"Times change. Once we ruled militarily, and now it is Hezbollah," said 80-year-old George Aoun.

Unlike the rest of the Arab World, Christians have traditionally been leading players in Lebanon. At an estimated one-third of the population, they far outweigh the proportion of Christians in any other Arab country.

But the Christians became divided over loyalties to rival leaders, leaving them marginalized during the latest crisis. Lebanese political scientist As'ad Abu Khalil said the community now had "no significant role" in Lebanese politics.

The presidency, a post reserved for them under Lebanon's sectarian political system, has been vacant since November, depriving them of a platform to exercise influence, Christian politicians say.

Members of the community, which is still dominant in business and finance, hope that shunning violence during the latest upheaval will preserve the Christians of Lebanon in the long run.

"The Christians will keep thriving by adopting non-violence. Hezbollah has been exposed as a force ready to kill fellow Lebanese. Why doesn't it wait for elections if it wants more power?" said Selim Mouzannar in his Ashrafieh jewellery shop.

Aoun, who lost 11 members of his family during an attack by Palestinian guerrillas on the town of Damur south of Beirut during the 15-year civil war, said the latest violence would drive more Christians to leave Lebanon.

"If I was younger I would emigrate myself. Hezbollah has the numerical superiority and the Christians are too divided. But the Christians can still advance by not making an enemy of the Shi'ites," said Aoun, who owns a restaurant in Ashrafieh.

During the civil war, Christian Maronites were at one stage allied to Syria, but then switched allegiance to Israel. When the war ended in 1990, Christians emerged with diminished political powers.

Inter-communal divisions deepened after former army commander Michel Aoun allied with Hezbollah in 2006 in opposition to the governing coalition which is composed of Druze, Sunni and Christian politicians, with a few Shi'ites.

In the Christian Gemaizeh district, life returned largely to normal on Thursday.

"Lebanon is the Gate of the East because of its Christians, but it is time to realise Shi'ite ascendancy. They have the numerical superiority," said Francois Bassil, owner of Le Chef restaurant.

"We better not repeat mistakes of the civil war and ally with foreign powers," he said. "By the time foreign help comes we will be under the knife."

Photo: General Michel Aoun in front of Hezbollah flag. Inter-communal divisions deepened after former army commander Michel Aoun allied with Hezbollah in 2006. "The Christians will keep thriving by adopting non-violence. Hezbollah has been exposed as a force ready to kill fellow Lebanese. Why doesn't it wait for elections if it wants more power?" said Selim Mouzannar

The Promise of Moderation." The daily headlines tell us that centrist Arabs such as Muasher are becoming an endangered species.

The center is under siege in Lebanon and across the Middle East as the region becomes more polarized between Iranian-backed extremists and U.S.-backed forces. Iran's proxies strike at will: seizing control of Beirut neighborhoods in a naked show of defiance; lobbing missiles into Israel from Gaza to disrupt peace talks; creating havoc in southern Iraq and Baghdad.

And then, with the cunning that makes Iran such a difficult adversary, Tehran's friends retreat -- striking deals that tilt each time a bit more in favor of the radicals. It's a familiar pattern: Iran unsheathes the sword, bloodies the moderates enough to show its power and then puts the sword back in the sheath. Would that America were so deft in helping its friends.

Muasher's book raises what may be the most damning criticism of the Bush administration's Middle East policy -- that it has unwittingly undercut the very people the United States wanted most to help. In Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and even Jordan, the moderate voices in the center are weaker now than they were when President Bush took office in 2001. The United States has exposed its allies to danger and has not had the diplomatic skills to create a stable new order.

"Years from now, when the history of the modern Middle East will be written, what will it be titled . . . 'The Center Could Not Hold' or 'A New Beginning'?" asks Muasher. That question is still in the balance, but the current evidence is discouraging.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice puts a hopeful gloss on this process of confrontation by seeing it as part of a "realignment" in the Middle East that is clarifying the choices between radicals and moderates. Certainly the Saudis, Egyptians and Jordanians now see, as never before, the threat posed by Iran and its proxies. They're trying to check Iranian power through regional groups to support Lebanon and Iraq.

But has this growing polarization produced positive changes in the region? Has it contained Iranian influence or checked Iranian meddling? The mess in Lebanon says no.

Odd as it sounds, I fear that the Bush administration is making the same mistake as hard-liners in the region. It doesn't know when to compromise. It accumulates lots of chips through its military power, but it never plays them at the bargaining table.

Bush could have had a broad dialogue with Iran about regional stability in 2003; nope, the administration wasn't ready. The U.S.-Iranian diplomatic option arose again in March 2006, when Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, offered to send his top adviser, Ali Larijani, to Baghdad for talks about stabilizing Iraq; nope, the administration got cold feet, even though it had invited just such an initiative. Meanwhile, Syria has been signaling for more than a year that it wants U.S. help in negotiating a peace deal with Israel; nope, the administration doesn't trust Syria. So it has fallen to the Israelis to take up the Syrian peace feelers the United States is afraid to touch.

And now Lebanon: For many months, it has been obvious that the political logjam in Beirut could not be broken without some creative American maneuvers. Lebanon needs a strong state, backed by a strong army, but the administration hasn't been able to close the deals -- as on a new Lebanese president -- that could begin to make this a reality.

Back to my friend Muasher, the Jordanian diplomat. The most moving part of his book is his description of becoming Jordan's first ambassador to Israel after the 1994 peace treaty. He didn't want to do it. It meant crossing a "psychological barrier" and exposing himself and his family to Arab scorn. But he wondered: "Would you be able to live with yourself, knowing that you chickened out of a difficult assignment, even this one?" So he went to Tel Aviv and transcended the taboo against dealing with the "other."

