Siniora's choice

Pushed into a corner, bullied and bloodied by Israel’s war machine, Fouad Siniora had no choice but to sanction Hizbullah’s counter-attacks until a ceasefire is reached. Siniora, who went out of his way to get Hizbullah to agree to a seven-point plan that would extend state control over all Lebanese territory, saw his efforts dead under the rubble of Qana.

Addressing diplomats today after his joint press conference with Nabih Berri, Siniora pleaded with them to relay the “truth” of what Israel is doing in Lebanon to their countries. For the first time, he thanked Hizbullah’s fighters for defending Lebanon’s independence and dying for their country. And he said any attack by Hizbullah would constitute a natural response, reiterating that there should be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

If you’re the prime minister of Lebanon, and your people are being killed by an arrogant force of false virtue, and when thousands of your angry citizens are shouting outside your window, you find yourself forced to make a choice until the brilliant minds of this world regain their humanity. Siniora’s choice has always been Lebanon, but today, under the threat of Israeli guns, he was forced to choose between Israel and Hizbullah. Siniora is Lebanese, and those who were killed were Lebanese, and Hizbullah is the only weapon against an aggression of this proportion.

Israel and the United States, through ignorance and disregard for human life, are pushing Lebanon into Hizbullah’s camp. Well done.

Update. Siniora's words:

"We are in a strong position and I thank the Sayyed for his efforts," Siniora said when asked about a Saturday statement by Hizbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah calling on the government to take advantage of Hizbollah's steadfastness against Israeli military might.   

"I also thank all those who sacrifice their lives for the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon," he added.   

Comments

[The Perpetual Refugee]

I commend Saniora. He has been inspirational in this role that he never wanted. The arrogance of the U.S. and Israel has forced this move. Arrogance based on ignorance.

Jamal wrote at the beginning of this genocide:

We are all Hizbullah. Whether we like it or not.

Well, I don't like it. But since innocent Lebanese are being massacred by the hundreds. Since innocent children are not being allowed to grow up. Since hundreds of thousands are homeless in their own land. Since all these 'facts on the ground' exist. I stand with Hizballah. I stand with my Prime Minister. I stand with Lebanon.

[tuck]

It is really foolish the way you throw around words like "genocide" and "massacre". Invest some lebanese currency in a English Dictionary - then look up the meaning of those words - so you, also, can realize your foolishness.

[The Perpetual Refugee]

Tuck, your name rhymes with something. I'm not sure it needs a dictionary.

Back to the matter at hand. The so-called foolishness of the words 'genocide' and 'massacre'.

Genocide: The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group

Massacre: The act or an instance of killing a large number of humans indiscriminately and cruelly

The only foolishness I see is ignorant people trying to be cheeky. And arrogant people with precision-guided missiles.

[Ghassan Karam]

Try hard as you may no individual act can possibly justify making the wrong choice. PM Siniora today did not act as a statesman . He let his emotions dictate the fate of a nation and its 3.5 million inhabitants. What was wrong yesterday cannot possibly become acceptable today for the sake of a very tragic event. Mr. Siniora has failed the Lebanese project one more time, except that this time he would be the object of adulations. Respect for the Lebanese project does not rest on the proposition that if Israel violates the rights and humanity of your people then that justifies making a deal with the indigenous but undemocratic and authoritarian force. Has it ever occured to Mr. Siniora that Lebanese sovereignty demands that he rejects both the HA military actions and the Israeli aggression?

[dirk]

Genocide: The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group

I understand that emotions are running high after today. But genocide?!

[someone]

Siniora is listening to ALL lebaneses,this is the roll of a man of state ,telling to the world ,what lebaneses want to say.

No one now in Lebanon can say that Qana masacre was a mistake that should be forgiven ,because we have to tolerate more agressivity from "israel" in order to bring indepandance and democraty to our Country,because:

Lebaneses have not signed a contract with "israel" to remove the milishia from their country,and this military act cant be justified by them , since there is no contract between them and "israel" .

Lebanon is not a part of "israel" ,then "israel" is not responsible of democraty in this independent country ,"israel" , is not responsible for democraty and peace in this land,and how should lebaneses organize themselves.

If the milishia is responsible of the masacre,then only lebaneses are allowed to judge this milishia and accusing it ,by protest and riots ,and not "israel", what we have seen is a riot against UN buildings ,not either the government buildings ,that menas lebaneses are waiting for solution from UN ,not from "israel".

If you can not fight against the millitants in south Lebanon face to face, and you are urged to bomb from air,then if you cant avoid civilians by doing so,then dont use this method,declare to the world ,that your army cant destroy this milishia by land combats and neither by air without killing the civilains,then the world will respond: SOP YOUR WAR ,and you should obey,otherwise ,you are a criminal of war.

purpetual refugee???

