Why did Shadid refer to Iran and Syria as "patrons" (of Hizbullah), and France and US as "allies" (of Sanyurah)? Either they both have patrons, or they both have allies. And why did he offer this distinction between the two sides: "one more religiously traditional, one more liberal." What? Are you kidding me? Lebanese Forces are liberal? Jumblat is liberal? The Sunni fundamentalist groups (supporters of Bin Laden, like Shaykh Khalil Al-Mays, Mufti Muhammad `Ali Al-Juzu (who supported the attacks of Sep. 11) who are major allies of Hariri Inc are liberal now? The Phalanges Party is liberal? The Sunni Mufti and the Maronite Patriarch are liberal? Unbecoming. The Independent, for example, is more consistent. It calls Sanyurah's government "US-backed", and it calls Hizbullah "Syrian and Iranian-backed."