Americans will have to learn how to deal with the "other," too, if we are going to get out of the Middle East mess. Iran thinks it's on a roll now, and Tehran's allies are so cocky that it's too late for this administration to make much progress. It had its chances but let them slip. So it will fall to the next administration to relearn the delicate, sometimes devious, skills of diplomacy that can rebuild the Arab center.

Photo: A Hezbollah supporter smokes a water-pipe after cutting off with barricades the main road to Beirut's International airport May 7, 2008. Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition blocked main roads in Beirut with burning barricades , paralyzing the city and deepening the pro-Iranian group's conflict with the democratically elected government of Lebanon

"We are living inside the cyclone," said a Beirut lawyer who did not want to be identified.

A political storm in Lebanon poses a threat, not only to 4.2 million Lebanese - but to people throughout the Middle East and beyond.

With its cauldron of ethnic and religious tensions, this paradoxical land - at once the region's most sophisticated country and, at times, its most savage - serves as a sort of testing ground for all the many conflicts of a notoriously unstable part of the world.

Right now, Lebanon is dangling between peace and war.

"There's a greater urgency than ever to come to grips with Lebanon's problems," said Rami Khouri, journalist, academic and commentator on Lebanese affairs. "It's very serious, and it's very urgent."

It's also very clear that the balance of power here has shifted dramatically following the street battles that broke out in Beirut last week, soon spreading to other parts of the land.

Already, there are winners and losers - and the winners do not include the White House.

Whatever happens next in Lebanon, it seems certain to cause further frustration in Washington, which has parted with upwards of $1.3 billion in the past two years to counter Iranian influence by bolstering the pro-Western government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, with little - and now less - to show.

Siniora and his allies have been seriously weakened by the bloody clashes that erupted here last week, when Hezbollah gunmen hit the streets of Beirut, unleashing a lightning offensive that some are calling a suspended coup, others are describing as a civil war, and just about everyone agrees was the mother of Middle Eastern wake-up calls.

When the smoke had cleared, the winner in almost every respect was Hezbollah itself, an Iranian-backed, Shiite organization - part private army, part religious movement, part political party - that the U.S., Canada and other Western governments list as a terrorist outfit.

In only a few days, Hezbollah fighters took over most of western Beirut, putting a range of government militias to flight, before ceding their positions to the Lebanese military.

Formed in the mid-1980s to combat Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon, Hezbollah has continued to grow both militarily and politically and is now deeply embedded in Lebanon's combustible patchwork of religious and ethnic groupings.

For the past 18 months, Hezbollah and its allies have been demanding they be granted a veto over government decisions - a demand flatly rejected by the ruling coalition.

But it seems Hezbollah already has a veto, one that comes smoking out of the barrels of its guns.

Infuriated by a pair of recent government measures it saw as curbing its military clout, Hezbollah responded by demonstrating just how much military clout it has.

The government was forced to back down.

"If you are a ruler," said the lawyer, "and you take a decision you cannot execute, you are not ruling."

One way or another, it now seems the Siniora government will have little choice but to sit down with Hezbollah and work out new arrangements for sharing power, something it has long been reluctant to do.

Lebanon's arcane political system, in which power is exquisitely allocated among some 17 religious groups, has been paralyzed by internal wrangling for months.

The country has gone without a president since October because the government cannot muster a quorum of parliamentarians to conduct a vote.

If it had wanted to, Hezbollah could have continued last week's fight until it toppled the government completely. But it stopped well short of that, likely because leader Hassan Nasrallah recognizes his Shiite organization cannot rule Lebanon alone.

"Hezbollah understands very well the rules of the game," said the Beirut lawyer. "They know the Shiites alone cannot govern Lebanon. They have to make deals. This is a truth the United States doesn't want to recognize."

Meanwhile, the Lebanese military stood apart from last week's battles, which has become something of a tradition for the armed forces here.

In this case, there was likely no choice.

First, Shiite officers in the army almost certainly would have refused to obey an order to turn their weapons against Hezbollah.

Secondly, Hezbollah would almost certainly have made quick work of the armed forces.

"I don't think Hezbollah would have a problem defeating the Lebanese army," said Khouri.

Yet another cause for dismay in Washington.

Photo: The Beirut airport road

It took me years to even look back. We lost our identity because no one knew of what a Lebanese was. People identified us when we spoke because of our accents, or because of the color of our skin. In 1982 we were put on the map and people knew of us. But it was not because of our rich history, or because of our great summer vacation resorts, or perhaps of a medical breakthrough that found a cure of some horrific disease. It was because of our bombing and killing of US Marines in West Beirut.

It took me 25 years or so to begin to take interest of what my true identity was supposed to be. I chose to be isolated for it all. I just did not want to even live another night under gunfire or trapped in a closed dark room in the middle of the house. Or even open another can of processed meat to have for lunch or dinner. I had no interest traveling in the dark with blacked out head lights to elude any possible snipers. Or to even look at another car that is riddled with AK47 bullet holes or RPG shrapnel.

I wanted to just sleep in peace and quiet. No sounds of bombs going off in the middle of the night, no funerals of my nine year old class mates that died in the lines of fire during some battle. I was tired of seeing photos of Martyrs hanging from the street lights, and looking at statues made of ammunition brass and copper findings. I did not want to see this anymore. I was tired, I was angry, and I was done.

I just carried the anger and the sadness of losing my home from when I was young. You see, like many of us reading this article, my life was stripped from me. So many things: family, friends, school, and most of all my nationality.

