Besides Al Qaeda and Israel--Lebanese Also Oppose Ahmadinejad's Visit

The US and Israel are unhappy with Ahmadinejad's visit to Iran.
Al Qaeda has threatened to assassinate him.

And now Lebanese too have voiced their upset.
France24 is reporting that Ahmadinejad accused of meddling in Lebanon's affairs:

Lebanese politicians and members of civil society issued an open letter to Iran's president on Tuesday, accusing him on the eve of his official visit to Lebanon of meddling in the country's affairs.

The letter was signed by some 250 people, among them former MPs close to the Western-backed parliamentary majority, doctors, teachers and journalists. It lashed out at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Iran's support of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah.


"One group in Lebanon draws its power from you ... and has wielded it over another group and the state," said the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

"You are repeating what others have done before you by interfering in our internal affairs," the letter added, referring to Tehran's financial and military backing of Hezbollah, considered a proxy of Iran.

Ahmadinejad is of course the proud sponsor of the only party in Lebanon that has refused to surrender its weapons following the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. Hezbollah argues that they need their weapons in order to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression--or defend themselves against Israeli retaliation when Hezbollah threatens and provokes them, as in 2006. A fine distinction.

Hezbollah is also under suspicion for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri--which, if substantiated, would indicate that Iran, as Hezbollah's sponsor, was in on the murder as well.

Other details about the contents of the letter:

The letter, signed by former MPs Fares Souaid, Samir Frangieh and Elias Atallah, criticized Ahmadinejad for declaring support for the Lebanese state while simultaneously providing Hezbollah with financial and military backing.

"Your support of the state is negated by your parallel financial and military support to one party in Lebanon," the letter said, referring to Hezbollah.

"Your talk of 'changing the face of the region starting with Lebanon' ... and 'wiping Israel off the map through the force of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon' ... gives the impression that your visit is that of a high commander to his front line," it added.

The letter also urged Ahmadinejad to convince Hezbollah during a two-day visit starting Wednesday to exist within the confines of the state.

Some Lebanese are becoming more and more vocal in their opposition to both Hezbollah and Ahmdadinejad.

Tim Marshall writes:

Israel has known for years that it has a de facto border with Iran, notwithstanding that the Islamic Republic lies 1,000 miles to the east.

The de facto border is to the north - Lebanon. The President of Iran is heading there this week. He will be close enough to see Israeli houses and border guards.

Israel realizes that with Lebanon, Israel shares a border with Iran.
The Lebanese are slowly realizing the same thing, and that it is no fun being a colony of Iran.

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