Hizbullah's exercises and stale French croissants

Hizbullah has confirmed that it carried out "nonmilitary" exercises south and north of the Litani, allegedly to prepare for an Israeli attack scenario. According to Hizbullah's second in command Naim Qassem, the exercises were in response to an Israeli drill involving more than 50,000 soldiers.  Al-Hayat quoted a Hizbullah official as saying the exercises were a "deterrent message" to the "Israeli enemy" which has been violating Lebanese airspace without incurring a response from the Lebanese government. 

Qassem's confirmation came after PM Siniora and UNIFIL denied the Hizbullah exercises took place, with Siniora claiming they were likely a "simulation on paper" taking place "indoors". Hizbullah officials say the Lebanese and UNIFIL did not see them because the fighters weren't carrying any weapons. Somehow, the Lebanese military missed thousands of fighters simulating combat, despite eyewitness accounts to the contrary. The Lebanese authorities seem programmed to ignore any showing by Hizbullah, as long as weapons are not visible to the unassuming public.

Al-Akhbar, which first "broke" the story, claimed the exercises were personally led by Nasrallah, and claimed they were "a defensive operation in case of an all-out Israeli war on Lebanon... or an Israeli aggression on Syria".

Hizbullah justified this alleged show of strength by claiming the Lebanese government had not responded to Israeli exercises along the border, leaving them with no choice but to prepare for a possible Israeli attack. Nsrallah reportedly wanted to send a message  "to both friends and foes", that Hizbullah is ready in case of an attack.

At the same time Hizbullah was indirectely boasting of its powers to defend itself and the Assad regime, As-Safir, a pro-syrian publication, was quoting the head of UNIFIL as saying UNIFIL would withdraw in four months if an agreement was not reached on the president, something denied by UNIFIL.

With Hizbullah "prepared" to take on the Israelis, and in place to partition Lebanon, it suddenly appeared as if the plan to get rid of UNIFIL and UNSC 1701 was starting to show promise. This leaves little doubt that with every killing of a March 14 leader, and every blow to the majority or government, Hizbullah becomes stronger and inches closer to winning its existential battle. Failure to elect a president or a two-government scenario work well for the party, which functions best in chaos.

It's also a slap in the face of those who think the Lebanese crisis will end by offering incentives to the Assad regime "5 times", to quote French FM Bernard Kouchner, who has been talking to and sending emissaries to the Assad regime. Instead of tightening the noose, or at least impose financial sanctions by freezing the accounts of the regime's financers and cohorts, the French keep delivering verbal "warnings",  unwittingly empowering the Assad regime, which revels in recognition as a power broker in Lebanon. Instead of recognizing the regime as a terrorist force that needs to be punished (and not just talked to), Sarkozy's people are hoping to transform terrorists into good guys by offering them stale croissants.  It's amazing to this blogger that the French believe their "pressure" on the regime will pay off if they promised them normalization of ties. Unless they offer them amnesty from prosecution in the Hariri case, the Assad regime will not be interested. And who, exactly, told them they could assume Hizbullah is completely controlled by the Assad regime?

No wonder some in March 14 are pondering an election in Beit Eddine. That's if Hariri is kept in the loop, and the fires don't ravage it first.

Comments

[Mark]

It's the point you make about France's constant warnings that really infuriate me, AK. Each time something bad happens, whether it be an assasination, or less, the US and France are always there to say, "We're serious, Syria. You really better watch out. We're not putting up with this anymore." No wonder Syria keeps doing what they're doing. I bet if they get their way with the elections, the US and France will tell Syria that in 2013, they'd better behave.

[LebExile]

so true...
why dosent the international community act instead of giving us empty words...

for example..

next time Syria does a diplomatic blunder, expel the syrian ambassador from both paris and washington...

next time there is an assasination or destabilisation in Lebanon, send a couple of cruise missiles to some military bases in Syria..

next time Syria smuggles weapons into Lebanon, bomb their border checkpoints...

etc...

enough is enough... Syrias behavious is tantamount to having armed robbers guarding the bank vault... expecting them to behave..!!

