Sooner or later this was going to happen, you cannot allow armed independent militias and they don’t become a problem. This is a lesson to other parts of the Middle East & Africa. While it might be expediant to allow militias, the price just might be too high that’s paid later.

World War III… here we go!

Cal,
I went to Beirut last summer and spent a couple weeks there. Where exactly is the fighting occurring and does anyone know what actually prompted the Sunnis and the Shi’a to start shooting at one another?

10 years and more the Syrians had shipped or enabled others to ship weapons and armament trom and through Syrian terrihory riht to the arsenal of the Hizbulla.

If someone had doubt about the military ability of the Hizbullah, he got the answer on summer 2006; then the Hizbullah attacted Isreal by launching more then 100 missiles per day for 33 days.

Since then the Hizbullah had refilled its arsenal and upgraded it, all with the active support and passive agreement of the Syrian leaders.

My boyfriend was in the Marines for four years and went to Iraq for one. He warned me a few months ago about the next war to occur would be in Lebanon. What does this mean for the United States now? Sooner or later the whole world will be at adds with each other and no one will be able to stop the wars between the countries. What is to come in the future?

It must be nearing summer again….Hezbollah is fighting

Less than a kilometer away from a raging gun battle, people were eating dinner — as we drove by in our flak jackets . . .

THIS IS IMPORTANT INFO!!
PLS TELL US MORE . . .

THANKS.

Notice how these things always break out in time to wreck the biggest money maker for Lebanon: summer tourism. Last year it was the Palestinian camps vs. the Lebanese army, the year before it was Hezbollah vs Israel, the year before that it was assassinations galore. It is in someone’s interest to keep Lebanon weak and prevent or reverse the return to prosperity it experienced in recent years. Can someone say Syria et al?

Michael, the fighting is mostly in West Beirut. I’ve heard it’s been mostly Msaitbeh, Ras Nabaa, Mazraa and Basta, but you can never be sure from these reports. Christian East Beirut is not involved and things are carrying on as usual, minus schools being off until Monday. The official story is that the Lebanese gov’t wants to remove Hizballah’s telecom network, but there has been some personal antagonisms, attacks and kidnappings b/w the factions for a few weeks.

Anyone who tells you that democracy is feasible in the Middle East is lying. You can’t have multiple EFFECTIVE political parties in that part of the world.

You either have a ruthless dictator or an outside power (ruled by a ruthless dictator) or you get what you see in Beirut today.

This fighting will not cease till one party takes over every thing. Sad but true.

The Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Jihad Summer Olympics
Once again, there will be no repeat champions in the Suicide Bombing event. Some societies rally around the national pride of athletic competition every 4 years, in the Middle East, they rally around armed conflict.

“There will be wars and rumors of wars” Yeah I think the Bible got it right

“Such is Beirut – a place where it’s quiet … until it’s not.”

You’re absolutely right.

As a Lebanese, I pray that the situation will calm down but I strongly doubt it will.

It looks like it is going to be one “hot” summer in Lebanon and it breaks my heart.

So the question for Israel is- do they let Lebanon fall ENTIRELY to Hizbullah as the Gaza Strip was lost to Hamas?

As an American Lebanese living in Houston and never lived in Lebanon, but visited quite often as most Lebanese love to do….we all know whats really happening.

It has nothing to do with religion, or militias directly…its politics at its best in the middle east. They are used to getting there way only through violence, and you can thank Iran and Syria for that. When your boss that pays all your bills tells you to do something, you do it!!! Thanks Iran.

This is what the United States needs right now. A good war to take us out of the $4.00 a gallon for gas that we are paying. War is good business! It’s about time! This should bring the economy right up.

Hezbollah starts a war, Shiite vs Sunnis, no Syrians, no Israelis, only Arab vs Arab supplied by Iranian and Syrian manipulators wwith the intent of upending the government of Lebanon. Pray for the poor people of Lebanon, and its inept national Army, all of whom will now be enveloped in a war fomented by foreign intrigue Islamist style.

Presently i am working here in Lebanon. I was also here last 2006 war and now here i am again. I just don’t know if i will regret that i came back to work here, I hope that something will be done right to stop this chaos.

To Mohammed in this Blog:

I think that you’re right! Very sad, but true. As Ziad Rahbani said it decades ago: “Sa3idé yaba w da3wiss”.

This means: Good evening yal and crush (or stomp).

SO SAD!! In the past twenty years, the Syrian Regime was able to keep weapons pouring into Lebanon, Once to the PLO ( Palestian Lebaration Organization) , so they can attack Israel, which ignites a 15 years Civil -
And now Hezbulla …. When the Lebanese politician learn their lesson? OR HAVE THEY LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE PAST?

Maria wrote: >>”It is in someone’s interest to keep Lebanon weak and prevent or reverse the return to prosperity it experienced in recent years. Can someone say Syria et al?”<<

So sad but true. That is the first thing that came to mind when my father called from Lebanon breaking the news. After 3 canceled trips over the past 3 summers, we had already planned to be there this summer. This is no surprise. Hezbollah spends the time between summers training and replenishing its supplies and armament from Syria/Iran. What an unfortunate and devastating predicament for the Lebanese people. Every time we build, they tear it down. It’s just unfortunate there’s not enough foreign interest in Lebanon for NATO forces (read: US) to apply military pressure. Of course this is all politically driven. And it’s not a matter of it being a war you can or can’t win, but to provide STABILITY. Everyone knows the Lebanese military is too weak. With stability can come long term economic growth. Heck, a president can’t even be elected after NINETEEN attempts! Right now there are too many negative forces working against this “return to prosperity”. There needs to be strong intervention led by none other than humanitarian interest. Is that even realistic??

And you can absolutely have an effective democracy in the Middle East. You just need stability and security (ok, and wiping out all the extremist would help too!). How do you think it works in Israel? The US has its back and it’s all “kosher”, relatively speaking.

the comment left:

May 8th, 2008 1910 GMT

Less than a kilometer away from a raging gun battle, people were eating dinner — as we drove by in our flak jackets . . .

THIS IS IMPORTANT INFO!!
PLS TELL US MORE . . .

THANKS.

Is actually very important bc if this person was lebanese and was there in the war of 2006 or any of the wars she would know that life always goes on in Lebanon. A country with constant turmoil over the last two plus decades - people have to almost find a sense of normalcy in an environment that is extremely unstable.

Good job Cal…i especially enjoyed that piece.

Obama will talk to Hassan Nasrallah with no conditions.

Change, hope, yes we can.

The USA-Israeli war on Hizbollah since 2006 hasn’t stopped yet. They are using bunch of gangs in beirut to fight and defeat what USA and “israel” couldn’t fight.

So finally these gangs in Beirut will be round up and thrown away.

