Lebanon Update (VOA News)

Issue at a Glance Since independence from France, Lebanon’s government has been shared by Christian, Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims according to a 1943 formula that accorded majority power to Christians.  This formula has remained in place, failing to reflect changing demographics:  the president would be Christian; the prime minister, Sunni Muslim; and the head of parliament, Shi’ite.  All religions would have positions in parliament, ranked by the size of religious communities. Struggles for power within Lebanon also reflect wider struggles between Lebanon and Israel, Syria, and Iran. Syria has vacillated vis-à-vis Lebanon, reflecting its dual fears that Lebanon could emerge either as a Christian state that would side with Israel, or a radical Islamic state. In 2005, former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri was assassinated.  A U.N. Tribunal, as of early 2011, looked ready to accuse the Syrian-backed Hezbollah group.  Hezbollah-backed parties resigned from government, forcing its collapse. President Michel Slieman has named Syrian/Iranian favorite, Najib Mikati, as prime minister.

“Is It Too Late to Stop Iran?” – That’s NOT the point!

In the August issue of U.S. News & World Report, Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Editor-in-Chief writes his views on the Iran Nuclear situation. His main quote that sits as a centerpiece to the article over a waiving American flag reads:

“It is painfully obvious that the international community has no idea how to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. No one has a magic solution.”

The final sentence quotes an article from the Economist magazine called “Has Iran Won?”

“Who would have thought that a friendless theocracy with a Holocaust-denying president; which hangs teenagers in public and stones women to death, could run diplomatic circles around America and its European allies?”

So, a little poignant Q&A.

• Our current foreign policy is senseless? Maybe but not the reason.
• Our current political leadership is not properly educated? Seem so, but they are all well-educated.
• Our policy is dictated by the wrong priorities? Always, but so is every other superpower.
• Our leadership truly do not care about this situation since both Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the White House have accomplished NOTHING to stop Iran in their pursuit? Makes you wonder.
• The US Government and its European Allies are too busy worrying about their own livelihoods, how rich they are, how rich they will be in retirement. How they will get re-elected and retain power and their GODLY status. No doubt but this has nothing to do with Iran.

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Or is their another reason we continue as we do? Is their another strategy we are following?

• One day, Iran will have their nukes and Iran will flex its muscle.
• They will nuke Israel. Israel will Nuke Iran. 
• If they have long distance missiles they will most likely nuke Europe and anyone else the regime hates.
• Many Americans and other enemies of Iran will die.
• All Iranians will die but they will die as Martyrs for the cause. 
• When it is all said and done, Iran will be gone and the world will go on.

By NOT doing anything decisive to stop Iran simply means that the actual policy of the US and its Allies is as follows. Quite simple really…

1. If they do something forceful, and innocent Iranians die, they think they will look like murderers which they don’t want.

2. If they wait, eventually Iran will develop these weapons and they will use them. Then they can retaliate in self-defense and wipe Iran off the face of the earth and the rest of the world will praise them as heros. Of course in this case they will unleash all of the West’s nukes pointed at Hamas, Hezbollah and every other enemy of Israel. It is definitely in the best interests of America and its Allies that they are looked upon as Heroes versus murderers of Innocents.

Just my humble opinion.