider themselves, and deserve to be, fair targets for the bombs of anyone who supports the Palestinian cause. No? Thought not.
By Marshall, May 21, 2007 at 6:47 pm # To Janet - Can you documentthe existence of the thousdands of Israeli land mines still present in Lebanon after 2000? Then please explain how this would be an “occupation” of Lebanon? ...you know, in a way that doesn’t misappropriate the definition of “occupation” simply to justify Hezbollah’s firing of rockets on Israel over the next six years. To atheo - Can you documentthe “daily incursions” by Israeli troops into Lebanon that took place after 2000? Then please explain how this would be an aggression on Lebanon and justify the continual firing of missiles into Israel for the next six years? Both your hatred for Israel has obviously ruined your objectivity in this case. And to the author of this article: You might mention that the US isn’t the only country that considers Hezbollah a terrorist group. That list includes most of Europe as well.
By Matt, May 21, 2007 at 6:32 pm # ‘Charlie Reese” writes: “Q: What country on Planet Earth has the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders? “A: Israel.” And how about this: “Q. We have laws restricting the activities of foreign lobbies, and requiring that all foreign lobbies register as agents of foreign governments. “But what is the only foreign country whose lobby - the most powerful foreign lobby in Washington - doesn’t have to register as an agent of a foreign government or abide by the restrictions on foreign lobbies?” “A. Israel.”
By e vero, May 21, 2007 at 5:34 pm # All roads lead to Israel: http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons/viewtopic.php?t=1388 Being against the neo-cons and zionists is not being anti-semitic or anti-jewish. Lots of zionists are Christian, afterall. I’m an anti-likudnic myself (the people in power in Israel who are highly tied to AIPAC, ADL, and the neo-cons who’ve infected the White House since Nixon days). People hiding behind religion in order to grab power are not real representatives of their religion anyway. (I am not religious, but I appreciate my jewish friends and colleagues, and all the jews who fight for humanitarian causes, jews who actually follow the teachings of the Torah, who believe that you must leave the world better than you found it, and all the many, many jews who don’t believe that zionism is the answer.) The neo-cons (et al.) do not seem in the least religious and do not appear to give a flying fuck about anyone but themselves. With that said, i don’t think that the zionist/neo-cons/likudnics are all there is. There’s probably another layer that we don’t even know about who is pulling the strings.
By Charley Reese, May 21, 2007 at 3:17 pm # an interesting list from a few years ago… By Charley Reese The Orlando Sentinel Question: Which country alone in the Middle East has nuclear weapons? Answer: Israel. Q: Which country in the Middle East refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections? A: Israel. Q: Which country in the Middle East seized the sovereign territory of other nations by military force and continues to occupy it in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions? A: Israel. Q: Which country in the Middle East routinely violates the international borders of another sovereign state with warplanes and artillery and naval gunfire? A: Israel. Q: What American ally in the Middle East has for years sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies (a practice sometimes called exporting terrorism)? A: Israel. Q: In which country in the Middle East have high-ranking military officers admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed? A: Israel. Q: What country in the Middle East refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war? A: Israel. Q: What country in the Middle East created 762,000 refugees and refuses to allow them to return to their homes, farms and businesses? A: Israel. Q: What country in the Middle East refuses to pay compensation to people whose land, bank accounts and businesses it confiscated? A: Israel. Q: In what country in the Middle East was a high-ranking United Nations diplomat assassinated? A: Israel. Q: In what country in the Middle East did the man who ordered the assassination of a high-ranking U.N. diplomat become prime minister? A: Israel. Q: What country in the Middle East blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors? A: Israel. Q: What country in the Middle East employed a spy, Jonathan Pollard, to steal classified documents and then gave some of them to the Soviet Union? A: Israel. Q: What country at first denied any official connection to Pollard, then voted to make him a citizen and has continuously demanded that the American president grant Pollard a full pardon? A: Israel. Q: What country on Planet Earth has the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders? A: Israel. Q: Which country in the Middle East is in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council resolutions and has been protected from 29 more by U.S. vetoes? A: Israel. Q: What country is the United States threatening to bomb because “U.N. Security Council resolutions must be obeyed?” A: Iraq and a couple of add-ons… Which country in the Middle East has Attacked the US twice in known false flag operations (not including 911) the Lavon Affair and the USS Liberty attack? Israel Which country Spied on the US multiple times with the Pollad scandal, the ADL (1993 during the first WTC bombing) the Art Students, and AIPAC? Israel
By kevin99999, May 21, 2007 at 1:54 pm # Israeli minister has issued death threat to Hamas leaders (tp://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2084585,00.html) Once again Israel openly declares itself to be a terrorist state. It is incumbent upon the international community to support Hammas and other organizations fighting the occupation by this outlaw state.
