Sunnis react to Hezballah victory in Lebanon

Washington Times:

Sunni Muslims staged violent demonstrations Tuesday after Lebanese lawmakers announced that the candidate Hezbollah supported for prime minister — telecommunications mogul Najib Mikati — had won the post.

In the northern city of Tripoli, Mr. Mikati‘s hometown and an epicenter of Sunni belief, thousands of protesters took to the streets after their leaders called for “a day of rage,” accusing the Shiite group Hezbollah of attempting a coup d’etat.

The protest began peacefully but escalated into violence after a few hours. Gunfire rang out overhead as angry young men stormed buildings, burned flags, threw rocks and set fire to a van belonging to Al Jazeera news network, which they accused of supporting Hezbollah.

“We are so angry,” said Mai Ali Osmen, an English teacher, as men set fire to the office of a Hezbollah-allied political party. “Everywhere in Lebanon, we refuse this decision.”

“If [Hezbollah] continues the way it is now, a lot of other things will happen,” businessman Nasser Harmouch said as he watched men burn furniture in the street.

Meanwhile, the United States, which backed Lebanon‘s previous government, indicated that it would rethink its economic and military support for the nation if Hezbollah — a U.S.-designated terrorist group — takes control. Since 2006, the U.S. has supplied Lebanon with $720 million in military aid.

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Hezballah made this move to avoid the consequences of a report that will name several figures from that party in the murder of Hariri's father. I think the tribunal will still render its judgment, but Hezballah need control of the government in order to thwart justice in the case.

I see no reason for the US not to immediately withdraw aid to the government. Other western nations should follow suit leaving Iran and Syria to bear the financial burden of supporting the Hezballah death cult.