Sunday, August 31, 2008
NGOs, the transnational left, and Hezbollah
When the Los Angeles Times tells you that leftist NGOs are in bed with Hezbollah, believe it (photographs of Hezbollah's handiwork against the United States added):
Hezbollah has extended its international reach by establishing contacts with left-leaning, environmental and peace groups opposed to U.S.-led economic globalization, analysts and people tied to the group say.
The Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant organization and political party, which is designated as a terrorist group by the United States, has participated through a front organization in dozens of gatherings where attendees criticized U.S. foreign policy and global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The aim, analysts say, is to rally support for armed opposition to Israel among groups that regard the West's policies as a threat to developing countries and to the environment.
"Hezbollah succeeded in incorporating the idea of resistance as part of the international anti-globalization movements," said Abdel-Halim Fadlallah, vice president of Beirut's Center for Strategic Studies, the Hezbollah-affiliated think tank that often participates in activities abroad.
"Through our contacts with these groups, we have managed to challenge the idea that Hezbollah is a dogmatic terrorist Islamist organization and convince part of the international left that we can be a strong partner," he said.
Despite significant ideological differences between Hezbollah and the groups, opposition to U.S.-led military operations and economic policies fostered by Washington has brought them together.
Hezbollah has long sought to downplay its previous calls for the establishment of an Islamic state in Lebanon, where Shiite and Sunni Muslims make up more than 60% of the population. It has dramatically shifted its political rhetoric away from religious politics since the 2006 conflict with Israel and now often depicts itself as a universal movement fighting Israeli domination.
Sadly, the LAT saw no need to mention the actual NGOs with ties to Hezbollah. Perhaps it was worried that somebody would investigate them. Or criticize them.
2 Comments:
By 
, at
Sun Aug 31, 12:27:00 PM:
When Hezbollah setup shop in Venezuela a few years ago, it was pretty clear they were looking to branch out internationally.
By , at
Mon Sep 01, 02:31:00 AM:
The LAT seems almost admiring of Hezbollah. That's just wrong.
