We're Full Up On Lunatics, Thank You
The Lebanese government has ordered its army to finish off the Fatah Islam terrorist group holed up in the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp on its northern coast. They want an end to the al-Qaeda affiliate before it has a chance to grow out of control, not unlike the problem they already have in the south with Hezbollah:
Artillery and machine gun fire echoed around a crowded Palestinian refugee camp Tuesday as the Lebanese government ordered the army to finish off the Fatah Islam militants holed up inside the refugee camp in the country's north.Artillery and machine gun fire echoed around a crowded Palestinian refugee camp Tuesday as the Lebanese government ordered the army to finish off the Fatah Islam militants holed up inside the refugee camp in the country's north.
The fighting — which resumed for a third straight day after a brief nighttime lull — reflected the government's determination to pursue the Islamic militants who staged attacks on Lebanese troops on Sunday and Monday, killing 29 soldiers. Some 20 militants have also been killed, as well as an undetermined number of civilians.
The Cabinet late Monday authorized the army to step up its campaign and "end the terrorist phenomenon that is alien to the values and nature of the Palestinian people," Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said.
Aridi overdoes it a bit in that statement. The terrorist phenomenon started with the Palestinian people, and Lebanon should know that better than most. They have conducted terrorist attacks since 1964, when they first formed the PLO under Yasser Arafat. Arafat got pushed into Lebanon and used the country as a base of terrorist operations for years, bringing the Israeli invasion and occupation until they finally flushed Arafat out of Beirut.
Still, Aridi needs to remain politically correct. Lebanon houses 400,000 Palestinian refugees in its UN camps, and they can get mighty restless. It's bad enough that they have to manage a terrorist occupation in the south, with Iranian and Syrian sponsorship of Hezbollah; they don't need another one in the north with AQ sponsorship.
The Siniora government has the right idea. One cannot negotiate for peaceful coexistence with terrorists. They need to eradicate this group before it spreads, a dynamic the Lebanese people have seen on a number of occasions now. If they have them trapped in Nahr el-Bared, they need to finish the job and wipe them out.
By the way, what happened to the UN in all of this? Nahr el-Bared is a UN refugee camp, and they're supposed to keep the inhabitants disarmed.
Posted by Ed Morrissey on May 22, 2007 5:38 AM | Comments (16) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments (16)
Posted by negentropy | May 22, 2007 6:07 AM
At what point does a 'camp' become a 'city'? In my mind the word 'camp' brings images of tents, while all the photos I've seen show permanent buildings done in that all-so-lovely 'palestinian'-grey style.
Oh right, we're dealing with UN definitions here. silly me.
Posted by quickjustice | May 22, 2007 6:27 AM
"One cannot negotiate for peaceful co-existence with terrorists".
If this is true, Ed, then why was Nancy Pelosi meeting with Assad?
Posted by A Newt One | May 22, 2007 6:50 AM
Am I to understand that the palestinians are suddenly against terrorism?
That would be a welcome change!
Posted by Rovin | May 22, 2007 6:51 AM
Ed, you might wanna remove one of these paragraphs.
"One cannot negotiate for peaceful co-existence with terrorists".
Try telling this to the Pelosi-Murtha-Reid trainwreck.
Posted by Jim | May 22, 2007 7:02 AM
Funny headline - I got confused at first and thought this was another Shamnesty article and you were referring to our current Senate, comprised of Progressive Marxists, Frauds, Con Artists, Lying RINOS, (but I repeat myself) oh...and I suppose a couple of actual honest, ethical and patriotic conservatives thrown in for some token diversity.
The Harriet Meirs Shamnesty Act of 2007.
Gotta love it.
Posted by sherlock | May 22, 2007 7:53 AM
But I though Nancy brought peace to Lebanon via the road through Damascus?
And what are all those Egyptian dissidents she freed doing in jail?
This is so confusing. I mean, she's a mother, and the "terrorists" are all mothers and fathers too, right?
Posted by pilsener | May 22, 2007 8:19 AM
I saw a long report on Lebanon last night on CNN-Anderson Cooper 360. The only mention of the UN was a UN representative asking for aid to the camp. No mention of the UN running the camp for 40 years, no mention of UN troops in Lebanon for 20 years, no mention of the complete inanity of the UN in accomplishing anything.
