Americans trapped in Lebanon

[Veiled Princess 1]

Kevin Sites

[46]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

In hindsight, pressuring the government to return the two kidnapped Israelis and turn over those responsible for the crimes, thereby removing the grounds for war, may have been a good decision? Does it not seem reasonable? Had this occurred in a US city, the police would want the hostages freed and to place the criminals on trial. They wouldn't release the buddies of the criminals from jail to secure the hostages either.

Even a single individual could make the choice not to live next to terrorists. Northern Lebanon and Northern Beirut are not under attack for obvious reasons. Even financially, I'm sure living next to an obvious airstrike target must not do wonders for property value. If I lived next to a violent drug-dealer who loudly proclaimed his activities, I should not be shocked if a bullet from the eventual SWAT shoot-out hits my house. If I stored drugs for him, I shouldn't be surprised if my door is kicked in.

I regret that any civilian should lose their life, especially the children, but there is culpability on many a hand in Lebanon. The cancer runs deep, and my fear is that surgical strikes may cure this patient of such an evil. It may take a long, dedicated operation.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Gerard

[jordanianprincess 0]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

[minha_raposa 0]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

If the civilians did not ELECT 23 Hizbollah then who did? Why did the UN pass resolution 1529 (?) requiring the government of Lebanon to disarm Hizbollah as a condition of Israel withdrawing 2000? And why can't the legitimate government of Lebanon get the terrorist out NOW? Because the legitimate government of Lebanon is a PUPPET of the governing masters of Hizbollah (Iran and Syria).

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

[Veiled Princess 1]

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

Uh oh! Everyone take shelter... you're basically giving half the world "permission" to bomb the US

[minha_raposa 0]

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

Uh oh! Everyone take shelter... you're basically giving half the world "permission" to bomb the US

Why is our government terrorist? Because we defend ourselves against those who attacked US first? Or maybe because we strike against maniacs who kill their own citizens? Or maybe because we stay and fight when the armed groups of other countries can't quite figure out that we'd be more than happy to leave if they simply layed down their arms and became a partner for peace. Unfortunately, they don't WANT peace, nor do they want a sucessful government. I am coming to believe that lasting peace in any part of the middle east is an impossible dream.

However, I am certain that the majority of Muslims are fantastic people (like you) and they deserve to live in peace as does the rest of the world; however, all of the good in Muslim society has been hijacked by the killing and violence continuously perpetrated by the minority radicals. Somehow, the more moderate Muslims need to take this fight to the radicals solve this problem yourselves. When this happens, there will be no need for the Great Satan to enter Arab lands.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

If the civilians did not ELECT 23 Hizbollah then who did? Why did the UN pass resolution 1529 (?) requiring the government of Lebanon to disarm Hizbollah as a condition of Israel withdrawing 2000? And why can't the legitimate government of Lebanon get the terrorist out NOW? Because the legitimate government of Lebanon is a PUPPET of the governing masters of Hizbollah (Iran and Syria).

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

There are not 23 Hezballah cabinet members...there isn't even one! The Lebanese government has been doing just that, they have been disarming Hezballah though negotiations since that time. This subject is extremly fragile as it would be a cause for a civil war which the government of Lebanon does not want.

Taken from the CIA fact book 2006

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held 2009)

election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

[minha_raposa 0]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

If the civilians did not ELECT 23 Hizbollah then who did? Why did the UN pass resolution 1529 (?) requiring the government of Lebanon to disarm Hizbollah as a condition of Israel withdrawing 2000? And why can't the legitimate government of Lebanon get the terrorist out NOW? Because the legitimate government of Lebanon is a PUPPET of the governing masters of Hizbollah (Iran and Syria).

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

There are not 23 Hezballah cabinet members...there isn't even one! The Lebanese government has been doing just that, they have been disarming Hezballah though negotiations since that time. This subject is extremly fragile as it would be a cause for a civil war which the government of Lebanon does not want.

Taken from the CIA fact book 2006

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held 2009)

election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Source

How much power does parliament have?

Not much, experts say. "It's a mirror of society, and it's rare that parliament can move decisively on any issue," Murphy says. The 128 members of parliament are elected to four-year terms. In last year's parliamentary elections, the first since the Syrian withdrawal, seats in the parliament were divided between three main parties:

* Tayyar al-Mustaqbal (Future Tide) coalition, seventy-two seats. An anti-Syria opposition coalition led by Saad Hariri, a young businessman and son of the former prime minister. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, joined forces with Walid Jumblatt— head of the minority Druze community and leader of the al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki, or Progressive Socialist Party—and several notable Christian politicians to create the coalition. Hariri and his group have strong backing from the United States, experts say.

* Amal Party/Hezbollah, thirty-five seats. Hezbollah, the armed Shiite militia backed by Iran, has wide political support in Lebanon's Shiite south, where it is credited with ending the Israeli occupation. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, formed a coalition with the Amal Party, a Shiite group led by Nabih Berri, a former military officer considered one of Syria's main collaborators in Lebanon. The Amal/Hezbollah group is now the main Shiite party in Lebanon.

* Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), twenty-one seats. FPM leader Michel Aoun is a Maronite Christian, former military commander of the Lebanese army, and former prime minister who spent fourteen years in exile. He returned to Lebanon in 2005, and his party made a strong showing in last year's election, polling strongly among Christians. The election results, along with Aoun's longtime reputation as a staunch opponent of Syria, have made Aoun the most influential Maronite leader in the country. He is often spoken of as a potential president.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

Show me one resource that proves this....YOU CAN"T because its FALSE. Do some research about the history of Lebanon.

If the civilians did not ELECT 23 Hizbollah then who did? Why did the UN pass resolution 1529 (?) requiring the government of Lebanon to disarm Hizbollah as a condition of Israel withdrawing 2000? And why can't the legitimate government of Lebanon get the terrorist out NOW? Because the legitimate government of Lebanon is a PUPPET of the governing masters of Hizbollah (Iran and Syria).

I feel bad for the citizens of Lebanon and Palestine, but people should wake up and realize that if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas. A government with elected officials who are tied to confirmed terror groups is DIRECTLY responsible for the actions of that terror group and is therefore a terrorist regime. As such, a terrorist government that attacks any other country becomes a legitimate target for reprisal.

There are not 23 Hezballah cabinet members...there isn't even one! The Lebanese government has been doing just that, they have been disarming Hezballah though negotiations since that time. This subject is extremly fragile as it would be a cause for a civil war which the government of Lebanon does not want.

Taken from the CIA fact book 2006

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held 2009)

election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Source

How much power does parliament have?

Not much, experts say. "It's a mirror of society, and it's rare that parliament can move decisively on any issue," Murphy says. The 128 members of parliament are elected to four-year terms. In last year's parliamentary elections, the first since the Syrian withdrawal, seats in the parliament were divided between three main parties:

* Tayyar al-Mustaqbal (Future Tide) coalition, seventy-two seats. An anti-Syria opposition coalition led by Saad Hariri, a young businessman and son of the former prime minister. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, joined forces with Walid Jumblatt— head of the minority Druze community and leader of the al-Taqadummi al-Ishtiraki, or Progressive Socialist Party—and several notable Christian politicians to create the coalition. Hariri and his group have strong backing from the United States, experts say.

* Amal Party/Hezbollah, thirty-five seats. Hezbollah, the armed Shiite militia backed by Iran, has wide political support in Lebanon's Shiite south, where it is credited with ending the Israeli occupation. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, formed a coalition with the Amal Party, a Shiite group led by Nabih Berri, a former military officer considered one of Syria's main collaborators in Lebanon. The Amal/Hezbollah group is now the main Shiite party in Lebanon.

* Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), twenty-one seats. FPM leader Michel Aoun is a Maronite Christian, former military commander of the Lebanese army, and former prime minister who spent fourteen years in exile. He returned to Lebanon in 2005, and his party made a strong showing in last year's election, polling strongly among Christians. The election results, along with Aoun's longtime reputation as a staunch opponent of Syria, have made Aoun the most influential Maronite leader in the country. He is often spoken of as a potential president.

Thank you for clafiying...like I said...they are a minority... I'm not quite sure about your source or who they are, but this information is NOT in the CIA book which was just updated on July 20th! However even so, the other 2 parties add up to 93 seats!!!!!!!!!! Which makes the other party a MINORITY

The point which you don't seem to understand nor want to understand is that the Majoity of the country of Lebanon is just as much a victem as the innocent people in Israel are. For some reason when someone says something about people in Lebanon suffering, people instead hear, who cares about Israel? Which is not the case. The Israli army obviously has a huge advantage in this way. If Lebanon is behind Hezballah like you think, why hasn't their army gotten involved? Since everyone seems to this that Hezbollah is being supported by the country, do you think that the 40% of Christians in Lebanon are supporting them?

We can argue these issues back and forth all day. You should not dismiss the deaths of anyone because of the actions of others.

[Boiler 45,489]

The Lebanese are in a piggy in the middle situation.

There is some responsibility, any country that harbours terrorists who strike their neighbour and is not doing the utmost to apprehend them is going to have problems.

My assumption is that they do not have the political or military will/capability.

The consequences are sadly inevitable.

[sharky 2]

Maybe the civilians should not have allowed a terrorist organization to openly operate within its borders. Seems like a poor choice now, doesn't it?

Perhaps the civilians should not have elected terrorists to represent them in districts now under attack?

In hindsight, pressuring the government to return the two kidnapped Israelis and turn over those responsible for the crimes, thereby removing the grounds for war, may have been a good decision? Does it not seem reasonable? Had this occurred in a US city, the police would want the hostages freed and to place the criminals on trial. They wouldn't release the buddies of the criminals from jail to secure the hostages either.

Even a single individual could make the choice not to live next to terrorists. Northern Lebanon and Northern Beirut are not under attack for obvious reasons. Even financially, I'm sure living next to an obvious airstrike target must not do wonders for property value. If I lived next to a violent drug-dealer who loudly proclaimed his activities, I should not be shocked if a bullet from the eventual SWAT shoot-out hits my house. If I stored drugs for him, I shouldn't be surprised if my door is kicked in.

I regret that any civilian should lose their life, especially the children, but there is culpability on many a hand in Lebanon. The cancer runs deep, and my fear is that surgical strikes may cure this patient of such an evil. It may take a long, dedicated operation.

SURGICAL strikes you say???

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5213026.stm

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Risto 0]

if you sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas.

and even worse... you can get your a*s*s* on fire