SeigSoloyvov wrote:kvs wrote:https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/leave-you-are-all-killers-lebanese-protesters-storm-multiple-government-ministries
The riots have started. Big step to mission accomplished.
People are rightfully pissed because of a huge fuck up done by their government it is only natural they would lash out at the ones who where in charge of preventing shit like this.
There is no US or Israeli operation to overthrow the government, simply people pissed off at their government.
Blame it on whoever you want, facts say you are wrong. There isn't a thread of proof it was done on purpose.
You are conflating two situations.
There is indeed no evidence that Israel was involved in the explosion or that it was done on purpose, plenty of expectation but no proof.
There is however plenty of proof that there has been years of activity by the US and Israel against a major part of Lebanese society, Hezbollah, which they try to portray as a terrorist organisation as opposed to political party/militia. To say that there is now no active operations by them in Lebanon to exploit this situation in driving wedges between groups to their benefit is surely wide of the mark. It is virtually a given that they will be doing that and a major strategic failure if they are not.
The biggest problem they have in exploiting it is that Lebanon is divided up into areas of influence based on religion/politics/finance and the port and the destroyed part of Beirut do not belong to Hezbollah. They were/are too big a cash cow to be given to the poorer elements of their society. This is where Hezbollah's strategy, which seems to be unique in the ME, of being a religious political party that accepts other religions, like Christians, with a leader respected across the ME, could start to significantly help them.
Ironically it could be Hezbollah that comes out of this a winner as they are not seen as part of the main corrupt elements of society that have been creaming off, into offshore accounts, the country's wealth for decades. An activity wholeheartedly supported by the West's bankers, France especially, and something that any aid coming in from the West will no doubt try to maintain.
Now that much of the opportunity to exploit the cashflows (bribes and commissions) has gone it is going to be interesting to see how those who hold the keys to power, the Lebanese Army Generals in particular, react. If they team up with Hezbollah to impose a new regime the country has a chance. If the current political system is maintained the place is fucked, it didn't work when they had money it sure as hell won't when they don't.
As to the US sanctions, that is just simply evil.