The recent round of violence in Lebanon is a sign of the rampant lawlessness that prevails there. In some circles, it even provides a certain level of justification for US aid to the beleaguered country (although drones, Dodges, Fords and a couple tanks won’t be enough to provide stability). The type of aid Lebanese security forces are receiving from the US may help to ‘fight drugs’ but it is hardly worthy of being labeled “military” aid. In many ways, Hezbollah remains better situated than the army.
But contrary to what some simpleminded people are misled into believing by the western media, Hezbollah was not involved in the killing of four Lebanese servicemen on Monday. It was about the tribal mentality of Lebanese society that I have repeatedly alluded to on this blog. People pledge allegiance to some sort of ‘greater’ entity – a person, a party, a family, or religious creed – but never to the state itself. The lack of any coherent sense of national identity leads to chaos and lawlessness.
Monday’s attack was in response to the recent killing of Lebanese drug kingpin Ali Abbas Jaafar; he had over 170 outstanding warrants at the time. The Jaafar tribe is known throughout the Bekaa valley. It is one of several that control the lucrative Lebanese-based drug industry. Those living near beit Jaafar have to think twice about upsetting them. It shouldn’t be too hard to realize why – they have the willingness and ability to ‘retaliate’ against anyone… even the military.
Hezbollah effectively controls the Bekaa and benefits from the thriving drug-trade rooted there. While they may turn a blind eye to the transgressions of the Jaafar clan and others like it, its operatives could not have been involved in Monday’s attack on the national army. Like similar incidents last year, this was about revenge. There were emotions involved.
When Abbas Jaafar was gunned down, he was riding in a stolen Range Rover filled with hashish, RPGs, M16s, and a host of other light arms. Wherever he was going, his killing was one that could not be overlooked. It should all sound familiar… but this is about more than drugs.
In certain areas of Lebanon, revenge killings are part of daily life. Ask anyone who grew up in the Bekaa valley and they’re sure to have some stories to tell. The same is true for many other parts of the country, all the way up to the political elite. It’s something in our blood – we hold grudges and seek out closure at all costs.
If you understand Arabic, I encourage you to read this piece; it’s about tribal revenge serving as an example of ongoing civil disputes throughout the country. In it, Mahmoud -from Baalbeck-recounts his involvement in one of these feuds. His father was killed after slapping a neighbor during a petty dispute (the neighbor went home and waited on his roof with a rifle).
10 months went by in which Mahmoud was repeatedly ridiculed for failing to take matters into his own hands. He explains that where he’s from, a man is expected to exact revenge on a family member of the person responsible for killing his family member (e.g. you kill his father, so he kills your father or brother). The peer pressure must have gotten to him because he walked into a courtroom and shot the man who killed his father in cold blood. When he was being prosecuted, he explained that it was a revenge killing… so they went easy on him.
This is an old story, but there are more contemporary ones like it. This type of feuding happens all the time and varies in scope; it transcends all echelons of the social structure. The current fighting between a Lebanese drug cartel and the army is only the most newsworthy example. Clashes between rival parties of all sorts are commonplace, and they have adverse consequences for those nearby trying to live in peace. Even when two families get into it, streets are shut down and gunshots ring out for days leaving a trail of destruction. There is no reason why criminals should be operating with impunity, whether they are members of drug cartels or rival families. The authorities’ fight is a just one, even if the deck is stacked against them.
Unfortunately, there are criminals everywhere in Lebanon who stand in the way of progress; many of them are in positions of power. At least the country has Ziad Baroud, the young interior minister unblemished by previous political exposure. He’s been doing a relatively good job so far, but there is a long way to go. While I suspect the recent crackdown on drugs is actively encouraged by Washington, Baroud may well be the man with the plan. Things will continue to heat up, but like its counterpart in Mexico, there is only so much that Lebanon’s army can do.
The organization with the most power to put an end to the drug-related violence is none other than Hezbollah, but since it benefits from the drug industry, and operates independently from national security forces, its soldiers will remain on the sidelines watching events unfold. That is most unfortunate.
