snapped shot - Lebanon

Lebanon: Who is the Puppetmaster?

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:53:47 -0500

Charles Malik provides the in-depth analysis of the scuttlebutt, and has made an attempt to piece the puzzle together:

In a conversation with a PSP activist, we put the rumors we heard together, and found that there might be greater plans involved in these recent clashes. This is speculation, but it seems like there is a specific pre-constructed narrative being followed, and the weak link in the chain providing most of the information are SSNP guys.

It seems like Hezbollah's putsch is part of a larger plan to legitimate a Syrian return to Lebanon.

Hezbollah, Amal, and the SSNP tried to start clashes with the Sunni Future Movement and Druze PSP. Hezbollah assumed they would win after a week or so of clashes in Beirut and then dictate the narrative, claiming that they "liberated" the area. They followed their plan to take over all of Beirut, and then humiliate Hariri at the end by storming his compound. The only problem was that the March 14 parties refused to fight back and took away the clashes Hezbollah needed to legitimate their attacks ex post facto.

The plan was always to give territory back to the Army, but that is because the Army is merely a national symbol and placate the feelings of the community, while Hezbollah would remain in charge.

The SSNP would be the vanguard, placing posters of Syrian President Bashar al Assad everywhere. Hezbollah would be the enforcers, and try to keep some level of legitimacy by claiming that the SSNP guys are the Syria supporters. Amal and Berri would be the negotiating partner.

Hezbollah started clashes in the Bekaa simultaneous to the clashes in Beirut to make it seem like the fighting is national, but also to begin the process of providing Syria with an excuse to re-enter the country.

Charles has much more, so be sure to click over and check it out.

Cheerleading for the Terrorists

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:37:59 -0500

Soccer Dad points out that AFP is using particularly glowing language to describe Hezbullah's latest conquest in Beirut:

Shiite gunmen guard pro-government detainees in west Beirut on May 9, 2008. Hezbollah fighters, their guns blazing, seized control of west Beirut after three days of street battles with pro-government foes pushed Lebanon dangerously close to all-out civil war. The sectarian fighting had eased by early afternoon and the army and police moved across areas now in the hands of Iranian-backed Shiite opposition forces who routed Sunni militants loyal to the Western-backed government. AFP PHOTO/HASSAN IBRAHIM (Photo credit should read HASSAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images)

"Pro-government" foes conquered Beirut with "their guns blazing?"

Does that mean that Agence France-Presse is against the lawfully-elected Lebanese government?

Embedded with the Enemy?

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:17:58 -0500

Freedom of the press, jihadi-style.

A Blog for All asks if Western news stringers operating in Beirut today are enemy embeds. The answer to that is twofold:—For starters, all of the photographers that are covering this week's events live there, so they're essentially covering their home turf. However, Hezbullah has been going through plenty of effort to censor photographers that are "unfriendly" to the group, and has shut down media outlets that are run by the opposition, so the remaining photographers aren't exactly enemy "embeds," as much as they are enemy-vetted.

By the way, I still haven't heard a single word of condemnation issued by Reuters against the brutal treatment shown to its employees by the terrorist militia. Yet, if Israel were even remotely thought to have been involved, I'm sure the press releases would've been flying before the photos even hit the wires.

One wonders why Hezbullah feels it needs to even bother with censorship of the press, considering how friendly to the group the media already are.

Great Product Placement

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:06:30 -0500

A certain shoemaker is going to be very happy with the prominent product placement in this wire photograph:

... for anyone the UN is "monitoring," apparently.

Hezbullah's Media Blackout

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:51:35 -0500

Charles Malik has details on Hezbullah's takeover of the Lebanese press:

Hezbollah has taken control of the media in Lebanon, and their propaganda campaign has already begun. They are currently presenting themselves as liberators of Lebanon, and allies of the Lebanese Army against a corrupt government supported by pro-government snipers and brigrands.

Hezbollah's militant takeover of Beirut and its systematic destruction of the authority of the state and freedom of the press suggests a sophisticated and planned campaign to take power. There is no hiding the violence Hezbollah used to seize Beirut and cut it off from the rest of the country. But as their media campaign is already showing, Hezbollah is employing subtle and sophisticated mechanisms to take over the rest of Lebanon. All news which could be construed as negative behaviors, such as the blatant destruction and corruption of Lebanese institutions, is hidden beneath a Hezbollah-dominated media blackout.

No one knows if Hezbollah is currently occupying government building, re-routing the telecommunications networks, placing weapons in areas they could not gain access to before, and more. If Hezbollah wins this battle, this information will never be made public.

And it certainly won't be made public by the Western press, which is already quite sympathetic to Hezbullah:

Al Jazeera is claiming that Hezbollah has made a "concession" by opening the airport road. As was told to me by a veteran Lebanese reporter, all of the journalists and news agencies reporting right now have been vetted by Hezbollah. Even if the news is true, it is written to present Hezbollah's actions as gracious.

Lebanon: He Who Pulls the Strings

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:38:53 -0500

The servants of the master celebrate in Beirut:

A Hezbollah gunman poses as he flashes a victory sign after putting up posters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and taking over of an office of the Future group loyal to Saad al-Hariri Majority leader, in the Rass al-Naba'a area in Beirut May 9, 2008. Hezbollah gunmen took control of large areas of Beirut on Friday in a third day of fighting between the pro-Iranian group and fighters loyal to the U.S.- backed governing coalition. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)

Beirut Falls to Hezbullah?

nospam@example.com (Brian C. Ledbetter) — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:56:02 -0500

It would seem that Hezbullah is winning the Battle of Beirut—Will this be the second time that this poor city falls to a band of ruthless thugs?

They've managed to run members of Parliament that were hostile to them out of town, and Jeha has written a very eloquent analysis of the stakes of the game. He's also updated his maps to illustrate the current state of affairs in downtown Beirut.

The Lebanese Forces, for whatever reason, don't seem to be willing to stand up and fight the Iranian-backed bullies so far. If things remain the way they are right now, the outcome is as inevitable as it ever has been.

Update: Photographic evidence that Hezbullah is taking the Hamas approach to coups? More photos here.