Jumblatt: civil peace first

Amid strange optimism from Nabih Berri and reported rejection by March 14 of Michel Edde as a lone take-it-or-leave-it consensus candidate, Walid Jumblatt made a statement to As-Safir in which he said he was willing to accept any settlement and any name in the Patriarch's list, including Michel Edde. Jumblatt also said he didn't mind leaving international resolutions until after the election. "We don't want to implement international resolutions on the bodies of Lebanese people," he said, adding that the Lebanese public will not forgive any drop of blood spilled on the streets, and that everyone should strive to "exit this dark tunnel as soon as possible using any settlement that favors civil peace".

I will let you all ponder and debate this one. Jumblatt probably knows that the "opposition" is only half serious about Edde as a candidate, especially with the Aoun-Hizbullah duo refusing to compromise. My guess is that he wants to rob them and the regimes that support them of any excuses to ignite a conflict. But what do I know...

Comments

[JoseyWales]

Yallah,

Congrats Miche Edde? Useless compromise number 1658 in the history of the republic of screw-ups.

A Charles Helou look-alike and another member of the invertebrate class of cephalopods.

Mabrouk ya chaab Lebnan el ta3iss.

[Jeha]

How about this; the assembly will continue to be an electoral assemnbly, even after friday. And it can convene without Berri after that deadline.

Interesting incentives, eh?

[Super Dude]

"And it can convene without Berri after that deadline."

But only after a consensus compromise candidate is agreed upon? Which means a presidential void for an unspecified period of time, and the illegal government assuming presidential responsibilities. Sounds a bit too much for bad-boy Berri to be aiming for no?

I hope we do not get disappointed on Friday, the suspense is killing me. It is almost like a Stephen King novel with no ending.

The funniest headline of all was the meeting scheduled between the FMs of Spain, Italy, and France to discuss Lebanon. 64 years independence my ass!

[Solomon2]

The peep-show continues. If you don't want to be part of the action, sit back and sip your drink until it's over.

[ghassan karam]

It is as if it was not enough to have a substantial portion (less than a majority) of the population answer to the dictates of foreign power , it appears that the few who had put up some meager resistance in an effort to save face and whatever is left of sovereignty are now ready to throw the towel. If Jumblatt, Geagea and the rest of March 14 fail to find the courage and take a stand against appeasement then they will be responsible for ever for the death of a state. HA has to be disarmed not because of an international resolution but because it is the single most important challenge to the idea of the state. The assassins of Rafic Hariri and others need to be brought to justice not as a result of a UN resolution but because justice demands it. Would Lebanese "feudal lords" ever do the right thing? Don't hold your breath. If Mr. Edde is elected/appointed to the presidency then this must go down in history as the classic example of how to have a majority and yet lose everything. How clueless can this PM and Saad Hariri be? Maybe I am still in denial but I cannot possibly accept such an outcome that is not even a hollow victory. Someone in Hollywood should make a movie about the "Majority that could not Vote".Maybe a miracle on Najme Square will take place in the next thirty six hours and March 14 will develop a spine and stand for what is right, honorable, just and decent.

Could it be that the Lebanese are one of the few people in the world that cannot find a silver lining in the foreboding events that surround them? Could it be that the Lebanese residents are so "cursed" that they are one of the few groups in the world that has nothing to be thankful for on the eve of Thanksgiving?

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan,

You're singing my kind of tune. This is EXACTLY why I've been calling on M14 to stop appeasing and stop compromising and start growing some balls. This notion of a "consensus" president NEVER made sense for the very reason you just clarified.

March 14 has failed, again and again, that what they thought of as "compromising for the good of Lebanon" was in fact nothing more than giving in to blackmail. With a Michel Edde, you might as well take down Lebanon to a new low (and believe me, this is actually lower than the lowest of the civil war era). M14, France and their allies have pretty much proven to Syria, Iran and the "opposition" that blackmail works. Congratulations. The failed state proves, yet again, why it has failed so completely, at all levels. I'm dead serious now when I say, nay, BEG, the Syrians to annex Lebanon OFFICIALLY. The Lebanese simply do not deserve their own state, its own flag, or its own UN-recognized sovereignty.

[Bad Vilbel]

PS: The Lebanese people are not "cursed". Cursed implies it is out of their control. The Lebanese people are DUMB! Spineless, ignorant, backwards "cephalopods" (to borrow Josey's wording). but they are not cursed.

[Abu Kais]

I'm curious guys, but what do you think makes Michel Edde such a lousy choice, or worse than past presidents and some of the leaders we have on both sides? We're clearly in the dark here.

[Blacksmith Jade]

The easier question is what makes him better?

The suitable reply is, of course, nothing.

If in everything we have done over the past two years we cannot claim progress over Hrawi/Lahoud as President(s)...well...that right there just says it all doesn't it?

