U.S. France, allies cannot allow Hezbollah to deny justice to the People of Lebanon

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By Walid Phares

On Wednesday , Hezbollah brought down Lebanon’s democratic government. The group withdrew its ministers from the cabinet, crumbling the unity government in an impeccably-timed constitutional coup only a few hours before prime minister Saad Hariri was to meet President Obama in Washington.

The message came directly from Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Iran-backed militia, to Hariri, son of slain prime minister Rafiq Hariri: We won’t allow you to request international support for the United Nations tribunal investigating your father’s assassination.

Hezbollah’s political preemptive strike stymies the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) ability to arrest the alleged perpetrators of the killing, who — all signs suggest — are members of the organization.

But the play sends another more ominous message, as well: It’s Tehran’s way of telling Washington that Lebanon is now a satellite of the Islamic Republic of Iran, not an ally of the United States.

After 15 years of civil war between a camp backed by Syria and Hezbollah and its moderate, pro-American opponents, most of Lebanon fell under Baathist occupation in 1990. The Israelis maintained a security zone south of the Litani river, but the rest of the country was beholden to Syria and Iran.

Ten years later, Israel withdrew, and dismantled its local proxy force on the Lebanese side of the border after Beirut’s Syrian-controlled government pledged to send in the regular Lebanese army and allow the U.N. monitoring forces to protect the demarcation lines. But Syrian intelligence ruled the country with an iron fist, and Hezbollah advanced south to Israel’s border anyway.

After a few years, the Lebanese rose up against Syrian occupation and the yoke of Hezbollah. In September 2004, the United States and France introduced what became U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, calling on Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and all militias — meaning principally Hezbollah — to disarm. Syrian president Bashar Assad responded by ordering a series of assassinations, culminating in the killing of Sunni prime minister Rafiq Hariri and his aides on February 14, 2005.

Over a million Lebanese , Chrstians, Druze and Muslims protestd in downtown Beirut on March 14, 2005 demanding Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon. Syria withdraw in April 2005 after 29 years of military presence
The Hariri assassination backfired in a way that Assad could only have imagined in his nightmares, triggering demonstrations that drew an unprecedented 1.5 million (out of a population of just four million residents) into the streets of downtown Beirut. The Cedar Revolution prompted the international community, led by the U.S. and France, to ask Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. Assad complied with the request, but left behind its other army, Hezbollah.

The first legislative elections after the Syrian withdrawal gave the Cedar Revolution, also known as the March 14 Coalition, a majority in parliament. The government chose to include Hezbollah in the cabinet it formed in July 2005, in hopes that the group would moderate its influence in Lebanon. The government’s magnanimity was repaid with an ever-escalating terror campaign that killed members of parliament, journalists, and Lebanese army officers who opposed Hezbollah.

In the summer of 2006, Hezbollah triggered a devastating war with Israel, using Lebanese opposition to the Israeli strikes to galvanize local support. In May 2008, Hezbollah invaded West Beirut and other districts, crumbling the pro-Western cabinet of prime minister Fuad Siniora and enabling it to install General Michel Suleiman, the commander appointed head of the armed forces during the Syrian occupation in 1998, as president. Having strengthened its position — and with Washington increasingly inattentive — Hezbollah secured a third of the Lebanese cabinet, and veto power over the government’s decisions.

But the Special Tribunal the U.N. had established to investigate and prosecute the terrorists responsible for the Hariri assassination had reached findings that implicated members of Hezbollah, and possibly Syrian intelligence. Tehran and Damascus recognize that the incrimination of their primary force in Lebanon constitutes a serious threat to their interests in the Levant.

Hezbollah has built a very powerful arsenal in Lebanon, and developed cells from Iraq, to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, northern Africa and even Latin America. Some believe Hezbollah already has terror operatives at work on U.S. soil. — Indicting Hezbollah will jeopardize Iran’s ability to project force by unconventional means around the world.

Hezbollah’s latest move makes perfect sense: it aims to protect itself from the forthcoming judicial indictments, and deprive Lebanon of an independent government. The United States, France, and their allies cannot allow Hezbollah to deny justice to the Lebanese people.

Dr. Walid Phares is a Fox News Terrorism and Middle East Expert and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is the author of the newly released book, “The Coming Revolution: Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East.”

Fox News

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23 responses to “U.S. France, allies cannot allow Hezbollah to deny justice to the People of Lebanon”

  1. josephphdman Avatar
    josephphdman

    ha collapsed the governement thinking if stl ndicte them there wo,nt be any governement to enforce the arrest or prosecutions of there members and by reformng a new governement hopefully the newpm will denounce the stl if they manage to get someone different than pm saad harriri all those games and plays and acts and moves are aied to avoid prosecution and disolve the stl
    there plan will fail stl could,nt be dissolved because it is part of the un and has signed an agreement with the lebaneese governement and they can,nt stop t,ill they finish the job
    ha miscalculated and made a big mistake because if the stl idicte them in the murder of rafik harriri it is even worst if the governemnt cannot enforce the arrest warrant that will drive all the march14 angry and even more the sunni,s community and they will start civil war eventually that will bring the end of ha

