ANALYSIS Expert analysis on Lebanese Islamist Hezbollah

Wed, 23 Dec 2009
By:Jameel Karaki Abdulaziz Al Mossalem
KUWAIT: Dr. Ahmad Nizar Hamzeh, Professor of Political Science and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Kuwait, in an exclusive interview with Al-Watan Daily, provided an analysis of the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah. The professor first begins with providing a general framework on how to view Islamists. He explains that regardless if they are Militant or non Militant, and regardless of their size, Islamists are characterized by four attributes; and they are pervasiveness, polycentric leadership, persistence and mode of operation.
In regards to pervasiveness, Hamzeh explains that these groups have been mushrooming everywhere since after Mohamed's death. So of course while one might think so, not all of them are a result of the Arab Israeli conflict or any recent social crisis. The second attribute is the polycentric leadership of these groups. What this means is that these groups are not championed by any single leader. Islamic movements are mainly characterized by collective leadership and this means that if one dies, he can be succeeded immediately.
The third attribute is persistence. Islamic groups are persistent in the sense that they go through the cyclical prosperity theory as developed by Ibn Khaldon. Hamzeh explains "At every stage and era you will have crisis, crises trigger changes, with all this change you have an Islamic movement responding to that change." The fourth and last attribute is about mode of operation. This means that depending on the situation, Islamist groups can vary in their handling of issues; the handlings can range from militancy, to gradualist politics, messiahism and even revolutionary tendencies.
In the case of Hezbollah the group can alternate between two modes of operation, and at times even apply both modes at once. "With the end of the Iran-Iraq war and with the death of Khomeini we witness Hezbollah leave its militant and revolutionary stance to adopt a more diplomatic and pragmatic approach." Hamzeh adds "we must note that even when Hezbollah alternated towards a more diplomatic approach, it did not drop or forget its function as a resistance group." Hamzeh explains that Hezbollah still maintains its revolutionary mode, as we witnessed in 2006 with its war with Israel.
Hezbollah's relationship with Iran despite its nationalization, its ideological height in the scale of the political and regional level, Iran Syrians Hamas Al-Jihad alliances, and at this case, regionally Hezbollah didn't change locally doesn't want Islamic state, from their views there is a conflict with Israel and this conflict requires a response close allies relationship between Hezbollah and Iran.
No bodies know exactly, knows what would Iran do in case if its attacked, opening up fronts or maybe participations or operations in some where else, irons response it is not tradition response, some think that Iran will take its gun and starts shouting the gulf which is not necessarily. a might response, launching Iranian missiles, the middle east or North Korea, Iran is going to respond, if the IAEA no one can really confirm that Iran has the bomb maybe they advanced in using this as a source of energy I don't know maybe they have it. The only have it saying they are Israelis, some officials confirm it and some not confirm it.
It's always known when anybody in allies, would been attacked that the allies will respond So Iran and Hezbollah is not and an exception to the rule. The response maybe opening in front, or in Gaza, did Hezbollah got suck after July war Hezbollah enhanced its militate power and as Israel says that they have a better situation.
Diversified the sources of weapons of Hezbollah at the beginning, the main support was Iranian support Hezbollah got a stage in terms of budget and finance to get weapons. The black market is available.
Two opinions say that Hezbollah have anti missiles and some say said didn't use it. Hezbollah uses the Israeli figures, playing the physiological war. It seems as reported in large. What are the figures no body knows.
Weapons in these days are not a problem for individuals, if you have the cash you can get the weapon.
Its really complex, despite the force at USA people still smuggling drugs, diversifications of resources, Israel said the captured a ship carrying weapons while Syrians said its carrying merchandise there is some sort of Vagueness and un clearness.
" there is an open war between Hezbollah and Israel, physiological economic , one has look to the dynamics all methods can be used, assignations economic collapses, the same thing wars these days which is not the conventional way.
"Hezbollah doesn't use the technique of traditional wars, sitting in forts and barracks, using the guerrillas methods war". Fattah have concentrated in Lebanon before, and it was easy to attack them. In world war 1 and 2, they would say more allies used some guns that comes from the underground or into a cave.
"Supreme authority goes to Khamnei within the Shiite community in labor even in across the world. The might be sympathetic with those Shiite, Hezbollah members are followed Khaman'i, the followers should follow the orders of Waylay Al-Faqeh who generates the certain commands.