Aoun: Siniora will pay the price

Siniora reassured Aoun and his "remote-controlled" pro-Assad friends yesterday that his government will stay as long as it enjoys the support of parliament, reminding them that Lebanon is a democracy. But Aoun won't have it. In one of his most scathing attacks on Siniora to date, he said the prime minister will "pay the price of his stubbornness (to resign) and this could happen any time…then he won't even have time to gather his belongings because he will find himself forced to leave quickly."

"You have to know that you can no longer rely on outside support as your government is weak in all aspects," Aoun told the daily. "We have warned of the dangers of the government's persistence. Since you didn't feel concerned, we now retain the option of choosing the right time to achieve the desired change." The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement also took a jab at the parliamentary majority, which he said it fears a constitutional vacuum in case the current government resigns. "This fictitious majority cannot rule forever," he said. He also described the government as a "government of destruction and economic collapse." "Those who are responsible for devastation cannot build a country and save the economy," he said.

How will Aoun "achieve the desired change?" Obvisouly not through parliament, but through an Assad-favorite technique: treason charges.

Aoun's mouthpiece Tayyar.org has been circulating rumours that Siniora and March 14 cut a deal with the United States even before the war, implying that they may have given concessions and "guarantees" leading to signing a peace treaty with Israel (this is what prompted Siniora yesterday to say that Lebanon would be the last Arab country to sign such a treaty). The site is also citing reports (no source provided) that some of the ministers in the cabinet were "involved" in Israel's war on Lebanon in order to weaken Hizbullah politically and militarily.

Aoun's instability and lust for power aside, his anti-Siniora campaign is consistent with Assad's accusations of March 14 that they are implementing Israeli objectives, and indeed, Aoun re-launched his attacks right after Assad delivered his infamous "half-men" speech.

Aoun is now the spearhead of the renewed Assad-Hizbullah attempt to topple the Siniora government, with Hizbullah and Assad happily letting him lead the way, given the belief that he represents the majority of Christians in the country, and the new fondness his former enemy Bashar Assad has of the "Free Patriotic Movement" leader.

Speaking to reporters before leaving to attend a donor conference in Stockholm, Siniora yesterday made it clear that Aoun and Hizbullah have lost the right to pick and choose from international demands. Those who got us here, he said, have to live with the consequences of their actions.

Update. Well, Siniora has just raised $940m for Lebanon, bringing the total to $1.2 billion.

Comments

[e]

What I don't undertsand is how Aoun thinks he can govern without international legitimacy. If Lebanon is shunned by Europe, US and Gulf Arabs, what would be left of the Lebanese economy? Is Aoun that stupid or does he have a plan?
e

[Vox P.]

e,

I think he is that stupid

[A disgusted Lebanese]

Why are we even surprised about Aoun's conduct?
His last te7rir war was as suicidal as HA's war.
He refused to consider his prime ministership illegitimate even when no one in the world recognized him. He was always ready to ally or cut deals with anyone who guarantees him power and the presidency and so much more.....

[Ghassan Karam]

Aoun is a sycophant. What is it that this man wouldn't do for the promise of the presidency. He has shifted his position 180 degrees on all issues that matter over the past 13-15 months. He might be shameless but because in his mind the presidency through any means is worth it but shame on all his supporters or more appropriately followers for being unquestioning sheep.

The man sure has become the mouthpiece for HA/Assad. He will be known as the least principled pol. May I suggest that his name becomes a description of duplicitous behaviou as in Don't pull a Aoun on us.

[A disgusted Lebanese]

just a note: did anyone watch Nawwaf el Moswai's latest appearance on TV with May Chidiac. And that was at a point where I thought I could not get more disguted!!!!! I remembered him because he was so appreciative and thankful to Aoun's latest politics.

[raja]

I don't know what to say about Aoun. what i do know is that his followers will follow him to hell if he takes them there (as with the rest of Lebanese and their leaders).

I bet you all that right as I am writing this christian families are sitting in their living rooms trying their best to justify aoun's positions, and probaby remembering how much of a threat the Wahhabis are to Lebanon.

Can I expect more? Should we expect more? That's our Libnen! and we all know it!

[Ali]

Aoun is playing a dangerous game and he is receiving all the support that he needs from HA and Syrian puppets. I don't understand how this man is still popular, actually i was wondering what has happened to all the educated people in Lebanon. Does anyone have any reliable info on Aoun's popularity in Lebanon? Other than Tayyar and Akhbar ect...

[Solomon2]

I'm wondering just what Ali is wondering: I don't understand how Aoun can still be popular! Did he not flee to Europe immediately after vowing that his militia would oppose the Syrian Army to the end? Are Lebanese so blindly loyal to their political leaders?

