For Lebanon’s Shiites, a Dilemma: Stay Loyal to Hezbollah or Keep Protesting?

The terrorist organization isn't being honest and isn't able to run a country? Who would've thought!?

The citizens of Lebanon must ask themselves: have I and my country gained or lost as a result of governmental association and domination by Hezbollah? There can be only one answer.

It's painful to see that the idea of "resistance" against Israel is what seems to unite many of the Shiites who would otherwise oppose the corruption and ineptitude of Hezbollah (considered a terrorist organization by most of the West and the Arab League, among others). If Hezbollah didn't use southern Lebanon as a base for attacks against Israel and have 150,000 missiles pointed across the border, Israel would pose no threat. If the Lebanese turn their talents and efforts inward and focus on pressing internal issues - eradicating corruption, fixing the economy, improving education, preserving the environment, etc - they will have nothing to fear from Israel, and may even find that the Jewish State could be a partner in progress.

Why require the preface "terrorist organization" for Hezbollah but not for the US or Israel? The Hezbollah has used violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims, but who hasn't in this conflict? What about the Iraq war? What about the ever-growing number of settlements in the occupied territories? People cleave to ethnic/religious/whatever lines and then act to support their view. Everyone acts the same and acts to support their view. It's that our views are different, stemming from which background we inherited - be it religious, ethnic, historical, language, economic. Why is it so hard for some to - if not agree - then even comprehend the actions of the other side. Their actions are probably identical to what ours would be in their place. Of course, I still see through my own eyes, colored by my and my civilization's experience, but I understand that someone over in Lebanon is obviously looking through different glasses.

I think I'm failing to understand some of the complexities of Middle Eastern politics, but how could so many still support Nasrallah and Hezbollah, but also attempt to fight against corruption and incompetence? While one could cling onto the victories they had in the past, namely beating back Israel, how could one go as far as to acknowledge that the Government, and the parties running it are corrupt, but still support them? I believe that if many of these protesters want to gain any ground in their cause, they must pick a defined side: Against corruption? Then against Hezbollah and all other parties involved in the degradation of their government and country.

This is like what is happening in Iraq. Protesters wanted the US and Iran out. The Iraqi gov't is caught between the US and Iran so they turned violently against the protesters. Lebanon was invaded in 82 by Israel to get rid of the PLO. It lionized the Shia community which the Israelis ran over on their way to Beirut. The Islamic Republic in Iran was militantly determined to get into the fray. They kidnapped Americans and when Reagan in support of Israel foolishly put marines in Beirut Iranian backed Lebanese blew up the marine barracks killing 100s of marines. Forcing the US to withdraw off shore. The eventual withdrawal of the Israelis was a giant victory for the new Iranian allied party, Hezbollah. Now Hezbollah has served against foreign Sunni jihadists proxy forces plaguing the Syrian populace and threatening Shiites in Lebanon. With the USs open economic war against Iran Hezbollah is less able to provide services to its people at a critical moment of economic free fall in Lebanon. Protestors are less interested in the party line with Hezbollah but in the terrible situation they face.

Lebanon is in a real bind. If not for the stabilizing force of hating Israel, the powerful religious and political gangs might lose control. And nobody really knows what progress looks like.

As the book says. “Religion poisons everything”. In the ME you are part of a sect or tribe or militia or something before you are part of a country. Combined with the corruption that is always part of these sectarian conflicts and the spectacular over population it engenders (Lebanon, 1.3 million 1950, ~7 million now- even after mass emigration) lebanon and the ME continues to go backwards. The only thing they seem to agree on is that they hate Israel somewhat more than they hate each other. If they could figure out how to throw off the smoother it effects of Islam they might make some progress, but I’m not counting on it.

"he is usually considered personally incorruptible" When discussing Hezbollah, lets first establish it is a terrorist organization. It supports terrorism, and most countries now ban all activities of Hezbollah, including political activities. South Lebanon is a lawless area incapable of being controlled by the central Lebanese government for at least two generations, which is why Israel was active in the area. That Hezbollah is seen as defending against the Israel's actions is partially backwards logic. And with respect to 'personally incorruptible' nonsense statement quoted above -- here's a question: is Nasrallah aware of any of his organization's members benefiting from the illegal drug trade? What a mess -- sectarian conflict and violence following a devastating civil war, terrorists, corruption, foreign influence, unstable government, etc. This article seems to suggest that Hezbollah is somehow a normal part of all this. In fact, it is a terrorist organization that is one of Lebanon's biggest problems. The sooner the world is rid of this organization (or minimize its influence), the better. Israel will just have to deal with a terrorist organization having a massive arsenal of missiles and armed militias not accountable to Lebanon, but just to one 'incorruptible' leader and his overlords in Tehran. That is the reality of this awful regime that is stealing the future of the Lebanese people for their own benefit.

They should sign onto Pres. Trump's new Middle East Plan. We are entering the second decade of the new century. Time and progress are passing these countries by. It's time to jump onto the new century's fast moving train so that their children can thrive and grow up in peace. It's just a fact of life.

"As with other liberation movements, Hezbollah has found governance more complicated than guerrilla warfare." Hezbollah does not engage in "guerrilla warfare" but in warfare, whether in Syria or in Lebanon. It has a standing army and massive armaments. It is said that they have 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel. I find it strange that in this entire article Vivian Lee and Hwaida Saad did not mention that the United States, Canada, The Netherlands and the Gulf Cooperation Council States (as well as Israel) consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The EU considers its military wing to be a terrorist organization. Does this background information not impact on the relationship of Shiites and others in Lebanon to Hezbollah? The Shiites find themselves in this quandary because they sought protection, jobs, social services from a terrorist organization instead of from their own government whom they now blame for their problems.

Lebanon needs investments and outside help.Hezbollah holds the sole power over peace or war with Israel.The usual risks of investing is magnified by a risk of war.Why invest in Lebanon while the government is under the thumb of Hezbollah?

Now if only Americans would take to the streets to protest against our corrupt system. If our next president can’t create jobs that give a living wage, good education for our kids, health care for all, decent housing, food security then you’ll see protests until we do. Either we’ll have a revolution or begin the second republic, where all Americans will have an equal chance.

Hezbollah is not quite close to the Quds force? Perhaps a militia without much power to govern politically is not at all that great? Could it improve and appear more a charity?

I was with a small group touring Lebanon in October 2019. We were trapped in our Beirut hotel during the last two days of our trip as the nationwide protests started. Piles of burning tires, trash and rocks blocked virtually every road throughout the country. The only good news at the time was that the government decided not to send out its army in force; the intention was to avoid armed conflict and the likely death of many protesters as a result. The Lebanese protesters have created a Catch-22 for themselves. Even before the protests began, Lebanon desperately need infusions of funds from abroad, and the country relied. to a not-inconsiderable extent, on tourism to bolster its economy. The protests have caused foreign investment to dry up, and of course the tourism industry is effectively dead for the moment. Lebanon is teetering on the brink of collapse at this point, with no obvious solution in sight. This is such a tragedy for the Lebanese people, who were unfailingly kind and generous to us during our stay, and potentially for Lebanon's archeological and cultural wonders as well.

Hezbollah has lost some of its revolutionary luster in opposing the revolution. It is no longer "resistance" but status quo. It will lose more luster still when the government it dominates fails and the economy falls further into the abyss. Its only hope of salvaging its reputation is to put its weight behind finding and repatriating the money stollen by the Lebanese class. Unfortunately for Hezbollah, some of the people it put into the new Cabinet are seen as corrupt and others are seen as loyal to party over national interest.