Above the law

Who is above the law? Now Lebanon has the answer (h/t Bad Vilbel):

Well-informed sources told NOW Lebanon that shortly before midnight on Monday, September 10, Wiam Wahhab’s three-car convoy returning to Lebanon from Syria aroused the suspicions of customs officials at the Lebanese-Syrian border checkpoint.

Observing that one of Wahhab’s cars appeared to be heavily loaded down, almost dragging on the ground, customs officials grew suspicious that the vehicle might be carrying illegal weapons and asked to inspect it.

Wahhab refused, and threatened that his bodyguards would open fire on anyone who tried to approach the vehicle and turn the checkpoint area into a "sea of blood." He also insulted the Lebanese government and Security Services.

Customs officials eventually let the convoy through uninspected. An investigation has since been opened into the incident, examining both Wahhab and why the convoy was permitted to pass without being searched.

Speaking of people who break the law and accuse others of violating the constitution, check out this interview with Fares Said, in which he says that Berri was charged by the Syrian regime to make sure the elections don't take place. Said says March 14 should not agree on a compromise candidate, and should respond to Berri with an initiative of its own, instead of letting him run the show.

Comments

[Bad Vilbel]

I agree with Said on this one. I've said it before, Berri's initiative is not much of a compromise. It smells a lot like "we'll make a gesture token and give up on the unity government that was supposed to last a week anyway, and you guys let us veto a president."

And note the word "veto". That's essentially what "consensus candidate" really means. M14 accepting this consensus candidate initiative is nothing more than a way for Berri and Hezb to keep vetoing any president they don't like, and then claiming that he's not a "consensus candidate". End result: M14 caves in and we get a pro-Syrian president (Suleiman), or M14 doesn't cave in and the opposition keeps vetoing the M14 candidates until November 24th at which point we end up with the transitional government of...*drumroll* Suleiman...again. It's pretty clear to me who the opposition will be pushing: Suleiman.

And M14 is a sucker and a fool if they fall for that trap and accept Suleiman as a "compromise" (because he isn't).

[Bad Vilbel]

Apparently, that Israeli air sortie over Syria the other day was a strike on an Iranian shipment of weapons destined for Hezbollah.
Interesting...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411388088&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[ghassan karam]

BV,
Nabih Beri or rather Mr. X should not be rewarded for his collaboration and consort with a foreign power neither should he be elected by the majority so that he can turn around and paralyze the institution of the Chamber of Deputies. That much we agree upon.
If anyone would care to look into the archives then I am certain that you will find that my call for electing a president that is not associated with March 14 but has strong Lebanese credentials predates the so called Beri offer. I understand your concerns about the Beri deal and I even agree with them but this does not mean that I have changed my mind about the need to elect a president that is a independent politically. Actually I see no contradiction between my position and what you are calling for. March 14 could signal to the "opposition" their willingness and maybe even intent on voting as a bloc to an independent, say Charles Rizk, and they invite the opposition to join them in that regard. March 14 could have its cake and eat it too. Offer to support an independent candidate but do not negotiate with the "opposition", just offer them a fait accompli so to speak and if they refuse it then so be it. March 14 can then proceed to demonstrate the seriousness of its offer by electing that independent in a constitutional way. Electing a divisive figure such as Gemayel or Geagea cannot be beneficial to the country as a whole and thus should be rejected. To show flexibility for the sake of the national interest is not a sign of weakness.

[Bad Vilbel]

I've agreed with you on that one, Ghassan. What I'm trying to point out though is not the issue of an "independent". I do not think Berri's offer is in good faith. I do not think the opposition has any intention of agreeing on a consensus candidate, not even an independent one. I think it's just a ruse to sabotage the elections. It is the exact same demand they made for the "unity government" (replace that word with "consensus") which in truth was a demand for veto power.
Berri is pretty much asking for veto power on the president. That's all this is. If he and his cronies say "no" to Charles Rizk, or anyone else that's not their man, it really doesn't matter if you're candidate is M14 or "independent". I don't think the opposition is gonna settle for anyone short of THEIR guy (even if they make him pass as a "consensus"). And I think that guy is Suleiman. I think what Berri is really saying is this:
"We don't care who you suggest as consensus, we're gonna say no unless it's our man. And if you guys don't give in, we'll go for a transitional government on Nov.24th"

To me, that is no compromise whatsoever. I hope M14 is reading between the lines, like I am. Berri's "initiative" is not really an initiative. It's pure and simple blackmail.

[Vox P]

That's revolting! They should have smashed these cars with a tank!

[Shunkleash]

Just to wade in very briefly,

I recently heard that former minister Ibrahim El-Daher (I think he was minister of Telecommunications or something) under Mikati or Hoss...can't remember. He came on the tele a few nights ago and from his interview he appears to be positioning himself as an independent with no affinity to either side. Don't know about the guy at all but from what I hear he is as clean as a whistle (by lebanese standards of course)?

Any thoughts?

by the by, since lebanese politics and society as a whole is/was/always will be a circus filled with clowns of varying colours and spots the pappy show by wiam wahhab is not a surprise nor a worry. He is after all a piece of shit that will get his due? My worry is with the fact that customs/border agents just sort of say OK ya zaim allah maek...and let him pass. In any other country in the world....including timbuktu threatening an agent of the state with physical violence is an arrestable offence. Yet he gets away with it...!

