Mouallem's hypocrisy and Fairuz the ambassador

The English language media missed an important part of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem's statement following a meeting with his German counterpart on Thursday.

Forget what the media highlighted, that "Syria would support ongoing efforts by the Arab League to break Beirut's presidential deadlock". In response to a question on when Damascus will exchange diplomatic representation with Lebanon, he said:

I promise this will take place when the current crisis is resolved, a president is elected and a national unity government is formed reflecting the representation of blocs in parliament, and adopting (the government) a policy that will serve the interests of the Lebanon people by establishing distinguished relations with Syria. Then, there won't be anything preventing the exchange of diplomatic representation between Syria and Lebanon.

وسئل عن الموعد الذي ستتبادل فيه دمشق التمثيل الديبلوماسي مع بيروت، فأجاب: "اعدك بأن تتحقق هذه الخطوة عندما تحل الأزمة القائمة في لبنان وينتخب رئيس توافقي وتشكل حكومة وحدة وطنية تعكس تمثيلاً حسب الكتل البرلمانية وتنتهج هذه الحكومة سياسة تخدم من خلالها مصالح الشعب اللبناني بإقامة علاقة مميزة مع سوريا، عندها لن يكون هناك مانع من تبادل التمثيل الديبلوماسي بين سوريا ولبنان". (An-Nahar)

It's very rich of Mouallem to link recognition of Lebanese sovereignty to the resolution of a crisis his masters started. This statement is further proof that as far as the Assad regime is concerned, Lebanon can only exist as a province of Syria. Every sane individual on this earth knows that the parliament has been closed on orders from the Assad regime, that the election of the president is being obstructed by Syria's allies, and that a Lebanese government can only be allowed to function if Syria has veto power and control over its foreign policy.   

What's even more ridiculous is Mouallem's statement that if Damascus doesn't have diplomatic representation in Lebanon, "this doesn't mean otherwise", meaning Lebanon opening an embassy in Syria. The truth of the matter is that Damascus does not need an ambassador in Lebanon to represent its interests. There's a whole group of politicians, militias, and terrorists acting on behalf of the Assad gang. As for Lebanon sending an ambassador, well, perhaps Mouallem should check his calendar. On January 28th, Fairuz, Lebanon's "ambassador to the stars", will give him and his masters the recognition they seek but don't deserve.

Comments

[Solomon2]

"The truth of the matter is that Damascus does not need an ambassador in Lebanon to represent its interests. There's a whole group of politicians, militias, and terrorists acting on behalf of the Assad gang."

Analogy: There was no Warsaw Pact until 1955, years after the formation of NATO. The reason it didn't form earlier was that after WWII the commanders of Soviet-bloc armed forces were Soviet officers appointed by Stalin, so an additional "multilateral" would have been considered useless at best. Only when Stalin was dead and his chief henchmen & heirs kicked out of power was a formal structure with real diplomatic relations deemed necessary, probably to facilitate the removal of Stalin's loyalists.

[danny]

Apparently Lebanon along with USA lodged a complaint to the German Chancellor's office against Mouallem's visit...Now that starts impressing me that these comatose fools in the government have started to act like they are in charge. As for the fat pig's assertions; a PR move to show that they are not butchers. Whichever way you dress them the stench of blood comes through these butchers' pores...

[Andre]

danny,

notice that it is both the USA and Lebanon...I wonder if the first pushed the second to do this,either way the germans are trying to test the waters themselves now and it won't be long before they too conclude that there's no point in opening up to the syrian regime, like France and others have found out before them.

[Bad Vilbel]

As usual, nothing new here. AK dissected Muallem's comments exactly right.

Putting aside the hypocrisy of the whole statement, can someone also please tell me, since when is a country recognizing another predicated on who's in government and what its policies are? Lebanon is a UN recognized state. As a fellow UN member, Syria is obligated to recognize it, whether it likes the president, the government's makeup, or the parliament's representation. It is not Syria's business who we elect or don't elect. Period.

