Note: The following is an exchange between me and a friend. My response is in bold text.
The world, and not only the Middle East, is full of intolerance and ignorance. It is sad, but I believe that even what is happening in Lebanon is a sham that will benefit Hezbollah and its allies. Yes, maybe people are battered because of so much injustice, suffering and betrayal. But what will come of Lebanon after this new "Cedar Revolution"? A little more frustration. A little more joy. A little more political discrimination, and above all a lot of religious tension.
But understand what I'm saying. I'm not saying that the Lebanese should stay silent, but.. why do they need Hezbollah? Why do they need Syria? Why do they need to stigmatize themselves amongst people who have already suffered too much? Too many questions AND too many answers, but none good enough for me, I think, because NONE legitimizes death.
Your questions of "Why Syria?" and "Why Hezbollah?" are very poignant, but ones that I think are not too difficult to explain. With regards to the first question, the people don't need or want Syria. Except for small factions, nobody is saying this or calling for it. It is a reasonably gross misrepresentation of the popular Lebanese movement to call them 'pro-Syrian' (see Michel Aoun's party of rabidly anti-Syrian Christians, for example). I have seen no evidence to this effect.
With regards to "Why Hezbollah?", there are two elements to the answer. The first is what the government stands for - corruption and misappropriation. The current governance structure has stolen from the people and worked to the detriment of the Lebanese population. They have acted similarly to any other neoliberal adventure, and have diverted the entire machinery of the country away from benefiting its own populace and towards benefiting multinationals and Western interests. This has concentrated wealth with a few, and denied the populace access to its own natural wealth. The story is the same as that of Argentina and other "models" of corporate globalization.
The second reason is what Hezbollah stands for - honesty and grassroots. Despite its religious foundation - or perhaps because of it - Hezbollah has been the most honest player in Lebanese politics in a very long time. Robert Fisk wrote about them in Pity the Nation, shortly after their inception. In his description, committed to paper a decade ago, he speaks about this group as being organized, thorough and honest. I think even Hezbollah's enemies must grudgingly concede to these words as
descriptors. In one survey, Israeli citizens were polled on the subject, and reported that they found Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to be more trustworthy for facts than their own government [1].
Put together, these two reasons plus the political capital of giving the Israelis a fight during the Israeli aggression on Lebanon this summer mean that the people are out on the streets, with Hezbollah and its allies (which include other Christian, Muslim and secular groups, by the way). I guess only time will tell whether the new governing structure will be honest or whether it will need another revolution.. In the end, though, that's why I think it's important for us to always support the
people first, and the groups they choose second.
tarek : )
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