Bush: Hezbollah Could Join Mainstream

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/bush

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Tuesday left open the possibility that the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah could be part of the political mainstream in Lebanon despite its terrorist past.

We view Hezbollah as a terrorist organization," Bush said after an Oval Office meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah. "I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they are not by laying down arms and not threatening peace."


Hezbollah has been involved in Lebanese politics for over a decade, with an extensive social welfare program and nine lawmakers in the current 128-seat parliament. But it has steered away from major decision-making in national politics as its guerrilla army — the most organized and best-armed faction in Lebanon — focused on fighting Israel. Lebanon considers Hezbollah a legitimate resistance movement that led the guerrilla war against Israel's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.

"His Majesty leads a great country in the midst of a part of the world that is changing, changing for the better," Bush said. "The other way to encourage reform is to herald examples of reformers, people who are willing to put mechanisms in place that respond to the voice of the people. And His Majesty has done that."

[Coastie for Truth]

1. Good idea -

and we can name the next new building on the NIH Campus in Bethesda MD the "Baruch Goldstein Memorial Medical Research Center."

[Ganja Ninja]

2. Hezbollah is Bush's hope for the future of Lebanon.

:wtf: is there any spin this administration won't pimp?

[rodeodance]

8. Bush has decided he will be in the history books as the great liberator

This flip flopping is part of the strategy to get him there.

[w4rma]

21. He's pulling some BS that if a Democrat tried to pull would get him

impeached or worse. The advantages of having millions of blind followers and a media that tries everything in their power to keep those blind followers blind, deaf and ignorant.

[NNN0LHI]

23. If Clinton had suggested this would the MSN be talking about anything else?

This would be on every channel with updates by the minute until he "changed his mind" about this decision. Bet your ass. Even most the Democrats would be calling for his head on a platter.

Don

[Hand]

3. Hezbollah: Bush could join those who have been sodomized by a camel. nt

[fob]

4. I wonder what that screaming "hez-bo-llah!!!" lady that called in to

Randi Rhodes show thinks now?

[underpants]

9. HEZZZBOLLAH!!!!!!!!!

An all time classic

[fob]

12. Yes it was. I forget exactly though what her point was, IIRC she was

pro-bush* and was insinuating that HEZZZBOLLAH!!!!! was funding Michael Moore's F9/11, right? That sound you will hear will be the pop of her head when she hears bush* just endorsed HEZZZBOLLAH!!!!! as a viable leadership for Lebanon.

[underpants]

13. No this woman had heard "on the internet" that Teresa Heinz Kerry

supported Hezbollah and gave them money.

I know where that comes from-O'Reilly tried to get that up and running. Apparently she gave money to some cover all organization (I forget the name) and some of the money might have ended up somehow someway in some organization.........

I happened to run into on his show the first time he ran it up the flag pole. It was so bad O'Reilly clearly cut the segment short-the guy he had on could barely construct a sentence.

By some luck of terrible odds I clicked on his show when he tried to start it up again a few weeks later this time on his own. It was very flat and the connection was way too far outside of the keep it simple stupid tried and true RW tactic.


It probably started on NewsMax or CyberCastNews but never got anywhere as it was complete bullshit but it connected with THAT woman.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I still think that kind of scenario is what convinced Nader to run

I suspect he got a call from someone at the justice department about some past innocent donations he made maybe 10 or 20 years ago and they gave him two choices. Run again or off to Gitmo you go.

Don

[NNN0LHI]

5. Bush Suggests Hezbollah Could Be Part of Political Mainstream in Lebanon

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBVWK2FC6E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Tuesday left open the possibility that the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah could be part of the political mainstream in Lebanon despite its terrorist past.

"We view Hezbollah as a terrorist organization," Bush said after an Oval Office meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah. "I would hope that Hezbollah would prove that they are not by laying down arms and not threatening peace."

Hezbollah has been involved in Lebanese politics for over a decade, with an extensive social welfare program and nine lawmakers in the current 128-seat parliament. But it has steered away from major decision-making in national politics as its guerrilla army - the most organized and best-armed faction in Lebanon - focused on fighting Israel. Lebanon considers Hezbollah a legitimate resistance movement that led the guerrilla war against Israel's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.

Lately, Hezbollah has been flexing its political muscle by organization two huge pro-Syrian rallies.

more

[rodeodance]

6. it was not too long ago -that they were terroists-not once but twice that

I know of!!