[LebExile]

and to borrow a phrase from Shungleesh...

Aayesh Lebnan (on life support)

[ghassan karam]

Is there still anyone, after yesterdays fiasco, who doubts that the PM is in reality a co conspirator with HA? He has never been able to take a meaningful stand against HA or even to accuse them of countless attempts to obfuscate and destablize the state. Let me repeat it one more time, Mr. Saniora is the best thing that could have happened to HA. He has consistently facilitated its criminal schemes and shielded its divisive operations.

A policy or stand is best judged by its results and the results of over two years of a Saniora cabinet has been devastating to the Lebanese republic. Whether it was intentional or net, the fact remains that this cabinet has nothing to show for all the time that it has been in office except for one failure after another and for the total disintegration of the Lebanese economy.Lebanon cannot afford the clueless and irresponsible leadership of this cabinet anymore.Unless PM Saniora is replaced by a strong decisive leader soon then there might not be much that is left to save.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan,

There is no such decisive leader coming any time soon. And therefore, your conclusion is correct: There is not much left to save.

[Danny]

The plan has not changed one bit with HA...They'll try to kill off four more before Nov 24th then agree to elect the Prez...Failing that they are betting that March 14 will chicken out on electing a prez with plus 1,as HA has (the excuse the expression)the khtiar Naslrallah Sfeir with them.

They'll(HA) bid their time until the 14 MPS dwindle to minority.!
There's no other option but March to elect their Prez.

[ghassan karam]

BV,
It is unfortunate that so many seem to be willing to settle for a band aid solution when the patient's wound is critical. To show vital signs by being hooked up to machines and in a comma is not the type of life that many will opt for.
I am afraid that the Lebanon that might emerge as a result of the Saniora tenure is not a state that will appeal to those that value, freedom, democracy, sovereignty and above all integrity of the human being. The Lebanon that might emerge will be at best a quasi state and that is a repugnant notion that I will whole heartily reject. (We are not asking for the impossible when we ask for an entity to behave in the manner that it was intended to behave are we? If , say, a telephone company cannot deliver any telephone services to its clients then it is a sham and if a sovereign state cannot act independent and fails to provide the basics of its responsibilities then it is a sham state.)

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan, I agree fully. But I have to point out that when you use words like "emerge" you give the impression that this sad state of affairs is something new, future tense.

Truth, Lebanon has always been a quasi-state. It has never been truely sovereign, independent, or exhibited any of those qualities you describe (abitlity to deliver to its citizens, etc.)

Lebanon is by all accounts a failed-state and has always been so (give or take brief interludes here and there).

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that will not change anytime soon. Medically, the best this patient can hope for is an indefinite coma. So, the debate is really about whether it's preferable to accept the coma, or simply pull the plug. Those are the only 2 options before us, at this juncture. Me? I'm starting to lean towards pulling the plug. This patient simply does not deserve to live, coma or not.

[Shunkleash]

Another good one AK. However, I must say I did have a hearty laugh when I read the folowing

"...with Siniora claiming they were likely a "simulation on paper" taking place "indoors"." I laughed because the only thing I could think of that resembled a "simulation on paper" taking place "indoors" is the government led by this faggot PM.

This was a doozy as well:- "Al-Akhbar, which first "broke" the story, claimed the exercises were personally led by Nasrallah, and claimed they were "a defensive operation in case of an all-out Israeli war on Lebanon... or an Israeli aggression on Syria"."

All I could think of was the last "defensive" operation undertaken by hizbteezee and the results thereof..can anyone say DAH...HI...YAH:-) On a point of order, I think there was a typo in that sentence. It should read "...personally led by Nasrallah VIA VIDEO LINK" Afterall, the man IS a fat, ignorant, cowardly, sleazy, smelly, bearded, HUMONGOUS piece of shit but he doesn't have a death wish. He aint going anywhere near that border...he knows full well those clever little jooooz are just itching to fertilize the valley with him.

It truly is a circus...PT Barnum eat your heart out!

