Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Another Week of Middle Eastern...

...hell, with only a little bit of intrigue:

Lebanese PM voices support for Hariri tribunal

...despite the fact that Nasrallah has called for him to "repudiate the trail."
"Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri expressed support Wednesday for a U.N.-backed tribunal's investigation of the assassination of his politician father, a process many fear could ignite factional violence.

Western diplomats and Lebanese political sources say expected indictments against members of Shi'ite guerrilla group Hezbollah in the 2005 killing of Sunni statesman Rafik al-Hariri could be issued by the end of this year or in early 2011.

The group, part of a fragile national unity government, denies involvement in the Hariri bombing and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said he will not allow the arrest of any members. He has called on Saad to repudiate the tribunal."

Hezbollah official hints at group's involvement in Hariri murder
"The (UN commission's) findings and the imminent release of the UN report have sparked fears of a renewed civil war in Lebanon.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Beirut on Wednesday for a two-day visit that would include talks on the tense political situation in Lebanon, in an effort to keep the row from spiraling out of control.

Erdogan is to meet Lebanese government officials and lawmakers from Hezbollah, according to a government source.

The Turkish premier, in remarks published Wednesday in the Lebanese daily As Safir, said his country would not allow Lebanon to deteriorate into a civil war.

Erdogan said that Turkey would "do the necessary to fight signs of a civil war in Lebanon."

"Now is the time for unity in Lebanon," he said."
We know history doesn't repeat itself, but does it ever go backwards? I was in Lebanon waaaay back in 1973, before the Civil War. It was a beautiful place then.

Meanwhile, back in Hezbollah HQ, another curious movement is afoot:

Dozens of Iranian lawmakers demand Ahmadinejad be summoned for questioning 
"Dozens of Iranian lawmakers have signed a petition seeking to make Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the first president to be summoned for questioning since the Islamic Revolution 32 years ago.

However the challenge looks unlikely to succeed because the numbers fall short of the constitutional requirement that at least one-fourth of the 290 parliament members must sign the petition before the president can be questioned."

Turkey vows to prevent war with Lebanon
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consulted with top ministers behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss concerns that Hezbollah could attempt a coup against the government.

Similar concerns were raised last week by Israeli chief of staff Lt General Gabi Ashkenazi during a visit to Canada. "There is a real possibility that Hezbollah will take over Lebanon," an army statement quoted him as saying."
It's like waiting for the earthquake to come so we can see what's changed. It can get a lot worse, or a lot better.

Something is afoot, if that powerhouse, Gambia, cuts ties with Iran, making for some embarrassing and revealing speculation.

And was it Stuxnet or was it not Stuxnet?

A summary worth reading: Iran: Things That Are Not Talked About
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PS: One more article with a Canadian, but not CBC, element.

Nasrallah could seize power in Lebanon, Ashkenazi tells, MacKay, Canadian counterpart
"IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi warned last week that Hezbollah could sieze power in Lebanon.

Ashkenazi met in Canada with his Canadian counterpart, General Walter Natynczyk, the chief of the defence staff of the Canadian Forces. The meeting was held as part of a series of work-related meetings that Ashkenazi is holding during an official visit to Canada and the United States.

Ashkenazi told his Canadian hosts that he is concerned over the possible ramifications of the UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and said that the publication of the probe’s findings may result in Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah seizing power in Lebanon."
[---]
"During his meeting in Canada, Ashkenazi said that a small group within the Lebanese Army is assisting Hezbollah and mentioned recent visits by current Lebanese PM Saad Hariri (son of Rafik Hariri) and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt to Syria for talks with President Bashar Assad as aimed at ensuring their “survival.”

Ashkenazi also mentioned what he called the “radical axis” in the Middle East, which he said is gaining strength, and praised Canada for its participation in training a future Palestinian Authority security force in Judea and Samaria."
My question is why is Turkey so concerned about the consequences of the allegation that Hezbollah was involved in Hariri's assassination? Is it the prospect of Hezbollah being in charge of the whole country of Lebanon, or does it have something to do with the new role and focus of NATO, or both? Or neither?

I'll have more on NATO in a day or two. The long war continues. Iraq was but the first battle.

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