This is America, the mother of all Terrorists.

As Martin Luther King said ‘I have a dream…’ well so do I, and the only difference is that for the Lebanese to have peace all these leaders in the country, whether affected by the local or international influence it doesn’t matter cause inside the country we are all hurting, no matter what religion or political view, my dream would be just put all these leaders in a bucket and light a fire so they and their personal greed can burn, cause the bottom line is, thats all they want.
Well now we can also see how patriotic and ‘Lebanese’ Hezbollah really is. Unless of course they are just helping and promoting the rest of the country to become martyrs.

Hezbollah has shown its true colors it doesn’t respect a democratically elected government, this organization sees only what it wants to see and here, the people of this organization have no respect or care for the opinion of what other Lebanese think or feel.

The problem is this organization is sponsored by Syria and Iran who both support terror. While the rest of the people only hear words from the Arab states and a few more word from the West.

the game needs a new hand of card!!!

Hezbollah is not Lebanese but Iranian terror

Now is the time for Israel to strike:
Pros: 1. Hizbollah (HB) will have to fight two fronts
2. HB fighters leaving their strongholds to fight street battles with army/other militias will be exposed
3. Less backlash from lebanese/arabs and ineffective europeans as 18 months ago
4. population at large and other leb. militias are better prepared now.
5. fighting could help lebanon in short run vs protracted stalemate of leb. army and sunni/xtian/druze vs HB, which could make a case for Syria to come back in to help the sunnis/xtian govt. faction (that was the case in 1976 syrian invasion).

Cons: 1. Israeli citizens still squeamish about another round of war.
2. HB will affirm its case that Israel still a threat.
3. Undercover Israeli/Syrian talk could stall.

This HB cancer has to be excised and this is the best opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, my mom, cousins, friends and innocent lebanese have to suffer through this ordeal.

I agree with Wally…this has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with power.
Other people’s wars (Israel-Syria/Iran) being fought in Lebanon and innocent people being caught in the middle…not far from what happened in Afghanistan back in ‘79 with the U.S. and Soviets. Innocent countries with unstable governments being used by superpowers. We are so quick to criticize Iran and Syria (heaven forbid we criticize Israel…we all know they are ALWAYS the innocent victims), but let’s not be hypocrites here.

Lebanon is Irag without the Economical politics that go with it.The difference is,theres no Oil in Lebanon, so its in NO1′S immediate interest to stick there nose where it’s likely to be blown off! As far as Lebanon being able to evole out and above of the situation it is in today has to do with the fact that as long as the “interior” polical situation is not stable ( which almost never has), outside political influence has no real effect or meaning. In less then 6 weeks we will see a dramatic turn in things as Lebanon is going to show us what shes been containing, under constant pressure!

It makes me sick that this is happening in lebanon. late Prime Minister Hariri has spent so much time and effort to reconstruct the capital and other parts of lebanon, and now all that is bieng done is damage. I do not see how this could be of any good to lebanon. If only these parties would realize it.
I can’t believe that they had not learned from the first civil war, nobody wins in lebanon. It is too evenly distributed, but not only that, it gets so much foreign help and support that you can never put an end to it.
this should stop, If for nothing, for the respect of a dead soul.

As a Lebanese, I hope Hezbollah will lose this war. This way the Lebanese government can shutdown Hezbollah’s illegitimate communication network, and the Lebanese Shi’a and people can be freed from this terrorist militia. We as people are sick of the war. We do not want to be financed by Iran and Syria to fight their war against Israel. We want peace with all neighboring countries. Hezbollah proved today that they are against the Lebanese people. They are using their weapons against Lebanese civilians. God help the innocent.

most of you are very easy, war in lebanon? blame hezbollah..
it’s the easiest way, please do some research and you’ll find out hezbollah didnt started this problem,
second i read someone typed that it was not a religious issue but an
political, that is absolutely true, the only ones destabilizing the country are the leaders, they are seperating etc.
Third, there are fights all over ‘The Green Line’ .
Fourth, siniora should get off his lazy chair and ask himself if anybody wants him there, and to know that there should be a re-election.
Fifth& last, no political system is perfect, with that in mind ill think ill go for democracy, party’s like hezbollah are not there for fun, the political party oh hezbollah are no ‘big’ problem, the military is for some people, then you have to start compromising and/or start giving them what they want, they have a point..

This has always been the agenda of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a means to an end in the hands of Iran. If you watch the news you can clearly pick up on the Iranian invasion of the Middle East. Iraq will never realize peace amidst the Iranian insurgents. Syrian is a strong ally of Iran and its right hand. Now its Lebanon’s turn. We are clearly witnessing the Iranian invasion and it is really getting scary. Lebanon never had a war over a Lebanese cause. It was and will always be foreign hands and foreign conflicts battled over on Lebanese soil!!! Leave Lebanon alone. It is time Lebanon has a strong army to defend itself from all foreign and region conflicts for power, rule and mastership over the land and people.

If Hizbollah is trying to show that they have the right to protect their own communication networks and their right for resistance they are proving the opposite: that they can very easily point their weapons of legal “resistance” towards the inside, to whomever will “disagree” with them…
They are proving that their weapons are a real menace to the wellfare of the country they are “pretending” to protect…
Poor Beirut, you will always suffer, RBG? It brings memories of many years ago…

This will finally provide an opportunity for the Lebanese government to rid itself of Hizballah. Hizballah’s aggression against the Lebanese government and the people of Lebanon should garner international support for the Lebanese cause. My only hope is that for once this will end instead of another cease fire that goes unenforced and leaving Hizballah with all its weapons.

One thing i dont understand, Heznollah says they are for lebanon and they fight for us. I dont understand how anyone or any political party would want another country to rule for you? Why on goods green earth would you want Iran or Syria to rule YOUR country i will never understand him. As a lebanese canadian iam sad to say but i wish Isreal had finished the job back in 2006, it would have been the best thing for Lebanon in the long run.

I wish that we can all live in peace an stop blaming one another. My childhood memories of being raised in the paris of the middle-east have been tarnished by all kinds of politicians regardless of whether it be iranian, Israeli, American, Corrupt Lebanese. I as well as 95% of the innocent people of the world would love to see the world without borders, people not being so materialistic and the powerful living life with passion and compassion. Allot of people looking for a sense of belonging following a distorted fanatic view of what religion is not supposed to be. is what it comes down to. I would love to see Israel and Lebanon at peace, not fighting over land and living as they should like brothers and sisters. Religion displays the meaning of life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Israel 60 years of Jewish pride.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hizbullah: 26 years of Lebanese pride.
Leb Government: No strategy, no economy, no discipline, no democracy, no welfare… if you were American candidates you will be all under congressional hearings for corruption, betrayal and treason.
Can u get my kids some clean water?Electricity?Clear the mountain of trash? How about security? Perhaps a job? U’re too busy doing what exactly?

