Israel Matzav

More waiting for the Lebanese Winograd Commission

I've already noted that many Lebanese looked on enviously as the Winograd Commission castigated the Olmert-Peretz-Livni government last week for its failings in last summer's war. I believe that if Lebanese society were open enough to have a commission like the Winograd Commission look into Hezbullah's role in sparking last summer's war, it would put that country a long way forward down the road to democracy and towards a denouement with Israel. At the end of the day, I don't believe we have a real dispute with most Lebanese, and that our interest and theirs as being the only countries in the region not dominated by militant Islam (at least for now) give us lots of space to work together. Of course, I have said that before and Lebanese President Fouad Saniora continues to pretend it isn't so.

Lebanese blogger From Beirut to the Beltway - who now lives in the United States - is one of those Lebanese who wishes his country had a Winograd Commission. He has some interesting commentary on Hezbullah Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's latest pronouncements, including Nasrallah's sudden respect for Ehud K. Olmert, who should resign according to Nasrallah's pronouncements from last week.

Glowing in a pretend victory that banished him to a hole, and led an entire country to economic ruin, Nasrallah heaped praise over the "enemy entity" of Israel, which he said behaved with "sincerity" even in its "unjust cause" by investigating its failure to destroy his militia. "You can't but respect this behavior", Nasrallah said, especially when "the other side [Lebanon] does not investigate or study or hold accountable or question or form investigation commissions as if nothing had happened."

Apparently, Nasrallah has more respect for his enemy than his own state and government, which he has condemned to slow death for daring to question his holy actions. Had this government held him accountable and launched a probe into his actions, would he be here today lecturing on accountability? And what about that UN tribunal he is obstructing? I guess that falls under the attempt to hijack Arab oil by bringing his dictator friend to justice!

After this pseudo-intellectual trip, Nasrallah went on to continue the dismantling of Lebanon, and using the polarized bits and pieces to safeguard his holy mission against an "entity" he now respects more than his own country. I wonder if an Olmert will come to his rescue next time his rockets hit the Zionist fan.

Unfortunately, for Nasrallah, Lebanon is just a launching pad. Don't look for that to change any time soon.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:36 AM