State within a state

The world news is sobering these days.

I've been wondering if Israel is suprised at the strength of Hezbollah, and if they really destroy the stronghold in Lebanon, it they will then go into Iran. I read something interesting about Hezbollah today on the BBC, how they maintain loyalty among the Shia community, that is: feed them, clothe them, take of them, ect... Keeping the government and the people in submission.

Hezbollah is not only a military group, and not only a political party; it also has social services that it provides for its supporters, Lebanon's Shia Muslims. Hezbollah has a full infrastructure that gives these people every possible means to keep standing Hussein, member of HezbollahAt one Beirut school, 1,500 people are living in a refugee centre run by Hezbollah. "The group has engineers, it has workers," says Hussein, one of the Hezbollah members running the centre. "Hezbollah has a full infrastructure that gives these people every possible means to keep standing." Another woman told me that even though they were refugees, Hezbollah was giving them everything they needed. The government had limited means, so Hezbollah was helping them, she said. This is how Hezbollah guarantees unwavering loyalty and popular support - by providing for the Shia community. The central government has been weak here for decades so it is easy for Hezbollah to step in. But there is also a sense that Hezbollah monopolises the Shia and keeps the government at bay with its schools, hospitals and women's associations. And with its substantial arsenal of weapons, many Lebanese see the group as a state within a state.