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Hezbollah Seeks Legitimacy.

Squawker

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I don’t think Hezbollah can be trusted any more than any other terrorist group. Would it be a good move to give them political status?

Apr 10, 4:48 PM (ET)

By DONNA ABU-NASR
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - As its Syrian backers leave Lebanon, Hezbollah is seeking to transform its image domestically and in the West - from guerrilla group condemned as terrorist by the United States to political party respected for playing a serious, productive role in Lebanese politics.
As part of this attempted makeover, Hezbollah sent a senior representative to a meeting in Beirut last month with American and British intellectuals, including former government and intelligence officials, to talk about the group, which Washington accuses of killing hundreds of Americans in terror attacks in the 1980s.
Source
 
Squawker said:
I don’t think Hezbollah can be trusted any more than any other terrorist group. Would it be a good move to give them political status?
NO! Maybe eventually, but I think they need to lay down all their weapons, condemn suicide bombers, and do so repeatedly and without qualification.

Otherwise, they're just a terrorist group trying to stay in the game and doing some PR work....
 
26 X World Champs said:
NO! Maybe eventually, but I think they need to lay down all their weapons, condemn suicide bombers, and do so repeatedly and without qualification.

Otherwise, they're just a terrorist group trying to stay in the game and doing some PR work....
I don't think it's for us to say whether they're qualified for political status or not. We should really leave it up to the Lebanese. We in the US see an evil, bloody, west-hating terrorist group, but Hezbollah has made some serious advances for the people of Lebanon (schools, roads etc.).
 
anomaly said:
I don't think it's for us to say whether they're qualified for political status or not. We should really leave it up to the Lebanese. We in the US see an evil, bloody, west-hating terrorist group, but Hezbollah has made some serious advances for the people of Lebanon (schools, roads etc.).
Please, please do some checking? They're one of the most notorious terror organization of the last 30 years! There's no defense for them, sorry....
 
Squawker said:
I don’t think Hezbollah can be trusted any more than any other terrorist group. Would it be a good move to give them political status?


Hizballah (Party of God)
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism. United States Department of State Publication 10321

-----------------------------

Other Names
Islamic Jihad
Revolutionary Justice Organization
Organization of the Oppressed on Earth
Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine
Description
Radical Shia group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-Islamic influences from area. Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran, but may have conducted rogue operations that were not approved by Tehran.
Activities:
Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck-bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September 1984. Group also hijacked TWA 847 in 1985. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of most, if not all, US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. Islamic Jihad publicly claimed responsibility for the carbombing of Israel's Embassy in Buenos Aires in March 1992.
Strength:Several thousand.
Location/Area of Operation:Operates in the [Al Biqa'] (Bekaa valley), the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere.
External Aid:Receives substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran.




Umm no. Round em up and put em away.
 
26 X World Champs said:
NO! Maybe eventually, but I think they need to lay down all their weapons, condemn suicide bombers, and do so repeatedly and without qualification.

Otherwise, they're just a terrorist group trying to stay in the game and doing some PR work....

Hmm there's me thinkin that Americans wanted freedom and democracy in the middle-east, then start whining about legitimacy when terrorists start getting the popular. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

If they get voted in, they get voted in - called Democracy. Who are we to interfere with the democratic process, oh wait we do it all the time. lol
 
which I have stated before, a lot of middle east countries don't know how to act with all this freedom, so they start to panic and pledge allegiance to a powerful leader and this leader is usually a terrorist figure.
 
anomaly said:
I don't think it's for us to say whether they're qualified for political status or not. We should really leave it up to the Lebanese. We in the US see an evil, bloody, west-hating terrorist group, but Hezbollah has made some serious advances for the people of Lebanon (schools, roads etc.).
Cemeteries, too.
 
I find myself agreeing with GarzaUK. We can't say that we are pushing them for democracy if we don't allow them to elect who they want. If you say that "They can't be in power because of the terror they have caused", then I will be forced to whip out the liberal line that Bush has caused several magnitudes higher in terms of death and destruction than Hezbollah. So, should middle east countries say "United States, Dubya is a terrorist, you must take him out of power and bring him to justice"? I seriously doubt that they would do that and I'm not holding my breathe that us crazy liberals could get enough support to put Bush before the ICC. Although, it would be kinda funny.
 
I remember (Back in the Old'en days :2razz: ) when the same things were being said about the PLO, and now look at the legit status they have. Weapons are one thing but suicide bombers are another....They need to stop the typical terrorist activity first and have a more clearly define set of goals other then just violence.
 
At a propitious time, every wolf dons sheep's clothing. The time is propitious for Hezbollah to adopt the appearance of legitimacy, for however long it suits the purposes of its adherents and supporters.

The deaf, the dumb, and the blind, in short, the socialist-lib-dems will insist that Hezbollah has reformed and deserves a pat on the head and a lollipop.
 
Fantasea said:
At a propitious time, every wolf dons sheep's clothing. The time is propitious for Hezbollah to adopt the appearance of legitimacy, for however long it suits the purposes of its adherents and supporters.

The deaf, the dumb, and the blind, in short, the socialist-lib-dems will insist that Hezbollah has reformed and deserves a pat on the head and a lollipop.
Hezbollah's good acts toward the Lebanese are nothing new. Only the US has been terrorized by Hezbollah, but again, the Lebanese have really benefitted from schools, roads, etc.
 
anomaly said:
Hezbollah's good acts toward the Lebanese are nothing new. Only the US has been terrorized by Hezbollah, but again, the Lebanese have really benefitted from schools, roads, etc.
See my reference to "wolf in sheep's clothing" in post #11.
 
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