Comments on: Blowback Across Lebanon http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pierre Mhanna http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1842 Pierre Mhanna Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:46:45 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1842 Well, I think that the army was driven against his will into naher el bared, that is to save face after the slaughter of over a dozen soldiers, maybe Fateh el Islam was not desobeying ordres after all, and the goal was to weaken the army all along. Violence would erupt simultaneously in other camps, and overtime the army would be stretched out, so that other groups would start to take control, pro-Israel "Lebanese Forces" and the Walid Junblat party. They already buitl security forces within the government loyal only to them, and they all still retain their weapons from the past civil war, and all are arming back up, weapons show up on the street, with armed night patrols, .... The here and there blasts and assasination might be seen in that light, dividing the country, and pushing it towards secterianism again. From all 45Billion dollars and above, the Hariri governments never gave any to rebuild the army, the important figures of 14 March had militias of their own, all fighting the army, and now all of the sudden, we see them as patriotic and lebanese. If they cannot have an army fighting Hezbollah, they don't want an army at all. Well, I think that the army was driven against his will into naher el bared, that is to save face after the slaughter of over a dozen soldiers, maybe Fateh el Islam was not desobeying ordres after all, and the goal was to weaken the army all along. Violence would erupt simultaneously in other camps, and overtime the army would be stretched out, so that other groups would start to take control, pro-Israel “Lebanese Forces” and the Walid Junblat party. They already buitl security forces within the government loyal only to them, and they all still retain their weapons from the past civil war, and all are arming back up, weapons show up on the street, with armed night patrols, ….
The here and there blasts and assasination might be seen in that light, dividing the country, and pushing it towards secterianism again.
From all 45Billion dollars and above, the Hariri governments never gave any to rebuild the army, the important figures of 14 March had militias of their own, all fighting the army, and now all of the sudden, we see them as patriotic and lebanese.
If they cannot have an army fighting Hezbollah, they don’t want an army at all.

]]> By: Franklin Lamb http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1688 Franklin Lamb Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:52:25 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1688 Wow! I did not mean to appear to be dissing the Army. Actually I am pretty impressed and supportive of the Army like most people in Lebanon. The army surrounds and protects the American Univeristy of Beirut where I stay and I have had the opportuniity to chat with and get to know serveral of them. Also their propfessional behavoior at check points etc. is appreciated. Yesterday in Beirut some private businesses unveiled a number of large billboards in support of the army The captions reads 'we are with you!" As I mentioned there is broad support for the army as the one nationalistic force the confessions agree on. They have good relations with the Palestinians, Hezbollah, and March 14. There is the danger that they will be used by the US and Hariri group for their plans. Yet the army leadership is sophisticated and seem to be able (so far ) to resist intrigue. But during this period they must retain their neutrality and not be seen as harrassing any segment of the population. They did overreact during May 21-23 and bombed indiscriminately in Nahr al Bared. They have since adjusted their targeting somewhat but it is difficult for them to know precisely were the Fatah al-Islam fighters are. The army has a really tough job and will likely be perceived as heroic, but all the more reason to operate as nationalists, professionals, with high standards respecting human rights and the dignity of the camp residents. The army erred in declaring that those who remain in the camps are Fatah al-Islam supporters. That is nonsense. Israel used the same argument re the civilians who remained in the South during the July War. They are many reasons some are not leaving Nahr al Bared including health, age, fear of not being able to return etc. that they support Fatah al-Islam. (fplamb@gmail.com) Wow! I did not mean to appear to be dissing the Army. Actually I am pretty impressed and supportive of the Army like most people in Lebanon. The army surrounds and protects the American Univeristy of Beirut where I stay and I have had the opportuniity to chat with and get to know serveral of them. Also their propfessional behavoior at check points etc. is appreciated.

Yesterday in Beirut some private businesses unveiled a number of large billboards in support of the army The captions reads ‘we are with you!” As I mentioned there is broad support for the army as the one nationalistic force the confessions agree on.
They have good relations with the Palestinians, Hezbollah, and March 14. There is the danger that they will be used by the US and Hariri group for their plans. Yet the army leadership is sophisticated and seem to be able (so far ) to resist intrigue.
But during this period they must retain their neutrality and not be seen as harrassing any segment of the population.
They did overreact during May 21-23 and bombed indiscriminately in Nahr al Bared. They have since adjusted their targeting somewhat but it is difficult for them to know precisely were the Fatah al-Islam fighters are.
The army has a really tough job and will likely be perceived as heroic, but all the more reason to operate as nationalists, professionals, with high standards respecting human rights and the dignity of the camp residents. The army erred in declaring that those who remain in the camps are Fatah al-Islam supporters. That is nonsense. Israel used the same argument re the civilians who remained in the South during the July War. They are many reasons some are not leaving Nahr al Bared including health, age, fear of not being able to return etc. that they support Fatah al-Islam. (moc.liamgnull@bmalpf)

]]> By: Mikhael El-Chami http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1655 Mikhael El-Chami Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:47:04 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/06/blowback-across-lebanon/#comment-1655 This article is BS. The Lebanese army for the first time invaded a palestinien camp and destroyed a terrorist group, it is true that the army so far lost 78 soldiers but even the US army would have had casualties fighting in a crowded area and against criminals that use children or dead bodies as boobytraps...This is a victory for the army and not a humiliation as your article claim. If you really knew the history of Lebanon you would have known that what the army has done is remarkable and unique. All we need is Syria to stop interfering and also all other foreign countries including the US....A Lebanese citizen This article is BS. The Lebanese army for the first time invaded a palestinien camp and destroyed a terrorist group, it is true that the army so far lost 78 soldiers but even the US army would have had casualties fighting in a crowded area and against criminals that use children or dead bodies as boobytraps…This is a victory for the army and not a humiliation as your article claim. If you really knew the history of Lebanon you would have known that what the army has done is remarkable and unique. All we need is Syria to stop interfering and also all other foreign countries including the US….A Lebanese citizen

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