Post by kimster on Aug 8, 2006 1:18:10 GMT -5
Since this Middle East conflict began, we learned much about Hezbollah, not only as military militia group, but also an entity with growing social clout.
Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson went to Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong following.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Where are we going now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we are moving to where Israeli jet fighters, bombed what it calls Hezbollah headquarters.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): These are Beirut's southern suburbs, predominantly Shiite, and a Hezbollah stronghold. These days, it's a dangerous place, and this Hezbollah spokesman is clearly rattled by the prospect of more Israeli bombs.
(on camera): How dangerous is it in this area at the moment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very, very dangerous. We are now the most dangerous place in the most dangerous moment.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Israeli warplanes have hit this area hard, because it's the political capital of Hezbollah. A state within a state. Its influence is everywhere. Before the bombing began, you could find Hezbollah hospitals, schools and charities, supporting Lebanon's traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said to Hezbollah, God bless you.
ROBERTSON: For Malika Saror (ph) and her family, Hezbollah provides water when no one else can or will. Even now, when so many are displaced.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My sister, we heard her, go to bring water from there, there is very big cans. They put water in it, in all Lebanon. ROBERTSON: In her old neighborhood near Beirut's airport, the one she fled after Israel began bombing, and the one she hopes to return to, Hezbollah picked up the garbage, paid for medical care, and helped run the schools. Stepping in, and overshadowing the Lebanese government.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hezbollah is doing all the things for the people.
ROBERTSON: On a practical level, Hezbollah paid half the cost for her daughter Zeneb's (ph) school and Zeneb says that was just the beginning of the help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If something is broken in my school, Hezbollah helps them to make it, and to correct it again.
ROBERTSON: Now, Zeneb is on her way to becoming the next generation of Hezbollah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that, to when I be big and adult, I want to be a doctor for Hezbollah. If someone has a hurt in his arms, I will help him.
ROBERTSON: Both mother and daughter say they appreciate all that Hezbollah does for them, but the most important thing to them is still the resistance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like them more when they kill the Israelis from our land, because this land is our, us only.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All my life, all my life to family, to-my family and to my husband, to my sisters, to all the world.
ROBERTSON: And in return for all that it's given her, Hezbollah's won Malika's (ph) unconditional support. When the family is finally able to return to their home, they believe that Hezbollah will help them rebuild.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They promised that they will help the people to continue, yes, their life again.
ROBERTSON: Hezbollah has a track record of doing just that. In 1996, after an Israeli military assault destroyed numerous buildings in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah was quick to help its supporters rebuild.
TIMUR GOKSEL, FORMER UN PEACEKEEPER: Hezbollah has a very interesting outfit called the Jihad Construction company. They load their trucks with windows and all kinds of construction equipment. And all of these young guys with their t-shirts saying "jihad," they will go from house to house and offer the people, do you want us to fix the windows, do you want us to fix your doors?
ROBERTSON: Even now, as its buildings are being destroyed, Hezbollah is organizing refugees and relief services, proof, its ability to provide social service, has survived.
(on camera): There's a lot of damage here.
(voice-over): The rebuilding of south Beirut won't come until the bombs stop falling, but when it does, Hezbollah will be there for its followers, as it has so many times before. For now, it's more about surviving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our action is always reaction. It's never an action.
ROBERTSON (on camera): But they say you're killing civilians.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now there is jet fighters, we have to move.
ROBERTSON: You're really worried about another strike here right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, of course.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. That was our senior international Nic Robertson reporting.
Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson went to Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong following.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Where are we going now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we are moving to where Israeli jet fighters, bombed what it calls Hezbollah headquarters.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): These are Beirut's southern suburbs, predominantly Shiite, and a Hezbollah stronghold. These days, it's a dangerous place, and this Hezbollah spokesman is clearly rattled by the prospect of more Israeli bombs.
(on camera): How dangerous is it in this area at the moment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very, very dangerous. We are now the most dangerous place in the most dangerous moment.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Israeli warplanes have hit this area hard, because it's the political capital of Hezbollah. A state within a state. Its influence is everywhere. Before the bombing began, you could find Hezbollah hospitals, schools and charities, supporting Lebanon's traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said to Hezbollah, God bless you.
ROBERTSON: For Malika Saror (ph) and her family, Hezbollah provides water when no one else can or will. Even now, when so many are displaced.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My sister, we heard her, go to bring water from there, there is very big cans. They put water in it, in all Lebanon. ROBERTSON: In her old neighborhood near Beirut's airport, the one she fled after Israel began bombing, and the one she hopes to return to, Hezbollah picked up the garbage, paid for medical care, and helped run the schools. Stepping in, and overshadowing the Lebanese government.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hezbollah is doing all the things for the people.
ROBERTSON: On a practical level, Hezbollah paid half the cost for her daughter Zeneb's (ph) school and Zeneb says that was just the beginning of the help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If something is broken in my school, Hezbollah helps them to make it, and to correct it again.
ROBERTSON: Now, Zeneb is on her way to becoming the next generation of Hezbollah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that, to when I be big and adult, I want to be a doctor for Hezbollah. If someone has a hurt in his arms, I will help him.
ROBERTSON: Both mother and daughter say they appreciate all that Hezbollah does for them, but the most important thing to them is still the resistance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like them more when they kill the Israelis from our land, because this land is our, us only.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All my life, all my life to family, to-my family and to my husband, to my sisters, to all the world.
ROBERTSON: And in return for all that it's given her, Hezbollah's won Malika's (ph) unconditional support. When the family is finally able to return to their home, they believe that Hezbollah will help them rebuild.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They promised that they will help the people to continue, yes, their life again.
ROBERTSON: Hezbollah has a track record of doing just that. In 1996, after an Israeli military assault destroyed numerous buildings in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah was quick to help its supporters rebuild.
TIMUR GOKSEL, FORMER UN PEACEKEEPER: Hezbollah has a very interesting outfit called the Jihad Construction company. They load their trucks with windows and all kinds of construction equipment. And all of these young guys with their t-shirts saying "jihad," they will go from house to house and offer the people, do you want us to fix the windows, do you want us to fix your doors?
ROBERTSON: Even now, as its buildings are being destroyed, Hezbollah is organizing refugees and relief services, proof, its ability to provide social service, has survived.
(on camera): There's a lot of damage here.
(voice-over): The rebuilding of south Beirut won't come until the bombs stop falling, but when it does, Hezbollah will be there for its followers, as it has so many times before. For now, it's more about surviving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our action is always reaction. It's never an action.
ROBERTSON (on camera): But they say you're killing civilians.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now there is jet fighters, we have to move.
ROBERTSON: You're really worried about another strike here right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, of course.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. That was our senior international Nic Robertson reporting.