By the way guys I hear musings that Claoun is on the verge of his first act of contrition...could it be true?

Oh yeah and I wanna borrow a phrase from that "Shungleesh" guy too

Ayesh LUbnan:-)

[ghassan karam]

Shunkleash,
I know that when you use the term "faggot" to descriobe Mr. Saniora you mean a British meat ball made with pork :-) but I am afraid that most readers might think that you are denigrating those with a specific sexual orientation unnecessarily.
In all seriousness, I wish that all the contributors will refrain from using obscene and profane words simply because such usage does not add anything to the strength of the point one is trying to convey. If anything the careless usage of profanities acts as a distraction and often dilutes the strength of the issue being presented.
Rest assured that I do recognize the importance of the freedom of expression and I will never sanction infringing on that right. Self restraint in some cases is admirable and even noble.

[ghassan karam]

Al Balad is reporting that a March 14 presidential candidate has sent , through his wife, a gift of gold and diamond worth $27,000.00 to a high ranking security officer of a neighbouring country. Has this story been reported by another venue and does anyone know who is this unprincipled opportunist?

[Shunkleash]

GK

Yes yes, by the use of the derogatory term "faggot" I meant a "british meat ball":-) Either way he is aptly described. In any event i have noted your comments and I will make every effort to ensure that my language is toned down and not allow my frustrtion to get the better of me! Bad shunkleash..bad!

As regards that al balad story if it is true (BIG IF) I would not be surprised and I am sure it would make little difference in the overall scheme of things. By now the people of lebanon have come to terms with the fact that their politicians are dense uneducated riff raff and two bit profiteers and who give new meaning to being unashamed hyprocrites and boot lickers. For our politicians, the words "Loyalty" "integrity" "honesty" and "fidelity" are phrases of art the true meaning and effect of which has long been lost to them. In my most humble opinion they would serve Lebanon in a far more useful way if they were stacked together, twenty at a time, in boxes labeled "crayola" and tucked neatly away in a dusty corner of the attic. Where, it is sincerly hoped, they will happily rot away.

Bunch of "british meat balls" the lot of them!

Ayesh lubnan

[Anananas]

what exactly is meant by the words "aayesh" and "ayesh", as used in the phrases "aayesh lebnan" and "ayesh lubnan"? i think i have an idea, but which specific lebanese/arabic/pheonecian/cananite/semetic/hitite word is being spelled here using english letters?
does it have anything to do with عيش السرايا and if so, does that have anything to do with the croissant analogy used earlier in the article?

[Anananas]

what exactly is meant by the words "aayesh" and "ayesh", as used in the phrases "aayesh lebnan" and "ayesh lubnan"? i think i have an idea, but which specific lebanese/arabic/pheonecian/cananite/semetic/hitite word is being spelled here using english letters?
does it have anything to do with عيش السرايا and if so, does that have anything to do with the croissant analogy used earlier in the article?

[Anananas]

what exactly is meant by the words "aayesh" and "ayesh", as used in the phrases "aayesh lebnan" and "ayesh lubnan"? i think i have an idea, but which specific lebanese/arabic/pheonecian/cananite/semetic/hitite word is being spelled here using english letters?
does it have anything to do with عيش السرايا and if so, does that have anything to do with the croissant analogy used earlier in the article?

[Anananas]

what exactly is meant by the words "aayesh" and "ayesh", as used in the phrases "aayesh lebnan" and "ayesh lubnan"? i think i have an idea, but which specific lebanese/arabic/pheonecian/cananite/semetic/hitite word is being spelled here using english letters?
does it have anything to do with عيش السرايا and if so, does that have anything to do with the croissant analogy used earlier in the article?

[Guess Who!]

in Arabic there is a saying:

el nawaha will redadah.

the blogger and the commentators reminds of this proverb, the same wailing and same answer.

seems that you are always in agreement and reiterating each other point of view.

The silliest site of a blogger i've ever stumbled upon!!!!!!

