UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon

It's funny how Saad Hariri was born in Saudi Arabia, to an Iraqi mother, and was educated in American - only to become the prime minister of Lebanon. Why not Pakistan?

Sure. Jokes are great. Why not? But my point here is that Lebanon is massively controlled by outside powers.

Well, DUH... Right?

Check out this video on UNIFIL in south Lebanon. I know, I know, I'm a total Al Jazeera video nut, but this one is good: It shows WHY many of the south/Shia Lebanese don't like UNIFIL.

I'd be interested in seeing some more reasons in the comments section. But the obvious from watching this video is that an increasing number of Lebanese see UNIFIL as an Israeli pawn, guarding only the Lebanese slice of the border - as if THEY where the only problem.

Clearly a case for resentment... Though I'd say it's going too far to suggest that UNIFIL is Gen. Haddad 2.0.

Update: And it's Ain al-Hilweh where they hide - but no more.

Good for Iran ... Not so good for Israel

Uskowi on Iran reports:

Iran’s first nuclear power reactor will start up on 21 August when Russia begins loading nuclear fuel in the reactor built in the southern city of Bushehr on the Persian Gulf. In an agreement with Iran, the Russian atomic agency Rosatom will provide the fuel and will take the spent fuel back to Russia. Iran’s own enriched uranium will not be used for the operation of Bushehr nuclear power reactor.

Update: In other news, Abu Muqawama has a great post on the future of US relations with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Editing the Fourth Leg

As many of you know, I'm writing a book on surfing the Middle East. Before (on this blog) I leaked short videos from everything on how I write, to the trip itself - so let this short clip be something in between.

Let's call it: Editing the Fourth Leg

"FREEDOM IS MINE!" - Nina Simone

This changed my day today:

Drop Dead Funny

Sorry guys, I just thought this was Drop Dead Funny!

Jeffery Goldberg on Israel & Iran

Atlantic guru, Jeffery Goldberg, dives into the psychological approach in his new feature on Netanyahu's decision to bomb Iran:

"If the choice is between allowing Iran to go nuclear, or trying for ourselves what Obama won't try, then we probably have to try,” one senior Israeli official told Goldberg. Basically, the Israeli military officials agreed that it would be tough for Israel to do it alone – but on the other hand, the conclusion is Netanyahu might well risk this operation and alienation of his closest ally if he becomes convinced Iran's nuclear bomb "represents a threat like a Shoah."

Goldberg delves into Netanyahu’s relations with his father – the historical lessons he learned from Ben-Zion Netanyahu – and his eagerness not to disappoint him. He also offers a long list of Iran's verbal hostilities toward Israel to remind his readers that Israel is not personally obsessed with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

OK folks, so this is the level we are at now. But will it really happen? Does Israel think it actually faces another shoah, or is this posturing, trying to get the Obama Administration to take a hard-line on Iran?

Personally, I don't see Netanyahu doing it. But I think everyone else in his government would. I don't think he'd want a regional war on his hands without clearing Lebanon first. (The IDF has estimated over 50,000 rockets are now in Lebanon ... all pointing at Israel.)

Thoughts?

Hassan's "talk"

A few of you Casbahites have wrote in: "Abu, what do you think about Sayyed Hassan's speech on the UN tribunal..."

Well, my answer is very simple and very clear:

Hassan Nasrallah was giving his Party members a narrative. Period. Nothing in Lebanon has ever been about The Facts ... just who has the means to control them. Nasrallah did not provide any proof. He didn't need too. He just needed to play the same ole Hezbollah Card and get the Israelis involved ... hopping, that someday, it can all be forgotten.

How's that?


Update: What Sayyed Hariri should do about it.

Well this is cool...