Lebanese stars

Nejmeh (Star), the football club with the largest fan base in the country, lost two of its players in the terrorist bombing that killed MP Walid Eido, his son and eight others. The car bomb exploded on the street adjacent to the Nejmeh stadium. It was a Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero in the US).

Hussein Naim, born September 11, 1987, joined Nejmeh's youth team in 2001.

Hussein Dokmak, born December 13, 1981, became a Nejmeh player in 1997.

Dokmak played defense and was much reviled by Ansar fans, who called him "the animal of the field". His rough play often got him into trouble. He will miss the Asian Confederation Cup quarter finals on September 18th.

For those of you who don't know, many of the Nejmeh players are Shia. Nejmeh is considered a "Shia" club, even after Baha' eddine Hariri, Rafik Hariri's son, joined its board of directors. Dokmak, who lost his life today in part because his "Shia representatives" put the country's fate in the hands of a bloodthirsty dictator, even took part in the opposition's sit-in back when Nasrallah sang his divine victory song.

Today we mourn the judge, Walid Eido, and his son the lawyer, Khaled. We mourn the policemen who lost their lives fulfilling their duties. We mourn two of our youth, who played sports and hoped for a future of hard work and reward. We mourn the innocents who went about their lives as normally as they could, but ended up slabs of human flesh on a concrete floor.

I wish them peace in death.

And as one Nejmeh fan put it, as long as there is a star left in the sky, there will always be Nejmeh fans on earth.

Well, what do you know, Lebanon's sky is full of stars tonight.

Comments

[Amos]

Another tragedy.

There is an interesting film about Nejmeh, "Beyrouth, des balles et des ballons," made in 1992. It's about the club's trials during the civil war years. There are interviews with different players, some of whom fought each other during the day, in battles between Amal and Hizbullah. The director is Frédéric Laffont.

[ghassan karam]

May these stars shine forever so that we may avoid the pitfalls that accompany "darkness at noon".

[ibn kais]

yet, another sad twist to this tragedy. Bomb Bashar and his thugs now. They are sub-human, sub-animals. Animals don't plot to kill you, oppress you, torture you, and blow you up and your mother. Time to act is now, enough is enough.

[brunoj]

ghassan, not picking on you:
"i would much rather have principles and no country rather than a country and no principles."
But, on the face of all current (and past) events your thought made me recall this phrase:
"The most important thing an english gentleman learns is exactly when NOT to act as a gentleman"
Anyway, it's a moral qustion, and as such, isn't an easy one.
ps- not really picking on you - relax.
But the syrian "master thug" surely could feel a little heat...

[kheireddine El-Ahdab]

Shame on Nabih Berri! He paralyzed the parliament, waiting to meet the quorum when the March 14 movement will become a minority after the assassinations perpetrated by Bashar. Berri has no dignity, what can we expect from a gang leader?

[Jeha]

May they rest in peace. And may their deaths be avenged.

I do not mean to sound like a bloodthirsty warmonger, but the time of "nice guys" is way past. It is time reason prevailed, or we will keep on loosing stars; the heavens have enough points of light, we need those stars here on earth, with us, to help rebuild Lebanon.

[ali bm]

Abu Kais, that was a shameful insult to the dead that was completely unwarranted. did anyone point to the fact that Eido was still defending syria's regime as late as 2002? no, because death wipes the slate clean. i would like to argue about what the Shia representatives did or didn't do, but been there and done that.
so allah yerham kil il shuhahda.

[JoseyWales]

Ali,

I did nor see any insult in the piece.

Unless I missed it, I take the point to be that, to Bashar, we are all expendable: those for, those against, those who were for at some point, and those not involved and trying to go about their business.

Condolences to the families, the club, and the nation.

[Umm Kais]

Ali BM--

Walid Eido may not have been a wonderful man but I find this "they supported Syria" argument lame, particularly after living under Syrian occupation. He didn't deserve to be blown up for contradictory poltical beliefs, as you seem to imply by bringing up his past as a "Syria supporter". The man is dead, as his his son and countless others. Do YOU think that solved any problems?

Also, if you think Abu Kais was insulting the dead, then obviously you are unable to interpret anyting he writes and do not need to return here with accusatory comments like yours. Grow up.

[ali bm]

what was the statement about the two Nijmeh players participating in nasrallah's rallies and their support of representatives who helped kill them then? a veiled tribute?
and if u think that i implied that eido deserved to be killed then u r not interpreting my words. i said that the slate is wiped clean by their martyrdom.
i was merely pointing to a well known fact...

[Rafic]

Hello everyone,
I always read this blog but this is the first time I post a comment in it.

Dear Ali bm,

The statement regarding the Nijmeh players was merely to point out that the murderous, homicidal, and vicious bombers/killers that executed/are behind the explosion do not differentiate between anyone, let alone their own!
Rather you believe that it is "shameful" to mention that point. Unless of course you hold an inexperienced and immature conviction similar to the Syrian daily "Teshreen"'s, that 14 March killed Eido and sacrificed one of their own to "internationalize" Lebanon.
Logical arguments are not your strong points I'm afraid. Shameful ones are.

God bless our dead.

[Umm Kais]

Ali BM--Josey and Rafic explained it just fine. Funny you don't understand that. All Lebanese are expendable and you should have a problem with that. Abu Kais does.

[ghassan karam]

I have just heard from a usually reliable source that the Naher El Bared operation is just about over. The armed forces are using missiles , have captured the mosque. demolished a major FAI building and raised a Lebanese flag over the camp. If that proves to be true then it is welcome news. Let us hope that if Jibreel starts something that the army will respond swiftly and with force.