[Battal Agha]

He also described the government as a "government of destruction and economic collapse." "Those who are responsible for devastation cannot build a country and save the economy,"

Am I dreaming or what? Who is responsible for the devastation? The Government of Mr. Seniora or Hezbollah and their Allies? General Aoun should be ashamed of himself. Have you heard that he added that there are no prisoners in Syrian prisons referring to the soldiers that disappeared on 13 October?? What a moron...

[Lazarus]

Aoun is a megalomaniac, and I think most of the readers on the blog accept that. His recent statements are populist in nature, and were not followed by logical though that allowed the onset of discourse. However, that is not an excuse to exonerate the current members of the government/parliament that had a role in incurring tens of billion of dollars in debt over the past 15 years.

-l.

[Lazarus]

Ali,

I can't presume to know what Aoun's popularity ratings are after the war, but right before, they were quite high. Things may have changed in the past month, but I doubt it. However, it must be noted that education has nothing to do with who you support ...

[ram.z]

According to a recent poll, 77% of Lebanon's christians want Hizblabla to disarm. Granted that polls are to be taken with a grain or two of salt, and I know many Aoun supporters disagree with his marriage nasrallah, but that could mean that Aoun has only coerced 23% of Lebanon's christians into completely blindly joining his cult.

The irony of it all is, had Aoun conceded some near term political ground in last years elections and NOT allied with despicable pro-Syrian worms like el Batrak Sleiman, he could have worked with the government to legally disarm hizblabla and prevent this war from ever happening in the first place.

A man that puts his own aspirations before the interest of his own country is a traitor.

[doha]

exactly, what astonished me was his statement that the government promotes destruction and economic collapse. what!!!! c'mon, we're tired of being treated like retards. i'm sure Aoun's "educated" advisors cringed at his latest speech, or maybe i should ask, where are they, i thought that there were a lot of them or wait, did they just evacuate with the millions who left the country this past month?

shoo mfakkar 7eloo Aoun that people have the energy to go down to the streets to topple a gov't? 7aram, all these politicians should just give a break to the Lebanese people and spare us their tirades.

[hummbumm]

Well of course looking at the FPM forum, I have realized that Saniora aand his policies are the worst possible thing for lebanon. We want a Lebanon free of all foreign intervention!!! you hear that you stinking french and Americans, no foreign intervention, just us and Hizbullah, and the Syrian bath party, but NO foreign intervention, a free and strong lebanon, a non corrupt and clean government with Hizbullah and the Syrian Bath, strong and independent under Aoun, thumbing our nose at those terrible regimes of EU nations and the USA, leading Lebanon to, shoot, where is lebanon going, darn I will have to wait until the General has a vision.
More frustrating are people like Harb voicing concern that the president has been sidelined. WEll of course, since the patriarch and others refused to send Lahoud packing, we are now stuck with a zippo as president. I guess it is too much for sectarian addled minds to realize that it is this particular loser who is sidelined not the office of the presidency, and the "christian" role in government. Lord help me, I get depressed about lebanon and I live in Jersey, my heart goes out to any person my age trying to build a life there. I was just talking to my dad. He has been through 75,82,84,2006 4 times when he was forced to relocate, and with inspirational leaders like Aoun, decrying Saniora as a traitor and in the pocket of foreign powers ( the big bad USA) I probably should expect to see my parents back here soon. By the way is this the same Aoun who campaigned for the Syrian accountability act before congress and lived in exile in France? one would have thought he was in Tehran all those years, or even Damascus. sheesh, sorry for the rant

[bad vilbel]

I give up. Lebanon and its people deserve every bit of hell that's coming to them.

You ask where the sane people are? They've all left that nutjob country. They're all in the US, Europe or Canada, posting on blogs (myself included) and wondering whether the collective IQ of those left in Lebanon approaches that of a rock.

The fact that Aoun still has more than 3 followers in and of itself is a testament to how blind and sheepish the Lebanese populace is.

As for Aoun himself..."Those who are responsible for devastation cannot build a country and save the economy," he says. If I'm not mistaken, he did exactly that (devastate a country) back in 1988. But obviously, that doesn't count.
What a putz.

On days like today, I'd like to line all these jackasses up against a wall and have them executed.

Sorry, but I'm not really in the mood to be subtle or tolerant today :)

[R]

I am going to take this opportunity to restate the obvious. Acknowledging the existance and entrenchment of sectarianism in the Lebanese psyche, and being realistic about the prospects of rapid change, leads to the conclusion that we need to work within the bounds of the possible, while striving to simultaneously expand those bounds.

