By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan

April 26 (Bloomberg) — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Lebanon’s coming parliamentary elections, in which the Shiite Hezbollah may form a coalition, must be free of foreign interference and violence. “The people of Lebanon must be able to choose their own representatives in open and fair elections, without the specter of violence or intimidation and free from outside influence,” Clinton said today in Beirut on an unannounced visit.

The U.S. supports Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who faces elections on June 7 in which Hezbollah will participate. Clinton last week expressed concern about extremists winning in the voting. The U.S., European Union and Israel designate the Iranian-backed Hezbollah a terrorist organization. “Beyond the elections, we will continue to support the voices of moderation in Lebanon and the responsible institutions of the state they are working hard to build,” Clinton said.

An issue in the campaign is whether Hezbollah’s militia must disarm. Hezbollah fought a 33-day war with Israel in 2006.

Clinton’s visit, her first to the country, and a meeting with President Michel Suleiman were intended to reassure Lebanon, a U.S. ally, of continued support, even as the U.S. tries to open talks with Iran and Syria. “The United States will never make any deal with Syria that sells out Lebanon or the Lebanese people,” Clinton said. “It is only right that you are given the chance to make your own decisions.” “It is a complicated neighborhood you live in, and you have a right to your own future,” she said.

The visit coincided with the fourth anniversary of the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.

The U.S. recognizes that Hezbollah is popular among Lebanon’s Shiite population and likely to win numerous seats in the elections, a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

On the drive from the airport to the Baabda Palace, the main highway was lined with yellow billboards for Hezbollah with their symbol, a fist holding a Kalashnikov rifle, and the slogan “Lebanon.” The U.S. will evaluate its continued financial support to the Lebanese government based on the composition and program of the new government, the official said. The U.S. is concerned a Hezbollah-led government would broaden Syria’s and Iran’s influence in the region. The two nations support Hezbollah. Many Lebanese credit the group with ending Israel’s two-decade occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

Hezbollah has led a low-key campaign so far, stressing anti-corruption and consensus governance. The group’s leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, has said it would form a government of national unity in the interests of stability. From 1975 to 1990, Lebanon was wracked by a civil war that primarily pitted Christians and Muslims. Under Lebanon’s political system, the 128-seat legislature must be half-Christian and half Muslim. The pro-U.S. coalition, mostly Sunnis with Christian and Druze allies, has 70 seats.
Hezbollah and its allies have one-third of the seats in the cabinet.

Since 2006, the U.S. has given over $1 billion to Lebanon, including $410 million to the country’s security forces.

After meeting with president Suleiman in the Baabda Palace, Clinton visited Martyrs Square and laid a wreath at the tomb of the former prime minister, Rafiq Hariri. The U.S. withdrew its ambassador to Syria in 2005 following Hariri’s assassination.

bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFi3jcJYLiac&refer=home

When Hillary went before the Foreign Relations Committee and basically through the gauntlet into obama’s hands by saying words to the effect that he had won the election and it was his agenda they were going with, I got the biggest smile on my face.

In other words she is being a good team player, letting bambi fall flat on his face with his handshaking and tea parties with dictators and letting everyone know that this isn’t necessarily what she would have done.

I would much rather have Hillary on the team to create as much damage control as possible, than have her walk away.jmo

The argument that works best with so called progressives is he is Bush III. The argument that works best with middle class is he is a tool of corporate interests. The argument that works best with Republicans is he is a socialist. All three propositions are true.

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How so?

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Makes sense to me. But it’s hard to believe even Obama would be that dumb. Or his legal department, rather.

I guess you all saw the breaking news that we are now under a Health Emergency as they have validated 20 cases of the swine flu.

Also is there something wrong with wordpress as my key stroke response is like 10 seconds before I see a character. This is not happening in the other areas of the internet for me.

w w w.nypost.com/seven/04252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/100_days__100_mistakes_166177.htm?&page=0