Civil War is breaking out through the entire Middle East

[ck4829]

First Iraq, then the Palestianian Territories, and now Lebanon.

"Pro- and anti-government factions clashed for a second day in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday, a day after violence nationwide claimed three lives and injured more than 170 people.

Tripoli, the country's second largest city, saw some of the heaviest fighting on Tuesday, when a general strike called by the Hezbollah-led opposition sparked clashes with government supporters in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

The violence gave a frightening glance into the turmoil that could result from the long power struggle between pro-Iranian Hezbollah and the U.S.-backed govenrment of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. In many places, including Tripoli, the clashes took on a sectarian tone, a deep concern in this fragile nation of multiple communities."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_protests

[babylonsister]

1. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. nt

[ieoeja]

3. No shit. nt

[leveymg]

2. No winners. Not even us or Israel.

Welcome to the world that Dubya and Ariel created.

Past a certain point, it just gets worse.

[Phredicles]

4. Remember after the Lebanese elections the spin of "Democracy is

sprouting all over the Middle East and it is clearly thanks to the Dear Leader"? Well, if that was a result of his policies, then so must this.

[butterfly77]

5. He just struck Somalia again this morning...

[aquart]

6. Okay, the Palestinians were ruled by a terrorist strongman: Arafat.

When a strongman dies there is ALWAYS a shakeout. A government held together by a personality falls apart when the personality disappears. Just as there would have been a bloody shakeout when Saddam finally croaked, had we allowed him to go naturally (or as naturally as being a hated dictator will allow--it's stressful, worrying people are trying to kill you).

Lebanon is clearly a mess: the government isn't as strong as the militant parasite Hezbullah. Of course there's going to be trouble over that.

And if you really want to shiver: SYRIA is being controlled by a minor sect. When its strongman goes, expect lots of fun and games and a wee bit of bloody revenge over there.

Which is WHY we all told idiot George to stay the hell out of the Middle East.