Posted by Veeshir | May 22, 2007 8:26 AM
I watch a show, Mosaic, that shows news shows from various Middle East news services.
It was almost funny, in almost every interview the people's response was pretty much the same,
"They use religion to justify their attacks, but they're just terrorists. After all, they're not attacking Jews."
Nearly every person interviewed and some of the news presenters had this opinion and the sentiment was quite often expressed just that bluntly.
They're not killing Jews so it's terrorism.
That's one messed up culture.
Posted by Veeshir | May 22, 2007 8:34 AM
I watch a show, Mosaic, that shows news shows from various Middle East news services.
It was almost funny, in almost every interview the people's response was pretty much the same,
"They use religion to justify their attacks, but they're just terrorists. After all, they're not attacking Jews."
Nearly every person interviewed and some of the news presenters had this opinion and the sentiment was quite often expressed just that bluntly.
They're not killing Jews so it's terrorism.
That's one messed up culture.
Posted by Proud Kaffir | May 22, 2007 10:12 AM
They are attacking Palestinian Islamic "activists" in a refugee camp? The Lebanese government and army are such horrible monsters!
Where is the world-wide condemnation? Where are the protests? Where are the leftist blog posts comparing the Lebanese government and army to the Nazis? Where is the special session of the UN Human Rights Council? Where is the international media snapping pictures of the dead civilians the "activists" are hiding behind?
Oh, wait, the ones defending themselves against the Islamic terrorists are not Joooooooos. That explains everything.
Move along.
Posted by NoDonkey | May 22, 2007 10:24 AM
I like that "Proud Kaffir" monicker.
I was thinking of changing mine to "NoDhimmi", but what really is the difference?
I have noticed that this incident has been reported like it's a tsunami or an earthquake. Tragic, but an act of nature. No one to blame.
Because of course, they are still lookiing for a way to blame America, George Bush and Karl Rove for what's happening in Lebanon.
Then it will be a big scoop.
Posted by Joe Helgerson | May 22, 2007 1:19 PM
Better get used to SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Nancy Pelosi because she"s gonna have a long stay at that position. If its any consolation Hezballah has declared Fatah Islam as their enemy, again proving my point that Shia Iraq and Iran have nothing but hatred for Sunni AQ.It doesn"t matter what Pelosi does or says, moonbats like nodonkey hate anything that has to do with democrats.The gop is a party looking for a direction. I do think theres room for the gop.......in the scrapheap of history. To the neo-nuts all the worlds problems are the fault of the msm/democrats.....how fraking convenient that is.
Posted by DubiousD | May 22, 2007 1:34 PM
"Some 20 militants have also been killed, as well as an undetermined number of civilians."
I'm certain the MSM will apply the same intense scrutiny to the actions of the Lebanese army as they have to our armed forces facing court martial in Haditha.
Posted by davod | May 22, 2007 2:03 PM
I heard on the radio that a red crescent relief column was being arranged. That's good. More ammunition in and the leadership will get out.
Posted by courtneyme109 | May 22, 2007 3:01 PM
Yo Joe, good try - but please remember that the Shia and Sunni have more in common and a common goal that they have differences. A few that come to mind are a penchant for intolerant militias, gender apartheid, sha ria law, honor killings. One fear they have in common is egalitarian societies with a free, uncensored press, transparent elections, an independent judiciary and a treasury open to public scrutiny. They also love to hate the Great Satan and the Little Satan. And they both have a goofy worldview of 'honor' and 'shame' that seems to be based between the legs of their daughters, sisters and cousins.
Before 911, maybe it was difficult to see sunni and shia working together. Not anymore.
Posted by doubled | May 22, 2007 3:12 PM
"By the way, what happened to the UN in all of this? Nahr el-Bared is a UN refugee camp, and they're supposed to keep the inhabitants disarmed. "
You expect the U.N. to do something other than pass anti-zionist resolutions and/or make anti-American statements?
HAhahahahahahah, bwah haha , snort , hahahah. Hoo, that's a good one. Humor always makes my day.