Anti-Syrian Protesters Flood Lebanese Capital

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of anti-Syrian protesters flooded central Beirut Monday in what witnesses said was Lebanon's biggest demonstration since former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's killing exactly a month ago.

Flag-waving crowds from across Lebanon packed the capital's Martyrs' Square, near Hariri's grave, and swamped nearby areas to demand an international inquiry into his death, the sacking of Syrian-backed security chiefs and a total Syrian pullout.

In contrast to previous anti-Syrian protests since a bomb blast killed Hariri on Feb. 14, many Sunni Muslims joined Druze and Christians in taking to the streets. Hariri was a Sunni.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=586&e=7&u=/nm/20050314/wl_nm/lebanon_dc

edited to add link.

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Look at the photos from this event, watch the TV media whore coverage, and one thing becomes abundantly clear: There's nothing authentic about this "demonstration."

The flags in many sections of the crowd are very conveniently of the exact same size. Big signs are conveniently written in English.

Who brought these people out into the streets? Who supplied the flags and signs? What were the incentives to participate -- or the penalties for not participating?

If we've learned anything in the past four years, it's this: Any media event that seems to hit you over the head with its message is just that -- a media event, not a legitimate expression of opinion.

both for and against.

so, when the pro-syrian protesters took to the streets last week, it was a spontaneous, genuine groundswell of public opinion. but this one is orchestrated. is this correct?

Its very interesting how people seemingly join a progressive site and haven't a clue as to what America is doing to manipulate states soon to be called "staging" grounds. Sweat Jesus ether the Lebanese people are sniffing pure grade cocaine or no one ever mentioned to them that Israel still holds influence over their daily lives. What else is hilarious is that no one has yet to take into account that Prime Minister Rafik Hariri may not have been killed by anyone related to Syria. Does anyone else think that the man assassination was just a we bit perfect, I mean come on the US decides to label Syria as a naughty state and then some how the Syrian’s decide it would be great to kill off Lebanon’s former PM? Good swash bulking fuck it’s like people are blind to the fact that America takes pleasure in toppling governments or assassinating politicians whenever they feel the need or whenever our puppet loses its value.

pro-Syrian/pro-Hizbollah protests...

The pro-Syrian rally was to remind people that Israel is a threat to Lebanon, and this is what Hezbollah was pointing out with the demonstration. Quite the opposite.

One poster at DU posted something from the so-called cedar revolution, and it was picture of a demonstrator waving an American flag. The irony was evidently completely lost on this particular poster.

the hezbollah rally was simply telling the other factions: "don't fuck with us."

Apparently the other factions have not listened.

It's the opposite of what you say Teaser.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/11127515.htm

Mindful of Hezbollah's clout, Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition had tried without success before the earlier rally to persuade Hezbollah to remain neutral in the country's political crisis.

Instead, Nasrallah chose to reassert his power, warning the opposition - and the United States, France and the United Nations who have been demanding Hezbollah disarm - that it represents a big chunk of Lebanon that can't be ignored.

"I ask our partners in the country or those looking at us from abroad, `Are all those hundreds of thousands of people puppets?' Is all this crowd agents for the Syrians and intelligence agencies?'" he said.

Nevertheless, he still offered the opposition the chance for dialogue to end the crisis.

You are reading their words. Not their actions. The opposition wanted to neutralize Hezbollah by coopting them. Hezbollah saw through this and didn't let it happen.

Don't just read news reports. Analyze them in context of these groups history. Things make more sense that way.

then how could the anti-Syrian crowd underestimate the role Hezbollah would want to play in a new government, since Hezbollah has been playing an increasing larger role within Lebanon's politics? This is coupled with the disdain and distrust Hezbollah has of Israel. Looks like quite a bit of historical context is being over looked. I was already on record at DU and other blogs, even before the pro-Syrian protests that the change of events in Lebanon would leave an opening for Hezbollah to play a bigger role.

The pro-Western plan backfired.

The following is from Juan Cole's article:

http://www.juancole.com/2005/03/lebanon-counter-demonstration-one.html

One thing the Bush Administration hadn't counted upon when it pushed for withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon was that the vacuum might well be filled by the paramilitary of the Hizbullah Party, especially in the Biqaa Valley.

How could the anti-Syrian group be under such a misapprehension to have not offered an incentive to Hezbollah, but then what could the anti-Syrian group really offer?

If an agreement isn't worked out, there's going to be more strife in Lebanon, if not a civil war.

The Hezbollah is not going to just run away.

Read the lebanese press. There is near daily violence between these camps.

Those of you interested in following the Lebanon situation should consult Helena Cobban's web log. Cobban is a veteran reporter who has spent substantial time in Beirut and was there last fall.

She points to this 3/12 al-Hayat article:

As the White House and the State Department deny any change in American policy toward Hizbullah, an American official expressed his anxiety at the possibility that Hizbullah will exploit the curtailment of Syrian influence in Lebanon to reinforce its own military and political position in Lebanon, in cooperation with Iran and at the expense of the Lebanese Opposition. The official, who requested anonymity, said that Hizbullah "Might prove able to sweep the Lebanese elections, if they are held without foreign interference, and to fill the vaccuum that the Syrian withdrawal will leave behind." He clarified that Hizbullah, which was yesterday a Syrian ally, might tomorrow be its successor, whether by resort to weapons or by dominance at the ballot box.

juancole.com

After all, their ultimate goal is bringing on Armegeddon, and that's easier if the govt of Lebanon is openly at war with Israel, as opposed to the current govt which only tolerates terrorism.