A nationality that I am proud of. A nationality with a deep culture and a profound history. A nationality of freedom and spiritual commitment to our faith no matter of what faith you were born into. An intelligent culture that is filled with Ideas and opinions. A culture that has endured the worst of times and no matter what, they turned it into the best of times. Regardless of the conflict that they have had to endure, a true Lebanese would always live the best life they can.

Now, once again, bad memories are haunting me. What do I say to my children that are now asking me, "Dad why do you have tears in your eyes," as I am watching news on Lebanon? How can I explain how I feel, of how I lived, and what I have lived through? How can I tell them that I want them to go home with me to see my true blood, my land and my people? How can I express my anger and my fear with out sounding like a total ass? How can I tell them that I want to return to my homeland, but I cant?

How can we as people of such grace, pride and intelligence, be so unable to get rid of this parasite that is hounding our land? This cancer that is lingering in the dark shadows of our alleys and streets. How is it that a proud nation such as ours is unable to undo this humiliating passage that is slowly taking over everything that our forefathers have worked so hard for.

I plead with everyone to hold your ground and stress peace. A new generation is embarking on our future in government, support it and work for a common goal. Bring peace so we can all return to our homes. Bring peace so we can all work together and be recognized as a civil and educated nation. Bring peace so we can exercise our liberties and our freedom to fly the Lebanese flag. Bring peace so we can represent our country as "ONE" on the front stage of the world communities. Let us be part of a world that can prosper our economy and bring wealth to our people.

I love you all - Druze, Muslims, Christians - I love Lebanon

Is this the new phase that the leader of the resistance spoke about? The storming of these media outlets, whatever their nature, was shameful. It was also shameful to see the closure of the airport and the port, which was an instance of revenge against the civilians of Lebanon, just like the storming of the media outlets.

The occupation of Future TV is part of the "new phase," which began with the killing of our two dear colleagues, Samir Kassir and Gebran Tueni, and when our colleague May Chidiac was subjected to an attempted assassination. If the leader of the resistance wants to "cut the hand" of anyone he thinks threatens the resistance, then what was the crime of the journalists at Future TV? What was the crime of the people of Lebanon, who have been deprived of their airport, port, and roads, and the opportunity to live in dignity in the neighborhoods of their city? Is this the new phase in Lebanon? A phase of a single opinion and shutting off free expression, and rendering the Lebanese people the hostage of a single will, prevented from moving freely, and coming and going from their country?

This is not civil disobedience. It has taken the Lebanese people hostage to a single will, and a single opinion, eliminating the other side in Lebanon. Using intimidation, storming institutions, killing and kidnapping have never succeeded. Since the past of the civil war, it has destroyed Lebanon, impoverished it, and destroyed it. However, it has been unable to eliminate the freedom of the press. The Lebanese political system cannot come to resemble the Iranian regime. The Iranian regime suppresses the media, intellectuals, and other opinions; it deprives the people of their country's natural resources. However, the Iranian system cannot be imposed upon Lebanon's pluralism.

It is true that General Michel Aoun has provided political cover that allows this new phase to come to pass. This is particularly because Aoun, ever since he was in exile in France, has always waged battles against any journalist who did not share his opinion. This is Aoun's temperament, which is well-known to our colleagues in the media. He is continually angry, and attacks any journalist who asks a question he does not like.

General Aoun is someone who believes in the school of "one opinion," and a champion of eliminating his political rivals. Thus, he is the perfect partner for this new phase. However, he is completely aware that harming freedoms and imposing a single opinion is a new recipe for losing his supporters and seeing his popularity drop. At times, Aoun launches campaigns against An-Nahar newspaper, because it does good journalistic work and publishes accurate accounts based on his sources. A professional journalist, contrary to what General Aoun believes, does not reveal his sources. General Aoun criticizes objective articles, such as those written by my colleague Ghassan Charbel, the editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat, because he cannot tolerate the opinions of others.

Suppressing the media, silencing free voices, attacking journalists, and depriving innocent civilians of the airport, the port and the freedom of movement are a policy that is rejected in Lebanon. If this is the new phase that they are promising us, this means that they want to do away with Lebanon and its pluralism, forever.

What kind of national resistance searches for the opportunity to kill its own country, and deprive its people of freedoms, taking steps that are similar to what Israel has done in Lebanon? Closing the airport is the kind of barbarous act that Israel has carried out. They are now doing the same thing. What is the crime of someone who leaves, or wants to leave, to pursue his or her work? This is oppression, and not civil disobedience.
If the new phase is one of oppression and taking the people of Lebanon hostage to a single will, and a single opinion, then this is a new hell that they are promising Lebanon and the Lebanese. No one has the right to eliminate the other. The intoxication of achieving a military victory should not turn into taking others hostage and behaving at odds with the popular desire to live a free and dignified life. Let the Lebanese go, open the port and the airport, and treat people as if they are members of the same country. A military victory should be against the enemy, and not against the people of the same country!

Photo: Men hold a banner that reads, ' Future news', during a rally where journalists walked toward the Hariri's Future TV station that was forced to close by Hezbollah guerrillas in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, May 10, 2008. Dozens of journalists accompanied by about 300 people demonstrated in Beirut Saturday to protest Hezbollah's closure of the television station of parliament majority leader Saad Hariri, saying the move is 'a crime' against the media.