I texted a friend last night to check on her and make sure she was OK. She replied that she was eating fondue and chillin’ with her mates 10km North of Beirut.

To all those who’ve lived through the war and who’ve decided to stay no matter what happens, this is considered normal behavior.

This …. is Lebanon!

Lebanon is such a beautiful country, however, nobody loves it or maybe they all envy it! People there are like sheep; they all are followers of a few leaders who claim to be patriots of that country! I pray for Lebanon that once was called “The Jewel of The Middle East”.

we all know that the middle east will never see peace, its a place where it all started and where it all shall end. the fact is that the big war had started when the evil Hizballah could not be stopped by the Israeli army, the incompetence of the IDF gave the party of evil alot of confidence to seek control of lebanon and spread fear in the middleast. Iran and syria are happy to see lebannon and the whole region burn. I hope that Hizballah gets demolished in this war, and lebanon gets back its glory days. the “lebirators” of lebanon have become its agressors. God save the lebanese people from the burning hell of the party of evil.

I was in Lebanon on wisit in January, i fell in love with the contry and the people. It rally breaks my heart to read the news the last coupple of days. My thougts are with my friends and theyr family down there every day. May it all end as fast as possible.

guys i’ve been living in lebanon for 10 years i’m an american but my parents are of lebaneese origin, never through the time i spent here something like this has happened, i live in the christians area of lebanon abt 5 miles away from beirut u could see the smoke raging from the city, it takes my parents 30 years before, during the civil war, here nothin is goin on people are normal like nothin is happening this is lebanon, one minute everybody’s living happily there’s prosperation and money in the country then the next gunfire breaks out, and just before the summer tourisim season why do they always wanna destroy the country just leave it alone, in 2005 there was 1 600 000 tourist in lebanon!! and what??!!?!?!? everybody blames the other and nobody takes responsibility it’s very sad and situation is getting desprate by the minute…………i don’t know what’s goin to happen…….the US embassy urged us te stay home or if it possible leave……….it’s crazy out here… we are sinking into something there’s no return from…… i hope the political leadres would see that!!!!! thank you

this has nothing to do with religion or belief it’s all politics, politicians want to make lebanon a battle groud to fight iran and to settle their differences well i just wanna say that lebaneese are so dum to be used as pupets for the personal benefits of others!!!!

I am really concerned about the situation in Lebanon which is an extremely nice country and has a huge potential. Myselves, I had to escape Lebanon yesterday and go out thru Syria. Not a nice experience…

I’m Norwegain living in Lebanon and today is my sons first birthday. We are going to sing and eat cake come hell or high water. Hezbollah are not going to stop us from celebrating and blowing balloons even if we have to duck.

This is not ”war” in the true sense of the word.

This is politics. One can only hope that Lebanon uses this opportunity to rid itself of Hezbullah for good. In the long run you CANNOT have an ”organisation” like that existing alongside goverment forces. It will just be a matter of time before they will clash (not only wih government, but with whoever THEY feel THEY can justify to fight with).

Perhaps America’s days in the middle east is far from over…I’m sure Israel wont mind them giving a hand in Lebanon either.

After all, the world should be rid of terrorist organisations like Hezbullah and others.

Hello, i’m from Beirut, Lebanon.

I wanted to answer Mary Ann Cooke, about “Less than a kilometer away from a raging gun battle, people were eating dinner — as we drove by in our flak jackets . . .”

Lebanese people don’t care! That’s our problem. However it’s not only our mistake, every big one of the powerful countries all around us wants a piece of us! And this is nothing but consequences.

Our leaders suck, and unfortunately we keep hailing for them!
That’s of course a psychological illness that they brought to us through out the years since 1970!

Now the situation has gone mad. If some of us get a chance to leave the country they would, and those who won’t be any lucky are eating dinner. Sooner or later they’d become gunmen as well!!

Sad but true!

it’s very intresting to read all those various comments…no one mentionned that Lebanese do not love each other….those who do are a minority here. shii’a versus sunni was just waiting to happen! they hate each other’s guts! Ali my shii’a neighbor- we grew up in the same neighborhood- and Abed mu sunni neighbor left the neighborhood 2 days ago to go fight on the new “demarcation line” at Corniche al mazraa.
i went to buy some tomato this morning, and i realized that i know most of the gunmen here…they are all my neighbors!!! so u had people chating with them, like an old sunni man or the next door Hajeh…Crazy!!
I’m not a Shii nor a sunni and i lived between those 2 communities all my life. i was so proud when hezbollah kicked Israel’s butt in 2006…logically. i hate israel and i have every right to, but i realize suddenly that hezbollah is becoming a major player here, gaining power and more power and more power. it’s really a state within a state. i found myself blaming the gov. for evoking the communication network issue at this sensitive time! In fact, lebanon cannot embrace the Islamic resistance. i’ sorry for the words am going to say but Christians, Druze and sunnis cannot live along today’s lebanese shii’a. the differences are huge whether betwenn politicians or between people, and the first does not necessarely lead to the other.

It becomes crystal-clear, yet again; the terrorist nature of Hezbollah. Masked gunmen, snipers, RPGs, roaming the streets of Beirut.. The whole world can witness, once more; how this organization (Hezbollah) is the main obstacle to peace in Lebanon, and the whole area, in general. It is the right time to finally dismantle and disarm this militia, for the benefit of Lebanon, and the whole middle east.. Last year it was the refugee camps… this summer, it’s Hezbollah who will undoubtedly, be defeated.

Yesterday, I was chatting with a friend of mine who lives in Beruit who informed of the situation. I immediately checked cnn.com but there was no post. I then uploaded my own report along with a couple of pics on i-report. Today, as I sit at work I saw the developing story of how hezbollah took over ‘an army negotiated’ surrender of the west side. I’m afraid i’m going to have to sound off a bit. First of all, yes, I’m not an arab or a muslim, but can someone PLEASE explain to me the dynamics in Lebanon where a situation exists that a foreign backed faction exerts such power and influence in supposedly democratic country that its military or law enforcement, firstly sit back and play pacifist and then promptly get Gandhian ideals and surrender!? I’ve been unable to get in touch with my friend to day, I obviously hope every thing’s ok but then on a larger scale, who is the real govt.?? If the current people have been democratically elected, how is it that hezbollah can garner so much apparent popular support?

Its the Iranians, they are going for broke! Surprise! Not!
Israeli is finished if they win in Lebanon they will topple the West Bank next. Then they will rocket Israel from all sides.
Iraq will fall to the Iranians, then Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

These guys are militaristic fascists, just like Hitler was, and just as nasty.

