"What does this Western obsession over Iran & Syria's support for Hezbol

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Subject: LeMonde on Lebanon
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:03:59 -0500
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In Southern Lebanon, Untroubled Fighters Display Their Determination to Resist
By Cécile Hennion
Le Monde

Monday 07 August 2006

In the face of the stink coming off the corpses, Sheikh Ahmed is the only one not to protect his face with a surgical mask. Wearing lightly tinted spectacles and a white turban, this Hezbollah leader in southern Lebanon imperturbably observes the now habitual disorder reigning in front of the Tyre government hospital.

In the face of this spectacle of desolation, the man displays his serenity. "The resistance is doing well," he declares. "Israel's murderous action has contributed to bring the people and Hezbollah closer together. Not only in Lebanon, but also in all the Arab and Muslim countries, every day more numerous in their demonstrations of support."

The mention of Tehran and Damascus's active patronage of the Shiite organization causes him to lift an eyebrow. "What does this Western obsession over Iran and Syria's support for Hezbollah mean? Do their media also go to the trouble of specifying that Israel is supported by the United States and Europe?"

"My answer about Iran and Syria's role," Sheikh Ahmed adds, "is summarized by Condoleezza Rice's speech. She keeps calling for a 'Greater Middle East.' Well then, here it is! Confronted with the American-Zionist plan for the systematic destruction of Lebanon, the 'Greater Middle East' is reacting in chorus to defend its rights. Hezbollah's objective has never changed. Since its creation, its role has been to fight against Israeli occupation and aggression in Lebanon. We represent the resistance of all Lebanese. Syria and Iran take our country's fate to heart. That's normal."........