Jack from Australia:
I am an Australian/Lebanese. I am Maronite & I am proud of my heritage. I call Lebanon my Lebanon. For so many years Lebanon has been visualized by the media in Australia and abroad as a country of war, a country that is not safe, and a third world. These images portrayed have been negative. This is because of Hezbollah and the presence of their allies in Iran & the Baath party of Syria. It's also because of the betrayers of the Lebanese nation, the followers of evil Nabih Berri, Michael Aoun and their friend Sleiman Franjeih. These people do not know the meaning of Democracy, Peace and Love. They do not have a God. They MUST be brought to justice for demonstrating Terrorism. These people must not see sunlight again for once again bringing darkness into the lives of my fellow Lebanese brothers and sisters who want a peaceful life in the land of my beautiful Lebanon.

Emad in New Hampshire, USA:
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET... Once again, the Druze strength and resolve were tested by invaders from the Iranian regime and their supporters, and once again we showed them that the Druze people, old and young, men and women, would never kneel to anyone but God almighty. Many thanks and gratitude to Walid Jumblatt and Talal Arslan who worked together to ensure that all Druze communities remain calm in dealing with each others. But nevertheless, this is a declaration to Hezbollah and Hassan Nassrallah: You have come to our homes to harm our families, and WE SHALL NEVER FORGET. You have come to take away our pride and values, and WE SHALL NEVER FORGET. You have come to destroy our homes and belongings, and WE SHALL NEVER FORGET. You have come to silence our voice and destroy our spirit, and WE SHALL NEVER FORGET. Hassan Nasrallah, history shall judge you with for what you have done to your country, and God shall judge you for silencing the voice and the soul of your brothers and sisters.

Adam in Texas, USA:
I respect your point of view and wish the same for our country to leave in peace and prosperity. But how are we to accomplish this when a large segment of the country is not so well represented in the government, while after 2 years now since the conflict with Israel, the majority of those whose houses were destroyed have yet to see help from this government, which I am sure really care about them. Also how about all the increases of food and gas for the poorest of the poor, how are we to manage the basic necessities of our people. There is an old saying, a man that is hungry is not a free man. First Let's start showing good intention by allowing one of the largest party in Lebanon to be represented fairly in politics, second let's show good will by rebuilding the houses of those destroyed by the war. And third let's start a line of reconciliation such as any country which has witnessed this amount of hatred and instability among its citizen.

Fadia in Georgia, USA:
It is really sad of the things that are happening in Lebanon, and I hope the Lebanese people will be awaken before it is too late. Iran, Syria, and Israel are using the Lebanese people as a puppets. They are turning them against each other for their best interests. If all of these countries would really wants to help us, they won't provide us with weapons to kill each other. They would make our Lebanese army the strongest and destroy anything called a militia.

Why can't all of us live in peace and try to build Lebanon with unity, and why do we need to be occupied by any foreign countries. Wake up!! all the militia leaders are afraid of losing their seats in the government and their money. All their children are placed in the best universities in the world. Where is the future of our children and youngesters that grew up during the war and the only thing tought to them is hating another lebanese person just because of his or her religion or he or she is from the opposite side of their militia. Wake up Lebanese people and try to fight for your rights. your rights of living free and happy not worrying about getting killed or worrying about losing somebody's life that you value for any terrorist leader or militia leader.

Joseph in Dearborn, Michigan, USA:
Well written! Thank you for being unbiased factual and informative. I admire those who write a good news piece and shows that they don't have to fabricate or sugar coat the story to appease one side or the other.

Milad in Iran:
I'm embarrassed that my government in Iran has caused an entire nation such grief.

George from Canada:
It is time for the Lebanese Army to consider Hezbollah an invader group from Iran, and to destroy this enemy who is in violation of our Lebanon. If the Lebanese Government really want to keep the independence of Lebanon, they should Destroy Hezbollah and his leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Anonymous in Boston, USA:
The Druze heroes withstood the Hezbollah attacks from all directions. I am from Deir Qoubel. My village was under mortar fire from Keyfoun and the southern Beirut suburbs. Only 40 men, armed with hunting rifles and limited ammunition, were standing in the face of a militia armed to the teeth with semi-automatic weapons and heavy artillery.

No Druze village fell to the Hezbollah invaders. The heroes of the Mountain were brave in the face of the world's most dangerous militia. Won't the world wake up to see the injustice taking place in Lebanon! These villagers only want to live in peace and dignity! To have a country run not by the rule of the jungle but the rule of law and democracy!

Who has the back of the Druze? They have only the faith that righteousness will have its way!

The 300 shall remain, and Lebanon shall remain for the free! Hezbollah CAN be stopped! No one is invincible in the face of righteousness! Lebanese unite! Resist! Lebanon is ours to protect!

Rola in Aitat, Lebanon:
When a photographer from Associated Press came to Aitat Monday morning asking us to recommend some locations to take some good pictures we told him just watch the movie 300 and you will see it all live. We are happy that someone else sees it this way. Please remember to mention Aitat. Aitat has always been a great defense line and a front in all battles.

Ramzi in Georgia, USA:
What a beautiful article. Congratulations

Ziad in Pennsylvania, USA:
Christians left Lebanon long time, now it is time to Druze to do that, then Lebanon will be totally under the Iranian control by it proxy party HIZBULLAH. Shame on those who live in a country & bears it identity card & yet is loyal to a foreign country than hi/her own.

I am a secular Druze lebanese,living in the US for 12 yrs now. I believe that the Future Lebanon will be Goverened by IRAN's version of ISLAM. Now we do not have a Christian presidant, nor a government, and an army who's loyalty is questionable. We have a proxy Hizbullah ruling us. What a shame, when a country has multiple loyalties rather than one.

