Hezbollah continues support of Syria
- Thread starter basketcase
- Start date
The irony of the Arab Spring is that it's brining more radical elements of Islam into power in Egypt..... Libya next?
From the frying pan and into the fire.....
OTB
From the frying pan and into the fire.....
OTB
I think in the long run putting more radical elements into power in Egypt is a good thing, provided it remains a democracy. To an extent, the radicals have been able to remain radical only by not having their ideas tested by the real world. If they remain a democracy--if they have to fear being held to account for the true outcomes of their policies--then I think they will moderate them, and search for win-win outcomes with their neighbours.
The reason I think this bodes ill for the Lebanese is that if Assad manages to stay in power with Iran/Hezbollah support, then Hezbollah is even more likely to replace and democratic decisions of the Lebanese electorate with force of arms. After all their position in charge of the Lebanese government is due solely to the force of arms to defy the country's constitution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_conflict_in_Lebanon
Sorry, realized I didn't link the original article.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Po...9-hezbollah-reiterates-support-for-syria.ashx
Sorry, realized I didn't link the original article.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Po...9-hezbollah-reiterates-support-for-syria.ashx
The possibilities appear endless for the future of middle east but I think it would behoove Netanyahu to keep his right under control if he can and think long and hard about whether there is a possibility for realignment and a real chance for peace. This is not the time to appear intransigent.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-...initiative-will-probably-be-accepted-1.405169
Syria’s relationship with Iran, currently Syria’s sole ally, will likely be subject change, Samir Nashar says in an interview to the Washington Post.
Demonstrators protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad in Yabroud.
Photo by: Reuters
"This primarily depends on the Iranian position towards the regime change," Nashar said. "If they are willing not to adopt hostile position, we expect the relation to be a positive one, which might not be similar to the relation of strategic alliance, but more a relation between two sovereign countries, like those between Iran and Turkey".
The Syrian opposition leader said the opposition was more interested in internal reform, rather than foreign policy: “Our first priority in the post-Assad Syria will be to rebuild the country internally and socially in terms of infrastructure.”
But when asked about the possibility of making peace with Israel, he said “The new Syria will fully support the rights of the Palestinian people and will work to further Arab cooperation and regional solidarity. And will build its relationship with countries based on mutual respect".
Asked whether the new Syrian regime would recognize Israel, he said: "This will be left to the will of Syrian people who will express their will on this democratically following the overthrow of the Syrian regime".
"The Arab Initiative will most probably be acceptable after the regime change, and we hope it will become a reality,” he told the Post. “After Syria will get back the Golan Heights, they will accept whatever will be accepted by the Palestinian people."
When asked whether Hamas still be welcome in Damascus, he replied that "keeping Hamas under positive Arab influence is a good thing and Syria can encourage Hamas to keep unity with the Palestinian Authority, it's better than to leave Hamas on their own devices or to other players' influence".
He added that most of the opposition leaders support an international military intervention aimed at ousting President Bashar Assad "as early as possible," adding that some may not be brave enough to say so openly.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-...initiative-will-probably-be-accepted-1.405169
Syria’s relationship with Iran, currently Syria’s sole ally, will likely be subject change, Samir Nashar says in an interview to the Washington Post.
Demonstrators protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad in Yabroud.
Photo by: Reuters
"This primarily depends on the Iranian position towards the regime change," Nashar said. "If they are willing not to adopt hostile position, we expect the relation to be a positive one, which might not be similar to the relation of strategic alliance, but more a relation between two sovereign countries, like those between Iran and Turkey".
The Syrian opposition leader said the opposition was more interested in internal reform, rather than foreign policy: “Our first priority in the post-Assad Syria will be to rebuild the country internally and socially in terms of infrastructure.”
But when asked about the possibility of making peace with Israel, he said “The new Syria will fully support the rights of the Palestinian people and will work to further Arab cooperation and regional solidarity. And will build its relationship with countries based on mutual respect".
Asked whether the new Syrian regime would recognize Israel, he said: "This will be left to the will of Syrian people who will express their will on this democratically following the overthrow of the Syrian regime".
"The Arab Initiative will most probably be acceptable after the regime change, and we hope it will become a reality,” he told the Post. “After Syria will get back the Golan Heights, they will accept whatever will be accepted by the Palestinian people."
When asked whether Hamas still be welcome in Damascus, he replied that "keeping Hamas under positive Arab influence is a good thing and Syria can encourage Hamas to keep unity with the Palestinian Authority, it's better than to leave Hamas on their own devices or to other players' influence".
He added that most of the opposition leaders support an international military intervention aimed at ousting President Bashar Assad "as early as possible," adding that some may not be brave enough to say so openly.
