Pro-Western Bloc defeats Hezbollah in Lebanon vote

You know the Jimmy Carter group oversaw the election, wonder how long it will take him to blast the results since his beloved hezbollah lost?

No chance of that, I think even he believes that this is the right path for Lebanon.

Well that I can agree with. You talk to everyone. Especially our "enemies". Neo-Cons don't get that. But why aren't we out of Iraq yet? Why are we at war in Pakistan? Lets just. . . get out. Please?

http://rubinreports.blogspot.com/2009/06/good-news-from-lebanon-but-crisis-looms...

Monday, June 8, 2009
Good News from Lebanon but crisis looms
By Barry Rubin

In Lebanon's election, the moderate March 14 coalition did well, gaining one seat from its current total. Hizballah and its allies cannot claim they won a victory at the polls. For the best analysis see Tony Badran's detailed assessment.

But the very closeness of the outcome probably means another coalition government between the two blocs. Most immediately, Hizballah will demand once again veto power even if it has only one-third of the coalition. And Hizballah has a way of backing up its negotiating strategy with guns.

Whatever the result, Hizballah and its allies, including Iran and Syria, will keep up the pressure on the moderate regime, and this could mean crises ahead. One result could be that an attack on Israel from Lebanon is less likely, at least over the next year, as Hizballah and its allies don't want to disrupt their efforts to bring Lebanon closer to their control. I hate to say this but political assassination--or at least attempts--and other terrorism could continue to be a method of intimidation.

The West is going to be challenged to provide support for the March 14 coalition government. Any sign of yielding to Hizballah is going to have dangerous consequences within Lebanon and for the region as a whole.

I don't know so much about that.

Maybe they saw how bad it was for the Palestinians when you vote in bloodthirsty terrorist thugs to run your government, and are seeing the light.
I think you guys put way too much into Obama's speech a day and a half before the election, I doubt that many of them watched it.

Lebanon has for the most part had west leaning politics at least since WWII, or after WWI when the Ottomans were defeated. Remember for decades Beirut was considered the Paris of the Middle East, very progressive.

Using your logic about Obama's speechs and his power over all people of the world, the EU should of swung more left in their elections over the weekend, but they didn't.

Well its partly the political encumbency being considered responsible for the economic crises. Perhaps in Lebanon that is considered a wholy external action, and might not have affected its domestic politics as the March 14th coalition is the encumbent in this case.

BTW poor Labour. In America when Brittain was throwing out Blair I think many here were begging to take him considering who we had in office at the time!

or alternatively, Shukriya bitches!

As for myself, if Obama had made 4 or 5 trips and speeches, pulled out of Iraq, found bin Laden, and after 2 or so years as president. I think then we could credit him with this election result, all other things being equal.

I just think it's been too soon, and the speech wasn't that earth shattering. I did like many points in it, yes, I listened to it live on tv. But I think it says more about moderate and right thinking Lebanese than our President's 5 month old term, and one or two pretty good speeches. No?

I don't think anyone is saying its the defining force. His own election was a help as well, people accross the globe were captivated by the election, democratic discourse didn't just increase in America but abroad as well. We saw increased turnout in the first African elections following Americas, South Africa, a record turnout and the same is now true in Lebannon.

While again I wouldn't place all of the credit to Obama I think that showing the positive value of electoral poltics and democracy on the world stage puts teeth in the arguements of moderates, and democratic activists world wide. The respectful tone and admonission of guilt, not to mention the mention of Maronites who were an important force in this electoral victory certainly didn't hurt.

At the very least we can agree that Obama's previous attempts at outreach haven't went unheard at least in Lebanon may have removed much of the fuel from Hezbollah's anti American rhetoric, which they based thier campaign on. That isn't small potatoes in itself.

Scum.

It isn't important that we know what they are doing, only that they are doing it. I am obviously no expert but the only man to negotiate a hostage release for an American, Bill Richardson said silence and respect may be the best options at a time. Other reports talked about Al going to Korea personally. If that isn't true than perhaps the koreans were egged on by the report. The Ling Family itself hosted a nationwide vigil and you can contact the state department, current, or the ling familys personal web pages to send your condolences or support for the family of Euna and the Ling families.

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised if they deleted these comments

the censorship must stop... this is ridiculous

Agreed. It's undermining its legitimacy as a serious news source, and I can't see how Ling is benefiting from its reticence on the issue. Current should be championing the cause by publicizing it, not bowing to North Korean pressure which obviously hasn't done any good given the recent conviction.

I completely agree

I tried to put it up on current and so did Petarro and it's not visible, supposedly because it's under review. whatever!

hezbollah is a right wing religious organization. they're basically the america's religious right in lebanon so in that context it makes it clear.

significantly, they did not win an election they were supposed to have in the bag. clearly obama's diplomacy is indeed having some effect as they were only gaining more power while america was under the bush administration.

thoughts.

Diplomacy or Corruption????

Keep buying the hype...

What hype? Was Ich ein berliner or Tear down this wall hype? Or did those words lead to the political will needed to take actions. Great presidents speak softly and carry a big stick, its the American way.

If you consider positive changes in the world that our president is facilitating as nothing more than hype, then you must consider the Beatles as having been nothing more than a local band in Liverpool. No big deal, just a lot of hype.

Luckily our president couldn't dance with another. He's ours France get your grubby palms of him!

What on earth did Obama had to do with this!?!

he got their prez's to talk