Reuters: Boosted by (Pro-Syria) Rally, Labanon's Lahoud Meets MPs

[Hissyspit]

Boosted by Huge Rally, Lebanon's Lahoud Meets MPs
Wed Mar 9, 2005 03:41 AM ET

By Lucy Fielder
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's president, buoyed by a mass rally in support of his Syrian backers, began talks with parliamentary deputies on Wednesday after which he is expected to name a pro-Syrian prime minister.

- snip -

Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese flooded central Beirut on Tuesday for a pro-Syrian rally called by the Hizbollah militant group that dwarfed previous protests demanding that Syrian troops quit Lebanon.

Lebanese newspapers, even those who back the opposition, agreed that the rally was the largest in Lebanon.

"The greatest demonstration in Lebanon's history: Let's unite," As-Safir daily said in a frontpage headline splashed over a picture of the crowd.

"Hizbollah draws largest crowd 'in gratitude to Syria'," the opposition An-Nahar daily's headline said.

MORE: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7848455

[Hissyspit]

1. Hmm...

Blossoming democracy, or the civil war all over again?

[Teaser]

2. Their democracy has already blossomed.

Lebanon has been a democracy for years.

[burythehatchet]

3. no dammit. George did it.

He planted the flag of democracy. I believe he'll be bringing democracy to France next.

[Ruffhowse]

6. When's he gonna bring democracy to America?

[rfkrfk]

4. was United Nations SCR 1559, a mistake ?

The resolution calls on foreign forces
to leave Lebanon.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. do you know the history of Lebanon over the last 25 years?

Do you realize why Syria is in Lebanon?

70,000 - largest 'Syria Out' demonstration.
500,000 - recent 'Syria In' demonstration.

Maybe the Lebanese ought to put the Syrian issue to a vote.

[rfkrfk]

8. I know the two possibilities for Lebanon's future

1. Syrian forces leave Lebanon
2. Assad gets scalped, no living Syrian forces remain in Lebanon

[Teaser]

11. Forgot the most likely option

Hezbollah decides to stop taking shit from the small group of Christian and Druz "opposition" leaders.

[Warren Stupidity]

19. really, just how brainwashed are people.

500,000 march in support of Syria.
70,000 march against Syria.

MSM conclusion: the lebanese people demand Syria's withdrawal.

We seem to no longer even bother THINKING about the facts being reported.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. How exactly does that happen?

Are you proposing that we attack Syria?

[rfkrfk]

21. numerous options, Serbia 1999,

blockade might do it,
support Kurdish insurrection,
Damascus 'drive by shooting'.

the issue becomes, when the smoke clears,
is the situation any better.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. so rfkrfk

Do you support military action against Syria, yes or no?

[rfkrfk]

23. the wheels of diplomacy, are still turning

So my response is, certainly not now.

[bemildred]

10. How about let's get the foreign forces out of Iraq. nt

[illflem]

5. U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote

Officials Cite 83% Turnout Despite Vietcong Terror
By Peter Grose, Special to the New York Times
September 4th, 1967
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3-- United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting.

According to reports from Saigon, 83 per cent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. ...

... A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam.

http://www.ivaw.net/index.php?id=3

[Critical Thinker]

9. great link - hadn't seen that before

...it snopes OK and warrants its own thread, IMO.

[Tempest]

12. This article was posted in many threads just after the Iraq election

There's no need for another thread for it.

[Tempest]

13. Syria entered Lebanon with U.S. blessing

Syrian troops entered Lebanon in 1976 with the U.S. blessing in order to get control over a civil war in Lebanon.

If Syrian troops leave, the Shiite majority will most likely end up by slaughtering the Christian minority.

Bush may be creating another Rwanda.

[Igel]

14. But let's not buy into a "they fixed it, they own it" view of things. n/t

[Tempest]

16. Syria sure isn't acting like they own it

Lebanon has democratic elections and the majority Shiite, who are mostly hostile to Syria, have control over the government.

Lebanon will not be better off if Syria leaves.

[Igel]

17. Yes, Syria is.

The only non-government troops with weapons are Syria's allies; the Syrian government's not taken over Hizbullah positions, but has disarmed the militia that are not Syria's allies. Meanwhile Syria's promoted Hizbullah's agenda quite nicely.

Lebanon gives very nice visas for Syrian guest workers, alleviating Syria's unemployment while helping Lebanon. Lebanon allows Syrian intelligence and military, and presumably industry, free run of the country. Syria wants Lebanon's constitution changed to accommodate its puppet ... er ... ally, and Lebanon promptly complies. Speak, Lebanon, speak ... woof!

Yes, Lebanon has democratic elections, and a confessional system that helps the Christians. But that doesn't mean that Syria doesn't call the shots.

I find it amusing that Hizbullah say Syrian troops are *not* foreign; then again, getting collaborators to march in favor of the occupying army's always been a relatively easy sort of thing ... especially when they have weapons.

[Tempest]

18. You got any cites?

I'd like to see some unbiased cites to back up what you said.

I'm not saying Syria doesn't influence Lebanon, but it doesn't to the extent you claim. And that's from my personal experience of living in the Middle East and my involvement with Lebanon.


For example, you claim the only non-government troops with weapons are Syria's allies. The Christian milita is definitely not Syria's ally, yet they are well armed.

[oasis]

15. The more Bush meddles in Lebanon, the more volatile the situation will

become.It's almost like he planned it like that.(with the help of PNAC).