The fragile cease-fire in Lebanon seems to be holding. The Lebanese citizens driven from their homes are returning to see what is left of their property and neighborhoods. Playing upon those innocent victims hopelessness and frustration, the “religious” leader of Hezbollah has come forward with an incredible offer. Hezbollah will pay to rebuild anyone’s home or apartment complex and charge no rent for one year.
This offer of course comes courtesy of Iranian oil profits. It is just another politically saavy move by the radicals Islamics to further inflame the region and create more support for their hateful version of Islam. Of course, no one in the arab world will ask where was all this aid for the muslim people after the Tsunami.
If this support comes thru (some $10 billion dollars), it will easily sway many thousands more Lebanese people into supporting Hezbollah. In the end, making life more dangerous for Isreal. Thus making it that more likely that at some point, Iran and Isreal will fight one disasterous war.
The US and Europe of course will never just throw reconstruction money at this part of the world due to the mass corruption, and high likelyhood of money being diverted for arms purchases, etc. But, something must be done to prop up the Lebanese gov’t or it will become weak shadow to Hezbollah.
One strong option that would immediately trump Hezbollah/Iran card is the immediate pausing of debt payments ($40 billion) by the Lebanese gov’t. This would free up finances to gain the upper hand in rebuilding. The western world should continue to make the interest payments and over a several year period forgive all debts as long as the Lebanese gov’t continues to act in the manner of a peaceful arab country.
It’s time for the west to start playing smarter hands against Iran.
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