Hezbollah is a social movement and a political party and an army. It is extremely popular in Lebanon because it provides people with things they want and/or need, especially in underserved areas. They run schools, they run hospitals, they run for office, they kicked the Israeli army out of Lebanon. If you think of them as "terrorists", as do the neo-cons, you misunderstand their strength. To beat Hezbollah you have to give 80% of Lebanon something they'll like better -- or kill them.
Reagan the New Jersey weren't going to have any appreciable affect. It was farting in the wind. And, given the mutual love between Iran and Reagan, that's probably all Ronnie wanted to do.
|