But that's not even the most glaring insult in Muallem's statement. AK clarified that one better than i could.

[Tony]

Abu Kais, you missed that Moallem also trashed his boss's supposed "support" for the Arab initiative by making the unconstitutional demand that the parliamentary ratio be reflected in the next cabinet!! This flies in the face of the Arab proposal entirely!

But hey, they're not "meddling" in internal Lebanese affairs.

[Abilama]

Meanwhile back in the Farm:

Hassan Nasrallah assistait sous haute protection aux commémorations de l'Achoura, pour sa première sortie publique depuis plus d'un an. Des dizaines de milliers de fidèles y ont pris part en scandant "Mon Dieu, protégez Nasrallah" et "Mort à l'Amérique, mort à Israël".

Il s'est en revanche isolé pour prononcer son discours, diffusé sur écran géant.

Menacé de mort par l'Etat hébreu, il avait évité jusque-là de participer à des commémorations religieuses ou des rassemblements politiques, prononçant ses discours à la télévision d'un lieu tenu secret.

[Abilama]

The Trader in Body Parts.
Have you seen anything more disgusting?

Nasrallah: Hezbollah collected Israeli body parts in 2006 war
Beirut - For the first time since September 2006 Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared Saturday in public to address an Ashura rally in a southern Beirut suburb.

The bodies of Hizbullah members killed in terrorist operations in Gadjar and in the Hizbullah initiaed July war were handed by Israel to their families without the despicable game of trade off. Like that by someone who pretends to be a devout MOSLEM. A merchant in body parts.

Ref.

Israel to return bodies of three Hezbollah fighters killed on ...Two Palestinian fighters killed by Israeli airstrike 09:49 Sun 13 Jan ... Khalife added that Israel returned the bodies in order to avoid an escalation in ...
www.imemc.org/article/15156

Israel Returns Hezbollah Remains, Guerrillas' Bodies Given To ...Israel returned to Lebanon the remains of three Hezbollah guerrillas killed by in ... Israeli troops put the coffins of three Hezbollah fighters in an ...
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/25/world/main1075642.shtml

[Abilama]

Germany denies Syrian FM red carpet treatment
Friday, 18 January, 2008 @ 7:18 PM

Berlin - Germany confirmed Friday that the United States and Lebanon had complained about this week's visit of the Syrian foreign minister to Berlin but denied it had "rolled out the red carpet" for him.

Deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg said Chancellor Angela Merkel's office had received criticism about the invitation extended to Walid Muallem to talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and members of parliament.

Steg said it was "not unusual for allies" to raise questions or objections after diplomatic meetings are announced, when asked about a press report on the complaints from Washington and Beirut.

"The chancellery forwarded these declarations on to the foreign ministry," he said.

Spokesman Martin Jaeger of the foreign ministry, which invited Muallem to the meetings on Thursday, said only that Berlin had "made note of this position."

Steg added it was unclear why the United States and Lebanon had sent the letters to the chancellery and not the foreign ministry.

The conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported Friday that the United States and Lebanon had complained that Steinmeier's invitation to Muallem was a premature reward before Syria had proved it was ready to play a "constructive role" in resolving conflicts in the Middle East.

Several newspapers also reported criticism from Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats over the invitation made by Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, noting that the chancellor had not received Muallem.

Muallem offered assurances after his talks with Steinmeier Thursday that Damascus would work toward progress the Middle East peace process and Lebanon, as the German foreign minister held out the prospect of stronger European ties if Syria made "visible, constructive" efforts.

Jaeger indicated that the talks between Muallem and Steinmeier behind closed doors had been open and frank and sharply rejected the conservatives' criticism.

"We did not roll out the red carpet," he said.

Jaeger added that Merkel had said publicly this week that she expected Syria to help foster the peace process between Israelis and the Palestinians and an end to the Lebanese political crisis.

He added that Steinmeier was actively courting Syria as a key potential partner for peace following Washington's own invitation to Damascus to a conference in November in Annapolis, Maryland.