By Marco Guerrero, May 21, 2007 at 12:58 pm # Another great article by Dahr Jamail - this guy deserves the Pultzier for his honesty, integrity and courage to writeTHE TRUTH!!!
By Janet Williams, May 21, 2007 at 12:54 pm # For Ed Barry; From one jew to another; The barbaric and savage rhethorical and traditional effort to silence well-deserved and well-earned criticism of the Israeli regimee by referring to it as “anti-semetic and self-hating” is passess and serves only one purpose; greater resentment against an illegal and corrupt state of Israel. Ed, do us all a favor and stop to check your so-called “facts” - Israel has never fully retreated from southern Lebanon - I know becuase I not only lived there - but visited many of the desolte and isolated places where Israeli delieberatly left landmines and refuses to share this information with the Lebanese government - thus injuring and maiming thousands every year since 2000 - let alone their recent genocidal cluster bomb campaign. Ed, worse than your ignorance is your false illusion of knowledge - quite a lethal combination. Stop defending Israel - it’s crimes are inexcusable - I’m sure you would be outraged at the thought of anyone justifying Hitler’s behavior? Your complicity is far worse - Israel = Terror
By Ed Barry, May 21, 2007 at 11:28 am # Hezbollah is a gang of genocidal fascists--I never thought I’d see the day they’d be supported by “progressives.” I never thought I’d see “progressive” and neo-Nazi websites sharing content day after day. For the record, Israel was fully withdrawn from Lebanon by 2000. Hezbollah fired rockets on Israeli civilian centers for the next 6 years, then invaded Israel and murdered and kidnapped soldiers. Only an anti-Semite would turn reality upside-down and call Israel the initiator of the war. Hezbollah’s chief Nasrallah reveals his genocidal agenda in these delightful quotes: “If they (Jews) all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.” (Daily Star, Oct. 23, 2002) “put a knife in your shirt, then get close to an Israeli occupier and stab him.” (Nightline, Oct. 19, 2000) “The Palestinian National Charter will live on as long as there is a knife in a Palestinian woman’s hand with which she stabs an Israeli soldier or settler ... as long as there are suicide bombers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv ... and as long as there is a child who throws a stone in the face of an Israeli soldier. (AP, Dec. 12, 1998) “Martyrdom operations - suicide bombings - should be exported outside Palestine. I encourage Palestinians to take suicide bombings worldwide. Don’t be shy about it.” (Washington Times, Dec. 6, 2002) If we searched the entire world for a person more cowardly, despicable, weak and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew. Notice, I do not say the Israeli. (New Yorker, Oct. 14, 2002)
By John Cochrane, May 21, 2007 at 9:34 am # I think Dahr Jamail reports it it like it is. It is appalling that one million cluster bombs fell in Lebanon. Too bad the manufacturers were not required to fund the cleanup of cluster bombs once hostilities cease.
By Matt, May 21, 2007 at 6:39 am # I lost a Jewish friend over last summer’s vicious Israeli attempted murder of Lebanon. My friend considers herself liberal and non-religious but is blindly devoted to Israel in a way that can only be called religious. Yet of course, like so many other supposedly Israel-loving Jews, she prefers to live in America and wouldn’t dream of cashing in on her “birthright” by taking up Israeli citizenship and moving there to help them solve the “demographic problem.” If even half the Jews who claim to love Israel so much would just move there, the “demographic problem” would be solved overnight. I have come to hate Israel after years of trying to talk sense to people like this and seeing how they obsessively search out and destroy Israel’s critics, especially in government and the media. With the help of the asinine Christian right, they are pushing our country off a cliff with their stupid “non-religious” religion.
By WCG, May 21, 2007 at 5:31 am # Well, Truthdig has really lost it, I guess. Yeah, Hezbollah is wonderful and it’s those evil Jews who are the cause of everything bad. Why can’t they just accept rocket attacks as their god-given - er, Allah-given - just desserts? Truthdig was great for awhile, but it’s really gone off the rails. This is the final straw for me. Have fun ranting at each other folks.
By Kellina, May 21, 2007 at 2:52 am # Excellent article. I really appreciate Truthdig posting this one. It’s always been curious to me why politicians think that they can muzzle their people. The leaders in Beirut are so obvious . . . and nothing makes for more loyalty than a group that is willing to protect you and help you rebuild. I really hate it that Israel (and the US) enacts such collective punishment. And what is this business of executing suspects? Why no trial? Israel is supposed to be a democracy. No wonder Israel’s leaders suffer from low support, too. The people know what good leadership is. Add Your Comment |
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