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Secretary Rice Blames Iran, Syria For Lebanon Violence

May 9, 2008 02:07 PM EST | AP

Read More: Hezbollah, Lebanon Fighting, Lebanon Violence, Shiite Vs Sunni Fighting In Lebanon, Home News
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WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, is killing and injuring innocent civilians in Lebanon.

Rice says that Hezbollah is trying to protect its "state-within-a-state."

Her statement was read at a State Department briefing Friday.

In Lebanon Friday, Shiite Hezbollah gunmen seized control of key parts of Beirut from Sunnis loyal to the U.S.-backed government.

The move capped three days of street battles and gunfights that have killed at least 14 people and wounded 20. It has been the country's worst sectarian fighting since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Rice says Hezbollah's violence has demonstrated "contempt for its fellow Lebanese."

 

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collapse white_mende_man See Profile I'm a Fan of white_mende_man

There is only one reason Iran/Syria are enemies of the United States, it's because they are enemies of Israel. The majority of the Lebanese including a vast number of Christians support Hezbollah, in fact the largest christian group whose leader is Michel Aoun supports and is allied with Hezbollah. We the United States brand anyone that does not bow to us terrorists. Ronald Reagan puts it into perspective, he says a terrorist is someone else's freedom fighter.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:48 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse mommamia526 See Profile I'm a Fan of mommamia526

What do we know or understand? Just recently I had lunch at a restaurant. The waitress told me that she is Muslim, Palestinian, but she was born in the U.S. and raised here. When she was a teen her father suddenly changed and insisted they dress like muslims and behave like muslims. She had considered herself an American. When she found out that I am jewish she did not like that too much, nevertheless, on a human level it made not much of a difference to either of us. She asked my companion to pick up some meds for her, as she could not leave her job. Anxiety medicine. Her father, a shopkeeper, had recently been murdered, here in the U.S. No one knew why, by whom, etc. Hence the woman's high anxiety level. Palestinians, who make up much of Hezbullah, are NOT from Lebanon, but from Jordan, Syria, and just recently even from Iraq. Some are from Egypt. Why are they taking over Lebanon, or attempting to? Why does Hezbullah have to have its own media in Lebanon, and why can it not just be part of the government without trying to dominate and take over? Anyone? Also, Iran certainly is not next door to Israel, or even Lebanon, what is its stake in meddling in both countries, making statements, supporting resistance?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:33 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse maddie0001 See Profile I'm a Fan of maddie0001

just to be exact, Palestinians are from Palestine, not Lebanon, Jordan, Syria or Iraq. I'm sure most would like to go back there.

Also, Iran is much closer to Lebanon than America is to Iraq.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:13 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse Durango See Profile I'm a Fan of Durango

Palestinians do not make up Hezbollah. It is an indigenous political party of Shia Lebanese. It may be supported by Iran but it is doubtful they take orders from Tehran.

They have their own agenda and are responsible for their own actions.

They were created in response to the Lebanese Civil War as protection for (I believe) lower income Lebanese Shia who were being killed by all side in the Civil War. They have their own media and communications because that is the way things are done over there.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:08 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse WomanInOrangeSweater See Profile I'm a Fan of WomanInOrangeSweater

I'm thinking mommamia is confusing hezbollah with hamas. That's the only thing that makes sense. Not that making sense is a prerequisit for posting....

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:37 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse mommamia526 See Profile I'm a Fan of mommamia526

Who can really tell what is going on in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Gaza? Who tracks which party/country the U.S. supports and with how much? How much sense does it make if a country is at war with another country, or a group, to demand that a country supports and supply weapons to its sworn enemies, or to groups which declare it does not exist? As for Lebanon, why is it the case that everyone here blames anyone but Hezbullah? Did they not attack, starting three days ago? How normal is it to have a government and regime within a country with another government, both with different armies? Just not so long ago Hezbullah kidnapped Israelis inside Israel at the same time Hamas kidnapped Israelis inside Israel in the south and both Hamas and Hezbullah had tunneled in. Yet, everyone blamed Israel when it fought back. So, what does everyone on this thread say now? Should Lebanon just allow the coup Hezbullah has attempted and let Hezbullah take over? And if it is really Syria or Iran behind Hezbullah and supporting and training Hezbullah, who is really attempting a coup and trying to take over, by proxy, another country, in this case Lebanon? How much say, if any, do Lebanese have who are NOT Hezbullah supporters? Do they have any rights at all?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:22 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse Durango See Profile I'm a Fan of Durango

Since this started with Hezbollah's support for striking workers I think I am beginning to see a pattern.