What better reason to inject itself into another country's internal affairs?

the smaller anti-Syria protests will probably get plenty of air time. Can you tell what side the corporate elite media favors?

But they are comparable in size to last week's Hezbollah/Amal protest.

And neither of these sides is protesting about Syria. Don't be fooled. They are protesting against each other.

Well, remember * moronic handwritten note? "Let freedom reign". I fear that if Syria doesn't pull out gradually without a power vacuum, these poor folks in Lebanon will face another civil war. Damn, I do not like these warmongering neo-cons. :(

No way do I want to see anonther Rumsfelian moment: "Freedom is messy." Grrr ... :puke:

http://albawaba.com/en/news/181322

You all can get upset if you want, but I figure this is
democracy in action. Demostrations of popular support is
way better that street fights. I don't expect either "side"
is going to go away.

Edit: I just wish UnitedStatesians would hit the streets more,
and the the Snooze Media would cover it with the same sort
of headlines.

I suspect that media here will leave this number claim unchallenged unlike how they reduced the numbers for the pro-Syrian rally from 1.5 million to 500,000 to "a few hundred thousand" to 200,000.

The French TV has been trying to show how people they talk to don't like the Syrian presence, but those of course are people who want to use the French media to get their views known.

And why would anyone here get upset about Democracy in action, don't see that too often here?

They just haven't pulled out their shiv's yet.

Just wait. General Aoun is coming back this week. That will mark the beginning of the end.

second-guessing the demonstrations in Lebanon and the Ukraine.

Frankly I think it would be next to impossible for the US, which can't seem to do anything right - for example in Iraq we've managed to foment a nascent civil war - to get hundreds of thousands of people together in Beirut or Kiev.

How would we do that, exactly? Bribe them with signed photos of Condi Rice in her boots? Pass out Hershey bars or McDonald's coupons?

Let's celebrate the growing democratic movements abroad and work on our own stagnant democracy HERE.

because for all the protesting by both sides, it doesn't seem like anyone is actually willing to listen to the people. Most likely this will end in a deal being cut by the same warlords that ravaged the country during the 80s, or in another civil war. But the citizens are certainly doing their best to be heard...

But in Lebanon it could be worse, and was.
There are elections coming too.

REad my analysis here

I was getting so confused.

I am still uncertain as to why US/Israel supports the Syrian evacuation though. Doesn't that make the Hezbollah threat stronger? I can understand US/Israel inciting civil unrest but in doing so doesn't it make the Lebanon/Israel border unsafe?

how many buses did US have to hire?

Thanks for post!

There aren't any on Reuters...

The biggest was the many flag waving photos, which show a small swath indeed.

With the demonstartions last wek, many aerial shots were supplied.

Living behind the Televised Curtain of Imperial Amerika, I have been subjected to the most sophisticated lies and propaganda the world has EVER seen.

Let me see a wide-angle shot of the protest from above.

(though I would not expect to see one...maybe...)

But it looks exactly like the pro-Syria protest last week. Hmmmm...

and yes, if we still lived in a Free Country I would be more trusting.

But we don't. We live in Imperial Amerika and thus this stinks.

We all know what the aerial view of "Saddam's Statue Toppling" looked like.

We all know that for last week's protest, aerial photos were prominent and fortchoming within hours of the start.

So, as far as I am concerned and given that I am living behind the Televised Curtain of Imperial Amerika, I have no choice but to doubt my lying Totalitarian Government if I do not receive proof otherwise.

they have posted some pretty decent photos now. This really does appear to have been a massive demo, which is in some ways no real surprise. Lebanese society is heavily divided on this issue - a counter demo was bound to occur and really the opposition had to deliver the goods for the court of international opinion. I figure between the two demos pretty much every third person in Lebanon has marched on way or another (and some probably on both) for this issue...

then I am at least buying that it wasn't a fraudulent event.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4346613.stm

You understand, the word of Imperial Amerikan Pravda no being good enough for a Free Citizen, even one trapped behind the Lying Televised Curtain of Imperial Amerika, like myself.

after last weeks 'terror' shennanigans (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4341269.stm), but the media here at least treats us as adolescents, if not as fully grown adults. Still, habeas corpus is all but finished in Britain, after 400 odd years and god knows how many wars. The fascists keep on winning...

Could England fall to BushPutinism? Of course it could. Some might say you're already "half in the bag" on that score.

But I am speaking of the current dispositions. And in my book, for the moment, England remains in the Free World witha Free Press and relatively trustworthy and transparent voting systems.

Which makes you a place to be envied by the piteous enslaved Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

For the moment.

:(

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050314/481/xhm11203141700



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050314/481/akcf11803141912&e=12&ncid=



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050314/481/bei11903141909&e=13&ncid=



Also some good pics were added to this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1311431

gee, the US had to rent a LOT of buses.

/sarcasm

go lebanon.

I just received an email from lebanon claiming that there are rumors afoot that Walid Jumblaat has been privately threatening the shiite population with "something." Says he's ready to deal with them "once and for all." Jumblaat is, above all, a bullshitter, but these threats, if true, are likely one reason Hezbollah is so pissed.

as long as they stay non violent, should be ok.....

It would be nice if this could all be resolved at the ballot box, but I think the bullet box will come out first. Crowds and counter-crowds of this size in a country that is only a decade or so from civil war don't seem like a peaceful portent. Important people want Lebanon in disarry, and they will get their wish.

On edit - Neocons still want revenge for the marine barracks bombing, among other things. An elephant never forgets.