[ghassan karam]

AK,
It is not Michelle Edde the person as much as it is the process.(Remember that I do not believe that the Lebanese president has much power to do any harm but once they fail to elect a president then what makes you think that they will stand up for anything). I was one of the first to suggest that March 14 should not elect a strong partisan president, as a sign of good will, but that they could nominate and elect an individual who can build bridges and help to heal the wounds of the past. This process, or compromise if you will, does not imply that the minority should select the nominee on the basis of either the majority accepts our choice or else.Compromise must not be mistaken for appeasement. Civil society has no standing unless it has some inviolable beliefs. One such inviolable is to do the right thing by taking a stand for the idea of liberty, law and justice.

[ghassan karam]

BV,
I imagine that given a choice then no rational person would choose to be "dumb", "ignorant" and "backward" unless one has noi choice since one has been "cursed" :-) Just kidding.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan is correct. It's not Michel Edde the person that's the problem. It's the fact that after our so-called "cedar revolution", we seem to be moving back to the days of Hrawi and Lahoud. The process, as Ghassan, put it, has shown that those who were supposed to move us forward (after the Cedar revolution) do not have what it takes to make it happen. The past 2 years were merely a charade, an illusion of sorts. They shouldn't have bothered getting our hopes up in 2005. We're clearly destined to continue down the same path we were headed back between 1991 and 2005. If the March 14 leadership cannot gather up the nerve to take us forward on this current matter (not to mention the countless mishaps of the past 2 years), then I don't see why they would do any better in the coming months, when the cabinet issue surfaces, let alone more important issues (that are key to moving forward) such as the Hezballah weapons, the armed Palestinian factions, and all sorts of economic and social reforms...

As for yoru following statement: I imagine that given a choice then no rational person would choose to be "dumb", "ignorant" and "backward" unless one has noi choice since one has been "cursed"

I vehemently disagree. There are people out there who ARE given the choice, and who WILLFULLY choose stupidity and ignorance. That is unforgivable. There are folks out there who INSIST on rejecting knowledge, progress or any form of enlightenment. They are not forced to do so. They CHOOSE to do so. Those people are backwards ignorant idiots. I'm sorry. But I have ZERO sympathy for people like that. And the Lebanese people, as a group, exhibit exactly that trait. Given opportunity after opportunity to better their lot, to move on past the dark ages, the feudal loyalties, the closed-mindedness, they INSIST on clinging to their old ways. I don't buy for one instant that whole act of throwing their hands in the air and clamoring about how helpless and cursed they are. "Whatever Allah has in store for us" my ass...You make your own destiny! You choose to wallow in ignorance, and then you want to have me believe it's "God's will" ??? Bull*fekkin*shit. :)

[Vox P.]

Ghassan, the president is more than a symbol since he has the power to unlock the institutions and to end the status quo. This election is important: if after 2 years and half we can't chose a president of our own, than the 'cedar revolution' achieved nothing. Edde is not a bad person, but he will be a weak president trying to please all sides, and he will fail to do so because the gap between March 14th and March 8 is just too wide.

[Amir in Tel Aviv]

Why not Michel Edde ??
From what I read, the man is a former minister of culture in his eighties. Personally, I prefer old leaders.
The young are more dangerous (especially in a country like Lebanon).
So why not president Edde ?
.

[JoseyWales]

So why not president Edde ?

Because he comes from the same mold that produced failures before.

Because he is too eager and was eagerly busy kissing Syrian and Hezbo ass the last 10 years, just to be prez.

Because he would signal a win to Syria and its allies and signal to M8 to keep up the pressure.

Because if you are going to cave, I'd rather cave with Aoun and have him take reponsibility for his actions and crazy rethoric. (Trust me Syria/Hezbo will go berserk). He succeeds, great. He fails, we are done with him. Edde means M14 and Aoun will be repeating the same shit 3 years from now, amidst prolonged paralysis.

Can we live with Edde? Sure we lived 9 years under Lahoud and nothing will be worse than that POS. But Edde means "kicking the can up the road" one more time and a huge waste of the Cedar Rev momentum, though the latter's been dead quite some time now.

[Shunkleash]

From NOW Lebanon:

Wednesday, November 21

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner hoped that a new president will be elected on
Friday, November 23.

Discussions and consultations have not resulted in an agreement over any of the names
figuring on the Bkriki list of presidential candidates, said Kouchner.

However, a surprise is awaiting the Lebanese at the eleventh hour, Kouchner noted after
his meeting with Kataeb head Amin Gemayel.

The presidential elections are an internal matter, said Kouchner. The role of France
is restricted to the regional and international levels in order to help Lebanese elect a
new head of state, he noted.

Kouchner also met with Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tine.

