"We want democracy in Lebanon to succeed. And we know it cannot succeed so long as she is occupied by a foreign power," President Bush said this week.

Discuss.

Our solution, as another foreign power, is to occupy her ;)

in order for democracy to succeed in lebanon, syria's government needs to go because whether the syrian army is in lebanon or not, i know ( and thank god more people are beginning to realize) syria controls lebanon. if prez bush truly wants democracy to flourish in the mid east, the governments of both syria and iran need to change.

Yeah, not very good news coming in from Lebanon: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/international/09cnd-lebanon.html

There was that antisyrian demonstration. But then hezbollah flexes its muscle and you see who really controls lebanon as well as the hearts and minds of most of its people.

yeah especially when a significant percentage shows up from syria. plus hezbollah is the only miltia left that is armed, don't you think that has something to do with it.

3.8 million people and 500000 came to one rally, that alone is pretty impressive. I love the double standard in demanding syria get out of lebanon because they cant be free with an occupying force, and not even a sliver of a thought is given to ending the occupation to the south.

syria should definitely get out of lebanon, i just hope lebanon wont descend into civil war or into some hezbollah uprising.

10% is a significant percentage? Anyway you look at it almost half a million lebanese came out in support of syria. Kind of tough to take the position that the lebanese are being controlled by a government that nobody supports. The fact is the situation is much more complicated then that. The important question, then, is are we gaining ground among the people? And if not, how do we?

busses were shipping people from accross the border, but i agree it is still an impressive number. it helps when you have the only armed militia and the friggin government behind you, even though it's a joke. surprisingly there was no road blocks for the pro-syrian demonstrators, however, there is for the opposition.

I truly wonder what the truth is about that area...but shot, the whole Middle East is one big mess. It seems the evil men have control over the general population over there.

Hezbollah is not Hamas...right...there is a thin line between terrorist organization and political one in the Middle East...with huge amounts of GRAY area.

Time will tell what happens...

"We want democracy in Lebanon to succeed. And we know it cannot succeed so long as she is occupied by a foreign power," President Bush said this week.

Discuss.

Seems to me our glorious Prez should heed his own advice (read: Iraq).

i think prez bush is doing the right thing, and he's right, no "half measures"

It's really just such a complicated area with so much history. Different ethnic groups that aren't huge fans of each other. Then the west comes in and turns them into colonies without any real thought about the different groups. Then they get turned into markets and producers of a single good which locks them into an unproductive economic cycle. Then the west pulls out and the people have to pick up the pieces. Then you have israel inserted. Then it becomes a cold war playground. And that's just the area as a whole, each country has its own internal varied history.


Groups such as hamas and hezbollah themselves have varied aspects to them, as rx8wannahave has broughtup.

So basically there are no easy answers when it comes to the middle east, as we continue to relearn everytime we get involved.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the number of people who missed the irony of the Shrub's statement.

^^^ Pathetic, ain't it? Can't see the forest for the trees... err, shrubs... oh, never mind.

Is there supposed to be a thread here? All I get is an empty box. :D ;)

Close your eyes. Now you can't see me. Therefore, I'm hiding.

Saw it but don't agree with it. Our men and women are not occupiers. The terrorists coming across the border killing indiscriminately are the occupiers. Don't ever say you support the troops.

I agree, anyone who calls our forces occupiers should never say that they support our troops, like this guy:

"They're not happy they're occupied. I wouldn't be happy if I was occupied either." George W. Bush April 12th 2004.

"We want democracy in Lebanon to succeed. And we know it cannot succeed so long as she is occupied by a foreign power," President Bush said this week.

Discuss.

That certainly must explain why we're in Iraq. Because if it weren't for all "them damn furrners" there, there would be democracy.

HUH?????

I agree, anyone who calls our forces occupiers should never say that they support our troops, like this guy:

"They're not happy they're occupied. I wouldn't be happy if I was occupied either." George W. Bush April 12th 2004.Iraq was (and is) occupied by the insurgents. Until recently they were imposing their strict Taliban-like rules on the locals, who were suffering. We gave Iraq their country back, and most of the Iraqis are thankful. They praise President Bush as a hero. If only the minority of Americans who voted against Bush would have the same courtesy.

Nice try doc, but I suspect this time you didn't even convince yourself.

I wish Iraqis saw us as heroes. But 92% of Iraqis see us as occupiers according to the last poll. And our candidate didn't come close to winning the election in Iraq.

As far as the quote, Bush opened that quote with "Finally, the attitude of the Iraqis toward the American people." So it's very clear he is talking about our troops as occupiers.

In other news, I hear bush has an exit strategy: http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4110

In other news, I hear bush has an exit strategy: http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4110

I saw that the other day too :D. The good thing about not being in power is we can enjoy the satire without feeling offended. I like it so much I might just want to stay the minority ;).

The good thing about not being in power is we can enjoy the satire without feeling offended. I like it so much I might just want to stay the minority ;).However you want to rationalize your losses is OK with us. :p

I saw that the other day too :D. The good thing about not being in power is we can enjoy the satire without feeling offended. I like it so much I might just want to stay the minority ;).

The GOP appreciates your support :p :p :) ;)