December 12, 2007 10:42

Another Assassination in Lebanon

Posted by Andrew Lee Butters | Comments (10) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This

Only days ago it seemed as if Lebanon was moving past its latest crisis. The country's feuding factions, backed by America on the one hand and Syria on the other, had reached an agreement on a candidate to fill the country's empty presidency. All that was left was to pass a constitutional amendment allowing the chief of the army, General Michel Sulieman, to become the head of state, a position normally barred to serving military officers. A slight thaw in relations between America and Syria -- as symbolized by Syrian participation in the Annapolis peace conference -- seemed to presage an easing of tension in Lebanon.

But now it seems that the country is teetering one again. This morning, the chief of operations of the Lebanese army was killed in a bomb blast along with at least four other people in the outskirts of Beirut. And on Monday, parliament once again delayed the presidential vote, while rival factions appear to be returning to their hard line positions.

The assassination of Brigadier General Francois Hajj in Babdaa, a town that holds both the presidential palace and military headquarters, is the latest in a string of assassinations that have plagued the country since 2005. Unlike previous victims, most of whom were anti-Syrian politicians and journalists, Hajj had no overt political affiliation. However, he was one of the leading candidates to head the army if Sulieman is elected president, and he was also instrumental in leading the battle against Islamic militants in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp this past summer.

--Andrew Lee Butters/Beirut

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Reader Comments (10)

Joujou Gangarossa:

I can't belive what's happening in Lebanon. They are killing the best people. I hope and pray for peace.

Posted by Joujou Gangarossa | December 12, 2007 6:01 PM

Anonymous:

It's tragic that every time Lebanon appears to be making progress some setback derails them.

Posted by Anonymous | December 12, 2007 6:42 PM

Yadgyu:

The assassination in Lebanon is no different than any other murder in any other part of the world. Murder is wrong and we need to go to war to prevent it.

Posted by Yadgyu | December 13, 2007 1:07 AM

War?:

Go to war against who? Who is going to conduct this war?

1) Who's going to take on Hezbollah, if they're behind this?

2) Who's going to lead the invasion of Syria, if they're behind this?

3) Who's going into Iran, if they're behind this?

Unfortunately, there are so many powerful groups and their proxies using Lebanon as a battleground that most often, the casualty is justice. Everyone gets away with every murderous act.

Posted by War? | December 13, 2007 9:05 AM

Gabistan:

poor Lebanon...

Posted by Gabistan | December 13, 2007 4:54 PM

Yadgyu:

1) Who's going to take on Hezbollah, if they're behind this? - The USA

2) Who's going to lead the invasion of Syria, if they're behind this? - The USA

3) Who's going into Iran, if they're behind this? - The USA

The only wat to stop terrorism is for the USA to go to war with the terrorists and terrorize them back. War is a neccessary evil. War will bring peace.

Posted by Yadgyu | December 13, 2007 11:03 PM

War?:

I hope you can muster support for all of these conflicts. After 6+ years of nonstop wars, the American people are sick and tired of Bush and his campaigns. Given the less than stellar results in Irag and Afghanistan, not too many people are going to support sacrificing their kids on the streets of Beirut, Damascus, or Tehran.

Posted by War? | December 14, 2007 7:08 AM

The chosen one:

OOne can only hope a similar fate will befall Gabistan!!!

Posted by The chosen one | December 19, 2007 9:04 PM

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