Tony Badran: Lebanon Protests Fueled by "Endemic Corruption" of Political Class

[Valin]

Middle East Forum

Middle East Forum Radio
November 27, 2019

On November 20, Middle East Forum Radio interviewed Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss the ongoing mass protests in Lebanon.

According to Badran, the protests are fueled by "the major economic mismanagement and impending collapse of the Lebanese economic and financial system," which in turn is an outgrowth of "the endemic corruption of the Lebanese political class." He explained,

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[W]ith minor exceptions this political class in one form or another and the families and the figures that constitute it have been ruling Lebanon since the days of the civil war and its aftermath. So, this is a long-standing elite. ... [The protest] movement is unique in modern [Lebanese] history in that it is not taking shape along sectarian lines. It is not being driven by the sectarian parties, it is driven against the sectarian parties and against them all across the board and across the various regions of Lebanon.

Also unique is the absence of any prominent leadership in the protest movement. "There aren't really any visible leaders, certainly not among [the] establish[ment]."

"There are organizers that are talking through social media and stuff like that," but they are "widely diffused."

According to Badran, the "elephant in the room is Hezbollah," an Iranian-backed Shi'a Islamist movement that has manipulated Lebanon's sectarian system and weak state to build a powerful militia that dominates the country:

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[Valin]

Overnight clashes in Lebanon injure dozens as tensions rise

NAJIA HOUSSARI

November 27, 2019

BEIRUT: Fears are spreading of another Lebanese civil war breaking out right where the previous one erupted 44 years ago, on the demarcation line between the towns of Ain Al-Remaneh and Chiyah.

On Tuesday, tens of men from Chiyah, which supports Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — both Shiite parties — entered Ain Al-Remaneh on motorcycles. They raised the flags of the two parties and chanted “Shiites.”

They were confronted by the people of Ain Al-Remaneh, which is dominated by supporters of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian party. Stone-throwing clashes ensued, and the Lebanese Army intervened to separate the two sides.

“Suddenly, out of nowhere, we started hearing yelling and insults in the street,” Ain Al-Remaneh resident Adele told Arab News.

“This area is no longer how it was during the civil war. Muslims and Christians now live together, and no one wants the war to re-emerge, so why are they taking us back to the past?”

(Snip)

[Valin]

Meanwhile a little to the east.............

Iraqi protesters set fire to Iranian consulate in Najaf

AFP

November 27, 2019

NAJAF, Iraq: Iraqi protesters torched the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Najaf on Wednesday in a dramatic escalation of anti-government demonstrations that have left more than 350 people dead.

Tall flames and thick clouds of smoke rose from the entrance of the consulate in the southern city, AFP's correspondent there said.

"Victory to Iraq!" and "Iran out!" protesters chanted, outraged at the country they blame for propping up a government they've been demonstrating against for nearly two months.

(Snip)

[Valin]

Iran says 200,000 took to streets in anti-government protests

Nov. 27 2019

GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran gave a glimpse on Wednesday into the scale of what may have been the biggest anti-government protests in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic, with an official saying 200,000 people had taken part and a lawmaker saying 7,000 were arrested.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his strongest remarks since the unrest peaked, described the two weeks of violence as the work of a “very dangerous conspiracy”.

* He also said the unrest, initially sparked by fuel price hikes but which then spiraled, had been completely quelled.

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