The dice are rolling… what is the West going to do?

I am so fed up with the winging liberals! To quote “The Doors” song, This is the End!

The situation in Lebanon is intolerable, and it is very sad to see once again how a once beautiful city can be destroyed by terrorists, which is what Hezbollah is and shall always be.

In order to put an end to this, we MUST find a way to deal with these people decisively WITHOUT getting Israel involved. However, I don’t see that happening, and of course if they do it will only lead to something far worse than what is going on now. The United States and the EU must act to prevent something far worse from happening, like another World War.

Beirut, the place where anything can happen, luckily all this will soon end, as the anti government coalition is acting rather wisely and handing over the areas under their control to the lebanese army. At last we got out of the procrastination situation. Now is the time to go back to negotiations with every party knowing exactly what it might loose in case the fightings goes on. Government will loose it’s credibility and resistance will loose it’s sacred aura.
All we are asking for, as lebanese cultured youth, (as opposed to the gang memberss fighting in the streets), is a chance to get our Lebanon back from the hands of Warlords who have been using the state institution’s as their own private companies for such a long time !

The only solution is to attack syria.

Why do we have to hunt news on what is going on in Lebanon? It seems to be a taboo on American Television to cover news from there.

I have to hunt for the information.

Why is it so important for us to know what Brittany Spears is doing?

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I find it interesting that we are quick to blame others for the supply of weapons to Hezbollah. The U.S. is the biggest supplier of arms in the world. WE also don’t seem to be to picky to who we supply.
We put Saddam into power, then we supplied him with weapons so he could stay in power. Then we attack him and he defends himself with the weapons we gave him in the first place. Can you say duh.
Our foreign policy over the last many years, is a direct cause of many of the violent incendents around the world. Violence only leads to death and destuction. Our arrogence and ignorence has put the middle east into this position. With the U.S. able to do little about it.

this should be a lesson for all lebanese, some may not like hezbola, some others do, the reality is they are lebanese, the represent 1/3 of the population even with some support in sunni areas. you casn not just get rid of them by isolating them, negotiations are needed.

I just want to say that I think Hassan Nassrallah is a coward and a puppy. I think him and his groupies as well as the government of Syria need to be exterminated.
We all know that Syria is behind everything and when Syria’s interests come before Lebanon’s to H.Nassrallah, he deserves to be punished.
They call themselves muslims when they are nothing like muslims. They shame that religion simply because they are part of it.

well we’ve been waiting for so long for this to happen. we all knew that hozballah is terrorist and one day they’ll kill us. it’s time for the world to help us. why no one is acting? where’s america?france?the arab?what are u waiting for? to become another iranian regime in lebanon?Obama are u still welling to negotiate with iran and syria?to start talking to terrorist?

This is the begining of something big. All parties involved knew it was coming.

The U.S. is hoping that a mistake will be made by Hizzballah and act as a triger for a wider conflict involving, Israel, Syria and Iran; with Iran being theh ultimate target.

That trigger will be significant and enough for the U.S. congress to bless a strike on either Syria or/and Iran, while Israel finishes Hizzballah.

So the Lebanese conflict is not just an isolated independent inccidence, it is part of a much bigger regional war plan that has just begun!

your interview with tony yesterday during the firefight was incredible.
i was listening on sat radio, and i have to say it was the most compelling radio i’ve heard. keep up the great work and stay safe.

This is the most embarassing, humiliating situation Lebanese citizens have faced…They dont have a president, their country is in disaster, and as A TYPICAL STUBBORN LEBANESE politician, someone wants their way and the citizens get killed on the other side. This is ridiculous. I hope to God Hezbollah goes down this time and Lebanon can stay free from Iran, Syria and protected by the USA

hi
my name is Ahmad
i am Lebanese
I want u people to understand that we are in war because of Hezbollah’s and Iran’s plan of conquering the MIddle East…
and i also want u to know that it is like hell here… we can’t get out of our houses because of the armed Terrorists of Hezbolla
also i want u to know that Nasralla (hezbollah’s leader) is giving the exact opposite of what is really happening… and he’s the biggest liar… i hope he burns in hell

for one i dont understand why were constantly involved in all areas of the world except our own land and people. all i keep seeing is wars started and were in the middle of it all. our own president lied to us and were still sitting ducks waiting for what bush to start world war 3. we have nothing to do with lebanon or its people, our government is once again trying to step in and involve itself in something it has nothing to do with. why dont we as a people wake up. we still dont have osama bin laden, we still fighting in iraq for oil and now were gonna start in lebanon, over what ISREAL. they get more money every year from our own tax dollars. so lets start worrying about our economy and people and lets start questioning our government about our democracy.

Rather surprised that the army is just sitting and watching as Hezbollah take control. When an armed group attacks a legally elected government you slap them down. If Hezbollah is allowed to gain control of the country (hopefully this won’t happen) it will mean war with Israel, who would be well within their rights to attack a government sworn to destroy them.

When Syria got kicked out I had hoped that Lebanon would become one of the sane countries in the region. An open government and society what will be willing to talk about peace and working to rebuild the region instead of mindlessly baying to Israel to be wiped out like too many nut jobs. People in the Middle East need to clue in that as long as they run around cutting people’s heads off and blowing themselves up that the rest of the world will not take them seriously.

I live in Hamra — an area in West Beirut that witnessed significant fights throughout last night and most of the day today (Friday). I think a new issue has to be addressed now.. not only disarming Hizbullah.. rather, disarming all the Lebanese parties. After what I have seen last night and today, it seems that all the parties are loaded with supply. So that’s an advice to all parties.. don’t preach what you can’t practice. In any case, as far as inclinations, I am totally apathetic, so no worries, I am not taking sides.

My poor country!
I am mad, disgusted and full of hatred. I hate the Syrians, I hate the Iranians and I cannot believe that we are letting them do this to us. Wake up international community. Wake up USA. The muslims are going to be ruling the world. I am talking about the Fundamentalists!!!!
I left Lebanon 20 years ago (I was 23 at the time), I knew that Lebanon was going to be a muslim country some day. But here they are! In my backyard in the US with their scarves and their filth! I can’t stand it anymore. My parents are still living in Lebanon and God help us all. I never felt that way before. I have friends from all religion. But they have just gone too far. We need to do something about IRAN (evil IRAN). WE CANT NEGOTIATE WITH MADNESS!! WE HAD TO ELIMINATE HITLER. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF!!

