Fierce Fighting Erupts Outside Beirut

Fierce clashes broke out on Sunday in the mountains east of Beirut between supporters of the Western-backed government and followers of Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran.

The fighting, in the Chouf and Aley districts in the mountains overlooking the capital, Beirut, followed overnight clashes in the northern city of Tripoli that left at least two people dead and five wounded, according to security officials.

Beirut, where there had been heavy fighting between Sunnis and Shiites since Wednesday, was calm on Sunday. Hezbollah and its allies began withdrawing their gunmen from the capital on Saturday evening, raising hopes for a truce after four days of street battles there.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[bkholmes79]

This is all Bush's fault!!! Seriously though, the Lebanese should be very proud of themselves! They've really done wonders for their country!

[k6007]

Obama is the only Presidential Candidate that even mentions the strife of Palestine. When will the people realize that there will be NO PEACE in the ME, until EVERYONE agrees there CAN be Peace.

[Chavez08]

Those silly Lebonese have to learn not to resist Capitalism. Open your markets or else!!!

[Rog49Thomas]

The Lebanese could teach us volumes about capitalism.

The history of the country is one of trade going back to Biblical times if not earlier.

And the Lebanese are known to be very sharp traders.

[DFDoerr]

Its hard to believe the shites got caught off-guard again.
After Gaza, I thought they would be prepared.
Can't wait for the video of the good guys throwing the bad guys off rooftops.

[Durango]

Shia in Gaza?

And if you are waiting for video of good guys vs bad guys . . .you will be waiting for a very long time.

[Merg]

For those of you who REALLY WISH TO UNDERSTAND what is happening in Lebanon,and indeed the region, Here is a link to the bigger picture. It also discusses US and Israeli involvement in (VERY NEAR future) of military action in the region. It is a bit lenghty so I know that you people who have the attention span of a gnat and can only buy in to Bushian propoganda will not likely read it, ANY YET WILL PARROT SEAN HANNITY, ET AL. These people have NO ORIGINAL THOUGHT.
For those of you who want to understand just HOW BUSH WILL START A MAJOR MIDDLE EAST WAR BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE. Check this out.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8733.
It does require a certain degree of intelligence and a willingness to explore a point of view, beyond the Bush Admin control of the media.

[PWMarvin]

Help me I have no brains. That is way too much thinking.

Actually, thanks for the great post.

[jubo]

And an interesting website. Thanks.

[CaptainHowdy]

I see that the Mossad have been busy beavers as of late.

[Stevelagain]

Radical Islam is gaining ground and left wingers do all they can to support them with their spin and hate.

It's a sad state of affairs.

[CaptainHowdy]

Some idiote wrote:

Radical Islam is gaining ground and left wingers do all they can to support them with their spin and hate.

----------

Yeah, a bunch of goat farmers are going to accomplish what the former Soviet Union and China never could.

Very credible.

Hint, stop listening to right wing talk radio propaganda... it's rotting what little is left of your mind.

[jesuswazasocialist]

Self determination for Lebanon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6_J9oF3pS4

No foreign involvement not even by the US should occur.

[Rog49Thomas]

Part 2

It's also helpful to look at the bona fides of th faction backed by the USA.

Who are their leaders and what do they stand for.

(1) the head of a party modeled on the Nazi Party. Amin Jumayyel's dad went to Berlin liked what he saw and started a party. The militia of the Phalange Party (sounds almost Spanish) used to use the twin lightning bolts of the SS as its symbol. The Party also has a racialist ideology - that Phoenicians (the Christians of Lebanon) are superior to Arabs. It was the fine folk of the Phalange (their militia) who committed the massacres of Sabra and Chatila. Scarely what I'd call good Christians.

(2) an uncommon thug (Dr. Samir Geagea) who is similar to Brother Radovan of Yugoslavia with one twist - he's undertaken massacres of his own people. One of his "nicer" endeavors was the Aquamarine Massacre against the Chamoun Family (a Christian political family). It is said that his goons put the barrels of their automatic weapons inside the Chamoun Family women at the party (yes, that's exactly right) and then pulled the trigger.

(3) a political leader whose chemical adventures make Timothy Leary look like sober fellow

(4) the son of a billionaire who lined his pockets with the reconstruction of Beirut and who is the stooge of the House of Sau'd.

A fine group and one I suppose we as Americans should be proud to associate with.

[Rog49Thomas]

Part 1

Even sadder is those who comment on what they know little about.

The dispute in Lebanon is about democracy.

The Shi'ah are at least 40% of the citizens of Lebanon if not an outright majority.
Under Lebanon's "political rules", positions in the government are reserved by nationality.
The President must be a Christian (Maronites preferred). The PM a Sunni. The Speaker of the Parliament a Shi'ah. The Minister of Defense a Druze. Based on a "cooked" census, the Shi'ah are denied proportional voting rights.

The anti government coaltion is made up of
Shi'ah Muslims (Hizb and Amal)
Christians (Aoun's faction) (General Aoun's political platform is based on rooting out corruption in the government. He is a populist leader and led a military campaign against the Syrians)
Druze (Talal Arslan)

Other members of this coaltion of the "willing" are the Syrian Social National Party, the Nasserite Mourabitoun, etc. etc. (Secular guys to their very core).

Hizb is not formally calling for a Taliban state and in the areas they control, there are no mandatory burkas or banning of alcohol. If you watch their TV channel, you will see women without head scarves and plenty of soap opera style Arab shows (along of course with political and religious ones).

[Rog49Thomas]

Oops I forgot to mention some other radical Shi'ah allies of Hizbullah.

Suleiman Franjieh of the Marada Movement (Maronite Christians)

Omar Karami (former PM of Lebanon and son of a former PM of Lebanon) That would make him a Sunni Muslim.

[AdamWykle]

Yes and they can google Haifa Wehbe, the sexiest Shiite alive.

It's not about "Radical Islam taking over" its about standing against us, our policies, our interests and our most important darling ally right under Lebanon.

[Rog49Thomas]

Well, I think it's more about standing up for what they believe are their rights and desires.

The fact that they oppose us is because they believe that we oppose what they consider their rights.

So, they don't hate us for our freedoms or our freedom fries.

If we supported their aspirations, they would be our "best buddies".

[AdamWykle]

Great posts Rog49Thomas

[Stevelagain]

The terrorists will no doubt be dancing in the streets if Obama wins the general. It's going to get ugly for the US if the progressives take over.

[watererbob]

People the World over (of every possible faction) will be glad to see this crowd go!
Lets see what the Progressives can do (progress maybe?) The "uglyness" of the Republicans has become all too apparent!

[ResidentChimp]

Progressives are are the experts in Orwellian Newspeak. The people around the world would definitely like to see them in control of America. Obama would pander to everyone. Syria wants to retake Lebanon because they want to go back to the time when Lebanon was part of Syria. This is the carrot that Iran and Hezbola is holding out to them in their efforts to dominate the Mideast. Obama would make us a third world country which is great for the terrorist states that want to become first worlders back in the 7th century.

[Guitarsandmore]

notice the black smoke is darker than it should be. This picture has obviously been edited to communicate a different meaning, most likely by the Clinton Campaign to say something racist about Obama.

[MarkyM]

They need more BUSH/RICE in that region! Our new EXIT plan! Here is the last 2 minutes of a soldiers life Click here or Copy and paste the and pass it along to everyone in your address book! http://www.myspace.com/Craftymusic

[ResidentChimp]

A surrender monkey who parrots the terrorists' line. His contempt for our military is as obvious as his respect for this music.

[ErnestineBass]

FUH Q. WAR MONKEY.