[Bad Vilbel]

Here's something from this morning's news (Naharnet):

Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun warned that the Hizbullah-led opposition will raid all government institutions, including the Serail, if the ruling coalition elected a President by a simple majority.
Aoun also warned against "confrontation" in the event that the majority March 14 Forces resorted to electing a new head of state by a half-plus-one vote of the MPs or if the status quo continued.

"When a popular action takes place, everything will be raided," Aoun said in an interview with the satellite Al-Jazeera news network.

Aoun accused March 14 of trying to "completely eliminate" the opposition.

"We have given up a lot of our demands. What is left for us is to pack our bags and leave the country," Aoun said.

So there you have it, folks! The opposition will storm the serail and other insitutions if they don't get their way. Blackmail of the highest order. Threats. Intimidation. And somehow, some of the followers of these people still think that the opposition is acting "democratically" and respects the state.
And as usual, in the same breath, Aoun threatens to storm the government and then accuses M14 of trying to eliminate the opposition. Do the FPM followers not see how great of a contradiction this is? Are these people retarded?

And don't even get me started on his claim of giving up a lot of his demands. What has the opposition given up exactly?

So much for the Aoun-Hariri "rapprochment" in Paris, eh? I bet Kouchner is pretty freaking happy right about now.

[Battal Agha]

as long as you insist in cajoling instead of engaging the opposition, you will hardly achieve anything. Hezbteeze is comitted to Iran and Syria. Forget Lebanon. As such HA should be treated as an ennemy with all the consequences that this entails.

[Bad Vilbel]

Battal, go tell that to Saniora, who insists on cajoling these guys while they threaten to overrun the serail and stab him in the back.

[naja]

ok, now I've had enough. sorry guys but I think most of you have lost sight of a. history and b. what you are talking about.

Please bear with me on this late night. First of all, re. BV's "Lebanon is by all accounts a failed-state and has always been so" (and regardless of the "give or take" proviso): It seems to me frankly that you are either too young to know of pre-civil war lebanon, or too lazy (sorry BV, I really don't want to diss you) to learn about it. Fact is, Lebanon was not only a proper state, it was a pretty well oiled one at that. Just take a look at how the 2nd Bureau (intel services) dealt with "visiting" agencies such as the KGB, CIA, MI5 et al (Lebanon was referred to back then by these agencies, quite complimentarily, as a "picnic country" - one that tolerates spies' presence but limits their room of manoeuver). If you respond to this with conspiracy theories, let me then retort with simple, day-to-day, actually implemented laws (pre-1975) such as, hey, the obligation to get your car repaired within ten days if it had any dent in it; stiffly observed traffic regulations; heavy fines if you simply put up your laundry to dry on your main balcony etc - just petty, ordinary stuff but that underlined the observance - Ghassan will, I am sure, agree with this - the Rule of Law.

Bottom line, gentlemen, Lebanon was firmly on its way to being an enlightened democracy, until some asshole signed the Cairo Agreement, also known as the death warrant of the Lebanese state, also known as the precursor to legitimising the "resistance".

As for all the crap about the "firm stand" etc that the government should take, well maybe you guys should just come down from your emigre ivory tower (sorry again, no offense meant, honestly) and see what we in Lebanon have to put up with, namely the fact that the opposition is not some small, nasty minority but a sizeable one which any democracy should take into account. Try to imagine yourself as prime minister; within ten minutes of clarity you will wish that you never made that fantasy trip.

Finally, regarding the endless hand-wringing about corrupt this and the need for "honesty", "loyalty", "integrity" etc ad nauseam; all I can say is: please tell me of one - ONE! - government anywhere in the world (ok, scandinavia excepted - maybe) that would qualify in your Alice in Wonderland utopian thinking. I mean, for God's sake, most of you live in America and you expect politicians to be honestloyalwithintegrity? Give me a break. And while you're at it, get real and propose serious, workable solutions - realpolitik by all means, but not neocon gung-ho shit.

Rant over. Apologies all round. You're usually my escape and my crutch in times like these, but I'm worried you're losing sight of reality.

