Beyond the DropZone

Lebanon "cannot bear two armies"

[Posted at WDR by W. Thomas Smith Jr. on Feb 10, 2008]

Lots going on in Lebanon as Hezbollah continues its quest to establish its kingdom within the state. Others prefer saying "a state within a state." But kingdom is a more accurate term for the aggregate zones controlled by the huge Taliban-like terrorist army - funded by Iran and supported by Syria - that fancies itself a legitimate Lebanese political party.

Yesterday, I learned that Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir - Lebanon's Maronite Christian leader who oversees some 12-million Maronites worldwide - referred to Hezbollah as "a problem," and he said Lebanon "cannot bear two armies because that leads to a substitute state" within the state.

In an interview for Lebanon's weekly newsmagazine, al-Massira, Sfeir also said the United Nations has an "obligation to introduce restraints."

The UN is already in Lebanon, operating as a "peacekeeping force" in the south between the Litani River and the Israeli border. But UN forces are accomplishing "absolutely nothing," according to retired Brig. Gen. Jim Cash while guest-hosting on retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely's Stand Up America radio show, last week.

Sfeir - in the al-Massira interview - added (and I am paraphrasing here based on a translation from one of my Lebanese sources), "The leadership in Lebanon cannot govern. The UN must send in a governor to organize and govern Lebanon."

This as Lebanon has again postponed its presidential elections (previously slated for Monday) for the 14th time.

Also yesterday, Druze leader Walid Jumblat referred to Sfeir as the "father of the independence and reconciliation in Lebanon."

TODAY, Jumblat pulled no punches when he warned Hezbollah:

"...that the majority [pro-democracy] March 14 coalition was ready to go to war if the Iranian and Syrian backed group was after disorder. 'If the others want war, then March 14 is ready. And if they want peace, March 14 is also ready,' Jumblat said at a press conference. 'War does not scare us. We have no problem with war or rockets,' Jumblat said in reference to Hizbullah's possession of thousands of missiles. ...
'We will seize the rockets from you because we don't fear martyrdom,' Jumblat vowed."

Naharnet has more here, here, and here.

— W. Thomas Smith Jr. – a former U.S. Marine rifle-squad leader, parachutist, and shipboard counterterrorism instructor – writes about military/defense issues and has covered conflict in the Balkans, on the West Bank, in Iraq and Lebanon. He has written six books, and his articles have appeared in USA Today, George, U.S. News & World Report, BusinessWeek, National Review Online, CBS News, The Washington Times, and many others.

W. Thomas Smith Jr. can be reached at wthomassmithjr@yahoo.com.

© 2008 W. Thomas Smith Jr.

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NOTE: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and do not represent the opinions of World Defense Review and its affiliates. WDR accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the content of this or any other story published on this website. Copyright and all rights for this story (and all other stories by the author) are held by the author.

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