I am Canadian, born and raised here and Christian, my husband is Lebanese, Muslim and he is still in Lebanon. It is unfortunate, but he is at the point that he hates the Lebanese for all the fighting. Can you imagine if this were to happen in Canada or the US, with all the religions and nationalities that we have? Lebanon NEEDS to stop their childish fighting, their killing and killing of innocent people. This country and many countries in the Middle East must learn to TALK not fight, not kill. Does the killing solve anything? NO, if it did Lebanon would be in peace after all the wars they have been through. People like my husband, who take no side, and who want to leave, CAN’T for MANY reasons. These Sunni’s and Shia’s have given ALL muslims a bad name and countries such as Canada and the US see them as all the same, they refuse to open their eyes! God bless Lebanon!

Another fake war on the ideal battlefield (Lebanon) so all parties can save face when the compromises they have secretly made become public. This is really an arrangement between the US and Iran (Israel and Syria) around Palestine, the Golan, the role of Hezbollah in Lebanese politics, and economics (read Club Med and a Hilton on the Golan Heights, in South Lebanon and on the Golgotha). People should stop reading into religion and politics and look for the money and scarce resources like water.

The Lebonese Shas want Democracy - like in Iraq: MAJORITY RULES.
They are now more than 65% of population. Last political census to determine group ratios in Parliment was way back in 1943. Again, the U.S Bushies are ANTIDEMOCRATIC - and the polls have been showing what the U.S. people think of THAT (through all the media “disinformation” the Brits or Internet blogs get through with the facts - like in the case of “Building7″ on LiveLeak & YouTube).

One of the only solutions for this is to intervene with weapons distributions made by Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Since America is Israel’s major ally the American people, or most importantly, the people of Israel cannot afford to be surrounded by Hezbollah. If this happens sides will be chosen by major powerhouse countries such as Russia and America, possibly provoking another World War. We, Americans will fight for the people of Israel, and some for oil while others fight for oil and a religous jihad. Economic sanctions are proving to be a waste of time. America and it’s allies MUST act soon to stop the spread of radical islamic ideals if we want to keep Israel on the face of the earth and the Iranian president from achieving his primary object. We need to back Israel 100% and reinforce strategic security checkpoints inside Iraq to make sure that Iran does not gain total control. This is no longer a war on terrorism, but a war to save the people and country of Israel.

what prompted the war between hezbollah and the Harriri party was the government decision to remove the underground telecomunications of hezbollah . they retaliated by cutting off the roads to the airport and then attacking the harriri’s burean and party in lebanon

During the Hezbella-Israel war a couple of years ago, when dining out in America (US and Canada), I asked a few Lebanese working in the restaurants about their attitude towards Hezbella and “government”. Their answer was similar: they support Hezbella. One guy even told me, “We have no government”. Seeing I was shocked, he added, “if a government only stands for the interest of a few guys among millions, is that really a ‘government’?”.

Let it be known to all concerns…. that Lebanese people are not like the Palestenian and the Iraqui… who can easily sell their land to Foreigners / Alliens like they did…. we experienced in killing without feeling of guilt any Alliens or lebanese people that they are pupet to any alliens/ foreigners…

Lebanon is only for the Lebanese… it is so sacred that the Bible mentioned it several times… Get OUT Before it is TOO LATE

Why the opposition gave back the Lebanese Army all the position that took control of ??? Hummmmmmmmm

http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/ar-LB/128548479119777945.htm

Outsider prospective on the Lebanese issues

http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/en-US/128548262159447750.htm

Hillary says Barrack can’t win,but he beat her.John McCain is a war hero with 28 medals,but he got shot down near Hanoi with less than 20hrs of actualn flight time.Also its been rumored that he co-operated with the Viet Cong to recieve medical help.His war hero statis is nothing but a fairy tale.

there we have it… the fight for power in lebanon from 1975-2008 is coming to an end. the winners the Shiite muslims which supports iran and syria, the losers sunni muslims and christians (which will now be minority groups which may have no say under a huzzboulla government) which support the same demorcratic values as USA and israil.

one may say there are no winners in war, but there is a winner, have a look who has complete dominance over lebanon with no opposition? this has no happened in lebanon since it was ruled by turkey then syria and now huzzbulla.

lebanon has moved from a dominate Maronite Christian governemnt from 1975 to a Shiite run group (huzzbulla) in 2008. the reason why the rise in Shiite power and the fall of power for other groups has come from two reasons: 1-taif agreement which allowed huzzbulla to maintain its weapons while the other sects had to disarm after the civil war and; 2 - the support of syria and iran towards huzzbulla while the christans and sunni groups where negleted by the usa and france for iraq.

the USA however cannot be blamed for lebanon to fall in the hands of iran and syria. the USA did not give all there attention to lebanon and focused more on iraq. but why would they focus on lebanon, it has no oil and is less stratically important compared to iraq. they had to choose between iraq and lebanon, their choice was iraq.

Hi All,
I just want to tell you that in Lebanon i believe in two persons: Ghassan Tueni and Ziad Rahbany…For me, the first one is the symbol of wisdom and the second one is the symbol of revolution…
After hearing “Balagh” of Ziad Rahbany i smelled the odor of war and it was like a message for me to leave the country and run away…
Today i am in sydney, i am relatively “safe”…All my friends are telling me that i am so lucky to be outside lebanon…I am thirty years and i am tired of our local uncapable politicians…i am tired and i am not able to offer them my next thirty years…
……despite all what i hear, read and see about this lebanon…i have a different vision…i see myself there…in Kaytouly, my hometown in this wonderful place where my dad every year is reborn in the smell of wizzel…
I see Lebanon is my mum huggs, my brother’s faith and my sister consitency…this is my lebanon…Harissa, Jezzine, Jbeil…meeting friends making some gossips with the girls…
this is my Lebanon…that is what i miss a lot…
..the same old story will roll over and over again…on a site for Ziad Rehbani “Baadna taybiin Qoulou Allah” there is a radio show that he did in 1975-1976…all valid and applicable word by word in 2008…
May GOD put wisdom in the hearts…
GOD save Lebanon

The Chiites have been camping in front off the parlement since December 2006, awaiting for Seniora (sunnie) to crack and leave ..You think at one point something will happen. That was expected… we knew they wouldn’t just sit there for ever, they had to move on…they had a plane…unfortunetly it was not a peacfeull one… I lived in Lebanon, my husband is presently there with no way out for now…

I am a Lebanese, what is happening in Lebanon is an attack from the Pro-Iranian militia against LEbanese sovereignty, legitimacy and authority. This is a coup being staged by a militia against the Legitimate government. The only reason you are hearing of Hizballah taking Beirut is because they are the only ones other then the army who have weapons, those fighting them are using hunting rifles and small pistols. Hizballah are terrorizing lebanese civilians, entering their homes, destroying their communities and kidnapping young men from rival political groups. But this is no surprise everyone knew that Hizballah would turn their weapons internally but no one knew when.

