The Belgian fudge

Time for some good, old-fashioned cynicism tonight. According to Assafir newspaper, Serge Brammertz will today “name names” in his final report into the Hariri assassination. Four names, no less. Well, thank you, sir. How gracious of you. Almost three years after the event, and one “technical” report after another unbelievably, mind-numbingly, boring technical report, the poor old taxpayer gets “four names”. Could it be the names that were revealed, oh, some two years ago? Well pardon me for not passing out with gratitude, but I think we are entitled to more than that.

Now, I might be proven hugely wrong later today when the report gets published but, from the onset, the Brammertz investigation always looked like an exercise in hedging bets and managing time and expectations. Turning the heat down, if you will. There seemed to be every need for that: Brammertz’s predecessor, the high-livin’, champagne-sippin’, from-the-hip-shootin’ Detlev Mehlis had, after all, practically spilled the entire contents of the beanbag and the coffee pot’s in what will probably go down in history as the only UN report that should get a parental advice rating.

To this observer, the Mehlis drama had looked every inch like an episode of Columbo before the last advertising break. We knew who did it, Columbo knew who did it and all that remained was for the culprit to be told that he did it. We just had a few ads to negotiate and the whole thing would unfold before us, leaving us replete and ready for bed. Sadly, CSI and politics don’t mix well. In my opinion, Mehlis’ investigation, progressing at a rate of knots, was preventing all concerned parties to - what’s the word - “leverage”. Enter Brammertz, and within a couple of months, the investigation had all the suspense of flossing: a few bits extracted, and not very tasty ones at that. Worse still, everything pointed to yet another crushingly dull write up. And then we suddenly get this.

The image of a thermostat just flashed in my mind. I wonder why.

Comments

[Ramzi S]

Better late than never I guess. Give us the names! Larry, Curly and Moe?? Maybe it will get some needed excitement in Annapolis.

[danny]

Alsafir....here's once prominent newspaper that has turned into a rag! I think National Inquirer has more plausible and reliable reporting! We'll wait and see what's in Brammertz revelations...You are right the fluffy crap he put out was more for buying time. I think they had all the evidence they needed from day one! Mehlis was right. Here come the black turbans' blowhorns attacking the report if suspects are named! I can feel the hot air approaching...One, two, three...Wahab, Aslan, hassan...

[JoseyWales]

Fudge the Belgian (until we see the report).

Could the four names be the 4 jailed generals? That'll be a shocker.

[JoseyWales]

I heard that only the initials of 4 guys will be released today.

The full names will only come in December 2010, when Brammertz' successor will be departing.

It is hoped that the release of the names won't clash, then, with Berri 377th attempt to get the chamber to vote on the new Leb prez.

[Shunkleash]

Ramzi-If you're looking for the fourth stooge its "Shep". Helluva team them stooges! I wonder if Serge forgot the name of the fourth stooge...hmmm?

Josey Wales-LOL!!

PEACE!

Ayesh Lubnan

[Dania]

Chibli Mallat was opposed to Bremmertz and his ways and he turned out to be 100% right. Bremmertz is a wimp.

[marillionlb]

Could those four names be : Ghawwar, Fattoumti, Abou sayyah and Husni al burazan?

[Super Dude]

My god, marillionlb, you just re-kindled memories I thought I had long forgotten.

Sully for president anyone? I wrote a small blurb about it.

[Bad Vilbel]

So, guys. I don't know if you checked your news feeds this morning, but apparently, March 14 is for amending the constitution (one-time only!) to make Michel Suleiman president. Talk about a shocker this morning.

I'm not entirely sure what on earth is going on here. Suleiman seemed to be Syria's candidate all along, despite the various misdirections and heat-balloons they threw out there (Edde, Aoun, etc.) What happened here? Did March 14 somehow get swindled into buying a Suleiman presidency.

And more importantly, from a "principle" standpoint: Yet another one-time only amendement??? Why do these bozos even bother with cedar revolutions and constitutions? This is essentially no different than Hrawi, Lahoud or any of the Syrian-installed presidents. I'm really tempted to join Ghassan in self-imposed blogger "exile".

[Super Dude]

I wrote about it earlier.

[naja]

Oi! BV don't do a disappearing trick on me, dude. I'm supposed to be the caretaker on this blog, not the undertaker. AK will never forgive me if more regulars defect. We don't want to spoil his holidays, right?

[danny]

Ghassan had a great post on Ya Libnan.I wish the freaking politician would try to comprehend his analysis!!!
As far as this new maneuver, it seems totally loaded. Why now? Some thoughts:
1. Should the Hizbitzee crowd acquiesce that would mean their recognition of Seniora government and all its decisions. That would cut off their bullshit once and for all!
2. If the black turbans reject, I think they’ll be totally naked. They would be getting their candidate but reject it! So what would be the reason for all the consultations?
3. I think this is a master stroke. Sleiman has proven to be not following a certain line against the other and did not pay notice to Lahood’s crap either. I have a sneaky suspicion that March 14 has trumped out HA and their garbage men…
4. I might be imagining but I can smell a rat and definitely the coming days will show whether there is a schism between Iran and Syria…

This is my 2 cents worth so far…

[Bad Vilbel]

I'll wait till after the holidays ;)

SuperDude, your blog entry made me laugh. Basically, none of anything is constitutional: A parliament that is not in legislative session, approving constitutional amendements for a one time only president, that are being put forth by an illegitimate cabinet.

