Syrian Workers, Mexican Illegals

As I mentioned before, July 15th is right down the road. To expand upon my blurb before, Syria is planning on pulling out its workers in Lebanon on the 15th. This has been a huge cause of concern by analysts and by common Lebanese who feel the pullout of Syrian workers is just the prelude to a new terror-offensive led by Damascus. This May, Syria, acting in consort with the Islamist terror group, Fatah al Islam (an Islamist off-shoot to Fatah Intifadah, A Syrian created and financed Palestinian group), launched assassinations, bombings, and other attacks against anti-Syrian politicians (namely Walid Eido), locals that are heavily anti-Syrian (namely Achrafieh, Aley, and Korietem), and the Lebanese Army. Recently the head of the UN probe into Rafik Hariri's murder has stated that the recent combat operations involving Fatah al Islam and the Lebanese Army, are hindering their investigations; how convenient for Damascus.

With Syrian workers being pulled out, the Lebanese economy may suffer. The Syrians have firmly implanted themselves into the economy of Lebanon. Its interesting to note that Syrian workers are in many ways like illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States, but there are also many differences.

1. They are coming to seek higher wages, an American's average wage (this includes middle and upper class workers) is around $42,000; a Mexican's average wage (also includes their middle and upper classes) is around $3,300. Syria's average wage is around $1,200 a year, compared to Lebanon's 9,600 a year.


2. During Lebanon's occupation by Syria, Syrian workers were given free range to work in Lebanon, meanwhile, if a Lebanese wanted to work in Syria it was not allowed. On the other hand illegal immigrants to Mexico can face stiff jail sentences.


3. Syria considers Lebanon to be an integral part of Syria, just as many Mexicans consider the southwestern United States to be part of Mexico. Former Mexican President Zedillo said,“I have proudly affirmed that the Mexican nation extends beyond the territory enclosed by its borders.” Syrian president Bashar Asad said, "We, the Syrians would continue to give to Lebanon because you are the grandchildren of the Syrian Arabs."


4. Experts such as Habib C. Malik have called Syria's workers in Lebanon, "nothing short of a movement toward Syrian colonization of Lebanon." In the City Journal, Manhattan Institute contributor, Heather Mac Donald wrote,“Mexico’s five-year development plan in 1995 announced that the ‘Mexican nation extends its border into the United States. The government would strengthen solidarity programs with the Mexican communities abroad by emphasizing their Mexican roots, and supporting literacy programs in Spanish and teaching of the history, values and traditions of Mexico to those Mexicans living in the United States. We are betting the Mexican population in the U.S. will think Mexico first.’”


5. About 200,000 Syrian workers are in Lebanon out of a population of 3.9 million; there are anywhere from 7-12 million illegal Mexican migrants out of a population of 200 million.


6. Syria uses car bombs and political coercion to control Lebanon. Fortunately for Washington, Mexico hasn't started using terrorism.

I wanted to see what supporters of Syria's staunch ally, Hizbollah felt about the Syrians leaving. I asked one university student, and Hizbollah supporter from south Lebanon, "what will happen on the 15th?" Her answer, "problems." It seems that even erstwhile supporters of a Syrian proxy know that Syria will cook up problems for Lebanon.

"You see Phillip," she said, "I am with Syria because they help Hizbollah to free my village, I wouldn't be able to see my parents, but these Syrian workers take people's jobs, they make it so we make less money." Of course, in typical Lebanese fashion, self-interest comes first, but it also shows that in Lebanon many things are "grey."

The Lebanese Army is planning on crushing the Fatah al Islam stronghold of Nahr al Bared. Fatah al Islam, most recently, launched a rocket attack against Tripoli. Syria, after inspiring a set of numerous explosions and disturbances throughout Lebanon, is pulling out its nationals. Also the Hariri Tribunal is supposed to name a number of suspects in the investigation, this could include Syrian officials. Last, but not least, Iran has agreed inspections of their heavy water plants and atomic reactors. Things in Lebanon will only heat up.
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*Picture above is of the ABC Achrafieh bomb site, interesting to note that the people cleaning up the site were Syrian construction workers.
*All Pictures on here are taken by me, and my property, all rights reserved.