Today, the truth is clear: Hezbollah seeks to become the Praetorian Guard of a Syrian-dominated order in Lebanon for after Syrian soldiers withdraw. In that context, the killing of Hariri also becomes clearer: it was preparation for what Damascus understood would be an inevitable Syrian pullout, ensuring that a strong Sunni, with a national project for Lebanon (who could also have threatened the stability of the Alawite regime in Damascus), would be eliminated.
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Will Hezbollah resolve its dilemma? It may if Nasrallah understands that by hooking himself to Syria, he is going against the grain of history. The Syrian regime, which is essentially led today by two families and a brother-in-law, is not of this time. Nasrallah has always prided himself on being ahead of the curve. Today's demonstration places him behind it, more than ever in the pocket of a Syrian regime that, in order to survive, is willing to push Hezbollah into a war against Lebanese society.
Via Across the Bay, which has many links on today's rally, the situation in Lebanon in general and Arab nationalism.
Like this exchange: Tony vs. The Angry Arab aka "Angry Hair":
Gucci revolution: Some people here are jokingly calling the phenomenon "the Gucci revolution" - not because they are dismissive of the demonstrations, but because so many of those waving the Lebanese flag on the street are really very unlikely protestors. There are girls in tight skirts and high heels, carrying expensive leather bags, as well as men in business suits or trendy tennis shoes.
This is what I meant by "orientalism in reverse." You see, "Arab" protesters must be rambling lunatics waving weapons and hoisting children with mock TNT belts, burning Bush effigies and American and Israeli flags, wearning keffiyes, dishdeshes, and white linen and long beards. Otherwise, tsk, it's um, just not authentic. Too Gucci! Too aristocratic. Not proletarian enough. Now, if they all had hair like him, perhaps we could make an exception, but high heels!? How bourgeois.
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