Hundreds of thousands of pro-Syrian demonstrators (Hezbollah terrorists) assembled in Beirut yesterday. Today, tens of thousands gathered in Damascus to show their support for the illegal occupation of Lebanon. The fascists have shown their teeth. Lebanon’s liberation will not come so easy.

Obviously, the mixed up Palestinian/Hezbollah/Shiite mess that plagues both Lebanon and Syria cannot be cleaned up overnight. Added to this complex jumble is the minority rule of Bashar Assad, son of the infamous dictator Hafez el Assad:

He was neither Muslim nor Christian, but rather belonged to a specifically Syrian fusion of medieval Islamic and Far Eastern belief, called the Alawite sect. And the Muslims persecuted the Alawites horribly during the Dark Ages of Western civilization. The Alawites comprise about 12% of the entire Syrian population, according to the last official census taken seven years ago.

The Alawites seized control in Syria in 1963, and Assad himself assumed supreme command in 1970. And just imagine the thirst for vengeance vis-à-vis the Muslim majority. When he came to power he basically cleaned out the entire state apparatus and filled all key positions with his families and cronies. It is no accident that the top level in the Syrian army is virtually all Alawite.

Unfortunately, Lebanese and Syrian fascists can draw much larger crowds than can the democratic opposition. How sad. The fascists once again have aligned themselves on the wrong side of history. They will not go down without a fight. The fight has started:

Lebanon's outgoing premier - forced to quit last week amid opposition rallies - is almost certain to be re-appointed after a majority of MPs backed him.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is expected to confirm the appointment of Omar Karami as prime minister shortly.

Backing for Mr Karami came a day after a huge rally in Beirut in support of Syria, which keeps a tight grip on power in Lebanon, and Mr Lahoud.