Surprise: Hizbollah Won't Disarm

Hezbollah Balks At Withdrawal From the South
Lebanese Officials Work on Compromise

By Edward Cody and Doug Struck
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, August 16, 2006; Page A01

BEIRUT, Aug. 15 -- Hezbollah refused to disarm and withdraw its fighters from the battle-scarred hills along the border with Israel on Tuesday, threatening to delay deployment of the Lebanese army and endangering a fragile cease-fire.

The makings of a compromise emerged from all-day meetings in Beirut, according to senior officials involved in the negotiations, and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora scheduled a cabinet session Wednesday for what he hoped would be formal approval of the deal. Hezbollah indicated it would be willing to pull back its fighters and weapons in exchange for a promise from the army not to probe too carefully for underground bunkers and weapons caches, the officials said.

Hasan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, had insisted that any disarmament of his militia -- even in the border area -- should be handled in longer-term discussions within the Lebanese government, according to government ministers. But the Lebanese army, backed by key political leaders, refused to send troops into the just-becalmed battle zone until Hezbollah's missiles, rockets and other weapons were taken north of the Litani River, the ministers said.

At stake in the standoff was implementation of a crucial provision of the U.N. Security Council cease-fire that went into effect Monday. The accord called for quick deployment of 15,000 Lebanese army troops south of the Litani River along the border with Israel. They were to take up positions under the aegis of a reinforced contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, to form a peacekeeping corps with a total strength of about 30,000.

Is anyone surprised by this? I repeat what I have said before, the reason Hizbollah has an armed presence in Southern Lebanon is because the Lebanese Army was incapable of dealing with them in the first place. Now we are surprised when the Lebanese Army refuses to do precisely that.

Dare I say it again? You cannot deal with the enemies of freedom. You cannot deal with the enemies of freedom. Is there anyone who doesn't get this fact? Are any of you still so stupid that you don't see this.

Hassan Nasrallah is unrepentent, unbowed, undefeated and not unarmed. Israel's soldiers were sacrificed on the alter of Olmert's lack of will. Israel's security has been sacrificed by the Bush Administration's pathetic obsession with operating within the strictures of the Useless Nations. Hizbollah will continue to occupy the South of Lebanon, they will make greater in roads into the Lebanese government, they will re-arm, re-build, and re-cruit. In a short time they will be in a much superior position than they were in prior to the war.

Bush has wimped out once more. The prisoners are still being held. The French are supposed to lead this UNIFIL (United Nations International Force in Lebanon) force and prevent the rearming of Hizbollah and assist the...Wait a minute, the French are leading this force? The French? The Doormats of Europe? The Masters of Surrender and Collaberation? They are to lead this force?

Boy, I hope Hizbollah has plenty of cheese and wine available, otherwise they'll be in real trouble.

Olmert is history. He has proven to be a disaster for the Israelis. Iran, Syria, and Hizbollah are the winners here. Israel is the big loser. Anyone who expects Koffi Annan to be a dispassionate and unbiased arbitor is smoking some pretty good dope. Koffi has repeatedly demonstrated his sympathy for the terrorists.

Assad is now emboldened and brazen in his contempt for America. Iran is more likely to pursue its nuclear ambitions. North Korea will be emboldened by the weakness displayed by the Bush Administration and their inability stand up to the whining of the paleo-media and the Old European cowards.

Full Story: Annan, Olmert, Bush: The Three Stooges

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