why now? :o because they don't care about real democracy as they claim. Their only objective is stopping the international tribunal because that would be a blow to the syrian baath regime and its iranian watchdog. They also want to halt Paris III.

To the True lovers of Lebanon, my prayers are with you. A True Christian could never support the destruction that Hizb'allah is doing, no matter what the cause. Please forgive many of the posts here from folks in the USA about this. Most of them do not understand the problems of Lebanon. I know I didn't have a clue until I started reading blogs. For those who would like a closer look at what the average Lebanese faces in their quest for true Freedom, try going to Michael Totten's blog and reading up on the topic. Pray for the Lebanese. Syria and IRAN are trying to destroy them. Hang on folks. The Middle East is in for another rough ride the next few months, sigh. May God bless those who love the truth. Michael Totten's blog: http://michaeltotten.com/

this is truly a remarkable blog, showing what isralis knew all along regarding the human shield issue and the propaganda and lies in the hizbullah controlled media. i have my own ideas, but what do you think can save the lebanese now? and i most assuradly do not mean israeli or usa military intervention. how about the useless european un soldiers over there? how about the un? silence!

enlighten me. how so?

V.N.Y, you asked me what could save the Labanese now? The Raccoon said that only the Lebanese can save Lebanon. His answer is closest to the truth, and I don't mean Lebanese folks out trying to battle terrorists with knives or frying pans. The Lebanese also don't need the US, Israel or anyone else to come in there, and put them through more hell than they've already got at the moment, imho. The UN? EU? Forget it. The Lebanese, for the most part, are going to have to do (for now) what they are trying to do.....just lay low and support their PM. Is March 14 perfect? No, but whose government is? All of us have seen corruption in our governments. So far, I believe that Siniora has done the right thing today. He had his army out there putting out fires, trying to keep peace on both sides, and trying to keep this from blowing up into another nightmare. The real problem is Syria/Iran. At some point, Siniora may have to order the army to do more than keep the peace between sides, and then all bets are off. I don't have any real answers. That is why I feel so bad for the Lebanese who truly want to move on into the 21st century and enjoy peace. sigh

Another thoughtful post! I can understand your disdain for the "gloaters" here, but why not condem the real trouble maker??

They don't live in Lebanon. They and their families won't be killed in violence that breaks out in Lebanon. They don't care about Lebanese people or their aspirations. If this descends into sect on sect violence, the summer war will look like a children's picnic in comparison. This is stupid and vicious. It's really sad to watch this.

thanks for you post. i appreciate your answer and also your ambiguity as to what to do with lebanon. i do like saniora even though some lebanese complain itis a corupt government....and you are right...which government is really not corrupt these days. however, as to myself, i would rather have a corrupt government than one sendeing me into the 12th century and opressing my social and religious freedom as the hizbullah will surely do if they ever succeed in getting their hands on lebanon. i also agree that neither the un, un, soldiers, unifil, israel, the usa, or any other entity should go in there to compound the problem for the innocent lebanese. saniora is doing the best he can in not reacting, except for garbage collecting off the streets. however, not reacting will embolden hizbullah and its supporters to cross the "red line" and attempt to really do something worse. people are dying there, the streets are violent. it used to be a beautiful country, progressive and a magnet for tourism at one point. the lebanese army has not been operational in years and has no clue how to deal with this situation. additionally, no one knows how many factions of this army are pro hizbullah or not. lebanese as well as arabs show their allegiances in surprising ways that don't always make a lot of sense when it comes to their well being or interests. yes, the real problem has always been iran, through syria and hizbullah as their puppets. however, saniora's army is not at all equiped to handle the situation on the ground much less a conflict with syria. yes, you are right. at that time, if it happens, all bets are off. lots of blood shed....just like the past civil war. my heart goes to the innocent lebanese. they didn't deserve it.

As far as i'm concerned Syria has used Israel to damage the democratic government of Lebanon. The Syrians are too smart to launch attacks from their own territory - it's why no "glorious resistance" exists under Assad's rule.

Shias across the Middle East are so desperate for power that if they cant have it, they will kill. And when they do have it, they still kill. Look at the ethnic cleansing of sunnis in Baghdad..

wish that Lebanese had the same feelings for their country as you have to ours. For me you are more Lebanese than the Lebanese. We will certainly need your prayers! May God bless you and help us.