At that meeting, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to set the end of 2008 as a target date for a comprehensive Middle East peace agreement.

Source: Yahoo News

[naja]

Excellent post as usual, AK. And, may I say, one that suggests quite a bit of frustration on your behalf. Well, join the club, old twig. Here in Beirut, the soap opera seems to be suffering a significant drop in ratings. Long gone are the days when shopkeepers would put up a sign on their door saying "no politics please", fearing that the customers would quarrel over whether that orange ahirt is in fashion or not. Weariness rules, and only the die-hard aounistas, mustaqbalistas and assorted hassan-idolisers seem to display any keenness for the front page. Muallem, that Dean's List Alumni from the Al-Sahaf (remember him?) school of political misinformation, has been practicing the Lets Do The Time Warp Again steps over and over and again, and hardly anyone's watching. Fairuz in Damascus? Disdain, generally, but no-one's going to stop playing Bint El Shalabiyya, and there's hardly any likelihood that MEA's pipe music will stop tinkling with the old Rahbani favourites. We're past caring, here, to be honest. And every day that passes seems to suggest that Bashar has now learned his daddy's lesson: steadfast, steadfast, steadfast, until you bore everyone into submission - or until the next Administration comes along.

[Solomon2]

"We're past caring, here, to be honest."

And why is that? Is that not because your leaders have taken the easy route and acted in such a way as to change nothing yet keep themselves on top and thus rob you of hope? So why not work to develop new leaders?

[Karim]

You all digress from the saddest bit. Fairouz is being a traitor!

[Abilama]

Nasrallah was a rat. Is a rat.Will be a rat. His place is in the sewage. I guess he is back in his rat hole, but as usual his stench is there left behind.
Rarely, have I seen more a demeaning and despicable behviour.

This goes for the half- wits
that cheered him.

[theCourtFool]

It seems acceptable to me to see Syria and Lebanon trade embassies, to deal and communicate 'though them', in order to make life acceptable in Syria And Lebanon.

The Syrian people aren't as happy with their government - and we in Lebanon we have learnt to despise them.

Today, the Government and the opposition disagreed for the 13th time on appointing a president with regards to solving the bombings and standard of living.

Lebanon needs to continue where it left off before the American/Iranian sloppy game came into play about 2004, Feb...14. We were building a chef-d'houvre that money can't buy in terms of culture and mode de vie.

There are Lebanese, and there are Clowns in the government selfish as ever, all falling for the tagline that "we have very good intentions".

http://theinnercircle.wordpress.com

- the CourtFool

[Fawzan]

Well Mousa said it: Ma Fi 7all. Now what? Wait until the Sayyed has enough body parts to construct a new president that he can control?

Like I said before, we are heading down a path no one has the stomach for but we are not turning back.

Allah yestour.

[Solomon2]

In a macabre twist, we now know what Nasrallah the Embalmer means when he claims to be stockpiling arms...

[Abilama]

La voiture du journaliste Aziz Metni incendiée à Kornet Chehwane
Dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, peu après minuit, la voiture du journaliste Aziz Metni, directeur responsable de l’hebdomadaire al-Anba’ publié par le PSP, a été incendiée. La voiture, une Mitsubishi Lancer bleue, modèle 1986, était garée devant le domicile de M. Metni à Kornet Chehwane. Alertée, la Défense civile a éteint le feu, alors que le responsable de la gendarmerie de Bickfaya et les FSI ont commencé l’enquête. Le journaliste a porté plainte contre inconnu.
Il est à noter que Aziz Metni est membre de l’ordre des journalistes. Il a été rédacteur en chef de l’hebdomadaire al-Anba’ durant l’époque de Kamal Joumblatt, de 1958 à 1975. Depuis 1998, il en est le directeur responsable. Le 8 janvier, il avait écrit un éditorial dans lequel il avait fortement critiqué le général Michel Aoun, le Hezbollah, ainsi que la Syrie.

