tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post4855667793252325524..comments2024-03-22T03:15:34.452-04:00Comments on Underreported: Hizbullah's Self-DefeatismYasser M. El-Shimyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02959131181288171918noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-32827877066385394852009-07-01T13:53:22.984-04:002009-07-01T13:53:22.984-04:00Glad to be of help, Matt. :)
Will, I reneged on m...Glad to be of help, Matt. :)<br /><br />Will, I reneged on my promise to read and comment on the Atlantic's article by Sunday. I am sorry.<br /><br />I will do my best to defy my busy schedule this week and come back with a response for you.Yasser M. El-Shimyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959131181288171918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-61431544764060770622009-06-29T12:17:46.549-04:002009-06-29T12:17:46.549-04:00Yasser, thanks for the response. While I understoo...Yasser, thanks for the response. While I understood the differences between ideological internationalist groups and "realist" regional groups (Goldstone's analysis is my main source on this), your reply put things in better perspective.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-23080679228070550482009-06-27T17:44:13.396-04:002009-06-27T17:44:13.396-04:00I haven't read it yet. I will read it tomorrow...I haven't read it yet. I will read it tomorrow, and let you know what I think.Yasser M. El-Shimyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959131181288171918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-24151769734580856292009-06-27T16:22:26.930-04:002009-06-27T16:22:26.930-04:00What do you think about Jeffrey Goldberg's pie...What do you think about Jeffrey Goldberg's piece in the Atlantic this month? "How Iran Could Save the Middle East" - essentially by driving Sunnis and Israelis closer to deal with Iran ... and Hizbullah.Willnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-46396224910829743042009-06-26T15:52:31.649-04:002009-06-26T15:52:31.649-04:00No problem, Matt.
I would respectfully disagree ...No problem, Matt. <br /><br />I would respectfully disagree with your statement about the difference between international and regional militias. An international group is one that is not bound by any modern sense of nationalism. To them, fighting is a religious duty that is obligatory not only against "foreign occupation," but also against any one standing in the way between them and establishing a religious system. These groups tend to deploy indiscriminate violence as a means towards achieving their objective. As you well know, Al-Qaeda is the prime example of such a group, and it has murdered more Muslims than non-Muslims. Alternatively, they are called a "Takfiri" group, i.e.: a group that declares any body who doesn't share its ideological paradigm as an infidel, and, thus, worthy of killing.<br /><br />On the other hand, you have nationalistic, constituency-based militant groups like Hamas and Hizbullah. These groups tend to deploy (and withhold) violence based on political calculations for the most part. They fear the loss of support amongst the people, since that is their primary tactical advantage in any armed confrontation. They also publicly embrace a nationalist project. For instance, Hamas wants to liberate the lands of Palestine, no more and no less. <br /><br />While we may definitely question the means utilized to attain those objectives, we stand to benefit tremendously from drawing distinctions amongst the different kinds of militants. The previous administration dealt with all militant groups as monolithic. That was a massive mistake. We need a nuanced approach that distinguishes between the reconcilables (those who would abandon militancy if their grievances are addressed) and the irreconcilables (Al-Qaeda types).<br /><br />I apologize for the long reply. But Matt does bring up a very important point that is worthy of discussion.Yasser M. El-Shimyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959131181288171918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-34005313365603566042009-06-26T15:38:05.167-04:002009-06-26T15:38:05.167-04:00Oops, posted that last one as Anonymous.Oops, posted that last one as Anonymous.Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-32799134770745756012009-06-26T15:36:48.373-04:002009-06-26T15:36:48.373-04:00Playing off of your comment, Yasser, the differenc...Playing off of your comment, Yasser, the difference between international and regional militant groups is vast. As an international group, they champion an extremist ideology bent on undermining the current world order with the support of Iran and Syria. As a regional group, they stand as a populist instigator, "defending the homeland" with grassroots Lebanese support.<br /><br />Some groups (Hamas) can pull off both strategies because of their constituency base. However, the Lebanese people seemed to have indicated in the recent elections that their support is not ideological, but nationalistic, and they will not support this sort of worldview.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-25726180013097871232009-06-26T09:08:42.152-04:002009-06-26T09:08:42.152-04:00Good analysis, Ed. I would probably add that Hizbu...Good analysis, Ed. I would probably add that Hizbullah seems confused whether its role is national or regional. On the one hand, their raison d'etre, or reason of existence, is justified by the ongoing Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories (the Sheb'a Farms). On the other, they are also very interested in supporting other resistance movements across the Arab world. Until they can make a choice in those regards, expect a lot of schizophrenic statements.Yasser M. El-Shimyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02959131181288171918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8411787833516051804.post-32137010896467536282009-06-26T04:46:39.818-04:002009-06-26T04:46:39.818-04:00I'm certainly no expert on Hizbullah, but coul...I'm certainly no expert on Hizbullah, but could this be signs of differing opinions about the future of the organization - between become more integrated in the Lebanese political landscape, or trying to remain a militant organization.<br /><br />Personally, I can't see how there is a long term future for Hizbullah as a militant organization. Israel is no longer occupying a large chunk of Lebanon, and while the events in 2006 could be spun as a victory of sorts for Hizbullah (though surely a fairly pyrrhic one), it almost certainly was not a victory for Lebanon. So where do they go a militant organization, what are they the armed resistance to?Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17054315827168499437noreply@blogger.com