[ghassan karam]

Naja,
I mean no disrespect by giving you a brief answer to the very legitimate issues that you raise.
Lebanon is at the proverbial fork in the road where one turn could lead to redemption while the other to perdition. I am convinced that the current crop of pols is not capable of making the right choices and so they should not be entrusted with the fate of the state.
Don't make excuses for their pure inability to govern. Any action, in any field can be explained by one rationale or the other but many acts fail to pass mustard because they use a bankrupt rationale. (When I rob another because I do not have enough then my rationale that the world is unfair is not acceptable).
The way I see it Lebanon's problem is systemic and going back to what was is not a solution that is acceptable for me since many of our current problems can be traced to the type of system that we had then.
My solution rests on creating a non sectarian syatem that is essentially secular and the passage of a bill of rights that will guarantee personal freedoms. As always a system is as good as its constituents. Unless the masses rebel and ask for change then changes from above will not work in the long run.
I am afraid that when you describe Lebanon of the 60's as being a modern state then I cannot help but wonder who is the dreamer? :-)
Lebanon was more prosperous but was never democratic , definitely was not just and obviously was not modern. Income distribution has always been too squed, access to education offered to the privileged, social security absent, voting irregularities common and allegiance has always been tribal. That does not paint a very attractive picture.

[fubar]

Quite right, naja.

The problem is that there is no "workable solution" at the moment. Therefore, M14 is doing the only thing it can do which is being as intractable as M8 and hoping for the best while fearing and preparing for the worst.

In very simplistic terms, the problem is intractable because Hezbollah is not compatible with a pro-Western vision of Lebanon. By pro-Western, I do not necessarily mean allied with the West so much as pursuing western values in terms of tolerance and openness to the world. Lebanon cannot survive as a closed Islamic state (no oil). Lebanon, as you alluded to and as I witnessed as a child in pre-civil war years, thrives as a relatively tolerant and open society - a vacation destination and trading destination. Lebanon was a choice destination for not just Arab but European and North American tourists pre-civil war. It was the diversity, the mix of cultures, and the relative tolerance combined with the natural beauty and climate which made Lebanon such a great vacation destination.

The stronger Hezbollah becomes, the more influential it becomes in Lebanon, the more it threatens Lebanon's ability to regain its rightful place in that part of the world as a crossroads of civilizations and cultures. Since the Summer War, Lebanon can no longer turn a blind eye to the reality of the threat that Hezbollah poses to the long term interests and stability of Lebanon. Its pay now or pay later but, one way or the other, Lebanon must deal with Hezbollah if it is to survive.

Anyone who comes up with the "workable solution" that M14 can employ to solve this problem, please, don't hold back.

Ghassan,

The kind of seismic change that you want is not in the cards because the "masses" in Lebanon don't want it. It is precisely because of the diversity of cultures/religions that change can only be achieved incrementally. Small changes working well, leading to trust to try bigger changes, which if they also work well, lead to the necessary trust to try ever bigger changes. I think it is a safe bet to say that this moment in history is not the best of times for trust in Lebanon. Under the circumstances, going back to a safe place from which to begin re-building trust is really the only attractive option. That that option is not good enough for you is really not relevant because you have another life in another part of the world which is your safe place. The Lebanese in Lebanon don't have that safe place. It makes a big difference in how quickly they would be willing to give up their old ways which provide them with the only security they do have. It is very difficult to make people willing to wager everything by wanting what you want when you do not stand in their shoes and risk what they risk.

[ghassan karam]

Fubar,
You and I have been down this road a few times :-) As always there isn't much that separates us. One of the issues that concern me greatly is not to translate my total and overwhelming rejection of the HA ideology as a tacit endorsement of the March 14 cabal. Opposing HA and its allies is an implicit support for its opponents but is not to be misconstrued as a carte blanche for the March 14 pols who have not demonstrated their ability to govern or to guard the inviolable principles of sovereignty.
What concers me the most is not the "defeat" of the HA project since I don't think that it can succeed in the long run. I am afraid that Lebanon will settle for the mediocraty that is currently portrayed by the March 14 leadership. A victory of sorts lead by the likes of Mr. Saniora and Sa'ad Hariri will be a pyrrhic one indeed.

