Lebanese Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt Criticizes Nasrallah and Says: "Adolf Hitler Also Aroused His People's Sense of Honor, And Led Germany into War"

Following are excerpts from an interview with Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, which aired on Al-Mustaqbal TV on July 29, 2006.

Walid Jumblatt: Whatever happens, Hizbullah will emerge victorious. To whom will Hizbullah dedicate this victory? Will it dedicate the victory to the Lebanese state, to the honoring of international resolutions, to the Taif Agreement? Or will it dedicate it to the Syrian regime, the Syrian-Iranian axis, in which case we will become scorched earth, annexed to Syria and Iran? Each of these countries wants, with this abduction, to negotiate with America over the remains of the Lebanese homeland.

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I do not think all the residents of South Lebanon want to be displaced every ten years.

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There is no honor without liberty. Honor is meaningless without liberty. Honor is meaningless without democracy. Honor is meaningless without diversity. Honor is meaningless without a free press. Honor is meaningless without pluralism and respect for other opinions. In such a case, honor is meaningless. These are the conditions for honor, not just fighting, missiles, martyrdom, and acts of bravery. No.

It does not come to us from the theories of several intellectuals. Noam Chomsky, because of his hatred for the Bush administration, comes from America, from Yale or Columbia University, in order to present his theory about the weapons of Hizbullah. Great. But I say to Noam Chomsky today: Our country is in flames. One of those people, an Israeli Knesset member, who enjoys the so-called "democracy" of Israel, presents his theory on how Syria cannot be separated from Iran (sic), but he does not care that at least two-thirds of the Lebanese people want freedom and independence, and to preserve this pluralistic model, which is one of a kind throughout the Arab and Islamic world.

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There can be no honor associated with a fascist regime like the Syrian regime, or, to be more precise, there can be no honor associated with a regime which is semi-divine, like the Iranian regime.

Interviewer: You are referring to the principle of the rule of the jurisprudent.

Walid Jumblatt: I don't want to go into jurisprudent theories... Ultimately, there were civilized peoples... I don't want to make a comparison, but Adolf Hitler also aroused his people's sense of honor, and led Germany into war.

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Only an international force in the South could help the Lebanese army extend the sovereignty and rule, and enforce the cease-fire. At the same time, the weapons of the resistance would be incorporated into this army. This will be the beginning of independence of a renewed, respectable Lebanon, after 2000.

Interviewer: But of course, there will be no deployment of international forces if any side is opposed.

Walid Jumblatt: In addition, I tell you with all honesty, if the Syrian regime, with its unique and non-unique methods, insists on keeping the Lebanese-Syrian border open, this international force will be worthless.

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Personally, I support the two-state solution - in other words, a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the return of the refugees in accordance with Resolution 194, Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and the dismantling of the separation wall and of the settlements. That is the solution. That is the solution that would maintain... But for us, in Lebanon, to enter a general war of liberation, and watch our neighbors enjoy prosperity at the expense of Lebanon's destruction - allow me to say that I view this approach as unacceptable condescension.

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[Bashar Al-Assad] will desperately try to bring Lebanon to a state of anarchy, if he can. I remember that two weeks ago or more, he said that Lebanon has become a base for Al-Qaeda. In other words, there is a possibility that if his efforts to reach a settlement and to get closer to America fail, he might send to Lebanon - just like he sent to Iraq - the so-called "martyrdom-seekers," whom I call "suicide bombers," because they killed without discriminating between American soldiers, Shiites, Sunnis, and Christians. They made no discrimination. He might do this. He sent a messenger to Saudi Arabia, four days before going there himself. This messenger, a high-ranking officer, said to one of the princes, in charge of internal security in Saudi Arabia: "We fear that you will suffer terrorist attacks. If you want, we can help you." That is regarding Al-Qaeda... In other words, he threatened them indirectly. .

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Iran responded to the Security Council and to the G-8 in St. Petersburg, through Lebanon. It sent them a clear message: if you want to pressure us on the nuclear issue - go ahead America, try to defend Israel, which is, ultimately, the 53rd state.