For more information on whats happening in Lebanon,
cheack http://www.naharnet.com

Hizbollah should have been disarmed years ago… what the hell is wrong with Muslim nations and muslims that they allow well armed armies and groups with no loyalty to the nation , only to their own, exist…Iraqi government has put up with the shiite armies, Lebanon puts up with it, it’s interesting that the the countries that don’t allow it ( Iran, Syria,Saudi Arabia & Egypt, Pakistan, Lybia) all keep them out by absolutely crushing their own peoples rights… and then are the cheif financial supporters of this crap…I have decided after many years now that all Muslims are completely insane…they don’t behave anywhere, Indonesia, Somalia, Algeria and as far as I’m concerned there is no reason for the US, Europe or Israel to accept their atrocious horrible violent behavior. Now Israel will have to go in and blow up Lebanon again…

When a Lebanese reads that some of the comments present he or she realizes that all common sense has disappeared and only the language of pure hate and vendeta is not only blind but is meant to spite. I would like to ask anonymous how can a movement that was founded on the basis of humanitarian aid hold guns in its TV. Would a militia give up its arms in 24 hours and its offices in less than that if it had weapons? Obviously the only thing they had was the word and the good deed that not only helped those in need but all those who asked for aid no matter which faction they belonged to or which political group they were affiliated to . Pleaase have some reason and stop listenng to mad men whose only aim is to anihilate a sect. Yes It is a war on Future youth and every thing that they have done or stand for. Brother hood and charity work.

I have been planning on going to Lebanon for the past 2 years, and this summer as well. I love traveling there and hate to see it in constant violence caused by some stupid extremist militia. The moment I started looking for tickets, I heard about all the chaos and violence in Beirut. As stated earlier, this is a plot to keep Lebanon weak by inhibiting tourists from traveling there, something that greatly hurts Lebanon’s economy. Syria and Iran don’t want another Middle Eastern country backed by the United States, or basically any Western nation. How could Hezbollah claim they are Lebanese, when they are destroying their own country. If they want to make turmoil in a country, they should just go to Iran or Syria where they are supported. I haven’t gone to Lebanon in 6 years and probably won’t go this summer because of this stupid nonsense. One side needs to take over, and I am hoping the Lebanese government and its troops triumph. But for now, I just wish for peace and the safety of my family over there.

Lebanon unfortunately is a “Failed State”!
“Many” other states in the East are “Failed but not Declared yet”?
Our Policy in the East has lacked “Historical Vision” for decades now!
Moslems, Christians, Jews and all humans seek “Justice”.
We the self-righteous and self-appointed gurus of theTruth… only “Selectively” bestow this right to Justice on others!
The fight for justice in the “Near & Middle East” will continue “relentlessly”… until we learn from History… that People are People, and that our Demons are no better than theirs! Our self-righteousness blinds us to the real truths and will lead us, if not restrained by “Societal” knowledge of History to decades more of suffering and loss to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Saudiyyah (S.Arabia), Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the Kurds… and to US?

I was very dissappointed with CNN’s coverage of the events in Beirut because its report on May 8 stated that it was after Nasrallah’s speech that the clashes began.
That is a total lie!!!!!!!! Clashes had started the day before, on May 7 not May 8.
I am not sure if it was an unintentional error, but I have my doubts!!!!!!

Those rooftop snipers would be put to good use if aimed directly at Nasrallah.

Tabby, i am happy to tell you that if you check the T.V. guide, you can find out when the World News is being shown. Lebanon is a major story on the television as well as in the local newspapers. To all you Lebanese, I wish the best for you and your loved ones as I am sure most Americans do. I wish that the world was not at the mercy of various religions, politicians and bankers.

Here in Lebanon we hold our breath for the next outrage to be committed by HIzboullah, unable to even count on our army to defend us.

It’s so easy being on the outside to tell us we should disarm them when we don’t have the infrastructure to do so. After 30 years of Syrian occupation their allies HIzboullah are entrenched in every govermental institution; ie: the army, the airport. Their removal is NOT possible without outside help, and if the international community really believes in the democracy it preaches they should be landing any moment.

As for Michael Micilicuddy’s comment - the Sunnis didn’t fire at anyone! Hizboullah closed roads in and out of Beirut and then brought in their ‘elite fighters’ to conquer all Sunni neighborhoods. This they did by indiscriminate shoooting of RPGs and machine guns. Sunnis were beaten just for being Sunnis, and their homes ransacked while the rest of us lay besieged at home waiting for salvation.

Hezbolla is a terrorist organization and a cancer that’s been plaguing Lebanon for years. As long as Hezbolla exists, Lebanon will never see peace. It must be destroyed at any cost.

In for one comment and then going away for busines for a week, and allowing you all to return to your high decible communication without the interference of compassion, context, or principle.

I will endevor to paraphrase perhaps the only salient matter relavent to not merely Lebanon but indeed the entire middle east issue, the only avenue for success is not war, that has been tried for generations and has only added bodies to the cemeteries and hospitals, the only logical option is honest, open, and long-term diplomacy.

President Jimmy Carter. President Nelson Mandela. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Anyone, can act as a catalyst, as long as they are not an actor with a vested interest in the continuation of discord due to their covert or overt associations with administrative, industrial, military, or political elites anywhere in the world.

People, it is not fine, but human nature to hate your neighbour, contrary to the teachings of all three major mono-theistic faiths of Jerusalem, but it is time, now, for a final and complete elimination of this mulifaceted global issue, the citizenry of all nations is overwhelmingly good and decent, but they are not represented nor are their interests protected by the elites that control their governments or industrial structures. So, while American, Arab, and Israeli billionaires enjoy their wealth and bounty abroad, the average citizenry is trapped in a generational conflict that has little to do with faith, culture, or ethnicity - it is all about control and power.

Take back your right to determine your destiny and you remove the profit motive for war and conflict to remain.

Christ the Lord spoke of peace and brotherhood not only for Christains but for all of mankind.

God Bless.

Everytime Lebanon is on fire not from outside its territory rather within and among the Lebanese who are sisters and brothers even before the Lebanon’s Independence.Cant they see peace and dialogue as the best option?What about the next generation of the Country?

Every man who will hold a weapon against his lebanese brother is a terrorist. Lebanon is a a big village and the men on the streets fighting today are brothers who eat, drunk and lived together for years.
Shame on you!
Shame on your leaders and followers..

The real Lebanese who deserve this peace of heaven on earth are the ones locked up in their homes or abroad.