Per your reply:

Genocide: The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group

_________________________

Please identify the "entire national, racial, politcal or ethnic group"

It is my understanding that Lebanon is a "multi" national, political, ethnic and racial country. . . maybe there are other words you should look up, and maybe some remedial history could be useful. A couple to start with 1) US post civil war military actions versus the native America indians, 2) Nazi policies versus the gypsies and jewish in the 1932-1945 period, and 3) Moorish activites in Spain and south France in the eleventh and twelth centuries.

__________________________

Massacre: The act or an instance of killing a large number of humans indiscriminately and cruelly

The only foolishness I see is ignorant people trying to be cheeky. And arrogant people with precision-guided missiles.

_______________________

"indescriminate" ???? using a "precision-guided missle" ??? Is that possible??

But is does bring up the basic point that HA is "truly" a rare breed, throughout history men have held the concept of HIDING among women and children as an unacceptable method of conducting attacks on an opposing force.

The overwhelming majority of men would consider that technique of combat as lacking testicular fortitude. Yep a rare - gutless breed, thank goodness. . .

[helgy]

It's your choice to go with Hezbollah... I'm glad Lebanese government finally made his choice. Way to go guys! RIP Lebanon.

[Asiason]

If Lebanon now stands with Hezbollah then be prepared to face the price of standing against Israel and the Free World.

They will bury you you to get at the HA so I hope the Lebanese are prepared for that.

You are fools if you forget the HA brought you into this.

You are fools if you don't believe the HA are firing from civillian sites.

You are fools if you cannot see that you are now reaping what you let grow wild when you did not disarm the HA.

So easy it is to blame the rest.

Now if you stand with HA, you have discarded the dream of a free nation for a puppet to be ruled by the mullahs of Iran.

Farewell Lebanon... you were a dream but now it seems it was merely just that.

We are all to blame for it, but worse still is that your choices whether made through inaction or silence or vocal have now arrived at this point.

If you would believe that the IDF willingly seeks to discredit itself and its efforts by targetting women and children then your minds are now absent of wisdom.

Why do you not take up arms against those fighting from within the ranks of your women and children.

Do not cry freedom or justice when the villians you protect are as vile as those now bombing your cities.

[Amir from Tel Aviv]

Sure, emotions are boiling, it's
just natural.
Let us wait and see what is happening
with Hexbula and the 'support'
they get from Lebanese after this
war is over.

I'm sure every body will think twice
before making any decision about
any thing concerning Israel.

Supporting the 'moquawama' will
bring only NULL in every aspect.

I'm sure this will be everybody's
conclusion.
.

[someone]

"If Lebanon now stands with Hezbollah then be prepared to face the price of standing against Israel and the Free World. "

Now, there are voices like "Lebanon you had a last chance for survival,we were the rescueer ,but now...RIP Lebanon,shoot it ,we are the killers!" ...

You either Love or Hate Lebanon, You cant love and help Lebanon ONLY if he agrees with you and follow you,otherwise you fire it ,it is not democracy ...,i think these acts are the defintion of terrorism.

So STOP terrorising Lebanon, please let it be free and go your way .

The word for Lebanon now is "BE WITH US ,OR DIE!" , come on ,isnt´t this terrorism???

[fubar]

Fox News at 5:15 p.m. EST announcing Israel has agreed to 24 hour curtailment of arial bombing to allow any remaining civilians to move north and out of southern Lebanon.

IDF artillary has also been silent for past 15 mins. but the artillary is not mentioned in the agreement.

[John Smith]

We all just repeat the same things over and over again. Surely everyone has learned a few things he did not know about the ‘other side’, no?

I think this may be the right format for mutual understanding:

Things I think Israelis should know about Lebanon and Hezbollah:

The non-military part of Hezbollah is helping South Lebanon in many ways where the Lebanese government doesn’t.

Hezbollah is the only organisation that represents (politically) a certain sector of the Lebanese people.

Most of the Lebanese wants to disarm Hezbollah and have already started talking about it internally, but they are afraid this can lead to a civil war. The Lebanese had only 1 year to achieve that (only after Syria left) and not 6 years like it is often been claimed.

Hezbollah is much stronger than the Lebanese army.

As the attacks go on, Nasrallah gains more support.

Things I think Lebanese should know about Israel and IDF:

Israel has no interest in Lebanese soil.

Israel has been continuously attacked by Hezbollah rockets and small fire arms since 2000.

The Israeli public is divided over the Palestinian issues, but united about this war and ending Hezbollah attacks from the north.

The IDF do tries its best not to harm civilians, but rockets are being launched from residential areas.

Israel believes Hammas (and maybe even Iran) are waiting to see if Hezbollah will break the IDF to gain motivation for attacks against Israel. Therefore it will not agree to cease fire for at least a week or two in order to ensure Nasrallah can’t claim victory (he will do that regardless).

Your comments…

[R]

I agree with most of what John Smith has said... I believe that some things are worth adding:

Given that the end goal of disarming HA is the objective of most parties involved (except HA and their sponsors), the Israelis either willingly or unwillingly fell into a trap.