Celia in Saudi Arabia:
As a proud Druze from Chouf mountain, i thank Dr. Phares for this beautiful description of the battles fought and won by our people who are known for ages for defending their homes and lands to death.and who have conquered through history many foriegn armies and who are known as the first founders of the lebanese republic. I hope that this lesson of courage will be an inspiration to the UN and to play a more effective role. I totally agree with Dr. Phares's conclusion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Nasry in Dubai:
Excellent article, you gave a realistic picture that was supported by ground facts. Like you mentioned, Druze villagers were fighting with hunting weapons against big military canons. Thank you for being insightful in transmitting the picture to the world.God bless you and hope that your pen will always be as powerful as it is now. I personally would like to read any future article you generate in future.

Jason in California, USA:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your articulate article. You are a true Lebanese indeed. Mount Lebanon belongs to the real citizens of Lebanon,and victory will prevail by few good brave hearted noble men. Their great grand parents washed these mountain hills land with their blood sweat and tears and set an example for many generations to come. Lebanon's '300' heroes are the true loyal citizens of this magnificent land not the terrorists and the gangsters of Hezbollah and their allies. Thanks and God Bless.

Rami in California, USA:
Dr Phares - you should be writing another Star Wars Episode for George Lucas

Nutjob in Syria:
The Druze are destined to burn your temple and you shall be their slaves. May you never see the savage gleam of the eyes of a Druze for this will be your last sight.

Antoine in Virginia, USA:
Shame on you Dr Phares, your comments are so idiotic and your story is full of crap. You think Lebanon only belongs to you and yuo're not willing to share it. Well I tell you that your days are numbered now. The real Lebanese are going to call the shots from now on. Half of you should move to Syria and the other to Israel since you've always been traitors and backstabbers. Long live Hezbollah

Rita in London, UK:
Thanks for always being there and updating us with the latest so accurately,and in such a interesting style. You kept me in touch with Lebanon every minute,when i am at work or when i am home... Please keep it up and thank you again, excellent work.

Anonymous in Hong Kong:
The Lebanese need a petition highlighting some of these points.
1. We say NO to State within a State
2. We say NO to Hezbollah's & Amal's weapons
3. One People, One Democratic Government, One Army

Let's get a million + signatures and have it presented to the United Nations

Ramsey in Oregon, USA:
Thank you for your coverage. We are Lebanese in America now and you are our only true and in-depth source for day to day events other than the few emails we are getting from family. Thank you. We don't know what we can do here to press the cause for peace in Lebanon.

Anonymous in Amsterdam:
It annoys me badly that Arabs are so damn bad at standing together and Jews are so damn good at standing together, how can Arabs expect any support from anyone if they cant even get along internal, they behave like little kids with toy guns, except for that these guns are real and they kill real people, shame on you all and shame especially on Hezbollah, Iran and Syria who stick there noses where it should not be, one would think they have plenty to do back home, what a sad and primitive behavior.

Nader in Canada:
It's very easy to sum up the situation: Hizballa = TERRORISM. That's all they know

Ali in Scotland, UK:
Please note that Hezbollah did not use weapons against Lebanese people. the governmant is pro-american meaning israeli allied in Lebanon.

Ali in California, USA:
If Hizb Allah wanted to topple the Goverment it would take them 1 day & 1 day only. Syria & Iran are completely innocent. By the way, I am not a Shiite. I think the Opposition waited too long, in my opinion, to show those morons what true Nationalist look like.

Karen in California, USA:
The Lebanese people should that their country be returned. Lebanon belongs to all the Lebanese, not the Hezbollah & Amal thugs with weapons.

Lalo in California, USA:
For Hesbollah to rage war against the towns of mount Lebanon and Druze civilians is a disgrace and untolerable action to any civlized society. The gangsters of hesbollah are nothing but bunch of terrorists as the world now can see. These terroists should know the Mountains of Lebanon were built on noble-men's shoulders by Druze, Christians, and Sunnis, those illiterate people should go back to history books and nourish their souls. If they want to become a pillar of the Lebanese society
they should lay down their weapons and let the army of the people execute their
duties and extend protection for every Lebanese, they are no longer being trusted by the majority peaceful citizens of the state of Lebanon. God bless Lebanon and its loyal citizens.

Sandra in Massachusetts, USA:
My heart is so heavy from what has transpired over the past week from Hezbollah. I
can't begin to say I know much about the politics there. I sort of thought that Hezbollah was like the Black Panther Party here in the states. They were a militant group. They did a lot of good for the black poor. But as violence became their credo, they lost in the end. The military and police and court in America wiped them out. It seemed to me that Hezbollah wanted a seat at the table of the governing of Lebanon. I think they have shown now what drives them.

Marya in Romania:
I am really sorry for what is happening in Lebanon. Nobody has the right to use weapons in this manner, especially in this modern age. Despite what Hezbollah may think, we don't live in tribes. What is most grave, is that they are using weapons to kill fellow lebanese. They share the same country, maybe they are friends, maybe they are relatives. Only living in unity will you succeed and be strong before your enemies. Even animals don't kill their own species, we are better than this. God bless Lebanon.

Mo in Virginia, USA:
Hezbollah has always said their weapons would only be used against Israel. Now that they have used them against fellow Lebanese, they clearly cannot be trusted. The time is now for Hezbollah to disarm and for a new Army to be formed - the current one obviously cannot protect its people.

