Jumblatt frolics with Satan

Following in father-killer Saad Hariri's footsteps, Walid Jumblatt unashamedly shook hands with the sons of the Great Satan today, proving that March 14 is but a conduit for a diabolical conspiracy to tickle peace-loving militias and terrorism-dabbling dictators. Thank God Michel Aoun took up Syrian bootlicking before the spirit of March 14 got possessed by the devil.

Many assassinations later, surviving members of the wicked March 14 movement appear incorrigible. They insist on the right to freely pick their negotiators with the deputies of God's deputies. Freedom is abominable. God's turbaned deputies reserve the right to pick presidents and negotiators on both sides of the Lebanese hell. 

Comments

[ghassan Karam]

In some respect the current trend in Israeli domestic politics is just as troubling as the probability of a political vaccum in Lebanon. Actually, the events in Lebanon are bound to be shaped by the developments in Israel. Will the Middle East be able to cope and survive the alliance between "Bibi" Natanyahou and that of the Russian-Israeli billionaire of the extreme right Mr. Acadi Gaydamak. If the above alliance is to succeed then that will spell the end of the current Palestinian Israeli deal, a possible war with Syria, a preemptive strike on Iran and a bloody confrontation with HA.

[Danny]

Ghassan,

I do not believe that Bibi will wage a war on Syria. For Israelis, Syria still is the lesser of all Evils. Actually a free functioning Lebanese government(we'll never have a free Lebanon until HA is "Sein Fein"ed) is seen as a liability.If there were to be a war agianst Lebanon, I think it will the end of HA as they have not made any friends...
Unfortunately a war is more desirable than slavery! I think Iran and Syria's backs could be broken and HA destroyed if the will exists. I think Lebanese Shiite are held hostage to a vicious circle of HA propagated hate culture. If the chains are broken and "peace" made among Lebanese HA "raison d'etre" would have been destroyed.
November 25th is the day we'll see if this game of chicken will produce anything...

...then that will spell the end of the current Palestinian Israeli deal, a possible war with Syria, a preemptive strike on Iran and a bloody confrontation with HA.

OK Gus, what would the downside be? ;)

[Bad Vilbel]

Not to go too far off subject, but get this doozey:

Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss launched his own initiative on Wednesday to resolve the ongoing presidential crisis by electing a president from four agreed-upon candidates through a ballot box. In a news conference on Wednesday, Hoss called on Speaker Nabih Berri to set up a ballot box in Ain al-Tineh where the MPs can vote on four "neutral" candidates for the presidential seat.

Hoss's initiative calls upon Berri, parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir to agree on four candidates who belong "neither to the loyalists nor the opposition." Then the 128 MPs would vote cast votes for one of the four candidates at the unofficial ballot box before heading back to Parliament.

I've never liked Selim El Hoss, but this is a new low! Can someone explain to this senile old turd that the very point of having a PARLIAMENT in Nejmeh Square is so the MPs can go THERE and cast their ballots? Why on earth would they want to do an "unofficial ballot" in Ain El Teeneh first? WTF?
And Hoss is supposed to be an educated man with a Doctorate? Might wanna go look up the word "Parliamentary Republic" there, Selim...

[Bad Vilbel]

Someone needs to fix their italics tag!

[Jay]

Even if Hoss's idea of an unofficial ballot is stupid as hell, the plan will fail because agreeing on four neutral candidates is just as impossible as agreeing on a single candidate. Berri will insist that all four are Syrian tools.

[Jay]

Does this fix the italics? If not I'm leaving it to experts.

[JoseyWales]

And Hoss is supposed to be an educated man with a Doctorate?

Yes BV, but he's still an educated gutless idiot with a Ph.D. Many of those around.

PS Sorry about the italics guys, that was me up there.

[ghassan karam]

Josey,
I was counting on the readers to make up their mind on whether the Bibi Gaydamak alliance would have either negative /positive implications:-)
Seriously though, I am surprised that the Arab press has not considered the implications of a major move to the right in Israel. I understand that Arcadi Gaydamak is riding a wave of popularity that will play a major role in lifting Mr. Natanyaho to victory.(I have even seen reports that suggest that he will be most probably voted as the Israeli Man of the year) Where are you Amir or Solomon2 when we need you :-)

[e]

Ghassan,

Let me help you. There will be a major move to the right in Israel. Bibi (the Likud party) and Lieberman will receive more votes. It is hard to say what the implications will be if at all. Labor and Likud were both historically likely to go to war and it was actually Likud under Begin that made peace and returned Sinai. Lieberman for example is for a Palestinian country provided it swaps territory with Israel. If anyone can reach an agreement with the settlers it is Bibi. He will have the backing of the left and therefore can more easily do it than the Labor party which would be attacked by the right.

As for Lebanon, it does not matter who will be in power. The first HA aggression will result in a major war. Enough is enough. But no Israeli government will initiate a war unless attacked first. It is not something the public in Israel will support. So I wouldn't worry. I don't think HA will do anything in the near future.

[Super Dude]

...agree on four candidates who belong "neither to the loyalists nor the opposition."

Ok, so if the candidates are neither for Syrian hegemony nor a free independent Lebanon, what are they supposed to be? Antarctic Penguins for democracy?

[Bad Vilbel]

It should not matter who wins in Israel, right or left. We need to get our own house in order. And as long as HA doesn't provoke the Israelis, I don't see Bibi or anyone else starting any wars with Lebanon or Syria for that matter.

[Blacksmith Jade]

Wonderfully written.

A comment from one "zionist collaborator" to another ;)

Disclaimer: the writer of this comment considers neither himself nor the person to which the comment was addressed a "zionist collaborator". The writer is simply employing a form of comedy which ultimately seeks to poke fun of the labeling - by media outlets aligned with the group "Hizballah" and the broader pro-Syrian movement - of all those who disagree with the actions of said group as being "zionist collaborators". All this while the group "Hizballah" actively engages in open negotiations with the "zionist entity" known as Israel and/or openly supports a regime which itself engages in talks (both secret and public) with said entity - all joking aside.

[Hazbani]

Perhaps some thinking by an Israeli may be of interest, e is basically corrct. Israel is not looking for any more war, what is going on is enough. Bibi and Gaydamak are drawing from the same voters pool, so the popularity of both or either is not going to get votes, if Gaydamak runs. I do not see them cooperating, but then they are politicians. The Palestinian situation is not going to get better. Hamas is taking Gaza over and is establishing another small Persian base on the Mediterranean, as in Lebanon. As for Syria, it is not the lesser evil. It is as good as can be. There are only two countries in the ME that the IDF can fly over one is Syria, if and when Syria will move west [politically] there will be only one. Many Israelies think that now it is the time to do business with Syria. Some [ not me] will be more than happy to pay with Lebanese money. Having Syrian Army on the Israeli border from Jordan to the sea is much much better than the UN the Palestinians or the Hizb. This situation is another great contribution of the Hizb. to Lebanon. But this is against the wishes of the USA and France, talk about the real friends of Lebanon. Also Iran will do its best against talks between Israel and Syria and here the Hizb. comes handy. So while nobody reay wants war one rocket from Gaza [there are about 4 a day] that will hit a school can start an avalanche of unknown proportions, so here we all are.