  2.  Avatar

    ha collapsed the governement thinking if stl ndicte them there wo,nt be any governement to enforce the arrest or prosecutions of there members and by reformng a new governement hopefully the newpm will denounce the stl if they manage to get someone different than pm saad harriri all those games and plays and acts and moves are aied to avoid prosecution and disolve the stl
    there plan will fail stl could,nt be dissolved because it is part of the un and has signed an agreement with the lebaneese governement and they can,nt stop t,ill they finish the job
    ha miscalculated and made a big mistake because if the stl idicte them in the murder of rafik harriri it is even worst if the governemnt cannot enforce the arrest warrant that will drive all the march14 angry and even more the sunni,s community and they will start civil war eventually that will bring the end of ha

  3. Hezbollah is a terrorist/criminal organization. Between them and their allies, who basically made a deal with the devil, will do anything to drive their agenda in Lebanon – even with violence, which we have seen many times. As long as outside forces, such as Iran and Syria keep funding and supporting this terrorist group, which hides behind the veil as a political party, their can be no peace, let alone true democracy in Lebanon. Can this be possibly settled peacefully? Maybe, if the other sides surrenders.

    But don’t. Lebanon must be ruled by the people and not by one group of thugs. Huge sacrifices will have to be made, to achieve true democracy, peace and stability. If not, then anarchy, corruption and freedom lost.

    1. Georgeabuali Avatar
      Georgeabuali

      Plomca, we need scarifiers are you one of them?

      1. Sacrificing is a big thing to do. And I certainly would not force anyone to do that. But as for myself, I cannot say I would or can, as I am not Lebanese and Lebanon is not my home county (and I’m not a Jew or Israeli). I am married to a Lebanese and have become very interested in the country, especially after my first visit to the country this summer. I just want to see peace and stability in Lebanon for my in-laws, especially for my nieces and nephews, to have a future there.

        I would sacrifice in heartbeat for my home country. I love our freedom and way of life we have here. It is not perfect. But probable the best of the best in the world. Our nation has witness many sacrifices by the men and women who served in most major conflicts, in the last 100 years, including Lebanese who have immigrated to my homeland.

        I may voice my opinion on this site about Lebanon. But the truth of reality is, only the people of Lebanon can resolve their own problems. Not Israel, not Syria, and definitely not Iran. The U.S. and France maybe, to a certain extend. But only Lebanon should decide for Lebanon.

        1. Georgeabuali Avatar
          Georgeabuali

          I sincerely I agree with you passion about Lebanese affair. Lebanon was created as problematic country, by the beloved colonial power mother France, with power sharing that has no precedence and bunch of “Maricones” running the country claiming that are doing it for their sect. Unless,the political structure changes and a real democratic structure is in place nothing will change. Lebanon is like a “Charmouta”, who every pay more will side with these Maricones, when you hear- Qatar, Turkey,Syria, Saudi, France, Russia, Germany, UK, and USA to meet to resolve Lebanon crisis and no Lebanese at the round table, that tells a lot. You hear the frustration on the street most people don’t care who control the land, but let ‘s for once keep the peace for good not only for few years. WE NEED TO LIVE !

  4. Hezbollah is a terrorist/criminal organization. Between them and their allies, who basically made a deal with the devil, will do anything to drive their agenda in Lebanon – even with violence, which we have seen many times. As long as outside forces, such as Iran and Syria keep funding and supporting this terrorist group, which hides behind the veil as a political party, their can be no peace, let alone true democracy in Lebanon. Can this be possibly settled peacefully? Maybe, if the other sides surrenders.

    But don’t. Lebanon must be ruled by the people and not by one group of thugs. Huge sacrifices will have to be made, to achieve true democracy, peace and stability. If not, then anarchy, corruption and freedom lost.

  5.  Avatar

    Hezbollah is a terrorist/criminal organization. Between them and their allies, who basically made a deal with the devil, will do anything to drive their agenda in Lebanon – even with violence, which we have seen many times. As long as outside forces, such as Iran and Syria keep funding and supporting this terrorist group, which hides behind the veil as a political party, their can be no peace, let alone true democracy in Lebanon. Can this be possibly settled peacefully? Maybe, if the other sides surrenders. But don’t. Lebanon must be ruled by the people, not by terrorists. Huge sacrofices will have to be made, to achive this.

    kjlhlkhn

    tries to hi

    1.  Avatar

      Plomca, we need scarifiers are you one of them?

      1.  Avatar

        Sacrificing is a big thing to do. And I certainly would not force anyone to do that. But as for myself, I cannot say I would or can, as I am not Lebanese and Lebanon is not my home county (and I’m not a Jew or Israeli). I am married to a Lebanese and have become very interested in the country, especially after my first visit to the country this summer. I just want to see peace and stability in Lebanon for my in-laws, especially for my nieces and nephews, to have a future there.

        I would sacrifice in heartbeat for my home country. I love our freedom and way of life we have here. It is not perfect. But probable the best of the best in the world. Our nation has witness many sacrifices by the men and women who served in most major conflicts, in the last 100 years, including Lebanese who have immigrated to my homeland.