Aoun's popularity is not due to his charisma, or his political positions or anything like that. Like any leader he has a hard core of supporters who have (and will) follow him anywhere. On the other hand, the majority of the christians who support him are looking for "a strong Christian". Being the twisted thing that the Lebanese mind is, this means that they are going to look for someone who will adress the issues of "christian strength" and oppose the leaders of other sects.

This is what highlights the need for a "sane" christian leader who can appeal to the christian electorate, chipping away at Aoun's popularity without being megalomaniac ass.

[John]

Living in South Florida, I left Lebanon in 2001 after 9/11 I was the biggest supporter to Aoun back then, I have too many Lebanese Friends here in the states they all support Aoun.

My Friends and I are very confused of the flip flopping Aoun political strategy.
Aoun completely changed. This presidency chair changes everyone who try to come near it, good thing we saw the real Aoun before becoming a president be sure no one sane (lebanese citizen abroad, or in Lebanon) will vote for your presidency.

I am very ashamed to say, I used to support him

[John]

Living in South Florida, I left Lebanon in 2001 after 9/11 I was the biggest supporter to Aoun back then, I have too many Lebanese Friends here in the states they all support Aoun.

My Friends and I are very confused of the flip flopping Aoun political strategy.
Aoun completely changed. This presidency chair changes everyone who try to come near it, good thing we saw the real Aoun before becoming a president be sure no one sane (lebanese citizen abroad, or in Lebanon) will vote for your presidency.

I am very ashamed to say, I used to support him

[John]

Living in South Florida, I left Lebanon in 2001 after 9/11 I was the biggest supporter to Aoun back then, I have too many Lebanese Friends here in the states they all support Aoun.

My Friends and I are very confused of the flip flopping Aoun political strategy.
Aoun completely changed. This presidency chair changes everyone who try to come near it, good thing we saw the real Aoun before becoming a president be sure no one sane (lebanese citizen abroad, or in Lebanon) will vote for your presidency.

I am very ashamed to say, I used to support him

This "consensus" thing drives nations nuts! You guys can't switch leaders because anyone without a gun or lots of people behind himm lacks the "consensus" to challenge the establishment. Look what it did to the Japanese, we had to kill a million of them and nuke their cities before they would change their minds. Give me good old-fashioned democracy any day rather than this "consensus" stuff.

[someone]

Aoun read the political map carefuly after the war.He found that Nasrallah declared victory but cant translate it into political results because he is acused of bringing destruction to the country by his unpredicted emprisonment of the two soldiers the 12 of July.Aoun will do the job for Nasrallah ,using his power and the majority in the parliament ,he will try to change Siniora´s government.

The losers (maybe 14 march forces) are acused of trying to sign a peace treaty with "israel" and thus they are not allowed to stay in the government after the war,this is the new conditions for the new government.Nasrallah just waiting Aoun to finish his job,will maybe get the majority or at least a strong position in the new government.

[bad vilbel]

Like I said before: Concensus, ruling by making everyone happy, is a recipe for disaster. You can't make everyone happy by definition. And trying to do so will always result in paralysis and inability to do anything constructive.

Time to hand over the country to a majority, and let them run with it, until their term expires, or they are no longer the majority. It's really very simple.

[Ghassan Karam]

It is clear to many that Aoun is unprincipled, a sycophant, a megalomaniac, a moron or whatever else you care to call him. (I have over the months called him all of that and even more). Yet fairness, logic and consistency dictate that part of his recent tirade is right on the money. Lazarus made a reference to the perfectly legitimate statement that those that create a problem are the least qualified to resolve it. Aoun is driven only by self interest and will sell, he has already sold, his soul for thiry of silver. But his complaint regarding the economic debacle must be taken seriously.

I don't want to replay at the moment the argument that Lebanon cannot be saved and will not see any meaningful progress without experiencing a real paradigm shift, a revolution if you will, that will replace all the tired faces and traditional leaders that have brought on the country its political and economic hard times.

As any of the regular readers of these blogs know I have been an opponent of any understanding with HA, Damascus and Aoun. I have not changed my mind. But I am suggesting that the current leadership is obviously preferable to the alternative but I cannot see for the life of me how is it that this current group is going to deliver us from either our political or economic woes when they have thus far failed to even take a stand about resolving any of the issues. It is true that the political problems were inherited but over more than year they have failed to advance any solution and thus have contributed to the war. In the economic sphere their culpability is much greater because what is partly to blame for Lebanons precarious economic standing is the combination of misguided economic policies that they have advocated over the years and the lack of determination to deal over the past year with a single economic issue.

