Saturday May 7, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

Lebanon. It's still out of control.

The UN Security Council told Syria that while there has been much progress toward removing their forces from Lebanon, the job is still incomplete.
This week a group of UN inspectors approached a Syrian base. They were shot at and retreated.

Part of the deal is that Syria leave Lebanon and that they also disarm the militias they control. That part about militias was added in order to allow for democratic structures to grow in Lebanon without threats of violence.

Numerous militias reign in Lebanon.
All are under Syrian sponsorship and control.
Hizbullah is the most famous militia and they control Southern Lebanon.
The PFLP-GC, The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, under the leadership of Ahmed Jabril, controls the entire eastern Bekka Valley and has been there for 23 years.

Lebanon is wild and lawless because of the militias.
Syria is the only party that can exercise control over the lawlessness because they give them money and weapons.
But Syria just doesn't seem interested.