US Wants Arabs to Help Stem Hezbollah's Popularity

zaman.com

Hezbollah, whose popularity has grown in the Arab world during its conflict with Israel, has annoyed the U.S. by playing a key part in the reconstruction of Lebanon.

The U.S. has allegedly persuaded rich Arab countries to take the lead in providing aid to Lebanon.

A White House official said, “We give full weight to reconstruction efforts to prevent Hezbollah from receiving more support. Hezbollah is working in Lebanon with its bulldozers now, but what are we doing?”

The Bush administration is reportedly trying to mend its bad image and prevent Hezbollah and Iran from gaining popularity. Lebanese people consider this attempt as a double-standard for the U.S., considering it .fully supported the ruthless Israeli attacks against Lebanese civilians.

The month long Israeli attacks have virtually destroyed a substantial part of the country’s infrastructure and has caused $6 billion in damage, destroying more than 15,000 buildings.

Following the U.N.-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah has been handing out cash for war victims and the reconstruction of houses and work places.

Allegedly, Hezbollah received assistance from Iran for reconstruction in Lebanon. The Iranian administration formerly announced that it would provide Hezbollah with necessary financial assistance for reconstruction.

Hezbollah, which has the controlling vote for Shiites, which form 40 percent of the Lebanese population, will probably expand its already high popularity in military and political arenas.

However, Sunni Arab governments are more concerned about Hezbollah’s popularity than the U.S., Israel and other Western countries. Certain Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, were cautious of the “Shiite Crescent” threat which starts in India and Pakistan, widens into Iran and Iraq, stretches to Yemen in the East and reaches the Mediterranean through Syria and Lebanon in the West. ......