Aoun is a weasel and a skunk , Nasrallah is a megalomaniac but the failures of these two should not imply disspensation for the current crop of leaders either. The Siniora group is by far the lesser of the two evils but that should not translate into a free ride.

[bad vilbel]

Ghassan. As usual, I agree. I specially like your talk of paradigm shift and "revolution". That is exactly what Lebanon needs.

[e]

I have a suggestion. Why not let Aoun and HA run Lebanon? Then for sure there will be economic collapse and another war and the Lebanese can do what they like best which is rebuilding, but this time really from scratch and without Aoun and HA? Looks like a win win to me.

irony - definition: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other's false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning -- called also Socratic irony

e

[hummbumm]

Ghassan, blaming saniora and co for the deficit etc is fair to a point. however just imagine what growth would have been if there had been no Hizbullah since 1992 or syrian occupation. We would have been able to absorb the deficit. the roads had to be built etc.. after the civil war, so the question is for how much, let us say Mr clean could have done it for half the price, we still would have had a large deficit and we still would be facing very hard times after this latest actions. Of course Aoun will blame saniora for running up a deficit in 2006 and beyond. 2005 economic growth was clobbered by Hariri assasination, 2006 by Hizbullah, no economic policy can change lead into gold. Blaming saniora is cheap theatrics when you are allied to a group who in a month did more damage to the leb economy then saniora ever could do. Furthermore what the heck is his plan? nothing different just that he will not be corrupt or something like that.
I blame the current group for wavering, but obviously their task is made a tad more difficult with assasinations, armed fanatics and a supposed "loyal opposition" who is threatening civil unrest and calling them traitors. It does somehow reduce one's manoeuvering space. And then we have the neighbors.

[charlie]

Aoun…Aoun…What a character!!!! If it wasn’t that people’s lifes and the country at large are at stake here, this would have made a great comedy, it may even win an award or two.

So he is accusing the majority of causing destruction..hmmmm… Yes of course, didn’t you guys get the memo with Siniora asking Geaga and Jumblat to go grab some Israeli soldiers for a bogus prisoner swap. Did you all miss how Nasrallah and his buddy Aoun were asking the government to restrain itself and not go on declaring a war they can not win!!!!

Aoun is either stoned or just plain old stupid!! Or perhaps it is the light oxygen air up in Rabiet…who knows!!!

This man needs to see a doctor soon, modern medicine can do wonders to the mentally impaired these day….:-)

[another someone]

There is a big vacuum of leadership. No one candidate for any position can be seen on the horizon if, say, for the next 5 years they want to completely change the scene.

Besides, all, and I do mean all, the Lebanese are smart and natural born leaders, so how can you make just one run the show for all? No wonder they keep fighting :P

They have a lot to learn about democracy, coming from the sectarian school of my neighborhood above my country.

[fubar]

e,

If only there was some way we could slip you into Lebanon as counselor for Siniora. lol

BTW/ #4 has recently taken up such a position Anbar Province.

[ram.z]

How can me make Aoun useful and relevant? Here's my recipe

Herbed Roast Aoun and Potatoes

* 1 whole Michel Aoun, about 70 to 90 kilos
* 2 cups garlic powder
* 1 cup onion powder
* 1 cup dried thyme
* 200 medium potatoes
* 2 cups olive oil
* 1/2 cup thyme
* 1 cup fresh chives
* 1/2 cup garlic powder
* salt and pepper, to taste

Rub Michel Aoun with garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, then sprinkle with salt and pepper; place Aoun in a shallow roasting pan. Roast at 325° for 50 to 55 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel and quarter potatoes; cook in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Drain, let cool, and place potatoes in a large bowl; toss with olive oil, dried thyme, chives, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Place potatoes around Aoun; roast an additional 45 to 60 minutes, or until Aoun registers at least 155° on a thermometer.

Cover roast Aoun with foil and let stand for about 15 minutes before slicing.
Serves 180 to 200.

[another someone]

now who the hell is going to eat that?

[e]

Fubar,
#4 sure has a tough job. Please send him my support and appreciation.

Ram.z,
Great recipe. I would like to try it out but am having problem getting my hand on one ingredient. Is there a Lebanese website that sells it online? Would the recipe work with any bearded replacements from the same geographic area?

e

[bad vilbel]

e,

Any bearded replacement will do.
But beware, said meat is tough, slimey and tastes rotten.

[R]

plus you might get lost of hair in your food

[Pacta]

If it were not for the compliments and other niceties Hezbollah is lavishing on him, as well as on other brilliant luminaries as Talal Arslan and Sleiman Frangieh, where would Aoun be standing now? He should also worry that in the final analysis, when HA takes over power as he seems to envision, he won't be the guy to fill in Lahoud's swimming trunks at the presidential palace

[Solomon2]

Aoun is unprincipled, a sycophant, a megalomaniac, a moron or whatever else you care to call him.

