Hezbollah fighters build new line of defence

[Flabbergasted]

By Nicholas Blanford, The Christian Science Monitor



Rihan, Lebanon: The metal sign dangling from a shiny new chain reads: "Warning. Access to this area is forbidden. Hezbollah."

The notice strung between two concrete blocks on a hillside overlooking the Litani River, is just one indication that the Shiite fighters have relocated here to build a new line of defence.

Hezbollah's strengthening presence just across the Litani‚ the northern border of the zone UN peacekeeping forces and Lebanese troops have been policing since last summer's war between Hez-bollah and Israel‚ coincides with a series of land purchases here by a Shiite businessman with ties to the militant group and, critics say, with funds from Tehran.

While analysts say the military buildup does not necessarily signal any intention by the Iranian-supported militants to launch a fresh round of fighting, they say it is a troubling sign that Hezbollah is rearming just out of sight of the United Nations.

Regionally, say critics, that means Iran could be rebuilding its ally's military capability inside Lebanon and could strike again at Israel. "If you have a major Iranian-American clash, one thing we fear is that the Iranian reaction could be from Lebanon," says Marwan Hamade, Leb-anon's telecommunications minister and political opponent of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has chosen to abandon its former stronghold in Lebanon's UN-patrolled southern border district where its fighters withstood Israel's month-long onslaught last summer.


http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10107373.html

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Yawn.

They are building defensive positions on the northern bank of the Litani River. Gee I guess they figure that when Israel attacks again all those UN forces south of the Litani will watch them drive by on their way north.

[Flabbergasted]

2. How involved do you believe the UN troops would be?

[Warren Stupidity]

3. They would watch the IDF drive by.

I thought I made that clear. Lebanon would be foolish to rely on the UN forces to protect them from the next IDF attack.

[Flabbergasted]

5. Actually your post was unclear to me. I couldn't figure out who was going North

and if someone was going South. That's why I asked.

[otherlander]

4. That reminds me-

Did Israel ever get their two guys back from them?

[CarinKaryn]

6. Oh you meand they still have that excuse to use?

How many did they kill looking for two missing soldiers?

[Lurking Dem]

7. Yeah.

Let's ignore the other ones they killed and the simultaneous barrage of missiles they launched at northern Israeli (largely Arab populated) towns.

[The Stranger]

11. You don't want to get into comparisons here: Israel murdered 1200 Lebanese, most of whom never

supported Hezbollah.

[Lurking Dem]

13. If Mexico lobbed 400 missiles

over our border while simultaneously crossing and kidnapping and killing people would our army stand at the border with their fingers wiggling from their ears shouting, "Nanny nanny boo boo"?

The best way to avoid the horrors of war is to not start one.

[otherlander]

8. I wasn't really thinking that they'd use it as an excuse again,

just that the whole thing accomplished absolutely nothing. I mean, all they did was help their enemy make a lot of propaganda. It wasn't even in their own self-interest.

[aquart]

9. Poor Lebanon. Castrated by Hezbullah.

[High Plains]

10. What? Is Hezbollah some foreign invader?

[The Stranger]

12. WTF? Hezbollah arose out of the 19-year Israeli occupation of Lebanon.

WTF are you talking about?