on situation in lebanon (jamail):
In sum, there are four main political parties which participated in a sprawling protest on December 10, 2006, probably Lebanon's largest ever, immediately followed by the launching of a sit-in against the U.S./France/Saudi Arabia-backed government.
(...) The parties are as follows: Hezbollah led by the charismatic Hassan Nasrallah, The Free Patriotic movement led by former Christian general Michael Aoun, the Amal movement led by Nabih Berri, and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. There are other smaller groups, like the Christian Marada movement, also involved.
(...) The opposition insists that the cabinet resign in favor of a national unity government. Siniora’s cabinet continues to refuse this demand, and is basically in survival mode as the political deadlock persists.
(...) "We're here demanding full participation of all different groups in the political decision making of our country," a 27-year-old organizer named Jirgus told me, "One of the advantages of this sit-in is that Lebanese people from the north are meeting Lebanese people from the south and different religions are uniting." I asked him how long he would continue to protest. "As long as this government continues with their pro-U.S./Israel policies and continues to choose not to allow all people fair representation, we are left with only this choice. Our opposition will continue."
(...) A student with the Marada movement named Mohammad teaches primary school and comes to the camp each evening after his work is done. "Our goal is companionship with the government's goal is to serve corporate interests," he said, "We have two million of Lebanon's four million people that are not represented by these elitists who only care about their own interests. I'll stay here as long as it takes. The government didn't leave us with anything, so we have nothing to lose."
(...) A student named Aran from the Free Patriotic Movement, who has been at the sit-in from the first day told me, "It's new for us to be together with all of these other groups. It is good because Muslims, Christians and all of the confessions are here together. We hope this experiences will be diffused throughout the entire society."
(...)Ali Hamir, a translator standing outside the main tent in which families were gathering and children played, told me he was there as an independent and not affiliated with any political. "I'm here as a Lebanese," he said, "We are peacefully contesting the government to show that people without a voice are actually the majority. It is only the rich people who have a voice in this current government, while the middle and lower classes are not listened to. There is a class mentality in this government." He waved his arm across the air and added, "These people are not sheep. Most of them are educated and know how to live in peace. We are open-minded and want to live with all communities, but we are opposed to class-based oppression."
(...) Courses in the following Majors by the teacher Condoleeza Rice: 1) Sectarian conflict. 2) Taking countries' resources by force. 3) Corruption and theft. 4) Constructing and deconstructing security apparatuses. 5) Taking control of free countries' sovereignty