Iran has won the first round of its proxy war against America in the streets of Beirut. Hezbollah gunmen flaunting their snipers have become the norm and the Lebanese government condemnations have been reduced to mere symbolism. Shias, it seems, are in complete control.
Hezbollah isn’t vying for a coup nor does it want an all out war. It is happy with displaying its power and showing to the world that the elected representatives count for nothing. Fouad Siniora’s men are reduced to puppets – people whose actions are of no consequence whatsoever. That their position is similar to Maliki’s government in Baghdad is quite true.
Moderate Muslims, like Walid Jumblatt and Saad Hariri, with pro-American views have been hounded and are being monitored relentlessly. The Lebanese army watches on haplessly from sidelines. West Beirut is under complete control of this “party of God”.
Who’d have thought that the events would take such a disastrous turn after Hezbollah had moved into Lebanon’s parliament, albeit with a rather small minority? Mr. Siniora’s policies that were defined by the White House were in large part responsible for Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the parliament. Now it seems that Hezbollah is hell bent on ushering in the “new era”, to borrow from its chairman, Sayeed Hassan Nasrallah.
As the tires continue to burn in the streets and the airport remains cut off, Hezbollah’s militia rules the roost; peacefully at some places and violently at others. Washington is reduced to issuing meek statements as its performance elsewhere in the Middle East has reduced its ability to interfere drastically. Hezbollah might not be interested in waging an all out war or owning the state institutions, but its agenda is being projected alright. It is a supervisor to the elected government.
Via