CNN News folks (Ray yesterday, Don a month ago, etc.) incorrectly use the phrase “begging the question.” They use it to mean that a previous statement begs, figuratively, for someone to ask a question; “begging the question,” however, is a logical fallacy that means “assuming the truth of something that has not been proven.” So I beg some editor to ask the on-air folks to use the phrase properly. Thanks

I think its history repeating its self, its what others want, not what the lebanese wants, the syrian want to come back to lebanon what ever the cost is to stop the tribunal court against them, the iranian want piece of the pie, to negotiate with the UN so they keep up their NUC program active. and extend their shiit empire to include Irak and Lebanon.

The government made this situation, they provoked the opposition, I as well never hear about the boys (with no military training) of the government which are about 17 years of age shooting at whatever they see, they are the thugs that are making this a bigger problem, and who’s arming them the leaders of the March 14 collation with U.S money. The opposition taking west Beirut is the best result that will happen to Lebanon at this point; with the army they will bring peace back to the streets.

The US has not been vocal in response to the government it is backing. It is allowing it to be crushed which will make us look weak in the eyes of IRan. We mush act NOW

“Such is Beirut – a place where it’s quiet … until it’s not.”

it really was partyin wit my friends tuesday nyt and hell broke loose on wednesday,
its always been that way in leb,
since PM Rafiq Hariri was assasinated till this day

i think we can’t do anything,
its simply “bigger” than a lebanese issue

noone can convince me that after 19 trials, we still dnt have a president just becz the two lebanese parties cant reach a compromise
all i want to say is that this isnt lebanon, lebanon is all abt nightlife, partying, havin one hell of a good time
its not abt bombs, wars, and religious feuds,
hopefully this little “war” will soon disapear just like it emerged

Lebanese politics is divided into 2 camps: 1) March 14: pro-western, pro-life, pro-democracy, and pro-civil rights, and 2) March 8: pro-Iran, Pro-Syria, Pro-terrorism, and pro-one side minded. The US, again, failed to live it to its promise. It supported March 14’s ideology but failed to support them whent he gun was pointed to the head of their leaders and their innocent suporters. March 14 follows the rule of the law, the rule of the government. The government asked the army to intervene; however, the army did not because it is moreloyal to one of the terrorist group called Hizbullah.

My dear viewers, please note that Lebanon will live and will go on but sadly innocent people will die. The US threatens them many times but when Hizbullah (a terrorist group on the US list of terrorism) occupied the capital, destroyed the largest group news tv and newspaper and now attacking the minority Druze in the mountains of Lebanon, the US ignored this fact and make an official statment saying that this action is NOT a coup d’etat to the government I always knew President Bush’s IQ is less than 10 but I never knew that the administration is as well.

My dear viewers, Iran is about to rule the area and threaten the civil liberty in Lebanon and the world. Can you imagine a world ruled by dark beards and covered women in black dresses and next to your ally country, Israel…………..

The US government is busy with the election and the two parties are more concerned about the election rather what their parties and their country stands for. My dear viewers, I am an American and a voter and I am surprised how can our country be so quiet and unsupportive when our allies (Lebaese government) need us the most. What about you folks? Do you feel the same?

What we see today is a coup d’etat for Hizbullah with the backing and support of the army. All the people in Beirut, Chouf ,Bekaa and Tripoli are asking why the army is not doing its job to protect the innocent people who do not have any arms while HB are shooting and bombing their houses until they finally invaded West beirut. Now the fighting is taking part in Chouf and mount Lebanon as the army watches and the Hezbollah still bombing the PSP party pertaining to Walid Joumblat.

Add to that Hezbollah forced FUture TV to close down , then technicians from HB went in and pulled out all cables , making it impossible for the TV station to broadcast any time soon. in addition to the newspaper /radio station of Future.
They are also hacking most websites of March 14 political parties and putting them out of work so that no one outside Lebanon can read and know exactly what is happening. They are using their arms to put end to anyone who speaks a different point of view , they want Lebanon to be like Syria and Iran , under their influence and power.

I only pray that this time US and the rest of the world wont stand still, after 30 years and over 42 political assassinations and wars, it is time to take action, even if it takes an additional war to get rid of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.
CAn anyone tell me how can the Speaker of the house, head of the Parliament Nabih Berri invade Beirut by his militia and terrorise and kill people , although he was elected to be head of the Parliament by March 14 who are the majority!!!!!
and how can the General Michel Suleiman who is considered as prominent candidate for presidency, accept what ’s happening and not ordering the army to stand firm against militia men and not allow them to kill and invade and destroy entire cities!!!

Till now the Christian areas - for once- are still without any problems. please pray for Lebanon and God Be with us.

ya lebnan i hope all this stops im going to lebanon all summer and hopefully by what they are saying they will come to agreement. theres no point in fighting.

~Peace In Lebanon~

To MFM,
Your last paragraph in your post (5/11) indicated a Christian belief and so if I may ask your opinion on matter about conflicts that involved religious believes: Do you think it is a matter of destiny for all this blood shed in the world to take place until Christ returns as predicted in the NT to rule over the world, nothing can stop these animosity among people with different religions? So what is the point of all this protests, peace proposals? If as you said, “Christ the Lord spoke of peace and brotherhood not only for Christains but for all of mankind.” holds true, it is also true that Christ demands all man kind worship Him, therefore, bases on this Christian belief, all conflicts will end when there are no more Muslims (false region), Buddish or the Dalai Lama (Idolatry) around?

I was in the civil war back in the 80s, when I was barely 10. We moved out of Lebanon in 1991 after the war was over. I thank my parents every day for that decision.

This war, and all other wars in Lebanon (and in the middle east for that matter) is really only about male egos. Arab men have the biggest damn egos you will ever experience, and this sickness is the reason why we have all this fighting. Everyone wants power, and they will do anything to get it. Sad bur true. I mean those damn men in the Lebanese govt can’t even agree on a president. Why don’t you hold elections and let the people decide since you’re all worthless?

Who suffers? The poor people who lose their homes, are afraid for their lives everyday, lose their loved ones, and are basically are traumatized for life.

To all arab men: control your damn egos and maybe someday we can have peace in the middle east!

And by the way, they all have big egos but most are cowards at the same time. I mean look at the Lebanese army….. they just let Hisbullah do whatever they hell the wanted because they are “neutral”.

NO THEY ARE NOT NEUTRAL! They are there to support the govt, EVEN IF THE GOVT IS MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF WORTHLESS PEOPLE!

GROW A PAIR YOU COWARDS!

Bottom line, There will never be peace in Lebanon, EVER! Sorry! ….and this sadly coming from a Lebanese person who loves lebanon! Sorry but I’m not going to pretend anymore…..

Well Said, MFM- Toronto, Ontario, Canada. God Bless you, too…

Thank you very much George, and God Bless you also.

I am wrtining by Blackberry so I hope you will forgive any spelling or formatting errors, but I had to respond at 6am after my life-partner read my brother, Daniel’s, posting.

