NEWS: Christian Assassination Could Mean Trouble in Lebanon

POLITICS: Christian Assassination Could Mean Trouble in Lebanon

Lebanon's government has remained a precarious balance of power between Maronite Christians, Shiite and Sunni Muslims, as well as a host of smaller religious denomination, which have somewhat miraculously been able to band together to form one of the few functioning democracies in the Middle East, and even to wrest control from nearby Syria which dominated all aspects of life on Lebanon until very recently. But the recent assassination of Pierre Gemayel, a prominent Christian leader in the country, as well as renewed attempts by Hezbollah to elect a pro-Syrian government threaten to destabilize that balance.

All of which sheds new light on the events that transpired this past summer between Hezbollah and Israel. Israel's overwhelming military response to the attack on its soldiers played right into the hands of Hezbollah political leaders, who are still reaping the benefits of coming off as the "victors" in that struggle (survival against a superior foe was considered to be a victory by many.) And the rapid, comprehensive relief effort mounted by Hezbollah immediately following the cessation of hostilities is now revealed to be the political ploy many suspected it would be. If an election were hold now Hezbollah would have much greater popularity after its perceived generosity in helping to rebuild parts of the country most affected by the conflict.



Hezbollah has long been suspected of having direct ties with the Syrian government, and has more recently acknowledged its relationship with Iran as well. A Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese government would be a sad reversion to the days when Syria controlled the country, and an unfortunate failure of democracy in an area where it is scarce.

You know what I don't get - Syria is Sunni and Iran is Shia. How is it that Hezbollah is getting support from both. Somebody do the math for me.

My guess would be that the Golan Heights make all the difference. It wouldn't in the nature of a nationalistic dictatorship to let that sort of thing slide.

It's always sad how whenever it gets relatively close to things coming to a non-chaotic world in the Middle East, something like this happens which completely blows apart the shaky-to-begin-with foundations, throwing everything into a hugh collapse. Just have to keep starting over again from the beginning.

Because they all hate Israel. If Israel was out of the picture they would turn on each other in a second.

I swear, this headline might as well read:

NEWS: Sun rising could mean trouble in Lebanon

It's just coincidence.

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