I cannot believe that Israel and Lebanon could not have negotiated a return of the prisoners and the Shebaa farms in return for sending the army south and gradual disarming of HA.

Israel did not take into account, or misinterpreted, the events in Lebanon in the past year or two and acted prematurely.
As such they went into a "war" with objectives they cannot achieve as many bloggers have indicated. With every passing day they find out that they need "more time" to attain their unattainable goals. It was inevitable that they end up comitting an atrocity and that at some point the world will call for a cessation of hostilities...

[John Smith]

Agreed.

[mike alpha]

Siniora like all Lebanese are terrified of a civil war. Israel has killed under a thousand. Lebanese killed more than 100,000 . The militias set up roadblocks and executed anyone of the wrong faith. Siniora isnt declaring for Hezb'allah because he supports them . He is doing so because he is afrad of them, and so is everyone else.Lebanon hasn't been a real country, able to control it's own territory, for many years. Siniora had a chance to stand up for an independent Lebanonand indeed a few days ago he made such noises. The risks inherent in such a position were no doubt explained to him and he decided to stay alive.

[VS]

It's sad... sounds that all lebanese prople are slaves of Iran. Like it, or not, but it's true.

[Kolya]

Maybe at this point the fiction of a democratic Lebanese state in charge of its territory can be dispensed with. If folks are too afraid of Hezbollah to openly criticise them, I don't see how Hezbollah will ever be disarmed. Hezbollah is not going to stop fighting Israel. I don't see how any kind of lasting peace is ever going to come out of this situation. Hezbollah has figured out how to subject Israel to terror and to fight in such a way as to force Israel either to suffer many casualties among its own forces or risk killing Lebanese civilians. All the while it increases its popularity in Lebanon while civilians are killed and property is destroyed. Only in the middle east is such brain damage possible. But you have to give them credit - they are far more effective than any moderates are.

[Geo]

It is to Hezbollah's advantage to have many children and innocents killed to further their agenda of hatred against Israelis and the west. The Cedar revolution is lost. The Lebanese people are too scared and the government too weak to stand up to the fascists from Iran and Syria sponsoring Hezbollah. The building was bombed at 1:00am by the Israelis I have blogged. The women and children died from a blast at 7:00am. Something does not fit. The only hope for the Lebanese people for a chance for a free society is that Israel prevails. Otherwise, start buying yourselves burqas and throw away the razor blades gents.

[moron99]

Irregardless of his words Saniora's real intent is best expressed by action. If he does not order the Lebanese army to activate then his support is rhetorical.

If I were in his shoes I would say the same thing while making sure that my army was safely out of harms way. "Yes, Hezzbollah" I would say, "you go and fight to the last man. Fight for our dignity and honor until the last of your missiles is spent. You are brave and noble and I deeply appreciate that you will use up all of your weapons defending us from the zionist conspriracy." Then, when the fighting stops I would ask myself "are they weak enough yet so that my army can safely disarm them?"

But that's just me. If I had an enemy that I was sure wanted to kill me then I would encourage him to go ahead and jump off the rocky cliff.

[poul]

that disposes of any illusions that lebanese are peace loving people who don't wish israeli destruction.

if this is the position of lebanese people, why again should world interfere on their behalf? you associate yourself with a genocidal mass murderer, you get what you deserve. just ask taliban.

[JoseyWales]

I am with Ghassan.

Milquetoast Siniora is wrong. It is very difficult to criticize HA now today, but stating his support for them is yet another one of his mistakes. He keeps falling into Hezbo's traps.

The gutless wonder erred before (as did Aoun and most others). Tolerating Hezbollah, giving them cover, throwing the (laughable) support of the state behing HA led to this catastrophe.

Doing more of the same will lead to more of the same. It's that simple.

Siniora has turned into a despicable bureaucrat way out of his league.

[someone]

When "olmert" wants more time , and Nasrallah said ,let it be an OPEN war , but at the same time , Nasrallah is gaining more support and "olmert" is losing more power.

Because when the attacks continue ,Nasrallah show his force and legitimize its presence in South lebanon and legitimize its weapons ,so disarming its milishia,is not the subject of discussion in lebanon right now like before,because people see what dammage can "israel" cause to Lebanon,people understand now that disarming the militia is a suicide for Lebanon.

By continuing the war,"olmert" commit more war crimes like bombing UN base in the south ,killing four international soldiers,killing 60 lebaneses in Qana,and this dont put "olmert" in the position of defense ,but in attack,and Nasrallah in the position of defender of Lebanon,because he want cease-fire for his country right now.

The more the goals of "olmert" are not achievable,the more the goals of Nasrallah are achievable , no one will talk about diarming his milishia after the war end,this is a goal to be achieved,because he will be seen as the only defender of Lebanon,when lebanese government calls for a cease-fire,and no one could stop the agression,then the rockets attacks,will be declared as legitime defense by lebanese government.

I think "olmert" has commited a political suicide by going to war ,he is actually defending his political future and nothing else.