As I said here Hezbollah is a nationalist movement, a poltical organization and civil defense army for the imporverished residents of Lebanon. As Juan Cole succinctly points out;
What is Hizbullah?
Western and Israeli pundits keep comparing Hizbullah to al-Qaeda. It is a huge conceptual error. There is a crucial difference between an international terrorist network like al-Qaeda, which can be disrupted by good old policing techniques (such as inserting an agent in the Western Union office in Karachi), and a sub-nationalist movement.
Al-Qaeda is some 5,000 multinational volunteers organized in tiny cells.
Hizbullah is a mass expression of subnationalism that has the loyalty of some 1.3 million highly connected and politically mobilized peasants and slum dwellers. Over a relatively compact area.
I take sub-nationalism as a concept from Anthony D. Smith. It would be most familiar to Western readers under the rubric of the Irish Catholics of North Ireland, or even the Scots of the UK. Subnationalism, like the larger, over-arching nationalism, is a mass movement.
Thus, a very large number of the Pushtuns in Afghanistan are sub-nationalists with a commitment to Pushtun dominance. They deeply resent the victory of the Northern Alliance (i.e. Tajiks, Hazara Shiites, and Uzbeks) in 2001-2002. A lot of what our press calls resurgent "Taliban" activity is just Pushtun irredentism. There are approximately 14 million Pushtuns in Afghanistan and another 14 million or so in Pakistan.
The continuing war in Afghanistan is not against the Taliban but the Pashtun, poor farmers and their only economical crop.
Fierce clashes around Afghan opium centre
War on Afghan opium farming an "absolute disaster"
So why is Canada involved in this opium war? Which the Harpocrites refuse to call a war! And which is causing the deaths of our troops. Why be where we are not wanted. Afghan Farmers Resentful
Oh yeah we are protecting democracy, Afghani women and girls and their ability to go to school and work in the new fledgling Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Islamic republic. Afghan 'virtue' cops concern diplomats
A republic that allowed a Canadian to die for opening a school for women and girls. A Canadian abandoned by the Harpocrites, doing the real work of reconstruction, which was what the current Afghan mission was supposed to be about, but of course isn't.
A tip o the blog to Rusty Idols for this.
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Israel
Lebanon
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Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Don't Cry For Me Little Havana
I like it when I can say; I told ya so.
Experts: Belief that Castro’s Illness Will Trigger Change in Cuba,
Premature
When news reports hit early this week that Fidel Castro had transferred the reins of power to his brother while he underwent serious gastrointestinal surgery, pictures of dancing expatriate Cubans and Cuban Americans in the streets of Miami flashed on television screens.
But suggestions of the Cuban leader’s imminent demise, as well as that of his form of government, may be greatly exaggerated.
While the Cuban community in Miami is ecstatic, believing that Fidel’s illness and possible absence brings their day closer, the evidence points to the contrary. Going by all news reports there is a stark contrast between the scenes of exultation in Miami and the widespread mood, somber, hopeful, stoic, in Cuba. There is also a glaring gap between the reactions in Miami and those in the rest of Latin America. Whatever the outcome of Fidel’s health crisis, the repugnant scenes in Miami have widened the moral gulf between native and rightwing émigré Cubans, and between the latter and the rest of Latin America. Whatever the mirages of transition pursued by the White House, Fidel’s illness makes the reclaiming of Havana by Miami less not more likely.
In his Cuba: A New History, a work that is rather critical of Fidel Castro, Richard Gott, veteran commentator on Latin America, author of a standard work on the region’s guerrilla movements and one of those who identified Che Guevara’s body in Bolivia, concludes with an unconventional observation, namely that the post Castro transition had already taken place:
‘Personally I expect little change in the years ahead, or even when Castro dies. Cuba has already been governed for several years by a post-Castro government. Raul Castro runs the armed forces today as he has done since 1959. Ricardo Alarcon at the national assembly is the country’s political guru, aware of shifts in public opinion as well as a long serving and expert negotiator with the United States. Carlos lage is the prime minister and controller of the country’s economy. Felipe Perez Roque is a sure hand at foreign affairs, sustaining Cuba’s extraordinary worldwide support. This is a more than competent team that could run the affairs of any country at any time, as one admiring western ambassador explained to me.
| By Stephen Gibbs BBC News, Cuba |
On the streets of Havana there has been a remarkable sense of calm, almost nonchalance, in the face of the dramatic news that President Castro has undergone complicated surgery to stem intestinal bleeding.
