The fighting in Syria doesn't look like it will end anytime soon. Given that, the longstanding political domination of Lebanon by Syria and the ongoing refugee crisis that is affecting neighboring states, I think the spread of fighting to Lebanon and its escalation is inevitable and will only intensify from here on out.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-lebanon-tripoli-idUSBRE87K0FC20120822
QuoteDeath toll from Lebanon fighting climbs to 12
Tue, Aug 21 2012
TRIPOLI, Lebanon | Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:43pm EDT
(Reuters) - The death toll from fighting between Lebanese Sunni Muslims and Alawites echoing the conflict in Syria climbed to at least 12 on Wednesday, the third day of clashes described as some of the heaviest since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.
More than 100 people have been wounded in the bloodshed this week along a sectarian fault line in the northern city of Tripoli running between the Sunni district of Bab al-Tabbaneh and the Alawite area of Jebel Mohsen.
"A ceasefire was supposed to take place this afternoon but it did not happen," a Tripoli resident told Reuters.
The sectarian tone of the fighting reflects the conflict in neighboring Syria which increasingly sets a mainly Sunni Muslim opposition against President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite minority.
After a night-time lull, Tripoli was rocked by around two dozen explosions between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Wednesday, apparently caused by rocket-propelled grenades, witnesses said. The fighters have also been using machineguns.
Sunni-Alawite tensions have been chronic in the region and they boiled over into clashes in early June that killed 15 people. At least 10 soldiers have been wounded in efforts to stop the violence.
(Reporting by Nazih Siddiq; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
As a child of the 80s, fighting in Lebanon still seems to me to be the natural order of things.
Quote from: derspiess on August 22, 2012, 09:04:55 PM
As a child of the 80s, fighting in Lebanon still seems to me to be the natural order of things.
Yeah, just variations on a theme. DRUZE WITH ATTITUDE
Hey it looks like we will be getting another inflow of Arabic Christians. Should we take them or should Europe?
Quote from: Valmy on August 22, 2012, 09:19:42 PM
Hey it looks like we will be getting another inflow of Arabic Christians. Should we take them or should Europe?
Us!
Was there ever a time that Lebanon was not in the midst of war or on the precipice of war?
Quote from: Razgovory on August 22, 2012, 09:33:54 PM
Was there ever a time that Lebanon was not in the midst of war or on the precipice of war?
49-54, 59-66 68-74, 1992-2005 ? :unsure:
Quote from: mongers on August 22, 2012, 10:04:47 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 22, 2012, 09:33:54 PM
Was there ever a time that Lebanon was not in the midst of war or on the precipice of war?
49-54, 59-66 68-74, 1992-2005 ? :unsure:
There was fighting between 1992-2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Grapes_of_Wrath Here's an example.
Quote from: derspiess on August 22, 2012, 09:04:55 PM
As a child of the 80s, fighting in Lebanon still seems to me to be the natural order of things.
:yes:
Quote from: Valmy on August 22, 2012, 09:19:42 PM
Hey it looks like we will be getting another inflow of Arabic Christians. Should we take them or should Europe?
I knew a Lebanese guy from high school, very nice guy. Still run into him at the gym sometimes. I'd never refuse that kind of immigrant. Plus his sister was hot enough to get some minor modeling jobs.
Quote from: Valmy on August 22, 2012, 09:19:42 PM
Hey it looks like we will be getting another inflow of Arabic Christians. Should we take them or should Europe?
Lebanese Christians tend to not identify as Arabs themselves. Furthermore, they already emigrate a lot, so the point is moot.
Well the Syrian Alawites will probably soon be looking for new homes also soon. I recomend Des Moines, Iowa.
Quote from: Valmy on August 23, 2012, 08:53:08 AM
Well the Syrian Alawites will probably soon be looking for new homes also soon. I recomend Des Moines, Iowa.
:lol: Why?
Quote from: Valmy on August 23, 2012, 08:53:08 AM
Well the Syrian Alawites will probably soon be looking for new homes also soon. I recomend Des Moines, Iowa.
I predict large ammounts of russian 122mm guns in concentric circles pointing out around latakia in the near future.
Quote from: Iormlund on August 23, 2012, 07:29:42 AM
I knew a Lebanese guy from high school, very nice guy. Still run into him at the gym sometimes. I'd never refuse that kind of immigrant. Plus his sister was hot enough to get some minor modeling jobs.
Cincinnati got a lot of Syrian & Lebanese Christians starting about 100 years ago & continuing through today. These days they tend to open restaurants that serve some really kick-ass food. One of my favorite places to go is owned by a Lebanese dude, who has become a goofy celebrity of sorts.
Quote from: Razgovory on August 22, 2012, 10:18:33 PM
Quote from: mongers on August 22, 2012, 10:04:47 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 22, 2012, 09:33:54 PM
Was there ever a time that Lebanon was not in the midst of war or on the precipice of war?
49-54, 59-66 68-74, 1992-2005 ? :unsure:
There was fighting between 1992-2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Grapes_of_Wrath Here's an example.
Except for a bit in 1958, Lebanon was actually pretty stable and peaceful from 1948 to 1975. They used to call it the Switzerland of the Middle East.