Shia in the Middle East have been a minority. And being the minority tend to make up the under classes in their respective societies.

Ahmedinijad came to power in Iran as the champion of the lower classes. He got elected on the basis of his promises to increase economic prosperity.

Al Sadr is the champion of the poor and unemployed in Iraq. His base of support is Sadr City, the enormous Shia slum.

Hezbollah came to power in the Civil War as protectors of the Shia of Lebanon who had been used and abused by the Christian and Sunni upper classes.

I am wondering if we are looking at this the wrong way. Rather than a religious struggle maybe it is a class struggle.

Which would also explain the Bush Administrations mismanagement. They have been at war against the American working and middle class for some time.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:43 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse CC1 See Profile I'm a Fan of CC1

Bush's party has been at war with the American working and middle class long before he was elected. But good observation nonetheless about everything else.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:08 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse WomanInOrangeSweater See Profile I'm a Fan of WomanInOrangeSweater

One of the better observations I've seen on this site.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:43 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse EspritDeVoltaire See Profile I'm a Fan of EspritDeVoltaire

You make a good point. The dirty little secret that the administration will not tell you is this. The big fanatical anti-Muslim sentiments have nothing to do with religion or even terrorism. Their big sin is that Muslim societies are opposed to western style CORPORATE CAPITALISM.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:45 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse DrRJP See Profile I'm a Fan of DrRJP

Well, I agree that Condi Rice is the worst S. of S. ever!

Anyone who calls Hamas, a "resistance group," not once, but four times, ought to seek employment in the Iranian parliament.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:56 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse timbershell See Profile I'm a Fan of timbershell

Would someone please tell her to shutup??? She is as insignificant as a zit on the rear with about as much class. I just returned from Syria and it is a beautiful country with friendly people. Can't say the same about Israel.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:43 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse MagisterLudi See Profile I'm a Fan of MagisterLudi

Timberhead posted:"Can't say the same about Israel."

Obviously because you haven't been to Israel, duh....

Of course, Syria is a beautiful country.... of course Syrian people are warm and engaging. No one disputes that. The problem is that its government is a quasi- police state ruled by a military junta and secret police which oppresses and murders the people of Lebanon.

Use your brain before you speak.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:17 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse WomanInOrangeSweater See Profile I'm a Fan of WomanInOrangeSweater

I've been to Israel and while it's a facinating country, I'd never call it beautiful with friendly people. in fact, it's probably the rudest place I've ever been.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:44 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse Durango See Profile I'm a Fan of Durango

And when you go to war who gets killed. Those warm and friendly people.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:31 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse ddharder See Profile I'm a Fan of ddharder

The October surprise we all need to worry about is a US attack on Iran or Syria. These kind of comments from the State Department are truly worrisome.

A fresh war would truly be a game-changer in November and I have no doubt the neo cons know this.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:43 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse MagisterLudi See Profile I'm a Fan of MagisterLudi

Oh, no not the tiresome " we're attacking Iran in two weeks" paranoia.
I've been reading "we're attacking Iran tomorrow" comments on Huffpo for the last two years. Give it a rest. Or better yet, learn to interpret current events correctly.... now thats an idea.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:19 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse eyesopenwide See Profile I'm a Fan of eyesopenwide

Maybe the reason you've been reading the "we're attacking Iran in two weeks paranoia for the last two years" is because for well over two years, the Bush administration has been beating the "we must preemptively attack Iran" war drums, with repeated threats to use the "nuke option" or "all options are on the table" as a paranoid-driven propaganda campaign designed to frighten and terrify the American people into supporting yet another war of aggression.

As usual, Bushco and the media have mislead Americans into thinking the president of Iran is all powerful and the final decisionmaker. Actually, under the Iranian constitution, the president is a political figurehead whose main responsibilities are overseeing the daily administrative functions of the government. The true power rests with the Supreme Leader--the Ayatollah Khamenei. He is supported by organizations called the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council. They control the military, the police, the nuclear program, all the instruments of power. Finally, there is a group that watches over the Supreme Leader. An 86-member Assembly of Experts that is charged with electing and monitoring the Supreme Leader. Bushco knows this, but they deliberately distort and mischaracterize in order to capitalize on the peoples' ignorance-based fears.

I find it diffidult to believe that a non-nuclear nation could possibly pose any real or immediate and imminent threat to the US or Israel--both nuclear nations.

