Lebanese Government Really Is Capitulating
Wed, May 14, 2008 at 3:02:09 pm PDT
I’ve seen quite a few blog posts arguing that this development is a loss for Hizballah, but I don’t see it. Hizballah comes out of this stronger, not weaker, with an illegal communications network that is reportedly capable of eavesdropping on all telephone calls in Lebanon, and their man in charge of security at Beirut Airport. This is a win for Hizballah, not the Lebanese government: Lebanon cancels anti-Hezbollah measures.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon’s government cancelled measures on Wednesday that angered the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement and triggered the worst internal conflict since the country’s 1975-90 civil war.
The U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said in a statement after a meeting that it was taking the step in line with a request by the Lebanese army to preserve civil peace and promote an Arab League mediation effort to end Lebanon’s 18-month-old political crisis.
“The cabinet decided to agree on the suggestion of the army commander ... which includes the cancellation of the two decisions,” the statement, read by Information Minister Ghazi al-Aridi, said.
A senior opposition source welcomed the move. “We welcome the government’s step and we see that it forms the prelude to end our disobedience campaign,” he told Reuters.
The source said the opposition would end the disobedience campaign once the ruling coalition agrees to talks. He said such an announcement was expected on Thursday.
Shortly after Aridi read the statement, Hezbollah supporters fired into the air in Beirut to celebrate what the group sees as a major blow to the government and its allies.