[fubar]

I know, Ghassan. I just worry that you don't quite understand how really bad it can be while you wait for the Hezbollah project to fail "in the long run."

[Bad Vilbel]

Naja,

No offense taken whatsoever. And I see WHY you made the rant you made, and I understand what it is that you are trying to say.

First off, I was alive and kicking back in the 1970s (so I'm no noobie to the situation), and I am quite well educated on the pre-70s Lebanon. You took offense to my hyperbole about Lebanon "never having been" a functional state. I'll give you that it was fairly functional prior to the Cairo agreement but hasn't been since then. Let me point out that I also said "except for brief interludes here and there". If you take our post-independence history, the "disfunctional" Lebanon years far outnumber the "functional" ones you speak of:
- 1943-1958 : Functional
- 1958: Revolt, US intervention, etc.
- 58-69: Somewhat functional
- 69-Present: dysfunctional.

By my count that's 25 or so "functional" years, versus about 40 dysfunctional years.

Secondly, as Ghassan pointed out. During the "peaceful" years, Lebanon might have been stable, and peaceful, but it was far from Democratic (you pointed out yourself the role of the 2nd bureau, for example). So, let's not lose sight of what we're talking about: Democracy (not stability and a form of prosperity).

Having said all that, I do understand what you're saying. Sometimes, a lot of us fly off the handle around here, and make exaggerated statements. And I'm glad there are folks like yourself who give us some perspective, now and again.

But as Ghassan pointed out, your picture of pre-civil war Lebanon is a bit romanticized and rosy. Lebanon was never a modern or democratic state, even when it was stable. It was always prey to regional play, it was always a confessional and backwards system, and it was always a tribal rule (you can call it the rule of law, but I would call it "barely" that).

[naja]

Woke up in a happier mood, and got further cheered up by the comments above. Fair points all round, boys. As for the "dreamer" bit in the early 70s, spot on: not only was I looking at the world through rose-tinted spectacles, they came from the small children's section in Donald Duck Stores in Rawcheh. Which made me hardly the kind of person to make sharp judgements about the state of personal freedoms back then :)

[JoseyWales]

Naja, Gus, BV, Fubar, may I attempt "consensus"?

Naja says: we had our chance. Leb was more advanced than Spain and S. Korea back in the 60's and poised for good things. Yes the Cairo accord happened and the "asshole"'s name was Gen. Emile Bustany.

Yes, before that, security agencies functioned (albeit with many abuses). The 2nd bureau once foiled a KGB attempt to steal a Mirage when Lebanon had an airforce...

Over time, with prosperity, these abuses would have receded, and maybe Gus would have gotten his beloved welfare state (not by itself a necessary cndn for modernity, but I digress).

Bustany was an asshole and a a traitor but did not cat in a vacuum.

He acted in a failed political environment and in the midst of a political culture of Arabism/Revolution/Leftism that is still alive and well today, though the names and definitions have changed to Iranism/Islamism/resistance etc.

1)Today's pols have even less vision than those of the 60's, if that possible, and certainly less power.

2) Today's intellectuals and opinion makers are even more misguided than those of the 60's, if that's possible.

Bottom line when you screw up too many times and hang on to the same lousy ideas, it starts to look extremely bleak.

Naja say there a chance? Let's hope he's right and that even the dimmest dinosaur tried to do the right thing right before the end.

[Shunkleash]

Just to add to my previous comment.

Clearly someone believes that the words "integrity", "loyalty" "honesty" etc. are "things" that apply only to politicians. Sorry, but I was really sure that those characteristics were sort of well good human/good citizen traits. Since citizens are born before politicians you know...blah blah blah.

But then again who am i to argue! How can anyone counter such a forceful argmuent as "please tell me of one - ONE! - government anywhere in the world (ok, scandinavia excepted - maybe) that would qualify in your Alice in Wonderland utopian thinking."

