Lebanon

Fire of Liberty

While watching Fox & Friends these past two days, I've became a little irked with their coverage on the events in Lebanon and Syria. During the gathering of Hezbollah in Beirut-with their anti-American, anti-Israel, blame America-Fox News' Middle East Correspondent Jennifer Griffin was reporting from Damascus. So when she's reporting on the demonstration, she's probably being watched by a government censor. Even worse, she was probably watching Al-Jazeera or Al-Arabia to get her info on the process. You'd think they'd put her in the crowd in Lebanon. This is almost like a reporter sitting in Nazi Germany and giving a report on the actions in Poland. When you report from a tyrant's home, you tend to have a different perception of reality. She probably has no choice where she's sent but you'd think a live perspective would be more informative. Overall, the cable and national networks coverage of Syria's favorite terrorists-Hezbollah and its demonstration of fear in the streets of Beirut-was very startling compared to the limited coverage devoted to the anti-Syrian demonstrations the past three weeks.

Enough of yesterday, how about today's coverage on the events in the Levant. Well, it seems Jennifer Griffin is in Damascus reporting on a pro-Syrian campaign in the streets. Today, she reported during the 8:00 A.M. hour on Fox & Friends about a pro-Assad rally in the streets of Damascus. Unlike yesterday, Ms. Griffin provides a better insight into the situation. She noted first that this gathering could not have occurred without the permission of the government.(Syria is currently under marshall law). She also noted that a great percentage of the people who are participating in this gathering had received text messages that stated "I you are a great patriot of Syria and want to show your devotion, attend the rally." I guess the authorities in Syria are desperate to get their message out. Don't expect much coverage or pictures of an anti-Assad rally in Damascus tommorrow.

While Ms. Griffin provided some good info, Fox & Friends interviewed Richard Murphy, a former Ambassador to Syria, who presented the demonstration in Lebanon as an peaceful demonstration. He noted that the demostrators were for Syria getting out of Lebanon but felt resolution of 1559 was something imposed by the US & Israel and could create a new civil war. (Typical excuse used by Syria and former Ambassadors). Even worse, Ambassador Murphy dished out the bile that Hezbollah represented 40% of Lebanon and were expressing their desire to keep their nation safe. He seems to have the same problem that Europeans have in noting that Hezbollah has a political and terrorist arm and one doesn't represent the other. I just don't understand why people like Ambassador Murphy can't get in his head that Hezbollah (political/terrorist) is a vile group who have a blood-cult mentality and won't hesitate using terror to achieve their goals. Fox News needs a better analyst than a State Department employee, especially when these Ambassadors are enamored by the nations they once served in. Except for an occasional few, you'll be hard-pressed to find a former diplomat who'll talk against the nation they serve.

I just hope the continued news coverage of the Syrian/Hezbollah sponsored demonstrations will not discourage the anti-Syria/pro-freedom movement that emerged shortly after the assassination of Rafik Hariri. While Syria and Hezbollah can force people to show up in mass rallies, I think their staying power will diminish over time compared to the grass-root rallies of the antiSyrian crowd. So let them show up but remember that freedom will overcome tyranny everything. The Cedar Revolution is not dead but has a little insect problem they have to deal with. Maybe they need some bug-spray. The best solution is for President Bush to keep up the pressure like he did yesterday at the National Defense University.