What is Prime Minister Fuad Siniora doing while Lebanon burns?

[theHandpuppet]

Someone will have to explain to me the political machinations behind Siniora basically sitting on his hands while Lebanon is reduced to rubble. How many Lebanese civilians have to die before he calls the Lebanese Army into play? How much of his country has to be reduced to rubble? I HATE this war but am puzzled by what appears to be a country without a leader. The Israeli invasion and bombing of Lebanon has basically turned Lebanese public opinion towards a more sympathetic view of Hezbollah ("At least they are defending our country," one woman said) while Siniora appears to be more and more a leader in name only, one who will probably not find much support if this conflict rages on with Israel ever-expanding its theatre of war. How in the world does this make Israel any safer? If anything, it only strenghtens the hand of more extremist elements within Lebanon.

But hey, what do I know? 62% of the American public think Condi Rice is doing a great job.

[Kagemusha]

1. Call in the Lebanese army?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

...sorry. Couldn't help myself.

[theHandpuppet]

5. I'm glad you got a moment's entertainment

But that was a serious question and I asked that from the point of a political move, not necessarily a military one.

[Kagemusha]

9. The military gap is so massive and large and yawning that

the political question is moot.

[theHandpuppet]

10. Perhaps not to the Lebanese people

Of course they know it would be like an ant taking on an elephant. But to the Lebanese people that only makes Hezbollah's resistance look "stronger", as it were, than their own government. Inaction makes the Siniora government look even weaker, if that is possible.

[JackNewtown]

11. Sure but politically shouldn't he be at least doing something? nt

[Kagemusha]

15. Like what? The bridges are busted. What'll the troops do, swim?

And unlike Hezbollah, the Lebanese Army is an easy target. Hell, the IAF's been bombing it ALREADY, and it's not even fighting back worth a damn.

[theHandpuppet]

17. They have artillery, don't they?

They have anti-aircraft weapons, they have an infantry. Not much of one, granted....

[JackNewtown]

19. post #15

They need to defend their nation. Even Hezbollah is inflicting some casualties on Israel, there is no reason to believe the Lebanese military would be completely powerless. They can either sit and get raped or attempt to deter the invasion.

[Kagemusha]

22. Israel's been bombing them even when they're doing nothing.

If they try to move south to engage the IDF they'll get slaughtered like pigs.

Hezbollah is already there so it doesn't have that vulnerability.

There's every reason to believe that the Lebanese military cannot maneuver south without being easily detected and wholly destroyed as an effective force by precision bombing. Without an army, who runs the country may well be settled by civilian irregulars fighting in the streets. They've lived THAT nightmare. Better to let Hezbollah fight while maintaining some minimal control over the capitol and the north.

Though they're taking it in the chin for that strategy, too. Israel wants weeks to finish off Hezbollah. Fuel for things like oh, pumping fresh water out of the ground, which is kinda needed over there, will run out in what, 3-5 days now? Not much Sinora can do about that, now that the IAF has destroyed key bridges in the north. But if you think the Lebanese Army could've prevented that, you're factually mistaken.

[theHandpuppet]

26. These are the consequences of Siniora's inaction....

From Robert Fisk:

"What in the meanwhile is happening to Lebanon? Bridges and buildings can be reconstructed - with European Union loans, no doubt - but many Lebanese are now questioning the institutions of the democracy for which the US was itself so full of praise last year. What is the point of a democratically elected Lebanese government which cannot protect its people? What is the point of a 75,000-member Lebanese army which cannot protect its nation, which cannot be sent to the border, which does not fire on Lebanon's enemies and which cannot disarm Hizbollah? Indeed, for many Lebanese Shias, Hizbollah is now the Lebanese army."

[JackNewtown]

32. Democracy probably will survive IMO

The current pro-US government probably will not. The only real question is whether Syrian troops will be invited back in. Clearly Lebanon can't defend itself alone and the US will not protect it as long as it is Israel doing the bombing in Lebanon. Syria is their only choice if they don't wish to be naked to foreign attacks.

[kurth]

2. Right, where's the Lebanese Air Force and their 4 helicopters

which are used for training purposes.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Rather like our invasion of Iraq, wasn't it.

Which says a lot more than you may have intended.

[Lindacooks]

3. The Lebanese army is very weak, and this democracy is very new.

That's one of the problems. After the 'Cedar Revolution' last year, chimpy should have helped them build up their army, but, of course, he did nothing. That's one of the reasons Hezbollah is so strong.

[theHandpuppet]

16. Yes, for all this adminstration's bleating about democracy in the ME

Bush simply ignored the fledgling democracy in Lebanon, one which truly needed help. I truly think that this deliberate neglect led, however indirectly, to the conflict they are facing now.