        I may voice my opinion on this site about Lebanon. But the truth of reality is, only the people of Lebanon can resolve their own problems. Not Israel, not Syria, and definitely not Iran. The U.S. and France maybe, to a certain extend. But only Lebanon should decide for Lebanon.

        1.  Avatar

          I sincerely I agree with you passion about Lebanese affair. Lebanon was created as problematic country, by the beloved colonial power mother France, with power sharing that has no precedence and bunch of “Maricones” running the country claiming that are doing it for their sect. Unless,the political structure changes and a real democratic structure is in place nothing will change. Lebanon is like a “Charmouta”, who every pay more will side with these Maricones, when you hear- Qatar, Turkey,Syria, Saudi, France, Russia, Germany, UK, and USA to meet to resolve Lebanon crisis and no Lebanese at the round table, that tells a lot. You hear the frustration on the street most people don’t care who control the land, but let ‘s for once keep the peace for good not only for few years. WE NEED TO LIVE !

  6. In my opinion, it is not about what the US, France…want. As a lebanese citizen our priority is to focus closely at the internal matters. Looking from this point of view seeking justice shouldn’t be opposed to peace: 14 march versus 8 march!.The indictment of the STL is not related to Hezbollah’s will neither to any internal parties and i really don’t understand why most mix things up. However, people are not realizing that the actual sovereign in lebanese politics(whether we like it or not) is becoming hezbollah (apparently since 2006). At least someone has been reading some political thinking…some Schmitt.. there won’t be any big consequence as a result to the indictment, no civil war whatesoever

  7. In my opinion, it is not about what the US, France…want. As a lebanese citizen our priority is to focus closely at the internal matters. Looking from this point of view seeking justice shouldn’t be opposed to peace: 14 march versus 8 march!.The indictment of the STL is not related to Hezbollah’s will neither to any internal parties and i really don’t understand why most mix things up. However, people are not realizing that the actual sovereign in lebanese politics(whether we like it or not) is becoming hezbollah (apparently since 2006). At least someone has been reading some political thinking…some Schmitt.. there won’t be any big consequence as a result to the indictment, no civil war whatesoever

  8.  Avatar

    In my opinion, it is not about what the US, France…want. As a lebanese citizen our priority is to focus closely at the internal matters. Looking from this point of view seeking justice shouldn’t be opposed to peace: 14 march versus 8 march!.The indictment of the STL is not related to Hezbollah’s will neither to any internal parties and i really don’t understand why most mix things up. However, people are not realizing that the actual sovereign in lebanese politics(whether we like it or not) is becoming hezbollah (apparently since 2006). At least someone has been reading some political thinking…some Schmitt.. there won’t be any big consequence as a result to the indictment, no civil war whatesoever

  9.  Avatar

    In my opinion, it is not about what the US, France…want. As a lebanese citizen our priority is to focus closely at the internal matters. Looking from this point of view seeking justice shouldn’t be opposed to peace: 14 march versus 8 march!.The indictment of the STL is not related to Hezbollah’s will neither to any internal parties and i really don’t understand why most mix things up. However, people are not realizing that the actual sovereign in lebanese politics(whether we like it or not) is becoming hezbollah (apparently since 2006). At least someone has been reading some political thinking…some Schmitt.. there won’t be any big consequence as a result to the indictment, no civil war whatesoever

  10. There will be no new Prime Minister in Lebanon before the STL issues its indictment and justice served. Ufortunately, we will not have any goverment to see the indictment implemented and the criminal brought to justice

  11. There will be no new Prime Minister in Lebanon before the STL issues its indictment and justice served. Ufortunately, we will not have any goverment to see the indictment implemented and the criminal brought to justice

  12. What I a thinking is that “if Israel was able to assassinate PM Hariri during Syrian presence in Lebanon while another foreign country accommodates Hezeb Allah’s thirst to amass an army stronger than the legitimate Lebanese army, then Israelis are truly God’s chosen people and we should all bend backwards form them in order not to anger God. Heck, I may even convert to Judaism to secure myself a place in heaven”.

  13. What I a thinking is that “if Israel was able to assassinate PM Hariri during Syrian presence in Lebanon while another foreign country accommodates Hezeb Allah’s thirst to amass an army stronger than the legitimate Lebanese army, then Israelis are truly God’s chosen people and we should all bend backwards form them in order not to anger God. Heck, I may even convert to Judaism to secure myself a place in heaven”.

  14. VAHE' FROUNJIAN Avatar
    VAHE’ FROUNJIAN

    What I a thinking is that “if Israel was able to assassinate PM Hariri during Syrian presence in Lebanon while another foreign country accommodates Hezeb Allah’s thirst to amass an army stronger than the legitimate Lebanese army, then Israelis are truly God’s chosen people and we should all bend backwards form them in order not to anger God. Heck, I may even convert to Judaism to secure myself a place in heaven”.

  15. to extreme and partial half true, incomplete, manipulative

  16. to extreme and partial half true, incomplete, manipulative

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