And what have you decided, neocon, is the "correct" interpretation of "current events?"

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:34 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse MagisterLudi See Profile I'm a Fan of MagisterLudi

All the windage the result of which is still... we're not attacking Iran..... so take your crazy elsewhere, Huffpo is filled up here...

Eyesclosedshut considers anyone who despises Iranian regime a neocon. What a mental pygmy is incapable of considering a simple fact that BOTH Bush and Ahmad-inJihad are morons and windbags of the worse kind.

While in the shadows Cheney and Khamenei pull all the stings while Bush Jihad pathetically blather on for the public amusement.

P.S. There will be no war with Iran. Stop your hysterical whining.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:17 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse KarateKid See Profile I'm a Fan of KarateKid

Why do you Republican cretins come here? Do you really think by spouting your bigotry and hate that you are somehow going to convert us?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!

All you succeed in doing that is to reinforce why we are going to bring your party down in November.

And all you big talking "Americans": prove to us you are really Americans by volunteering to go to Iraq and Afganistan. EARN your way, fellas. Don't just sit at your computers and show us how ignorant you are, do something!! Many of us have already served our country, in Vietnam. You don't have the stones to even think for yourselves, you have Rush Limbaugh do it for you. Ever wonder why he calls you "ditto heads"?

You'd better watch it, though. You spend enough time here and you might actually get an education....or get your minds tarred and feathered. LMFAO at a bunch of ignoramuses.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:08 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse cdnnewsjunky See Profile I'm a Fan of cdnnewsjunky

I agree, while the trolls here are disruptivie and annoying, their efforts are counterproductive to the goal of being apologists for the current administration, because they simply parrot the lies of the administration. They don't seem to understand their credibility is directly linked to whom they parrot. The basically reinforce the concept that the current administration does nothing but lie.

Yes, it is amusing that these super patriots are posting their gung ho propaganda from the safety of their homes. Republicans like to talk tough but when it comes to actually being tough, suddenly they have some medical problem or quickly become pacifists, this was exemplified during the Viet Nam War when most of the draft dodgers I encountered in Canada were the children of Republicans. Matter of fact, you couldn't walk around this country without tripping over a draft dodging Republican.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:36 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse cdnnewsjunky See Profile I'm a Fan of cdnnewsjunky

I agree, while the trolls here are disruptivie and annoying, their efforts are counterproductive to the goal of being apologists for the current administration, because they simply parrot the lies of the administration. They don't seem to understand their credibility is directly linked to whom they parrot. The basically reinforce the concept that the current administration does nothing but lie.

Yes, it is amusing that these super patriots are posting their gung ho propaganda from the safety of their homes. Republicans like to talk tough but when it comes to actually being tough, suddenly they have some medical problem or quickly become pacifists, this was exemplified during the Viet Nam War when most of the draft dodgers I encountered in Canada were the children of Republicans. Matter of fact, you couldn't walk around this country without tripping over a draft dodging Republican.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:22 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse cdnnewsjunky See Profile I'm a Fan of cdnnewsjunky

My apologies for the double post.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:35 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse MagisterLudi See Profile I'm a Fan of MagisterLudi

Whats with you and Rush Limbaugh. Are you also fat and stupid like him?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:20 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse Weathermaker See Profile I'm a Fan of Weathermaker

Ahmadinejad (sp?) is a lunatic and maybe Iran is behind all this, but at some point the administration should present some proof. Blaming Iran for everything, including the weather above the Arctic Circle, gets kinda old and ineffective. Especially when our leaders are not the most credible bunch around the world after Iraq's WMD fiasco.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:45 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse KarateKid See Profile I'm a Fan of KarateKid

I only hope these cretins don't start something that Obama will have to deal with in November. They are crazy and paranoid enough to do something, like bomb Iran and start another war front. These loonies make me nervous, and being lame ducks, they could give a rip since there is nothing we can do to them.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:21 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse realpolitic See Profile I'm a Fan of realpolitic

Whatever Rice says let's do exactly the opposite. Her track record on being right is about the same as Bush's at this point and we should disregard her. Maybe she will go away!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:52 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse Rog49Thomas See Profile I'm a Fan of Rog49Thomas

The poverty of US foreign policy in the MIddle East is exemplified in Lebanon by the fact that

(1) Our "brave" allies there (the government we support) is made up of

(a) the head of a local party modeled on the Nazi Party. Amin's dad visited Berlin in 1936 liked what he saw. Came home and set up a fascist party which has its own deformed racialist ideology.

