12.12.06
Free Lebanon
Something is happening in Lebanon. The Western Media has really shied away from covering it. This has been the biggest demonstration (much bigger than the “Cedar Revolution”) in Lebanon’s history.
In many ways, Hezbollah has adopted a strategy that has been cheered by the White House in the past, in places like Ukraine, and even Lebanon itself, leaning on large, peaceful crowds to force unpopular governments to resign and pave the way for elections. But this time Washington and its allies have said the protest amounts to a coup d’état, fueling charges that America supports democratic practices only when its allies are winning.
“Does Bush want national expression in Lebanon?” Sheik Qassem said to the crowd. “Does the West and Arabs want the voice of the people in Lebanon? Tell them, ‘Death to America.’ Tell them, ‘Death to Israel.’ Tell them, ‘Glory to a free Lebanon.’ ”
The economy has been brought to a stand-still with companies admitting the loss of millions. The streets are jam-packed. Almost half of the population of Lebanon (4 million) have been attending! People have been protesting peacefully for more than ten days that even the “Prime Minister” is shocked and surprised.
The pounding of martial music, the roaring din of the excited crowd floated up a nearby hill to pierce the thick walls of the stately government building, the Grand Serail, as Prime Minister Fouad Sinoria, entered a ceremonial room for a news conference. “I don’t understand what is this great cause that is making them create this tense political mess and stage open ended demonstrations,” he said to a small group of reporters.
People want change. And they want change now.
A banner that hung down the side of a building, showing a picture of the prime minister hugging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “Thanks Condy,” it said just beneath another image of dead children, referring to Lebanese civilian casualties during Israel’s war with the militant Shiite group Hezbollah during the summer.
“There is no longer a place for America in Lebanon,” Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, said in remarks that boomed through loudspeakers.
This is the first time all of the Shi’a Muslims are under one banner (the biggest group in Lebanon). This is the first time where there is an alliance amongst the Shi’a, the largest Christain movement and Sunni Muslims (there are joint prayers being held all over Beirut). Here are some pictures from the rally (orange represents the “Free Patriotic Movement” the largest Christain party in Lebanon that is aligned with Hizbollah and the yellow represents Hizbollah, the largest political party in Lebanon).
source: Global Research, Michael Slackman