Does Hizbollah have a right to negotiate just as a country does?

[RB TexLa]

Simple question, yes/no

[magellan]

1. I think no

Their reps can make their case within the Lebanese gov't, but ultimately it's the Lebanese gov't that should negotiate with the external world, not Hezbollah.

[Erika]

2. Hezbollah is a political party just like the GOP

Why Israel attacked a country because of one of it's political parties is nonsensical.

[RB TexLa]

3. I don't think the GOP has an official arsenal of rockets n/t

[poverlay]

9. Sure they do. What do you call the U.S. Military? Plus if you

count Psycho Coulter, the entire * administration, Hannity, Rush, Malking, and Fred Phelp's wife you have a group that makes Osama, Hussein, and Nasrallah look positively Father Mulcahey reasonable...

[RB TexLa]

11. You think those people have rockets?

you honestly believe that?

[TomInTib]

4. As long as Hezbollah is the sole active entity, yes.

Where the hell is the Lebanese Armed Forces on this attack/defense/whatever the lie is/?

[mike_c]

5. who else is going to negotiate if not Hiz'bullah...?

The current conflict in Lebanon is between Israel and the Hiz'bullah militia, notwithstanding Israel's targetting of noncombatants for collective punishment. If Israel were to agree to negotiations, who else would it negotiate with, if not its opponent in the conflict?

[TomInTib]

7. Well said..

My thoughts, prezactly.

But the wine would not allow me to type that in such a succinct fashion.

[lovuian]

6. I said No they weren't elected by the people

so No...

[Erika]

8. 23% of the Lebanese gov't was elected Hezbollah

So?

[RB TexLa]

10. so they should have 23% input into any negotiations?

[mike_c]

12. not true-- Hiz'bullah has seats in the Lebanese parliament....

Hiz'bullah is like Sein Fein in Ireland-- it has both a milita and a political wing, and a social services wing as well. It has been "elected by the people," and furthermore it is "the people"-- Hiz'bullah is a popular movement in Lebanon, particularly among Shi'a, but also among others, especially now that Israeli bombing is radicalizing even more Lebanese. Remember, the Hiz'bullah miltia was the main force that resisted the 18 year Israeli occupation of Lebanon.

[The Magistrate]

13. Locking

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