(b) a local thug - our own Radovan, though with a twist - he's not above massacres against his own people (Ask the Chamouns about Aquamarine)

(c) a visionary politician who makes Hunter Thompson or Timothy Leary look sober

(d) the son of a successful "businessman" who made billions "redeveloping" Beirut and who is the stooge for the House of Sau'd

With allies like this it easy to see we're on the way to another imagined great victory in Lebanon.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:41 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse avicenna See Profile I'm a Fan of avicenna

In the apt words of George W Bush: "There's an old saying in Tennessee " I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee " that says, fool me once, shame on " shame on you. Fool me " you can't get fooled again."
We've been down this blame, mame, bomb, and invade game before. I'm just surprised that the fingers started pointing at Iran so soon in the game - they didn't even bother to pretend to have investigated the link - just predictably put out the ridiculous claim before getting ready for invading the largest oil resevoir left in the Middle East. Watch the secret nuke program claims that will start popping up in the midst of their weapons of mass distraction and twisted reasoning - a repeat of their blueprint for war.
I wonder if anyone has also offered the following intellgence report to Rice: The Bush Administration "is killing and injuring innocent civilians in Iraq" - maybe she may be able to step in to stop that devastating bloodshed.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:00 AM on 05/10/2008
collapse DrRJP See Profile I'm a Fan of DrRJP

Hm..let's see. Iran has been at war with the US since 1979 when they captured and held Americans hostage. Iran gave us the radical Islamic revolution in 1979, but the Saudis are the ones using their petrodollars to spread Wahhabism, aka the worst form of Islamofascism, throughout the US and the rest of the world.

The Saudis made 164 $billion in oil profits last year, yet they have contributed ZERO to the World Food Bank. OPEC with over 470 $billion in oil profits contributed a paltry 1.5 $milllion.

Meanwhile, them GD, imperialistic Americans have only contributed 1.5 $billion to the World Food Bank in the past seven years.

Yup. Gotta root for the Arabs! They just don't f**k over their own "Palestinian brothers," by keeping them in squalid refugee camps for 60 years, they continue f**k over everyone.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:45 PM on 05/09/2008
collapse Durango See Profile I'm a Fan of Durango

Need to read some history.

try starting with WW I and colonialism. Treaty of Versailles. And how the Kingdom of Iraq came about. Not to mention France Lebanon and Syria.

And while you are at it look up the history of British Petroleum. And how fair they were in developing Iranian natural resources. Or why there might be a problem between the West and Iran.

I'm not saying what you are saying is necessarily wrong mind you. But you need WAY more context.

P.S. Lose the Islamofascism. Even the Bush Administration got rid of that word.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:31 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse eyesopenwide See Profile I'm a Fan of eyesopenwide

Here's a brief history of what really happened:

"In 1951, a pro-democracy nationalist, Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh rose to prominence in Iran and was democratically elected as Iran"s first Prime Minister. In 1953, the Mossadegh government chose to nationalize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later renamed to the British Petroleum Company, now known as BP), which controlled of the nation"s oil reserves, feeling that proceeds from oil should be used to invest in the development of Iran, rather than siphoned off as profits.

. . .they risked the wrath of the British who stood to lose a lot of power, wealth and influence gained via control of such a major energy source."

"The CIA"with British assistance"undermined Mossadegh"s government by bribing influential figures, planting false reports in newspapers and provoking street violence. Led by an agent named Kermit Roosevelt, the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, the CIA leaned on a young, insecure Shah to issue a decree dismissing Mossadegh as prime minister. By the end of Operation Ajax, some 300 people had died in firefights in the streets of Tehran.

The crushing of Iran"s first democratic government ushered in more than two decades of dictatorship under the Shah, who relied heavily on US aid and arms. The anti-American backlash that toppled the Shah in 1979 shook the whole region and helped spread Islamic militancy, with Iran"s new hardline theocracy declaring undying hostility to the US."

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:20 PM on 05/10/2008
collapse cdnnewsjunky See Profile I'm a Fan of cdnnewsjunky

"Hm..let's see. Iran has been at war with the US since 1979 when they captured and held Americans hostage." - DrRJP

You would like us to believe this all happened is some political vacuum, and had nothing to do with the fact that another failed US policy towards the ME consisted of shoving the brutal Shah of Iran down the Iranians throats. The current Republicans and the former Shah have at least one thing in common, their both guilty of torture.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:15 AM on 05/10/2008