Sara in Australia:
u r stupid stupid jewish loving bastards.hezballah should close this website down. go to hell, in witch uuu willllll

Maria in Ohio, USA:
The only traitors in Lebanon are Hezbollah, Michel Aoun and all their allies that kill fellow Lebanese under the premise that THEY are the ones who care about Lebanon. That is why Aoun aligned himself with Syrian and Iranian puppets, that is why Hezbollah kidnapped and started a war that NOBODY wanted...that is why all the major roadways and bridges were destroyed. My bad, that was for the honor of Lebanon, ahmm I mean Hezbollah. I think that these traitors to their own country should pack up and move to Syria and get out of our hair already. Lebanese want to live in peace, we want a future for our children under DEMOCRATIC rule not a DICTATORSHIP, and we want to live in the best country in the world...our country, LEBANON.

Joe in Boston, USA:
The developments in our country were appalling, disgusting and obscene to say the least. However, it doesn't come as a surprise to me to see a battle titled "Hezbollah vs Lebanon". Let me elaborate. First of all, war in its broader context does not just include the mere act of actual fighting, but also the disposition thereto. Since Hezbollah has been threatening to overturn the government since more than a year now, and given that they possess the weapons and the capability with no equally powerful opponent anywhere close, this "war" has been coming for a while.

Moreover, what is war? War is a tool that an entity resorts to in order to coerce another entity to live by their standards and rules. In that regard, Hezbollah has been launching an assault in our society since I opened my eyes to this world. By systematically and implicitly working towards the prospect of an Islamic State of Lebanon, showing contempt to the diverse fabric of the Lebanese society, and taking unilateral decisions regarding attacking Israel thereby putting every Lebanese in danger, Hezbollah has effectively alienated itself from Lebanon and structured itself as a sword held to our necks. The message is loud and clear: you people are welcomed to live here as long as everything goes my way. It's their way or no way! Michel Aoun probably saw this happening and decided to go aboard that train which he saw as the most forceful way to the presidency or political power.

Now the question of "what to do now" begs itself. Unfortunately, I can only see a bleak and grim future for Lebanon. It saddens to me to say that the only way out is caving in. If we want our Airport opened and if we want some stability back, there have to be some concessions, even if at the expense of the people's dignity and the honor of the people whose homes and businesses were vandalized. For instance, I don't see a difference now between giving hezbollah veto power in the government or backing down from decisions under their "peaceful civil disobedience". The only concrete and practical way out for us is by breaking the buttress that holds Hezbollah's back and emboldens it. That can only be accomplished by a western attack on Iran or Syria. I am not going to evaluate the odds of this happening anytime soon, but if it does, it's not going to make my eyes tear.

Wally in Connecticut, USA:
Excellent work on sounding the voice of free Lebanon and clearing the fog that Syria and Iran has been hiding behind. It is time to say enough and show the world and our Lebanese brothers the way to be for Lebanon and not for someone else.

Hezbollah has been in the business of fabricating excuses to justify its destructive and unlawful acts for years. The Sheba'a farms case was conveniently discovered when Hezbollah needed to convince the public of a rationale for keeping its armed militia, a technicality over the creation of an International Tribunal by the United Nations became the reason for asking their cabinet ministers to resign, a far damaging war that killed around 2000 Lebanese and destroyed a large proportion of the Lebanese infrastructure was unilaterally started by Hezbollah by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers and five days ago they went to war against those that protected them , sheltered them and sacrificed for them in their hour of need supposedly to undo the two Cabinet edicts that they do not approve of.

What followed was an efficient execution of a military plan that made use of Hezbollah's modern arsenal against homes, businesses and institutions that belong to supporters of the governing majority block March 14 all over West Beirut. As if that was not enough their well trained militias have run over the airport and allowed an Iranian jet with 400 people aboard to land. Who were these passengers is still a mystery but some unconfirmed rumors claim that these 400 were elite members of the Iranian Party of God who might have been the ones to have spearheaded the Beirut and the Chouf offensives. Did the US offensive on Sadr City in Baghdad have anything to do with the timing of the mayhem initiated by the Iranian trained, financed and armed militia of Hezbollah who make no secret of their allegiances to the Supreme leader Khamenei of Iran.

Lebanon, who has been struggling to revive its economy and resume building its democratic institutions after 30 years of Syrian rule was dealt a devastating blow by these clearly terrorist acts. So far over 40 people have been killed, 174 wounded and Lebanon's image dealt a devastating blow both in the political as well as the economic arenas.

Make no mistake about it, this was a well planned and efficiently executed coup. I believe that we can all breathe a sigh of relief for the decision taken by the March 14 leadership when it asked its supporters not to fight and resist their brotherly occupiers. Whether March 14 took that decision because it had to or whether the decision was taken in order to leave the act of protecting the public and private institutions to the armed forces that absorb every year the lions share of the Lebanese budget and whose very rationale to exist is to implement orders from the executive branch of government is immaterial. The Lebanese Army's response was disgraceful, to say the least. They watched as the various Hezbollah goons took the law into their hands and at times they even lent their support to these illegal acts.

Many people feel frustrated and betrayed by the miserable and ignoble performance of the Lebanese Army and its top general Suleiman as they should. The lack of personal confrontation by the March 14 groups should be applauded because it is one example of what a responsible civil people should do. Depend on the official institutions to perform as instructed and when they do not, as in this case, hold the people responsible for such failures accountable.

Who lost Lebanon, or at least set us back decades? We all did for failing to demand that all our political leaders should uphold the law and act as if the national interest is sacred. We have all played a role in bringing about the current state of affairs but that is water under the bridge. We have to learn from our mistakes and make sure that the apparent military victory of the Hezbollah terrorist militia does not translate into actual political gains. We can do that if we demand accountability from all our politicians, if we show outrage whenever they act in their own selfish interest , which is done on a daily basis, if we demand that the doors to the Chamber of deputies are reopened for business, if we demand that they elect a president as prescribed by the constitution and most importantly if we demand that sectarianism must be abolished.

