But Bush said they were weakened - Hezbollah shuts down entire nation of Lebanon

[ck4829]

"There's going to be a new power in the south of Lebanon"
- George W. Bush, August 14, 2006, stating the Hezbollah lost the most recent war between the terrorist organization and Israel.

If so, then how did this happen?

"Hezbollah-led protesters paralyzed Lebanon Tuesday by burning tires and cars on major thoroughfares in and around the capital to enforce a general strike that aims to topple the government.

Clustering in small groups to man the blazing roadblocks, opposition supporters escalated their nearly two-month protest. Commuters were stranded and silence hung over many commercial districts amid reports of scattered violence.

Police said seven people suffered gunshot wounds in disturbances between supporters of the guerrilla group and pro-government activists in central and northern Lebanon. Michel Aoun, a senior opposition leader, told Al-Arabiya television that the wounded were all members of the opposition.

Police and troops deployed in the thousands across the country worked to open roads, sometimes negotiating with protesters, but refraining from using force. In some instances, the military separated the opposition and government supporters, who scuffled and hurled rocks and insults."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_protests

[Kagemusha]

1. There is a new power in the south of Lebanon.

The New, Improved Hezbollah. No, it's not fighting on the battlefield. It has so much political support that it doesn't need to.

[malaise]

2. Do not be fooled

This is a broad alliance of Lebanese including many CHristian groups who simply oppose the influence of the US and Israeli ambassadors on matters goverment in their country. They have not and do not intend to forget last summer.

[femmedem]

3. The administration must be gleeful.

They're probably rewriting SOTU right now to use this to justify their war with Iran.

[rockymountaindem]

4. And yet many DUers

kept telling us during the war this Summer that Hezbollah is some kind of democratically-minded organization of "freedom fighters". Good one :sarcasm:

[Selatius]

5. Hezbollah would never be this powerful if Israel hadn't foolishly declared war.

Now Hezbollah enjoys more support than it ever has in the past because it was seen as the only thing out there fighting Israel while hundreds of civilians died under American-made bombs dropped by Israel.