In other words, a bunch of ordinary citizens, with no legitimacy whatsoever, making up their own rules. Tell you what, i say you, me, Naja and Fubar appoint a president of Lebanon (I nominate Shunkleash as consensus candidate). Our guy will have just as much legitimacy in a court of law and anyone else. Then Shunkleash can get to work, name me PM, and I will form a second government in exile, based in Timbuktu. We will then introduce new amendements to the Lebanese constitution, naming Kathmandu as the new capital of Lebanon.

And you know what the best part is? All these hairbrained schemes of mine are JUST AS FREAKING LEGITIMATE AS ANY OF THE SHIT GOING DOWN IN LEBANON TODAY.

[Bad Vilbel]

Danny,

A plausible analysis, BUT. It could be the other way around.
It's very possible that M14 was hoodwinked. The Syrians, are afterall, pretty adept at this game (and have been doing it for decades).

After distracting M14 with strawman candidates (Edde, Aoun), they put Suleiman forward as a "compromise" (or even better, let M14 put him forward all on their own). Hizballah throws a little tantrum, so as not to tip the cards too quickly and then reluctantly accept the guy. Suleiman has played this great, acting like he's above the politics through it all. But let's face it. The moment his ass hits that chair, he can't pretend to be above politics anymore. Then his true colors will show.

[danny]

Assafir and their reliable reportin...I told you guys the National Inquirer is more believable. What a rag...Well the fudge is soft and wet...No names mentioned. Same old BS.

BV

You could be right...except point 1. As I said their BS will be out the window??

[Solomon2]

How can amending the Constitution be legitimate here? The Constitution clearly states that if the Presidency is vacant the Chamber meets as an electoral body to choose a new one.

Thus no legislation is permitted until that has been accomplished, including amendments to the Constitution (Article 75). If M14 wanted an amendment, they should have done it before Lahoud left last week.

[Shunkleash]

ah ha! Finally, someone recognises my true worth!

I humbly and graciously accept the annointment!

I promise to be fair, consensual and sensual and to work within the boundaries of the constitution (as amended from time to time).

My first order of business, to show my committment to the lebanese people, is to clean the presidential pool...I REFUSE to swim in the same pool as George Hamilton!

Then i plan to put together a secret list of candidates for PM and I assure you that when BV is elected it will be by transparent and consensual means and the new ferrari in the driveway will have nothing to do with it.

Yalla, send the chaffeur in one hour, im going to get my white suit ready!

All joke aside...if what happened today is not a rouse then it can only be described as a soft coup. It is obvious, in exchange for keeping the peace and security and the lebanese army being on the side of the majority we get MS as president.

Bravo! Well done SAAAAAAD and the other chameleons whose kalaidescope of colour never ceases to amaze me! But specially to my fellow lebanese who have shown, all through this contrived political fiasco, their utter cowardice, arrogance, ignorance, selfishness, dishonesty and disloyalty i say til hasou teezee alf alf alf alf mara ya shrameet...you deserve what you get. You want to protect the toilet chair in babda and the stupid idiot in bkirki...tuuzzzzz!

I think it is time for us to realise that its been a pipe dream. Until the lebanese people decide to be masters of their own fate instead of cowtowing to the fcuking peices of shit hayawen politicians we might as well call the place "hotel du liban"! Nice place to vaction but fuck it! I wouldn't wanna live there!

Ayesh Shunkleash!

[Bad Vilbel]

I think it is time for us to realise that its been a pipe dream. Until the lebanese people decide to be masters of their own fate instead of cowtowing to the fcuking peices of shit hayawen politicians we might as well call the place "hotel du liban"! Nice place to vaction but fuck it! I wouldn't wanna live there!

Bingo!

Those here who put some sort of faith in March 14 are in for a surprise. These guys are no different than Hezballah and company, it turns out. For all our talk about how one side was better than the other, a lesser of two evils, etc.
March 14, by pretty much ignoring the constitution just as badly as the opposition, proves that they equally disdainful of law and order and of the state institutions. There is no lesser evil here, folks. Piece of shit A and piece of shit B stink. They're both shit. There is no such thing as a less stinky piece of shit.

[Super Dude]

So who will be the next head of the LAF?

Shunkleash zabbitna? I'll take good care of you and your sensuality.

But for real, who will succeed Sully this time around to lead our courageous boys?

[marillionlb]

Remember the kid's song by Gerard Lenorman "si j'etais president". I think we would be better off with his notion of government than with whatever those sold out politicians of ours are cooking.
People of Lebanon, wake up and smell the cyanide !!!