Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Nasrallah: US not behind Arab Spring


What is happening today are genuine national movements, such as in Tunisia and other Arab countries … and were not part of a US project,” Nasrallah said during a wide-ranging interview with Hezbollah's Al-Manar television Monday evening.  However, said the Hezbollah leader, the US, is making efforts to exploit the changed scenario to its benefit, Lebanese English language newspaper The Daily Star reported.

Nasrallah stated that the Americans want to boost their plunging image in the Arab and Islamic world, which have rejected wrong US policies.  He predicted that the US and Western states will attempt to incite sedition in the newly liberated states if they are convinced that the potential governments in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya are would not be subservient to them.  The Lebanese resistance leader cautioned the new leaders in these countries to "realize that the achievements of their revolutions must be preserved."

Referring to the situation in Syria, Nasrallah said, “The Syrian government is being attacked because it does not abide by the rules of the Americans."  Nasrallah emphasized, however, that the Syrian government is largely “out of the danger zone” despite a seven-month-old onslaught against President Bashar al-Assad.  Hezbollah secretary general reiterated that Syria is a partner of resistance movements in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq and has played a decisive role in their victories.

He also described the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq as a historic defeat for the Americans and a major victory for Iraqis.  Nasrallah said Iraqis owe this victory to resistance groups, adding that US troops would have stayed in the country if they felt secure.  He also compared the upcoming total pull-out of US forces from Iraq to the withdrawal of Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Hezbollah leader said the resistance movement opposes the (foreign) financing of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), calling for a vote within the Lebanese cabinet if agreement on the issue is not reached among ministers.