You want to know something that may surprise you? I'd rather have Nasrallah in my house than Aoun. Because Aoun pretends to be good. Nasrallah, however, knows he's a bad person. In trying times I'd rather deal with the man who knows he's bad than trust the one who pretends to be good. At least that way I'll know what to expect when his luck changes.

[fubar]

A Sit In! - Now we'll divide the men from the boys. lol.

(Naharet) Parliament speaker Nabih Berri called Thursday for MPs to hold a sit-in in parliament starting on Saturday until Israel lifts its seven-week-old air and sea blockade of the country.
"From Saturday, I invite the 128 deputies from all sides, and myself, to take part in an open-ended sit-in at the parliament building (in Beirut) until the lifting of the blockade, however long that takes," Berri said.

He launched the call before a crowd of more than 100,000 people in the southern port town of Tyre gathered to mark the 28th anniversary of the disappearance of Mussa Sadr, the founder of Berri's Shiite movement Amal.

[Solomon2]

Wonderful! As lifting the blockade is NOT one of the conditions of UNSC 1701, but the UNCONDITIONAL release of Israeli soldiers is, and Israel has no reason to lift the blockade until its soldiers are returned, how can a sit-in "until the lifting of the blockade" be anything other than a means to pressure Hezbollah into releasing its prisoners?

[Ghassan Karam]

Solomon2
Beri et al do not see it your way. I do recognize that you are being rational and logical but as you might have already discovered about us , we are neither logical nor rational otherwise our problems and challenges would have been so different than what they are:-)
There are a few anecdotes that I have told before that might be worth repeating , only in general terms, . Many a time I responded to various posts on different blogs during the 4 weeks of war whereby I challenged and disagreed with the position of the original blog owner. You will be surprised, maybe not, to learn that I was told mant a time that I was right but that this is not the time either for logic or for reason. This was the time for pure emotion and knee jerk reactions even though the positions they advocate are silly and illogical.

[bad vilbel]

Solomon,

Berri is being a dumbass. (I don't know how else to phrase it).

Ghassan is right. If there's one problem that's endemic to the arab psyche, it's this putting emotions and pride ahead of reason. I'm still waiting for SOMEONE, anyone, to emerge on the Lebanese political scene, that's sensible and not afraid to tackle the hard issues, instead of going for the much easier dog and pony show we keep getting time and again.

[fubar]

Solomon2 - I don't think so.

According to the Daily Star, Berri set forth four ways to fight what he called "Israeli arrogance" and Israel's siege on Lebanon and the "continuous Israeli breaches of Lebanon's sovereignty and of Resolution 1701."

1) Berri called on Lebanon's 128 MPs to hold a sit-in at Parliament "as of Saturday until Israel lifts its [almost 50-day] air, sea and land blockade of the country."

2) Berri called on all Arab countries "if not to completely cut off diplomatic relations with Israel, then to at least withdraw their diplomatic representatives and to stop all commercial trade with it ... Would you leave a country [Lebanon] that is part of you and for you?"

3) The Lebanese government must fight back "and activate Lebanon's Middle East Airlines" directly from Beirut's airport.

4) And Berri asked "other friendly countries to send their flights and maritime trips to Lebanon to defy the siege."

*******

Any takers???????

[fubar]

BTW, the Roman Legion has sailed into Lebanon.

[someone]

fubar,

Are you with or against the siege ?

I think the siege is a hidden message saying " we have not lost the war,we still control your air and water "

[fubar]

someone --

I am with the blockade to limit Hezbollah's ability to re-arm.

And I don't think there is anything hidden about it.

[Solomon2]

Ghassan, et al: Thank you for the correction.

[Kurt]

I hope Aoun got a return ticket when he decided to come to Lebanon... First Class akeed!

[Jeha]

Aoun reminds me of a sad truth;

In Lebanon, "politics, being mixed with an irrational strain, this tenuous equilibrium may one day be utterly upset" (Zeltzer, M, 1962; "Aspects of Near East Society", Bookman Associates, NY).

Back then, when Israeli scientist would ask their Lebanese counterparts whether they knew how bad their country was doing, noone had a clue...

[raya]

it took u 15 years to understand Aoun (about getting syria out of lebanon). i dont wonder why u dont understand him right now, nchallah bass it doesnt took u too much time like before.

[ram.z]

raya, nchallah u can explain to us what the hell there is to understand. the same man who was so dedicated to getting Syria out is now committed to keeping them in. What genius!