....i assume you are from lebanon? believe me when i tell you that not only ms. rivera, myself (an israeli/zionist) and ann are on your side. the entire european continent as well as most of the civilized world understand the tragedy now occuring on your soil and in your country. as an israeli, i am also worried that ,should your country turn into one big hizbullah camp, israel will have much more to worry about than the little iranian monkey with a tupee and a big mouth. my question is.....what did your governemnt know of nasrallah's plans? what knowledge did you have of his intentions prior to last summer? has mr. saniora been made aware of nasrallah's plans? i believe that it is doccumented that a secret meeting took place between these teo men where saniora was made aware as to nasrallah's plans and told by nasrallah that israel will not react as it didn't in the past to any kidnappings of its idf soldiers. did saniora know or not??? if indeed saniora knew and didn't stop nasrallah's plans by letting the israeli intelligence know what will happen to these soldiers, he's as guilty as nasrallah in betraying the lebannese people he was supposed to protect under his rule. the question still remains.....who knew and who didn't do a thing to stop it.

Yes i'm Lebanese and my heart is broken to see Lebanon burning. I do not support both camps, the government and the so called opposition. However between the evil and the evil i chose the less which is the gvmt. I do blame the gvmt for letting Hezb be part of it but Saniora and the rest didn't know about their evil plan. Nasrallah promised the govmt that he will not attempt ant adventure during the summer 06 but of course Nasrallah is not a man of word. The whole conflict today is bcoz of that war for hezb betraying the gvmt. Do u wanna know why we are sure that saniora didn't hold a meeting with Hassan bcoz he is accusing saniora today that he went to Bush asking him to order israel to lead a war against the hezb. Hezb and his mafia are accusing the gvmt for collaborating with Israel. Isn't that ironic?

I am talking to those Lebanese who want everyone to stay out of their business and let hezballah run the country. The US is an Ally of Lebanon. Did you see how many Americans were trapped there during the last war? I want nothing less than for Lebanon to have its freedom and independence from Iran, Syria and Hezballah, BUT, there are so many people out there that think otherwise. Lebanon needs to ask for help from the UN (not that it would do any good) and from the international community. That is the only way to get rid of hezballah and terror. Good luck!

i hear you my friend. i am very aware that saniora was hoping for israel to "finish" hizbullah in the summer war. you must understand that we, the israelis, tried to do so in the best way we could. there were so many other factors that contributed to the war not going the way saniora wanted it to go. world opinion, criticism of media, of human rights organizations, propaganda, control of media by hizbullah, un intervention, bush mixed messages to the israeli army and government of go, don't go, go, don't go, which confused the israeli top brass and definitely the israeli soldiers who were ready! and poor israeli intelligence as to the weaponry hizbullah was stocking. mainly, our soldiers dies because of antitank missiles. that is all. most if not all idf casualties were because of these missiles and because the world didn't let us finish hizbullah from the air and on the ground. also, don't forget that, contrary to what arabs think, our army fights by military conventional war techniques, not by guerilla techniques. that means we do not hide behind civilians to avoid death or capture. we do not use our countrymen to shield us in time of battle. we protect them and send them away from the line of fire. unlike what hizbullah did, the cowards who had no feelings for the lebanese, even their supporters, and stocked their terrorists and ammunitions in mosques and among civilians' schools, hospitals, churches and homes. how can we bomb a home with families in there. we threw leaflets as warnings. but hizbullah knew what they were doing when they kept the citizens in the line of fire with a gun to their heads. they wanted them dead so that tghey can then manipulate the media and show the world israeli barbarity.....very crafty people toy let into your country! well, now we have what we have and all israel can do is watch, and all america can do is watch, and the un??? useless. will never help you at all. un soldiers? useless as well! you'll either have a civil war which will put all your cedars on fire, and bring lebanon back to the 80's, or, you can use your military, tes, citizen against citizen, to supress this cancer in your country. you are in a very tough situation here as the world sees hizbullah chopping lebanon bit by bit and offering it in pieces to iran and syria for control. doomsday for lebanon? not far off, i think. unless the lebanese army comes forward and in a very tough way.