[underpants]

10. We don't deal or negotiate with terrorists

Just like when alSadr was a terrorist....then we started negotiating with him he became a "rebel"

[Maeve]

26. That's one of the problems with labeling some group "terrorists"

If they gain a following, you have to deal with them or you can never reach peace. Stupid stategy, labeling folks...

[NNN0LHI]

7. What about Al-Qaeda Chimpy?

They appear to be trying to join the political mainstream also. Democracy for all, right Chimp Boy?

Why does our Crackhead In Chief hate America?

Don

[lumpy]

11. Hey, there ya' go !

Al Queda.

[liberalpragmatist]

15. Wow - I actually agree with Bush on something

Hezbollah, for all their more unsavory actions, are a legitimate political force in Lebanon and need to be recognized as such. I'm surprised so many on DU are against this.

Hopefully, they're serious about this. We can't just refuse to recognize political groups we dislike or disagree with. They should also push Egypt to recognize the Muslim Brotherhood. We may not like them, but in democratic politics in other countries, we can't pick or choose our favored candidates.

[NNN0LHI]

16. "unsavory actions" You must be kidding? Here is why I can't support this

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/23/world/main579638.shtml

Beirut Barracks Attack Remembered

(CBS/AP) Quiet commemorations were planned Thursday for the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut — the deadliest terrorist attack on Americans prior to Sept. 11.

A truck full of explosives ripped through the Marine barracks on October 23rd, 1983, killing 241 U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers.

Services were being held at the national Beirut memorial at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Observances include a candlelight vigil and a wreath-laying ceremony, with the names of the Beirut victims read by family members and other veterans.

The Marines were in Lebanon as part of an international peacekeeping force trying to stabilize the country, which had been torn by a civil war between Christians — with their ally Israel — and Muslims.

more

[liberalpragmatist]

18. I was being understated - Obviously that was a despicable act...

... but from their point of view this was a military target, not a civilian one. I don't want to see ANY US soldiers killed, but in a war, military targets are going to be attacked.

Hezbollah is a legitimate political force in Lebanon whether we like it or not. It represents the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, which is the largest community in the country. We can pretend it doesn't exist but by not recognizing them we do ourselves and the Lebanese no favors.

If we're going to condemn any political force that has in the past used violence then why should we recognize the ANC in South Africa? Or Sein Fein in Ireland? I personally am deeply opposed to political violence, and if Hezbollah does NOT renounce violence as a political too I would not favor recognition. But if Hezbollah DOES renounce violence, we should recognize them b/c they represent the Shi'ite community in Lebanon.

[Bo]

22. ...and what does Israel say about this?

they absolutly despise hellbolah.

[liberalpragmatist]

28. Tough

I'm not anti-Israel but we can't just reflexively oppose or support someone based on what Israel thinks. We have to stand back and look at the situation objectively. If Hezbollah agrees to disarm, we should support them and we should work with them to push them towards that position.

[catastrophicsuccess]

19. hypocritical

"The Marines were in Lebanon as part of an international peacekeeping force trying to stabilize the country"

Like the Syrians?

[fob]

17. I'm not against it per se. I mean the story says they have 9 elected

members already, and if they are going through the normal cycle of running candidates and winning seats as their government allows, that's their sovereign right. The issue is with bush*y and his 1) stating the obvious (Hezbollah as described is ALREADY involved in the process) and 2) talking up "terra" and "terra org's" and then when it suits HIS* need, dropping that line of bullshit altogether.

[leveymg]

20. If you live long enough, they'll call you a "statesman." Ask Menachin

Begin.

Anyone remember what they called the guys who blew up the King David hotel in 1948? Starts with a "T . . . ends with a . . .T"

[leesa]

24. Too funny! This will simply explode the heads of the neocons!

[NNN0LHI]

25. No it won't. Because Chimpy suggested it they will say it is a great idea

Just watch and see. Seen any reports of this on cable news yet? Me neither. They won't say nothing.

Don

[leesa]

29. No but they will think it. The cognitive dissonance is simply too much

I guess I'm talking about the Republicans who have a couple functioning brain cells...there are a few, you know!

[Laurab]

27. I view Bushco as a terrorist organization

I wish they would prove they were not by laying down their arms and not threatening peace.

[IndianaGreen]

30. Pst, Hezbollah is the mainstream!

They are a legitimate political party in Lebanon whose members have been democratically elected to parliament.

[robcon]

31. Hezbollah is not mainstream

DEATH TO AMERICA! is not just a slogan for Hezbollah - it's their policy.