Jared Cohen - Children of Jihad: A Young Americans Travels Among the Youth of the Middle East

A Young Americans Travels Among
the Youth of the Middle East

Though the author works for the U.S. Department of State, the views expressed in this book do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or the U.S. government.

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Copyright 2007 by Jared Cohen
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ISBN: 1-4295-6590-X

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TO MOM, DAD, AND MY SISTER, EMILY:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT, AND PATIENCE

LEBANON, 2005

F or a third Wednesday in a row, I had lunch at a Western fast-food chain in Beirut, Lebanon. This time it was McDonalds. I was alone and American, but it wasnt the comfortingly bland Western dcor or the universally recognizable taste of a Big Mac that drew me to one of Beiruts most popular fast-food restaurants. It wasnt homesickness at all that brought me to McDonalds; it was Hezbollah, one of the worlds most notorious terrorist organizations.

The members of Hezbollah who invited me to McDonalds week after week did not fit the Western profile of Middle Eastern terrorists. Instead of tattered green military fatigues, they wore Armani jeans and Versace sweaters; their hair was not covered by checkered scarves or head wraps, but meticulously sculpted and styled; and rather than slinging Kalashnikov rifles over their shoulders, they lugged around bulky, heavy backpacks, more likely to be filled with books than bombs. When girls walked by, they didnt avert their eyes in an act of chastity; they whistled and gave catcalls that would have been equally at home at an American mall. The few shy boys contented themselves with juvenile comments to the group. The girls, independent-minded and cosmopolitan, would shout back, flirtatiously condemning the boys for their churlish behavior.

They always paid for my lunch, and each week there were new dining companions; most were other members of Hezbollah, but all were supporters of the group. Their political viewswhen expressedwere ultraextremist and they unabashedly shared them with me. But more often than not, we talked girls or sports. When we didnt discuss politics, it was easy to forget that these young men were considered by most of the Western world to be terrorists, especially in a cosmopolitan city like Beirut.

Beirut is one big paradox. The notorious green line that divided the city between Christians and Muslims during the countrys fifteen-year civil war is visually unrecognizable, as it has been replaced by trendy outdoor cafs and clothing stores. The bombed-out buildings that haunted the Lebanese population with violence now take on an aesthetic appeal as they stand sandwiched between modern structures. On the surface, it seems that the citys historical divides have all but disappeared. But this is hardly the reality.

Socioeconomic disparity and religious tensions have become the modern green line. At the top of the socioeconomic chain are the entertainment districts of Monot and Gemayze, each of which boasts a vibrant nightlife and ostentatious display of wealth. When I walked the streets of these districts I felt more like I was observing a fashion show than a social scene. But just fifteen minutes from the outdoor coffee shops and valet parking at Starbucks and McDonalds is the impoverished and predominantly Shia south Beirut suburb of Dahiye, where residents are far more conservative and economically deprived than their more affluent neighbors. The conservative brand of Shia Islam and the dire economic situation in Dahiye have propelled Hezbollah into the role of community caretaker. With its headquarters based in these suburbs, Hezbollah wins popular support by providing housing, electricity, clean water, hospitals, and educational opportunities to local Shia. To the east of the Shia slums is the predominantly Christian section of Beirut known as Achrafieh; however, the only thing east and south Beirut have in common is that they are both located fifteen minutes from downtown. Like the Shia and the Christians, the Sunni also have their neighborhoods in Zarif and Verdun, where there is a mixture of wealth and poverty. The close proximity of each of these groups, combined with political, entertainment, and educational realms that bring them together for better or worse, make this diverse city a recipe for sectarian and political conflict.

Hezbollah, or Party of God, has had a dark history as a terrorist organization. It began in 1982 as an Iranian-backed extremist Shia movement that sought to expel Israel from Lebanon, to attack American establishments, and to aid in the Palestinian quest for statehood. Historically, Hezbollah has dealt America some of its most devastating terrorist attacks: the bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, the bombing of the Marine barracks in October 1983, an attack that took the lives of 241 Americans, and a slew of kidnappings of Americans between 1983 and 1986. That doesnt include Hezbollahs history of violence against Israel, which, after a six-year hiatus, precipitated a major conflict in 2006. Well-organized, heavily armed, and closely tied with Iran, the military wing of Hezbollah continues to threaten Israel and has the potential to carry out many more terrorist attacks against America. Despite how well we all seemed to get along, my familiarity with the history of Hezbollah made me constantly suspicious of the young members I met in and around Beirut.