Comments on: Hezbollah’s Half Million Terrorist March http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:18:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: sammler http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/comment-page-1/#comment-38609 sammler Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:03:45 +0000 /?p=9529#comment-38609 I think it is fair to say that the large pro-Syrian demonstrations do not represent the "will of the people" in the same way that the earlier, anti-Syrian demonstrations do. This sounds awfully convenient, but it is justified by noting (as many have) that only the anti-Syrian protestors were risking retribution. Still, we should be taking Hezbollah's recent demonstrations very seriously. The will of the people aside, they represent a compelling show of force. If 200 or 500 thousand will march, then 20 or 50 thousand will patrol the streets, ready to beat their opponents to pulp; and two or five thousand will take up the tools of murder and terror, if given the chance. Syria is not going to be a cakewalk. I think it is fair to say that the large pro-Syrian demonstrations do not represent the "will of the people" in the same way that the earlier, anti-Syrian demonstrations do. This sounds awfully convenient, but it is justified by noting (as many have) that only the anti-Syrian protestors were risking retribution.

Still, we should be taking Hezbollah's recent demonstrations very seriously. The will of the people aside, they represent a compelling show of force. If 200 or 500 thousand will march, then 20 or 50 thousand will patrol the streets, ready to beat their opponents to pulp; and two or five thousand will take up the tools of murder and terror, if given the chance.

Syria is not going to be a cakewalk.

]]> By: rudik http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/comment-page-1/#comment-38544 rudik Tue, 08 Mar 2005 18:02:01 +0000 /?p=9529#comment-38544 When tens of thousands of Lebanese protested against the pro-Syrian Lebanese government it was hailed around the world as an impressive expression of the will of the Lebanese people and their desire for self-determination. Does the sight of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese now expressing support for Syria not also represent the will of the people? Or is this a case where, as Henry Kissinger would have put, we should not be swayed by "the irresponsibility of the people"? When tens of thousands of Lebanese protested against the pro-Syrian Lebanese government it was hailed around the world as an impressive expression of the will of the Lebanese people and their desire for self-determination. Does the sight of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese now expressing support for Syria not also represent the will of the people? Or is this a case where, as Henry Kissinger would have put, we should not be swayed by "the irresponsibility of the people"?

]]> By: JakeV http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/comment-page-1/#comment-38541 JakeV Tue, 08 Mar 2005 17:49:45 +0000 /?p=9529#comment-38541 Some information on this issue can be found in John Zogby's new poll taken in Lebanon. http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=973 Some information on this issue can be found in John Zogby's new poll taken in Lebanon.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=973

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/comment-page-1/#comment-38539 James Joyner Tue, 08 Mar 2005 17:40:31 +0000 /?p=9529#comment-38539 Probably so. I'm not sure how one compares them, in all honesty. Presumably, it takes more courage to stand up to the government than to support it. Still, I'm sure there are some people who'd prefer the Syrians stay even aside from Hezbollah's prodding. How many, I haven't a clue. Probably so. I'm not sure how one compares them, in all honesty. Presumably, it takes more courage to stand up to the government than to support it. Still, I'm sure there are some people who'd prefer the Syrians stay even aside from Hezbollah's prodding. How many, I haven't a clue.

]]> By: DC Loser http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/hezbollahs_half_million_terrorist_march/comment-page-1/#comment-38538 DC Loser Tue, 08 Mar 2005 17:36:15 +0000 /?p=9529#comment-38538 But if the turnout for the Hezbollah rally was lower than expected then I'd guess we'd be seeing plenty of "Ha, these guys have no support" postings in the blogosphere. But if the turnout for the Hezbollah rally was lower than expected then I'd guess we'd be seeing plenty of "Ha, these guys have no support" postings in the blogosphere.

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