The bombings will now begin…
Lebanon’s pro-Western coalition claimed victory Sunday night after an election that appeared to douse fears of a militant Islamist takeover in the tiny nation known for sectarian conflict and as a proxy for Iranian and Syrian interests.
Official results won’t be available until Monday, and the militant Islamist group Hezbollah refused to concede defeat.
Hezbollah, labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, appeared to suffer from a high voter turnout that exceeded 50 percent — the largest since the end of Lebanon’s 1975-91 civil war.
The outcome appeared to avoid a crisis with the United States and Europe, where some analysts had feared that the Hezbollah-led coalition would win and force the United States and European Union to reconsider foreign aid, especially for the Lebanese army. The army is a key institution in a country that transcends sectarian divisions.
“This is a big day in the history of democratic Lebanon,” Saad Hariri, leader of the pro-Western March 14 coalition, told cheering supporters.
“Congratulations to you, congratulations to freedom, congratulations to democracy,” said Mr. Hariri, the son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/08/hezbollah-loses-lebanon-vote/
Don’t look for Hezbollah to roll over and accept this. They’d rather start a civil war than allow the population to vote them out of power.
I can hardly wait to see how THE ONE handles the impending Hezbollah hissy fit.
Not quite, Sidney. This time – if it happens at all – Bibi will do it right, instead of screwing the pooch at every opportunity like Olmert did.
Obama probably won’t have to do anything. Hezbollah will begin screwing off, the Netanyahu will get itchy, and seeking to prove his own strength, he’ll do just what Olmert did a few months back, and we’ll be back into the same mess.