Reflection #2- Jared

Although this is technically reflection #2, this is my very first post on this blog due to absences after getting surgery several weeks ago. I am pretty much caught up with the readings, but I have to admit it has been quite difficult to do so while being drugged up past the point of having the ability to concentrate. Anyhow, I have sincerely enjoyed the several lectures I have been able to attend; from Modern Middle Eastern History to how each Arab government is structured and theories on why a state Democratizes/stays as an autocracy. It is exhilarating knowing that I, a Freshman in college, am privileged enough to conduct this kind of research.  More so exciting is that I can now begin posting interesting information that I run across on my daily routine of reading news articles from industries like Al Jazeera and the Washington Post.

When reading the Post this morning, I found some information regarding the recent transactions between Hizbollah, a militant Shia Lebanese militia/political party widely regarded as a terrorist organization, and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's military.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hezbollah-increases-support-for-syrian-regime-us-and-lebanese-officials-say/2012/09/26/d1970396-0591-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_story.html

Here is a small excerpt:

"'Hezbollah has been active in supporting the Syrian regime with their own militia,' said a Lebanese government official allied with a political bloc opposed to Hezbollah who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. 'They’ve been quite involved in a combat role, quite involved in fighting.'

Hezbollah has a well-armed and trained militia that is considered the strongest fighting force in Lebanon. But the group also oversees a powerful political party and runs a number of organizations that provide social services to Shiite Muslims, its main supporters, throughout the country."

Hizbollah needs the current Alawite (Shia sect) dominated Syrian government to stay static and for Assad to stay in power, else they lose an important ally in the Middle East. The Post pointed out that because it has been revealed that Hizbollah is aiding Bashar Al Assad militarily, tensions between the Sunnis and the Shiites in Lebanon have begun to rise, knowing that the local Sunnis are less than enthusiastic (for lack of a better phrase) about the current Syrian leadership. We can only hope that the unrest and division that is currently blighting Syria will not spread to other parts of the Mid East, namely Lebanon. 

Tying the last paragraph from the excerpt in with past lectures on how governments keep power in the Middle East, Hizbollah, although a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people, does indeed provide numerous social services to their constituents like other Arab governments.  Although Hizbollah as rulers can be at time oppressive, they provide a certain security to Lebanese citizens through both their shear guerrilla military strength and benefits given to Lebanese citizens. 

I found this somewhat interesting. Having family in Israel, I have always viewed Hizbollah negatively (especially when witnessing the brutal war both sides endured in 2006). Although I still do have my reservations against the militant Islamic organization, the more I look at the way it is all structured the more I begin to realize that they have also done a little good for the country of Lebanon itself, however not necessarily for the global stage. 

If anyone has any thoughts on this feel free to respond.