An Interview With Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius interviewed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah on February 2, 2006 in Beirut. Excerpts:

On Hamas taking political responsibility:

"It's natural for Hamas to assume the responsibility and to prove, God willing, that it deserves the confidence of the people."

"Those who elected Hamas in Palestine did so on the basis of its political platform. What the U.S. and the Quartet are demanding now is that Hamas abandon its electoral platform. This is something no one in the world can do."

How political power changes movements such as Hamas and Hezbollah:

"There is no doubt that giving a chance to major political forces to take part in decision making burdens them with larger political responsibilties and affects their decision making to a large extent."

The group will remain attached to its principles, "but it's behavior may be influenced" by the experience of political responsibility.

On Bush's statement about Middle East democracy in the State of the Union speech:

"Nice words. Lovely words." But Nasrallah asks whether the new Iraqi government will have power, or the more than 100,000 U.S. troops.

"To talk about liberty and freedom is nice, lovely, but the important thing is to allow people to act in liberty and freedom."

Is the U.S. making a smart bet in encouraging Arab democracy?

"This helps, but it doesn't resolve the problem of hostility against the U.S.