Dear Daniel, my brother, be you Buddhist, Chistian, Muslim, Jewish, or any other follower on the path of any other principled faith of goodness and peace on earth, I am simply a mortal, and frankly blessedly absent of the pollution of man-made purposeful and self-serving distortions of all reliigious doctrine from the Holy Bibile, The Holy Torah, The Holy Quran, and throughout and beyond the works followed and espoused by HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama.

And so, when you ask me, to provide you with an answer to the end of world scenerio which appears in every major faith, I simply say this, please read the works of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II (May God Rest His Blessed Soul), Pastor Rick Warren, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and from a secular perspective anyone and everyone from Bertolt Brecht , C.S. Lewis, W.S. Maugham, and Sir John Cleese. Daniel, my brother, we are merely actors, in a perpetually evolving design by a higher power, and in my case, I choose to follow the principles outlined by the Ten Commandments, but as you well know, the doctrines of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all state, “peace and brotherhood” for all mankind. And, as with anything, there will be those individuals who try to utilize religious or other doctrine to enhance their own economic, industrial, military, or political advantage - it is only the citizenry - the good, decent, and silent - majority - that can and must stop them - by removing the profit motive for continued war, racism, prejuidice, discord, and violence.

In short, my brother, Daniel, I do not have the intellect, ability, or resident ego, to even endeavor to answer your question because my following of faith is very simple - I want to help all of my family of mankind today and in the world I live in - as per the teachings of Christ the Lord - and I know that God in his infinite wisdom and knowledge will do what is best for all of mankind not simply the select few that have outlandishly and unilaterally annointed themselves exclusively worthy of accension to heaven and deemed all others worthy only of eternal damnation. That is the problem in not only mankind, but indeed the middle-east, my brother, Daniel, too much time worried about interpreting and manipulating the minutae of religious doctrine for personal gain rather than simply objectively implementing it in every individual’s own personal daily life and renouncing hypocricy - the resultant peace, prosperity, and the sound of ceased gunfire, bombing, hate speech, and terrorism would be deafening.

Thank you for the respectful dialogue, I apolgize that I was incapable of answering your question, but if you contact the representatives of any major religion in the world, they will provide you with the educated and erudite analysis that you seek, or simply read the works mentioned above and not only will they fill your mind with understanding but your heart with the much needed joy in this time of despair and pessimissim.

God Bless.

Nasrallah should be court marshaled and treated like a trator His followers should be treated like traitors. Any Christian Lebanese who is a follower of Nasrallah should be ashamed of themselves. Wake up and smell the gun powder. They will kick out or kill all the Christians if they have the chance. The international community should come in with force and take them out.

Thank you MFM for taking time out from your busy schedule to respond to my inquiry.
I am not trying to be argumentative. No ethnicity, no tribe, no one wants perpetual war. All religions espouse this altruistic view. And to achieve that, all three majors monotheistic faiths believe a Savior shall return and bring forth paradise, ever since then, the respective followers have been successfully implementing each belief to be the One by proselytizing, converting or eliminating each other and the work is still going on. Buddhism, in general, thinks that if one meditates long and hard till one reaches the state of Karma, or all emptiness- denying oneself the ‘Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Happiness”- characters that define us as Homo Sapient, then somehow inner peace shall prevail…sadly, I just don’t believe that is even remotely attainable, no one can completely denies oneself to better the other -we are not righteous: “No, not one” as Christ said. One small example is to take one look at the Lama monks continual resistance against the CCP in Tibet says anything but. (I am not implying CCP is right, man-centered authoritarian rule is down right evil). Because who is to say that the Lama ruled-Tibet will be the paradise that we seek? Will Christians renounce Christ to follow the Lama-teaching? Because I do believe the time is ripe for us to receive the ‘Holy Spanking” to understand who is in charge and only a God-oriented authoritarian rule can establish a godly kingdom to subdue us, otherwise we will continue our course in ‘proselytizing and eliminating’ others until there is no one left - 5000+ years of Man-centered history is a bloody fact.

Dear Daniel, my brother, you are very erudite, clearly well read, and very well informed, but profoundly angry, a ‘Holy Spanking”?

Daniel, we have millions of citizens eating grass in North Korea and China simply to keep their stomachs full, we have millions of citizens killed, maimed, and injured from the Congo to Bhagdad, and we have an entire “Freedom Fry” generation that is more prone to put stickers on their motor vehicles “We Support The Troops” or “We Do Not Suppor the Enemy Anywhere Ever” and discriminate against anyone who looks ethnically different rather than spend one penny or one minute volunteering at a verteran’s hospital, human rights organization, or NGO.

I believe, my good brother, Daniel, that the ” ‘Holy Spanking”, that you have asked for has been metaphysically manifested in the material realm throughout the twentieth centrury and now into the twethy first century.

You are far to intelligent, well spoken, well read, and able to engage in discourse to simply waste your mortal life on an giving up on the entire human race due to “5000+ years of Man-centered history is a bloody fact”.

You do not have to ascribe to any particular religious doctrine, you can be an atheistic, secularist, or even anarchist, but in the end, each individual willl leave this world, regardless of whomever they are or how much they build, earn, or collect, wihout footprint or rememberence - I am certain that the “Living Gods of the Mayans” believed just like modern day economic, military, political, and industrial elites believe that their material holdings will outlast their mortal lives - they are wrong.

And, as Carl Sagan, so wisely observed, in a blink of an eye, this tiny planet will no longer exist, and all of the lives, cultures, and all other matters humans consider so important will be oblitered and return to the very essence of the basic building elements of the universe.

Daniel, no one is asking you to do anything that you do not wish to, believe in God, stop pointing out the hypocricy of human beings, or anything else. You are embarking on a journey that has representation on every campus, corporation, church, mosque, synagogue, temple, and home on earth - nothing new - if you want to do something positive and get rid of that acidic feeling in your gut then go out and use your mastery of the english language and knowldege of world events and issues to work with any NGO, human rights organization, social, or political movement that will help build the world and help all of mankind.

And, if all that is not of interest, then you can simply start dressing in all black, shaved head, goatee, dark glasses, permanent gimace, and always reading (or pretending to do so) some form of German poetry, it always helped my friend, A fake accent always helps, the best are found on the Monty Python series or just watching Fox News and lisetning to their “experts”. John, at our undergraduate degree with the most beuatiful young women!

Have fun, Daniel, life is too short, if you do not wish to be part of the solution, that is more than your right, but you have so many avenues to make yourself happy - do so. And, using your language and intellectual skills to humiliate or diminish others is not only insulting to them but much more importantly a commentary on your own need for a more positive direction in life.

Great communiation. Thank you for the continued respectful and informaed dialogue.

God Bless