President Castro's exhortations to Cuban remain highly visible
People have been going to work as normal. Shops remain open. Cinemas are full.
In the shadow of one of the posters of the smiling president that last year were put up around the capital, pasted with the words "Vamos Bien" ("we are doing well"), Dinorah Padron, a retired nurse in her 60s, expresses an opinion that reflects the thoughts of many Cubans of her generation.
"We think he will be better very soon", she says. "He's healthy".
After 47 years in power many assume that President Castro will live, if not for ever, then at least for the foreseeable future.
"He has to recover", said David Santos, 54, who was wearing a revolutionary T-shirt and was on his way to see his grandchildren. "He is our leader, the maximum, the best."
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Hey Richard I R A Communist
Richard over at the misnamed Let Fredom Reign, or is it Rain? Cry me a river Richard.Anyways he takes umberage at those of us supporting Cuba. Cuba stupid, the people, not Castro. And not the exile terrorist community in Maimi. He says:
Ever wonder what would happen if we let the socialists retake control of Canada? Methinks they should rename themselves. "The Blogging Communists" would be more appropriate.
Yep wll ya got me on that one, Richard I already am a blogging Communist, albeit a Libertarian one. Heh, Heh.
As for the claim about socialists taking control of Canada, we already have a one party state here, its called Alberta, and it is ruled by Conservatives, so we couldn't do worse.
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Cuba
One Party State
Libertarian Communist
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Under the SpotLight - Blogging Dippers
Here are some of the headlines from the "Blogging Dippers" aggregator this morning:Ever wonder what would happen if we let the socialists retake control of Canada? Methinks they should rename themselves. "The Blogging Communists" would be more appropriate.
Yep wll ya got me on that one, Richard I already am a blogging Communist, albeit a Libertarian one. Heh, Heh.
As for the claim about socialists taking control of Canada, we already have a one party state here, its called Alberta, and it is ruled by Conservatives, so we couldn't do worse.
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Before MTV
MTV celebrates its 25th birthday. Its all growed up now. However its claim to fame being the rise and advent of the Rock Video and the Video VJ is suspect. The first ever Rock Video was Frank Zappa's 200 Motels made in 1971. While it was a movie, it was actually recorded on Video and transfered to 35mm. Making Zappa the first Rock Video producer and VJ.
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One Party State
What does the One Party State of Alberta and the One Party State of Cuba have in common? Sherrit Inc.
In Cuba, it's business as usual
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Sherritt,
Ghouls
The reactionary terrorists in Maimi were out in the streets celebrating the pending death of Fidel Castro.Miami Cubans celebrate, plan for long-anticipated end to Castro's rule Ghouls. He isn't dead yet. They can hope, however even if he passes on their mafia/cia/batista politics will not be welcomed back in Liberated Cuba. Regardless of who is in charge. Why would the people who live in the most developed nation in the region want to return to the horrors of American style capitalism?
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Also See:
Cuba
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Feel Free To Kill Canadians
Under the Harpocrites Israel is given a free hand to kill Canadian civilians and UN peacekeepers. Unlike the Liberals, who let the U.S. do that to us. But at least under the Liberals they protested the Canadian deaths by 'friendly fire'. This isn't even friendly and the Harpocrties cheer it on, blaming Hezbollah.
Hello, earth to Harper, it was Israeli missles that killed Canadians. Israel who refuses to consider a ceasefire. Israel the terrorist war criminal state.
And if the Israel State Terrorists illegally arrest and detain you and you are Canadian, don't expect any support from the Harpocrites.However they will email you a fundraising letter!
Hello, earth to Harper, it was Israeli missles that killed Canadians. Israel who refuses to consider a ceasefire. Israel the terrorist war criminal state.
And if the Israel State Terrorists illegally arrest and detain you and you are Canadian, don't expect any support from the Harpocrites.However they will email you a fundraising letter!
