The October 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks was found not to have been done by Hezbollah according to a CIA investigation by agent Robert Baer. The same, according to Baer, with the US Embassy bombing of April 17, 1983.
The 1992 blowing up of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina was found not to have been done by Hezbollah. With respect to the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association in Buenos Aires the CIA found only "very weak evidence."
With respect to the hijacking of TWA flight 847 in 1985 and the killing of a U.S. Navy Diver, over two decades ago, even before Hezbollah was fully formed, the CIA has pointed the finger at Islamic Jihad, not Hezbollah.
No probative evidence has been uncovered that Hezbollah, rather than various militia groups throughout Beirut and Lebanon, as Hezbollah claims, carried out the kidnappings of Western hostages in the 1980's.
Some have used the term "kidnapping" to
describe Hezbollah's capture of Israeli soldiers on July 12, 2006. This is a
misuse of the term kidnapping. Even Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has
denied that this capture of enemy combatants was terrorism.
Concerning accusations that Hezbollah was involved in the training Iraqi Shi'a Militants since 2004 in constructing IED's, used for allegedly attacking US and Coalition forces in Iraq, there has never been proof presented that the militias involved were even classified as terrorist organizations. Rather they were legitimately involved in repelling foreign military occupiers who not only are not non-combatants but who were slaughtering the civilian population of Iraq. Moreover, Hezbollah has denied the allegations. Even if there was some involvement by Hezbollah trained individuals, yet unproven, this does not prove that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization except by proxy through its assistance of other groups accused of terrorism. This rationale would result in classifying the entire Lebanese government as a state sponsor of terrorism, in the same category as Iran, Venezuela, and Syria, since Hezbollah is a legal member, indeed a pillar, of Lebanon's government.
In failing to dampen holiday spirits much in Lebanon this year as he makes his rounds by relying on the outdated idea that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and that the sky is falling, Jeffrey Feltman gets stuck in a chimney so to speak. We'll have to be patient to learn what Yuletide presents the Assistant Secretary brings Lebanon next year.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