The current system of confessionalism has not served us well. We need to end it, the sooner the better. If ,we the people, act and show our disgust with the current state of affairs then we can reverse the apparent gains made by Hezbollah's armed bands and at the same time we can push all the politicians into creating a new Lebanon based on modernity, equality and social justice.

For the last two years the Lebanese politicians and leaders from both camps have been verbally abusing each other, ignoring the demands of the people, and ensuring that each one of them cements his political status. Each political party hindered any solution that can lift Lebanon from its static and stagnant condition.

The Lebanese were frustrated with the situation and the Leaders did not choose to interact or even communicate to alleviate the economic and social burdens that touched every Lebanese. Using the media as an alternative to dialogue so as to transmit messages, accusing each other by being Israeli or Iranian agents, and putting conditions for each other is unprecedented in any Arabic, civilized or democratic country. Leaders from all walks of life have a responsibility to convey to their constituencies the facts of the deadlock that kept Lebanon in the political abyss. However, they do not have the right to use the media as a tool to instigate violence, or ignite and kindle racism ignoring that Lebanon has s a unique social fabric that reflects in every alley, street and village.

Village life is a microcosm society that reflects the bigger Lebanon. These small towns reflect the complexity of the social fabric that manipulates the daily-to-daily lives of the Lebanese. Villages are divided according to families, religion and social status. Powerful families dedicate the flow of events in municipal elections up to parliamentary elections. Lebanon is a unique case in the Middle East; its demographic landscape differs from any country in the region. All in all there are eighteen different kinds of sects and religions in Lebanon competing with each other to gain power in ruling the country.

Ignoring the complexity of this Lebanese foundation led to the first civil war. Obviously, the two major political camps these days supported by major external powers, forgot how feeble and vulnerable this social structure was and still is. Because of their Lack of savvy and political wisdom the situation and the killings that happened in Beirut, Alley and Choueifat and the current situation on the ground has originated.

Many Lebanese who do not belong to either camp raise many questions and blame both sides for this volatile situation. They ask these leaders if they know where are they taking the country? Both camps proved that they lack the will and independence to take constructive decisions that can create a positive impact on Lebanon. Both camps created a negative atmosphere on the ground that instigated aggravation, and hate.

One camp in the name of independence and stability that they hope will lead to full democracy, the other in the name of Arab nationalism, patriotism and martyrdom who wants to free Sheba farms, Lebanese prisoners from Israel, and also to be a part of the axis that confronts Israel and enjoys the victory over a vicious enemy. Both love Lebanon in their own way; nevertheless, by indulging in their negative insults and clenching each to their meaningless decisions they lost the trust and the common ground that unite them. The only common issue that unite them is the Lebanese army, however, they are both burdening and weakening the army with their internal dispute and egoistic gains. The Lebanese army proved to be courageous, unbiased and needs the support of all the Lebanese. This determination will be the backbone that can lift the country from its current situation.

The Lebanese army needs to be modernized, and in the words of Amr Mousa it needs "logistic support". But this will take time, money and will from the Lebanese and the world. Also having a strong powerful Lebanese army will consume a threat for Israel and Syria. These countries are enjoying the explosive situation in Lebanon. Israel hoping that Hezbollah's power will weaken, and Syria wishing for the Seniora's government to disappear and resign, so the Lebanese political formula will change to suit its agenda and regime. Both countries are wrong in their assessments, and the only shield that can protect Lebanon from external powers is to have a wise politicians, it is said that "Men shape history" and not the other way round.

So, the acrimonious debate now is where is Lebanon heading? It seems that the Lebanese government that represents March 14, does not show any intention of resigning, and March 8, think that they can create a new reality after changing the balance of power on the ground militarily. It is a pity that they both forgot the most important factor in their equation: Lebanon's fabric society and stability, and most important the welfare of the Lebanese people.

Both camps should understand the magnitude of what happened recently, and understand that the only exit from this mess is to retreat to a common ground that unite and glue this country together. By counting on external powers to solve the country's gridlock, leads to a very simple analysis that both camps do not deserve to be in power, and that they are a liability not an asset to Lebanon. The Lebanese hope that their politicians will rise to the occasion, and if they choose the current situation to continue without any concession and co-operation from both sides, then God help Lebanon and the Lebanese.

God bless the souls of the young Lebanese who died the last few days, and let their blood unite the country together.

Henry Kissinger in his 'Does America Need a Foreign Policy?' book published shortly before the terrorist attacks of September 11th, described the Middle East as an international system that was based in feudalism and ethnic and religious conflict which sharply contrasted with the notion of the modern sovereign state consequent to the 1648 European peace of Westphalia.

This may have been the case back then, but undoubtedly the invasion of Iraq has created in the Middle East a new balance-of-power politics based in political realism. The current Middle East is a manifestation of the realpolitik of Machiavelli and Metternich.

Following the war in Iraq, the regional balance of power radically changed. Without Iraq to check it, Iran increased its influence in the country's vacuum, backing pro-Iranian Shiite factions such as the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

Iran's alliance with Syria, and its strong influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza, have created what many term a "Shiite crescent" in the Middle East. Persian Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are growing increasingly insecure.

The Iranian influence in the Arab world was perhaps felt most strongly during the 2006 summer war between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah's newfound popularity and declarations of victory reverberated through the Arab street, to the chagrin of Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia who's Mufti Hamid Ali al-Jabreen released a fatwa or Muslim edict claiming it was Islamically forbidden to pray for the victory of the Shiite Hezbollah. Since the 2006 conflict, a security crisis has escalated in Arab nations fearing Iranian influence - just this fall Saudi Arabia had signed a monumental arms deal with the United States.