Related posts:
- America’s Senseless Middle East Policy
- The world watches as the Middle East suffers
- Trouble Brewing for Israel on the Northern Front?
- Assassination in Beirut
- Another One Bites the Dust
First of all, it is not Hezbollah's job to police people that's the job of the state and even if Hezbollah did try they would get a lot of heat from 14 march forces in Lebanon … but akeed it's known that Hezbollah helps the police and army when it can when it comes to murders and such they usually pass information and the police/army usually get all the credit and Hezbollah lies low like it likes … Second of all, I don't think Hezbollah is involved in any drug trades it gets all the money it needs from donations, zakat, and of course #1 source outside countries. So citing some bogus washington times article that just quotes some US official (yes very reliable) saying Hezbollah is involved in drug routes isn't proof of anything …
Posted by Ali | April 15, 2009, 11:05 amI don't think Hezbollah is involved in any drug trades Hezbollah: Narco-Islamism ” target=”_blank”>http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2009/04/hezboll… More than any other Islamist group, Hezbollah has a long record of engaging in criminal activity to support its activities. The United States and its European counterparts have a particularly strong shared interest in combating the group's increasing role in illicit drug trafficking.
Posted by Chris | April 15, 2009, 1:20 pmI don't think Hezbollah is involved in any drug trades Hezbollah: Narco-Islamism ” target=”_blank”>http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2009/04/hezboll… More than any other Islamist group, Hezbollah has a long record of engaging in criminal activity to support its activities. The United States and its European counterparts have a particularly strong shared interest in combating the group's increasing role in illicit drug trafficking.
Posted by Chris | April 15, 2009, 1:20 pmI don't think Hezbollah is involved in any drug trades Hezbollah: Narco-Islamism ” target=”_blank”>http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2009/04/hezboll… More than any other Islamist group, Hezbollah has a long record of engaging in criminal activity to support its activities. The United States and its European counterparts have a particularly strong shared interest in combating the group's increasing role in illicit drug trafficking.
Posted by Chris | April 15, 2009, 1:20 pmI don't think Hezbollah is involved in any drug trades Hezbollah: Narco-Islamism ” target=”_blank”>http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2009/04/hezboll… More than any other Islamist group, Hezbollah has a long record of engaging in criminal activity to support its activities. The United States and its European counterparts have a particularly strong shared interest in combating the group's increasing role in illicit drug trafficking.
Posted by Chris | April 15, 2009, 1:20 pmThanks for your comment. I agree that it is not Hezbollah's job to police the state, but we seem to be in agreement that the group has the ability to positively affect the situation in the same manner you describe when it comes to more common crimes. It's also worth noting that many of the drug clans not fans of Hezbollah… I linked to the WT articles on purpose. I also thought it was bogus, but I was hoping it might spark some interesting discussion. But it seems to be common knowledge that Hezbollah does in fact benefit from the drug trade… and they are not alone. There are several other smaller groups in Lebanon who also have an interest in a thriving drug industry. For some people, this is reason enough to make unfounded claims like "The United States and its European counterparts have a particularly strong shared interest in combating the group's increasing role in illicit drug trafficking."
Posted by Kalash | April 15, 2009, 3:32 pmI think the more common theme is that a lot of groups in Lebanon, due to the Lebanese diaspora, benefit from all sorts of illicit activity. Just like many other diaspora groups.
Posted by Arayus | April 16, 2009, 5:58 pmjust out of curiousity is your name arayus as in 3arayes the appetizer?
Posted by Lena | April 16, 2009, 9:09 pmWrite your comment here…
Posted by Nadia | April 17, 2009, 11:17 amFor the record I really enjoy these posts even though I don't agree with everything you've written, I don't have much else to add right now. It's prolly the most evenhanded stuff I've seen written on this country and it's good to see informed posting on Lebanon for a change
Posted by Nadia | April 17, 2009, 11:20 amThat's very kind. Thank you.
Posted by Kalash | April 17, 2009, 11:22 amIt wasen't my attention to become an Arabic appetizer but I did realize that some might take it that way haha =P
Posted by Arayus | April 17, 2009, 6:18 pm