Im going to wait and see if PM Manyouk has any comment on this other than to form a commission of inquiry to investigate stuff.

So damn draining....

[naja]

Shunkleash, if we're going to elect someone just on the basis that he's positioned himself as independent and is clean as a whistle, then I'm sure we've got plenty of maronite friends who would fit the bill. Hey, for what it's worth, we might add a whole load of wishful thinking bits, as well as the ability to tell a blog from a second-rate piece of wood, for that matter. How representative they would be, with so little time to put their credentials forward, is another matter altogether. These are seriously delicate times to be taking the moral high ground and act as if this is Geneva. The Ghassan position is, in my view, pretty much where M14 should pitch their tent, i.e. go realistic and elect an "electable" - a semi-independent (that would be Rizk's actual tag, GK). After all, regardless of our belief that M8 supporters are misguided and brainwashed, they still represent a sizeable chunk of Lebanon and should not be forced to have a president they would find unacceptable. Otherwise we would not have learned anything from our own experience with Airhead One.

Meanwhile, has anyone noticed that the Iranians have suddenly mentioned Boutros Harb? And that he has now positioned himself in the centre? Considering his personal friendship with Berri, this could be quite telling.

[Bad Vilbel]

In any other country in the world....including timbuktu threatening an agent of the state with physical violence is an arrestable offence. Yet he gets away with it...!

You know, every now and again, I wish the LAPD or NYPD were manning the law in Lebanon....What with their propensity for going a little bit overboard. I'd just love to picture the altercation between Wiam Wahhab and a contigent of LAPD officers (preferably from the Rampart district).

[ghassan karam]

Since we are back to the subject of presidential elections, as if we have ever let go of it, have you noticed the new advertised campaign on Yalibnan.com "Jumblatt for President"?

Shunkleash, normally, outside of politics, I do not get involved in passing judgement on individuals but since you have asked about what others think of Mr. Al- Daher I have no choice but to be judgemental. The bottom line, in my opinion, is that he fails the gravitas factor. (Don't ask me what it takes to pass that test because I cannot define it. This is a matter that is similar to the Supreme Justices' definition of pornography: I know it when I see it :-)). Peace.

[naja]

Ah, Ghassan, you nailed it. "Gravitas" indeed. Many many moons ago, I thought the term fitted the aforementioned Boutros Harb. I guess it's a combination of seriousness, depth of voice and width of girth - which is probably why those who lack it end up being labelled as "a bit of a lightweight".

[naja]

...I should have also included "slight failure in the sense of humour department" and "ability to display an air of gravity when the situation demands it" (i.e most of the time in Lebanon). It's Boutros, I tell ya.

[Shunkleash]

Ghassan/Naja

With respect, i posed the question only for information and not because im prepared to back any Curly Larry or Moe who appears to be untainted. His was a name mentioned and since I am not "there" but "here" I was, as they say, fishing:-)

Anyway, I notice G and N you guys speak of "gravitas", and whereas I too am looking for Ceasar to come and rule the weary and blighted, I think when you are attempting to sift through the politicians in lebanon to find a replacement for Lahoud the Boob the correct word should be "gravol". You see, ALL LEB POLS, EVERY LAST ONE, tend to induce wild fits of nausea that only an overdose of gravol can fix. None or them, including Mr Harb, gives me any feeling that in the end LEBANON will be the winner. With that said why not revisit the question of getting a squeeky clean guy ( a Mr. Arm & Hammer if you please) with no affiliations, to sit in Babda. Do any of us here, or for that matter any other lebanese really believe that "gravitas" makes for a "good" president. PALEEZE! What we need is a guy who can read and write, talk good, look spiffy in a white suit, and not give up the ship to the pirates. Khallas!

As for Berri, and since you guys brought it up I want two cents of rant on his latest "initiative". We all know that his "initiative" is not really his but rather a DICTATE from across the border. So why not dispel with the analysis and just call a "mailbox" a "mailbox". He is a gangster puke with no credibility whatsoever...he is good for one thing and ONE THING ONLY-->a good bitch slapping. I made the point in a previous comment, the Lebanese are a lot of things, they are especially lazy when it comes to politics, but for damn sure they aint stupid. Time is up folks!!! As long as our manyouk PM or SAAAAAAAAAD don't get spooked by the "threats and bullying" and do something stupid the change is comming. All you need do is take note of hizbteezee's latest grand project. You know something is wrong when all of a sudden large amounts of attention are being focused once again on rebuilding the dahiyah which was flattened on the way to our divine victory. It is clear that there is growing internal dissent among the hapless Hizbteezee rank and file especially since all the iranian bling bling has been spent on building a huge arsenal of dildos. HA knows the game is up as regards the "impasse" and they are now trying to shore up their slipping support. Am i wrong?

Ahhh! to RANT is DIVINE!

Ayesh Lubnan

[R]

"Huge arsenal of dildos"... where do you come up with this stuff :)...

[JoseyWales]

Shunk makes good points, in particular about Berri.

Everyone and M14 should stop saying "poor Berri caught between Hezbo and Syria" and "waiting for the statesman to come out", "master negotiator will in the end deliver" etc.

Berri is a non-self respecting piece of shit mailbox who, at best, has no word on anything. In the meantime, not attacking him (and repeating the above) shores up his power when he is out to destroy you.