Hezbollah represented in Lebanese cabinet

[Said1]

By NAJIB KHAZZAKA

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 Page A12

Agence France-Presse

BEIRUT -- Lebanon's prime minister-designate, Fouad Siniora, has finally unveiled his cabinet, which includes for the first time a member of the Shia Muslim militant group Hezbollah, regarded as terrorist by Washington.

Mr. Siniora's cabinet was approved by President Émile Lahoud after he rejected three previous lineups, and needs the parliament's approval to become the first elected government since Syria ended its three-decade military presence in April.

"It is a coherent team . . . chosen to overcome the challenges confronting Lebanon," Mr. Siniora said yesterday, adding that he is proud to have Hezbollah in his cabinet.

"It is excellent that Hezbollah is in the government. . . . It has a strong popular base and must be represented."

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Mr. Siniora, a 62-year-old former finance minister who was a close ally of slain ex-premier Rafik Hariri, also pledged that his government would do everything in its power to improve relations with neighbouring Syria.

Ties with Damascus have taken a turn for the worse since Syria's troop pullout and the May and June elections, which gave anti-Syrian groups a majority in parliament for the first time since the 1975-1990 civil war ended.

Mr. Siniora said that after his cabinet receives a vote of confidence from parliament he will travel to Syria to "smooth over differences" with Damascus.

The prime minister-designate has pledged to try to rebuild national unity, which was shaken by the Valentine's Day assassination of Mr. Hariri, and to embark on sweeping reforms to revive the country's debt-laden economy.

Since he was nominated at the end of June, Mr. Siniora had been scrambling to form a government in the face of the mounting political and economic tensions with Damascus, which has dominated Lebanon since the end of the civil war.

After failing to form a government of national unity and then a cabinet of technocrats, Mr. Siniora said on Friday he intended to form a government from a broad spectrum of parties including the pro-Syrian Hezbollah-Amal alliance.

Hezbollah representative Mohammed Fneish becomes energy minister, while Shia independent Fawzi Salukh becomes foreign minister.

Two of the new ministers, however, are technocrats and occupy key posts.

Finance minister Jihad Qazaour worked for the United Nations Development Program and economy minister Sami Haddad was with the World Bank's International Finance Corp.

The Shia militia, which continues to be involved in sporadic clashes with Israel on the tense border, exclusively patrols the formerly Israeli-occupied south.

Its participation in government is likely to pose a problem for the international community, which is demanding that Hezbollah's militia, regarded in Lebanon as a legitimate resistance to Israel, give up its weapons.

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[Gabriella84]

In many Arab countries, Hammas and Hezbollah are not considered terrorist groups. They are regarded as legitimate power brokers who command the allegiance of many prominent groups of people.
Sort of like the right-wing Christian Coalition here.

 

[Annie]

In many Arab countries, Hammas and Hezbollah are not considered terrorist groups. They are regarded as legitimate power brokers who command the allegiance of many prominent groups of people.
Sort of like the right-wing Christian Coalition here.

Nothing like the Christian Coalition. What is your point?

 

[Said1]

In many Arab countries, Hammas and Hezbollah are not considered terrorist groups. They are regarded as legitimate power brokers who command the allegiance of many prominent groups of people.
Sort of like the right-wing Christian Coalition here.

If they stop the violence, I don't doubt many wouldn't embrace their political asperations. On the other hand, governments such as Egypt think groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and other related groups as "once a terrorist, always a terrorist".

 

[Gabriella84]

Radical Islamic terrorists are a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

The right-wing Christian Coalition is a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

So where is the difference? It's all about hate.

 

[dilloduck]

Radical Islamic terrorists are a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

The right-wing Christian Coalition is a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

So where is the difference? It's all about hate.

any ideas on how to stop it?

 

[Annie]

Radical Islamic terrorists are a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

The right-wing Christian Coalition is a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

So where is the difference? It's all about hate.

Where? I mean a real deal.

 

[Said1]

Radical Islamic terrorists are a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

The right-wing Christian Coalition is a religious group bent on the destruction of people who think differently.

So where is the difference? It's all about hate.

Who is blowing up whom with da planes?

Which one is not like the other, which one is not the same.....................

 

[Annie]

Who is blowing up whom with da planes?

Which one is not like the other, which one is not the same.....................

Butter. Butter does NOT belong!

 

[Gabriella84]

They attacked us with planes and killed 3,000 people.
We counter-attacked with conventional weapons (and are still doing so) and have killed several hundred thousand.

The answer? Quit fighting with them. If you quit fighting with the radical Islamic faction, they will go back to fighting amongst themselves. That is why the Middle East has been in transition for centuries. We have only been quarreling with them for a couple of decades.

 

[Annie]

They attacked us with planes and killed 3,000 people.
We counter-attacked with conventional weapons (and are still doing so) and have killed several hundred thousand.

The answer? Quit fighting with them. If you quit fighting with the radical Islamic faction, they will go back to fighting amongst themselves. That is why the Middle East has been in transition for centuries. We have only been quarreling with them for a couple of decades.

Hello? Gabby, anyone home? You just contradicted yourself.

 

[Gabriella84]

Hello? Gabby, anyone home? You just contradicted yourself.

How so? I could have. I am a blonde.

 

[Said1]

How so? I could have. I am a blonde.

Explain transition.

 

[Annie]

Hello? Gabby, anyone home? You just contradicted yourself.

They attacked us with planes and killed 3,000 people.
We counter-attacked with conventional weapons (and are still doing so) and have killed several hundred thousand.

Doubt your number on the 'several hundred thousand' but whatever. In any case, since we 'reacted' we do not control the situation. D'oh!