[Lindacooks]

18. Oh, absolutely.

After all, Lebanon isn't a white 'Christian' nation, so chimpy probably figured that since they are mostly brown people, he'd better not help them.

[Odin2005]

23. Lebs arn't "browns" unless you think Greeks and Italians are "brown".

The Lebanese and some other "north Arab" peoples generally look more like Southern Euro's then other Arabs. Lebanon is almost half Christian, too.

[Lindacooks]

25. I'm not saying that's what I think.

That's what the CHIMP thinks. Because he doesn't understand complex religious and political groups.

[TAPat]

4. That is a very valid question -

one that I've been asking myself today.
I have no answer though...

[whistle]

6. He seems to be taking the role of appeasement toward Israel

...and Hezbollah staying neutral until the outcome of the war is known, probably hoping for Israel to accomplish their objective of wiping out Hezbollah as a threat.

[theHandpuppet]

13. I think the Siniora government is damaged beyond repair.

At this point I don't think the tactic of waiting it out will do him any good. There will be a power vaccuum once this is all over, and the chances of a moderate government retaining or filling that role are growing more remote by the day.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JackNewtown]

12. This is why I bet he will lose power after this ends

The current government failed to even attempt to defend Lebanon. Pro-Syrian forces will argue the attack would not have happened if Syria were still "protecting" Lebanon and we will be close to the situation pre-Hariri by the end of this year IMO.

[theHandpuppet]

14. Ah, I hadn't considered that.

I think you may be right.

[JackNewtown]

20. Will conservatives and the MSM media blame * for it?

Remember the orgy of self-congratulation among wingers and the reports of *'s ME policies being "vindicated" in the MSM due to the democratic revolution in Lebanon? Will the MSM media apply that logic when * reverses the gains of 2005 due to his blind support of Israel?

[QuestionAll...]

21. that may be the objective...

Lebanon has no right to thrive and democratize quite in the same way the military industrial complex countries like the US and Israel can. Beirut was known as the Paris of the middle east and finally recovering from almost fatal wounds of years ago.

can't have that, now. no competition is allowed. brown people can not be free, they must live in rubble and fear.

[CJCRANE]

24. Just look what happened in Iraq.

The US military completely wiped the floor with the Iraqi army. It's the insurgents who are the biggest problem.

Same thing would happen in Lebanon, Israel could easily decimate the Lebanese military and govt, leaving the country in a state of even greater chaos.

[IndianaGreen]

27. Perhaps you should stop watching the American press

Siniora has been begging the US, UK, the EU, and anyone that cares to hear him, for a ceasefire. His crime was that he believed in America!

[NuttyFluffers]

28. alright, let's assume he does/did: what does he do with it?

parades? useless display of maneuvers? how will the useless display of maneuvers be seen? will it be seen as hostility against israel and justify their attack? how about a useless display in assisting israel's attack trying to "smoke out" hezbollah? would that be seen as a "betrayal" of the nation -- even if israel and usa send up an uproarious cheer? would it get caught in the crossfire trying to move through now difficult terrain due to the cutting off of transport routes by isreal? what, honestly, can the lebanese military *do* that doesn't make matters worse? sometimes you sit on your ass because the other options are damned if you do, damned if you don't. might as well select damned if you don't and spare your military personnel and materiel.

pretty much, since the initial attack was so fast and furious and neutering most military maneuverability, the only option left to lebanon is pleas to ceasefire. anything else is pointless posturing which could end up being more oil to the fire. sometimes, when everything blows up around you, being still and looking for an opening to survive is the only option. so far they're still trying diplomacy... not a bad idea considering the situation.

[Disturbed]

29. When the Israeli Invasion is over

he will not be re-elected. Hezbullah will gain more seats in the Govt.

[NuttyFluffers]

33. which seems, after israeli attack, will be de facto either way.

which is one of the reasons that i'm confounded in trying to figure out how this military action by israel serves in their best interests. if wanting to marginalize or extinguish hezbollah, i believe it's best to use prosperity, increased understanding, and reliance among recent and tentative allies among the sensible and peace desiring majority. the marshall plan ended up being very beneficial to germany and japan; with lebanon going in a better direction after years of strife there was a current opportunity to do the same. it's a shame such an opportunity was squandered.

[Selatius]

30. Seniora appears paralyzed because of conflicting interests

If he calls for the Lebanese Army to take on Hezbollah, he could actually lose to them, and worse yet, it could provoke another civil war between militias that are sympathetic to Hezbollah and every other militia that isn't. He does not want that. At the same time, he also doesn't want to appear to bowing to Israel's will as well, which could result in him being sacked and replaced with somebody who could be more hawkish towards Israel.

He's stuck. The solution will likely be found in the international community.

[kentuck]

31. He appears to be the Lebanese "Abbas"...

The Pro-American leader of Palestine that was defeated by the Hamas...