Hezbollah's disobedience to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Sanoira's alleged calls to withdraw from its seizure of Western Beirut for exchange of nullifying the government decision to destroy the Shiite militia's illegal telecommunications network are simply another example of Iranian victory. The Washington Times proclaimed it "Hezbollah's 'redrawing' of the Middle East map." As with al-Sadr's threats for war and uprising in Iraq's Basra, the threat of violence has caused the government to cave in without any true battles. Sun Tzu, the great Chinese strategist once wrote that the best victory was defeating one's opponent without battle. The U.S. backed Lebanese government was forced to claim yesterday that "Lebanon's true enemy Israel," while the U.S. backed Iraqi government has been discussing "close ties" to American adversary - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad. The struggle for influence in the Arab world is self evident.

With help from Chinese investment, Russian arms deals, Venezuelan solidarity, and its traditional ally Syria, Iran has attempted to protect and expand its sphere of influence in the Middle East. The U.S. and France have supported Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, and Egypt which have largely allied themselves to the pro-American Lebanese government faction called the March 14th coalition.

Alliances are formed to expand spheres of interest and attempt at securing vital national interests. The new blocs of Middle Eastern powers illustrate the expansiveness of the current problem. Instead of looking at symptoms, such as Hezbollah's take over as West Beirut, one must look at the full disease. The root of this new instability and power politics has been the brash and preemptive foreign policies of the Bush administration. Whether in invading Iraq, supporting the far right policies of former Israeli premier Ariel Sharon, giving the green light to current Israeli premier Ehud Olmert's 2006 bombardment of Lebanon, or go-it-alone unilateralism, it is clear that American policies in the Middle East have provoked the fear and insecurity which have led to the current atmosphere of Arab power politics. Destabilizing the region have led it to be mired by civil strife.

One can only hope that the foreign policies of the next American administration take a more cooperative turn. A destabilized Middle East is a destabilized world. The consequences of the continuation of realpolitik are a Saudi-Iranian arms race, the inducements of nuclear weapons by insecure Arab states, civil strife in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Iraq, and a long period of stasis in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

It was accompanied by national consensus and near-unanimous rallying around the Resistance, as well as praise for the exceptional role it played in this liberation. Even those who opposed the Resistance, for their own political reasons and sectarian fears, could find no shortcomings in its behavior, whether during the battles for liberation or the celebrations of victory.

May 2008 is a "victory" of another kind for Hezbollah. One tainted with bitterness, because the districts taken over by Hezbollah in Beirut and elsewhere are inhabited by Lebanese citizens, and because the consensus of those who rallied around the party eight years ago is today being torn apart by sectarian and political strife, turning the resistant party into just another factions in the internal conflict.

It is well-known that Hezbollah was extremely hesitant to enter the internal political arena - or so its leaders claimed. Perhaps because it was aware that, in this arena, it would remove its unifying national cloak and replace it with a sectarian one, by virtue of the identity and affiliation of its members. Moreover, Hezbollah's entry into the internal arena with the weapons of the Resistance was bound to lead to implication, since the natural place of such weapons, one over which there can be consensus, is certainly not this arena. Furthermore, reservations still stood concerning the possibility of using these weapons to impose Hezbollah's project or point of view upon others, as has occurred in the last "victory".

What has been said to justify the use of weapons, considering that a war against "internal agents" is as a war against the enemy on the border, does not lessen, but increases, the impact of the "victory" defeat. If Hezbollah is indeed still aware of the importance of coexistence and internal balance, and of keeping Lebanon away from the sectarian conflict that looms over the region, then surely it is also aware that, at the end of the day, it will return from the battle to live side-by-side with those "agents" it defeated today. In this sense too, the latest "victory" is horribly different from the victories of 2000 and 2006. Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah will never have to live with Ehud Olmert or Ehud Barak under the same roof. His victory over them is a rightful cause for celebration, but "victory" over Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt and Samir Geagea has a different meaning, and different implications for Lebanon's ability to recover from such a bloody relapse.

Hence the fear that Hezbollah's leaders may have crossed the last line to the final rupture, a fear prompted by the recent words of Hezbollah's Secretary-General. When other political leaders are accused of "treason" and "collaboration with Israel" because of a mere divergence of opinion on a governmental decision, it is only natural to wonder if there is a still a margin for dialogue or for reaching a solution in the minds of Hezbollah leaders. It appears that Nasrallah has severed the last thread leading to a solution. He has gone further than this, and, from his religious position, has cut off the road to heaven to those who oppose him, by assuring us that he would not meet them in the afterlife!

Israel remains the great absent from all this, despite Hezbollah's assurance that it is at the top of its preoccupations and at the core of its objectives. "Victory" on the inside front constitutes certain defeat on the enemy's front. We must not forget that the Resistance's strong stance is not based only on its armament, but first and foremost on the country's internal cohesion, whose disintegration has always been a primary factor to facilitate infiltration. If only for this reason, Hezbollah's leaders should have been more careful than any other organization in Lebanon to preserve such cohesion, especially since they never ceased to claim that the public rallying around them during the July war was one of the most important factors that allowed victory.

Picture: The number 1 mountain resort city in Lebanon ...Aley ..being bombarded this time ...no ...no... not by Israel , but by Hezbollah who claimed all along that its arms will never be pointed against the Lebanese . Dozens killed in the attack on Aley