Fleeing al-Qaida are getting into southern Lebanon and hooking up with Hezbollah, according to Israel's defense minister. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, head of the Israeli defense department went a step further than U.S. claims that Lebanon could provide safe haven for al-Qaida. "More and more information is coming that members of al-Qaida are entering Lebanon and joining Hezbollah," Ben-Eliezer told journalists. The leader of Hezbollah dismissed the claims. "It is a ridiculous allegation," Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said during a speech in Beirut. "Had al-Qaida members been able to flee from Afghanistan and come to hide in Lebanon, this would be proof of the failure of American security."The only reason why I'd discount this rumor is that Hizbollah is Shi'ite oriented and al Qaeda is filled with Wahabbi Sunnis. Just because two tom cats don't like my dog doesn't mean they like each other.
Posted by Tom Roberts 2/9/2002 1:26:23 PM I think religion's only a part of the draw. They're all making Common Cause Against the Hated Infidel. The common bond is guns and explosives and turbans. Think of it as professional courtesy.
Posted by Fred 2/10/2002 12:11:25 PM |