Unfortunatly, and this is just stupid shroom eating rabbit chasing hallucinating me with my underwear hanging from my window sil, we are talking about Lebanon 2007 and I doubt whether what goes on in Amreeka or anywhere else in the world is relevant.

We are here, and I speak subject correction, to get a message across to anyone who will listen. The message is simple; the political system in lebanon needs a massive change from the ground up. Until then the corrupt politicians need to be called to account and the people need to be reminded of their civic duty to challenge WITHIN THE LAW the decisions of corrupt, self serving opportunist politicians. Especially when those decisions increasingly have "life and death" consequences. It may sound tired and worn and maybe even a little haggard but SO WHAT!?! You can "ad nauseum" it all you want but it clearly hasn't reached everyone.

To the other guy guess who wanted to know "which specific lebanese/arabic/pheonecian/cananite/semetic/hitite word is being spelled here using english letters?" It is actually a derivation of the very old and ancient dialect of the "bi teme" people who resided mostly on the plains of Sofa which is now located in downtown beirut.

Thanks and regards to all

ooops...lets not forget...AYESH LUBNAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bad Vilbel]

Josey Wales,

Your "consensus" analysis is spot on. I can't argue with any of that.

I think we're really all on the same page here (naja and myself included). Our wording may vary here and there, and we may occasionally think we disagree with the other based on said wording. But in the spirit of it, I think we all see Lebanon as having shown some promise at times (in the past), and having slowly gotten worse and worse, to the point where it's pretty much a failure in the 21st century.

[naja]

Same page? You bet BV. The way I see it, Abu Kais has managed to bring together some of the most articulate, passionate and often cynical collection of Lebanese bona fide patriots who, instead of draping themselves with the flag, actually argue intelligently for the phoenix to rise from the ashes looking dapper and in good health.

All in all, I cannot but bow to Ghassan's longstanding argument for deferring to the Law - capital L. Nothing else will make the state we all long for. Furthermore, nothing else will give that state the means and reason to thrive - just check good old De Sotto (bet you pray at his altar, Gus. Right?) What I - as a former emigre - and naturalised Brit - who came back home would love to see is this type of intelligent, eloquent community acting (or at least contributing) as part of a pressure group that would never allow 1969 (Cairo agreement) or 1989 (US handing over Leb sovereignty to Syria) happen again. Ever. A pressure group that would also act, over time, as a tool chipping away at the very foundation of the planned Hizbollah state.

[ghassan karam]

Naja,
It is remarkable how few countries have well defined property rights. De Sotto has demonstrated through many of his books and lectures that in most of these cases the best tool to invigorate the process of capital accumulation is simply to provide the poor and disinherited with proper title to their property and that will unleach their productive powers and creativity. Although I make no claims to being a China expert I believe that a lot of the recent Chinese experience validates his views. I must admit that I have always found the views of Hernando Se Sotto to be very compelling since by introducing the rule of law uncertainty is diminished and the ability to borrow against ones holdings is increased. At another level though I find him to be too much of a neoliberal i.e too much of a Thatcherite.

[Super Dude]

If you can read arabic check this out.

Can you imagine such a program being applied to Lebanon. Helvetica Libanus!

"...they came from the small children's section in Donald Duck Stores in Rawcheh"

Good god, is Donaal Daaak still open? What about Popeye's Pizzeria?

Good times...

[fubar]

(JPost) The time has come to take Lebanon out of the Israeli-Arab conflict, Druse leader Walid Jumblatt said in an interview with the panArab satellite television station Al Arabiya, Thursday overnight.

Referring to Hizbullah, Jumblatt condemned the group vehemently, calling it "a division of the [Iranian] Revolutionary Guards," adding that the organization's sole role is keeping the Syrian regime in place and protecting Iran's nuclear plan.

*******

Speaking about Lebanon's projected elections, [David] Welch said: "We are very concerned that in the next few weeks Syria or its supporters will attempt to manipulate the outcome through violence, intimidation or an obstinate refusal to participate in the electoral process. These concerns are not unfounded."

*********

No kidding.