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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese Cardinal slams Hezbollah
2017-03-13
[Gulf News] In a bold interview with SkyNewsArabia, Maronite Patriarch Mar Bisharah Al Rai has slammed the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group for its involvement in the Syria war.

He said the decision to participate in the war, which helped bolster Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, contributed to division in Lebanese society.

"Hezbollah disregarded Leb’s dissociation policy," the Cardinal said, the first time he has spoken with such openness on the issue.

From the onset of the war, Lebanese politicians collectively agreed on a policy to not involve themselves in the Syria war -- in an effort to spare the war-ridden country from further conflict.

Al Rai’s comments come at a time where GCC relations with Leb are at an all-time low, due to Iran’s growing influence over its politicians and institutions.

In January, Lebanese President Aoun travelled to Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and met with King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Cutodian of the Two Holy Mosquesand Lord of Most of the Arabians....
Bin Abdul Aziz, on his first presidential foreign visit.

Lebanese hoped the visit would restore vital economic ties and that Saudi Arabia would give Leb $3 billion (Dh11 billion) to purchase French weapons for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) which it had previously withheld after Jibran Bassil, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who heads the Hezbollah-allied Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
, voted against the unanimous Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation resolutions that condemned the January 5, 2016 Iranian attacks on Saudi missions in Iran.

However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
a planned follow-up visit by King Salman to Leb was cancelled after Aoun praised Hezbollah and backed the militia’s right to bear arms alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) during an interview with Egyptian TV.

Al Rai’s comments reveal widespread fear in the country over Hezbollah’s arms -- the Cardinal called the situation "abnormal".

Aside from maverick former Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, other Lebanese politicians notably did not comment on Al Rai’s interview, reflecting a deep fear in the country to speak out against Hezbollah.

Rifi, a Sunni politician from Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
who does not miss an opportunity to lash out at Iran and Syria, backed the Cardinal and emphasised the importance of upholding the illusory sovereignty of the nation.

"Hezbollah’s weapons are being used by Iran as a tool for chaos to achieve expansionist ambitions," he said, adding that they directly negate the interests of Leb, its stability and its relations with Arab states.

Posted by:Fred

#3  His chauffeur is as brave man.
Posted by: magpie   2017-03-13 17:40  

#2  We'll be reading his obituary in a few days.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2017-03-13 17:02  

#1  Durned redbirds!
Posted by: Skidmark   2017-03-13 08:27  

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