"The last gasp of a discredited past"

Unlike the spirited anti-Syrian protests of past days and weeks [Reynoldsian "protest babe," above, via Iraq the Model], today's immense pro-Syrian protests in Beirut, mobilized by Hezbollah, seemed staged, according to some reports. "At least one opposition leader said the pro-Syrian government pressured people to turn out Tuesday, and some reports said Syria bused in people from across the border," writes Omar of Iraq the Model (AP photo).

"Bringing too many people by buses doesn't mean that you're right," says Omar of Iraq the Model re today's pro-Syrian demonstration in Beiruit:

Actually it reminds me of demonstrations in Iraq under the Ba'athist regime (Oops, I forgot that the Ba'athists still rule in Syria!). I see no courage at all in today's demonstrations unlike the previous demonstrations that defied tyranny and challenged the dangers for the sake of liberty.

"Where will this amazing Lebanese intifada go next?" the Washington Post's David Ignatius asked a couple of weeks back -- blogged here --reporting that opposition leader Walid Jumbatt was starting to sound almost like a neoconservative in his understanding that "this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq." At that time, Ignatius wrote presciently:

The answer may lie partly with the Shiite militia, Hezbollah, which is probably the most powerful political organization in the country.  Hezbollah officials and leaders of the opposition have been trading signals this week about whether they can form a united front. What's clear is that the Lebanese are fed up with the status quo and that Hezbollah -- like all the other parties -- must adjust to change.

In the aftermath of today's dial-a-crowd demonstration, despite the astronomical numbers, Ignatius was sticking by his earlier assessment, telling Chris Matthews -- between interruptions -- that it's a new generation, and there's no turning back. There will be no Lebanese civil war, he says.  In fact, he's more concerned about a possible civil war in Syria. Then there was this interesting little item over at Aljazeera.com this afternoon:

"Do you think the massive protests in Lebanon will slow down the withdrawal of the Syrian troops?" asks an Aljazeera.com online poll. The results: Yes:  35%, No: 59%, Not sure:  6%.  Sounds encouraging, although we have no idea who actually reads this website (Aljazeera,English version).

As the President said in his rousing policy speech this morning -- blogged here -- "Authoritarian rule is not the wave of the future.  It is the last gasp of a discredited past . . . and at last, clearly and suddenly, the thaw has begun."

Comments

[Teresa]

"some reports said Syria bused in people from across the border"

Wow - there must be some hippies left over from the 60's protests over helping Syria try and do a better job getting large numbers of people to stand in the limelight. Next thing you know there will be a Syrian Woodstock. *grin*