Lebanese Army Heads South
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James Joyner | Friday, August 18, 2006 |
The Lebanese government has reclaimed sovereignty over its southern territory. Or, at least sent in on soldier to plant its flag.
The Lebanese army reached the country’s southern border with Israel for the first time in decades, sending a lone jeep on patrol Friday through Kfar Kila, a battered stronghold of support for Hezbollah militants. The army jeep, flying a large Lebanese flag and carrying just two soldiers in green camouflage, passed by the Fatima Gate a few yards from the border but did not stop. Kfar Kila was the last village where Israeli troops pulled out in 2000 after an 18-year occupation of the south.
On Friday, young men there hung giant yellow banners above intersections, some criticizing U.S. Mideast policy and others reading “The Great Lebanon has defeated the murderers.” Both were signed by Hezbollah.
Presumably, it was merely signed “Hezbollah” rather than signed by Hezbollah. Either way, though, I suspect we haven’t seen the last of them in those parts.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Corporal, come here. I have a little assignment for you. And take private Dofus with you. Try to bring the jeep back, were short on parts.
Headline: Hizbollah hands out cash for Lebanese war victims
Hizbollah handed out bundles of cash on Friday to people whose homes were wrecked by Israeli bombing, consolidating the Iranian-backed group's support among Lebanon's Shi'ites and embarrassing the Beirut government
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"People already had faith in Hizbollah, this will strengthen their faith," said Ayman Jaber, 27, with a wad of $12,000 in banknotes Hizbollah had given him.
...
The Lebanese government has yet to launch anything similar.
Here is what I want to know, who is the genius behind all of Hezbollah's recent moves? I'm serious, so far almost every move they've made that been brilliantly calculated and executed. I doubt it's Nasrallah, the guy at the top is hardly ever that smart. Maybe it's not Hezbollah at all, Iran's government has been very efficient with propaganda, maybe someone there is calling the shots. Either way, Hezbollah is walking all over Israel and the Lebanese government in making social and political gains from this conflict.
Michael,
I don't know who their 'Rove' is, but having big bags of cash to hand out certainly gives you more options to put into play. Now who would have big bags of cash hanging around? Maybe somebody who doesn't like satellite dishes.
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