OH GOOODIE ASHTON!!!! I love surprises! Just remember to put a bow on top ok monsieur froggie?!? Oh, and by the way maybe you can include a little cash for us poor decrepit lebanese WHO HAVE NONE to bye some K Y jelly for the comming sequel of "brokeback Mountain" ---> the french directed and produced "Brokeback Mountain 2--Bendover in Beirut".

By the way, well said Superdude and JW!!! I don't feel independent and im sure a-lot of lebanese feel the same way. As far as Michel Edde goes if the man was made of anything he would remove himself as a candidate ONLY BECAUSE he recognises what his annointment as president would mean to the rest of us. To all those who care to listen then, LISTEN UP!!! ANYONE (and this goes for all the candidates both M8 and M14) who can stand in line like a whoring beggar and wait to be APPOINTED as president of a pathetic basket case of a country like Lebanon instead of ELECTED in parliament aint worth shit.

Screw this...

Ayesh Lubnan

[Hassan]

That was priceless Shunkleash

[Super Dude]

Does anyone know the mechanism, or protocol of the presidential elections in parliament and how it takes place?

I imagine there is a list of candidates that is submitted to the MPs by the speaker of the house?

Has anyone ever witnessed a presidential election in the Lebanese parliament?

When I first heard about Michel Eddé being proposed as a candidate, my first thought was, "this guy is still alive?"! My second thought was, "at least they won't have to kill him if he strays".

Amir in Tel-Aviv:
Old leaders? more like pre-historic. Very intriguing last minute addition.

Anyway, that is besides the point. A president should be elected on the basis of a platform, and a personality that suggests he can deliver. The rest is irrelevant.

Lebanon seems to be stuck in an infinite loop from the past. How thick can you be to repeat the same deadly mistakes again and again.
Also this 6-year term should be shortened to 4 years.

(gone fishing)

[Jeha]

I concut with BJ,

Worse than not having a prez is having to endure one that is no different from the rest, especially after all the sacrifices and achievements of the past. Another "Big Ben", which neither advances nor postpones anything will actually make things worse; the world is not waiting for us.

So for me, if those idiots cannot get their act together, the grandees better make arrangements; the next one to get assassinated will have to go bury himself. There will be no one to mourn any one of those cowards, they better hope their assassins will feel charitable enough to give them a decent funeral.

[ANON]

Was it in 1993 or '94 that the same Michel Edde said he will lie in front of the Syrian tanks to prevent them from leaving Lebanon??
Ya haram aleik ya chaab Lebnan el ta3iss.

[ghassan karam]

Super Dude, usually nominations are made from the floor of the Chamber and can be made at the last second.
The miracle to save the country will be if enough MP's will discover their conscience and refuse to vote for whoever the bankrupt "feudal lords" agree on. It is ironic isn't it that today is Independence day and that the Lebanese will never stop boasting of the Democratic system that they have. Shameless.

[JoseyWales]

Super Dude et al,

Michael Young is back with a very sobering piece (DS). Basically the French screwed up again and the tribunal is going nowhere.

Re election, I am not sure you need nominations though these usually occur.

The other "hilarious"/disgusting thing: every MP ends up writing a different formula (Mr Aoun, Istiz Aoun, Aoun Beyk, Prez Aoun etc) so that no 2 ballots are he same.

I.e. the ballot is not secret (unlawful of course). But you know, for the MPs it's like a receipt for later payment (cash or job) and/or a life-saving device (Syria won't kill you this time).

[The Other Tony]

I agree with JW. If the choice was between Michel Edde and Michel Aoun I think I would prefer Michel Aoun. Why? Because appointing Michel Edde will signal a win for thuggery and for murder and for Syria and its Lebanese allies.

I am not hopeful and the ending to this sorry saga was always going to be confrontation or absolute defeat for March 14 - because the Opposition has no incentive to compromise. The Opposition wants it all - the arms, the veto and the branches of power that come with Government.

It is ridiculous. The whole damned thing is ridiculous. The world is negotiating on our behalf and they still have not learned that it is useless negotiating with somebody who will not give an inch. They will assasinate and they will accuse you of the conspiracy in killing your own and siding with Israel yet they are above the law and they promote civil unrest and they are not accountable to anybody.....what the???? who are we negotiating with again????

[jeha]

A choice between edde and aoun is not a choice. edde, khoury, and CO are there because sfeir penciled them in. for all his obvious faults, aoun has far more representativity

[Super Dude]

Thanks G.K., J.W.

"...usually nominations are made from the floor of the Chamber and can be made at the last second".

This issue needs to be addressed. Nominees will have to propose a platform and their vision to the MPs, with enough time before the election. This is not a khodra-bazar where kilo khiar (no offence to khiar) is 250 LBP.