'Just World News' with Helena Cobban

Nice read, very long, but the extra tidbits you don't find in the general media are worth the time. Not to mention there doesn't seem to be much bias (if any). Similar to Judith Palmer Harik's book on Hezbollah which is a great read with almost no opinions. I like books that present only the facts, and as many facts as should be noted.

The section of the article about driving south out of Beirut on the road to Sidon and Nabatieh almost made me cry. I took the same drive in June on the way to Beaufort Castle/Arnoun. The land was lovely. Despite the many Hezbollah flags, the checkpoints were Lebanese Army.

So much of that road simply doesn't exist today.

Helena,
I read your long article, I enjoyed but to me your writing is some sort of some one western tries to explorer this subject or this matter.

You mentioned many good things that you think are good from some personal and leaders you met your explanation of there personality and determent to serve the people and so on and so forth.
To us its nothing new I talking here from my and our experience from Iraq and I lived in different timeframe their from Republic Iraq early 1950's then the new style of Abdul Salaam Arif, then followed by his brother Abdul Rahman then 1968 the Big bang Bath party and the worse part its 1979 Saddam time.

In all these time frames we as Iraqi educated from Universities worked hard to the best of our people not through political parties as a such but most Iraqi worked hard to get the country on the right track I give one of many examples but not the only one the Oil industry in Iraq was driven and expanded by Iraqi of course I don’t denied any West/East helps thorough the companies who gave the best of their technology but the people who work with this and used perfectly those the Iraqis who did…

So back to Hezbollah I think the main point you did not see it or you did not mentioned is why these "Shiite" parties all the time they created Sate inside State scenario, this happened in Iraq along way till now as we seeing in Assitani and Alhakim styles, same as HEZIBULLAH.

As you said they involved in the democracy process their but the fact is on the ground they create there identity and force which really not democratic move.

Just to mentioned here Islam as instructed Muslims there is no Religious Pop in Islam this should be understandable what these guys doing they created a religious Pop system and use it for their interest.

Another issue I would like to here from you what their stand of the women rights? I know you may saw some women and convinced you they are ok, with their talking about Islam and how the women right protected but we see the reality in Iran, same in Iraq as Alhakem first thing he did he demolished the right of Iraqi women and you know that story I believe.

Last issue here its very embarrassing which the special case of marriage arrangement they practising.

This is called زواج المتعة)) this type of marriage had a big subject in Iran last year (Alsharq Alawsat News Paper have some detail at the time) and some religious guys in Iran suggested to put some house or room for the public to marry if they need which is exactly like sex paid house or places in the west, which really not allowed in and rejected by most Muslims specially Sunni and I believe most Iraqi Shiite not Iraqi/Iran Shiite.
I know they claims that Imam Ali allowed this practice in the paste I don’t know if that happened but even though if it's happened it was war time only permission not daily life style for Muslims.

So these are the interesting point you had never discussed in your article I love to see your thoughts of it

Dear Helena,
I have always followed your writings and found them very informative with a fair outlook. I myself, independent writer and filmmaker from Turkey, have just come back from Syria.I can fully understand the popular support for Hizbullah in Syria, and as a country of the region the very same popular support will flourish in Turkey, although we are a Sunni majority. The questions in my mind are numerous but mainly what sort of a new game is this? Just like Hamas and Hezbullah were cretaed years ago now we are witnessing the creation of a wider front putting the whole region into the context of "us" and "them.". The ultimate clash of civilazations staged by a director from where?

I am now writing a long article for the Turkish press and have made use of your article on Hezbullah. I would like to translate the whole of it if I can find the time.

Thanks again for the good work you have done and best luck to all of us in this world which is now a jungle, more wild and ferocious being inhabited by humans instead of animals

Melek Taylan