Source: L'Orient le Jour (Liban)

[Abilama]

Have we Lebanese lost all sense of moral propriety.
I thought we would have been many to express revulsion at Nasrallah's barbaric and despicable trade in body parts. Alas, none of you was even moved.
Yes, we have become a decrepid multitude not even a nation!

No moral fibre whatsoever!

[Andre]

Did Moussa really think that he was going to make any progress? Did he really buy into this so called meeting between an egomaniac of a general full of himself and a wealthy politician who claims KSA as his home, along with a "sold out" parliament speaker who holds the key to a building that is not his? Who are we kidding here? No one in that meeting believed in a solution b/c no one wants it. I believe that the only decent person in that meeting was Amin Gemayel, all the others are after their own selfish agendas perhaps including Moussa who's credibility as a negotiator is fading very fast. I am disgusted with everything and everyone not to mention the body parts collector known as "sayyed Nasrallah". The country is being dismantled day by day and no one seems to care...perhaps we ought to look in the mirror to find the answer as to the sorry state of things that is plaguing our banana republic.

Andre asks,

"Did Moussa really think that he was going to make any progress?"

The answer is NO Andre. His job is, and was, to waste time.

The Arab League has no other function than to pay fat salaries to pompous assholes (with your money).

[Bad Vilbel]

I'm sure you guys will get a kick out of this beauty, in today's Naharnet:

Ex-Premier Salim Hoss called Monday for the formation of a new cabinet under a "consensus" prime minister without giving either the majority or minority the ability to pass laws.

Where do I even start!? Here we go again with more consensus talk. And Hoss himself does a great job at showing to everyone exactly WHY the very idea of consensus doesn't work (at least not in the civilized world): This idiot is suggesting the government have no ability to pass laws. No ability to govern. Why have a government then? What a fucking imbecile? How are people like this even allowed to reach the positions they reach (or in the case of Hoss, have reached in the past)? Is there not some sort of darwinism for politicians that would cause them to choke on their own stupidity and spare us people like this ever making it into the public forum? I guess not in Lebanon. Yet more proof that we are a country of imbeciles.

[danny]

Lebanon's on the verge of total collapse...If the Arab FMs point the finger to Syria or sidestep it...We'll see hit and run clashes with the army everywhere...Like Assad said to Ban Ki Moon; he'll burn the whole f'n area...and he will, while other are selling body parts. What a despicable serial killer!!!
Keep warm.

[Jeha]

Something came to mind, as I watched tr trouble on the roads... Does Fairouz have a song about burning tires in her repertoire? Something along the lines of "ya dwalib, dakhni dakhni ya dwalib... barki war'etna betsib"

[fubar]

In the M14 universe...

Gemayel says Hezbollah/Amal/Aoun are trying to topple the current Siniora government. NO, REALLY? Wonder what gave it away?

Jumblatt says that Hezbollah is trying to create a parallel state within a state. YOU DON’T SAY! Hmmmm, hasn’t he said that before? Wonder when anyone in Lebanon is going to wake up and smell the coffee?

And Siniora, who apparently does not have enough to deal with like...electrical outages, burning tires closing roads, exploding automobiles, tent city, an Army’s whose anti-aircraft gunners can seem to hit jack, and a necromancer hoarding body parts..., still has time to jump into the fray and plead for the Palestinians in Gaza. WAY TO GO, because, well, we all know that Lebanon is an Arab country and the Palestinians are the only real test of one’s Arabness and you just can’t let those Persians get out in front on this one, can you?

In the M8 alternate universe...

Tire burning is always a favorite activity. AHHHH, NOTHING SAYS LEBANON LIKE THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER IN YOUR NOSTRILS.

The mailbox insists that the one who sets dates for the parliamentary presidential elections and then cancels them cannot really be blamed for obstructing the election of a president. After all, the mailbox is doing all he can. It’s not like he can actually call upon the Amal members to actually appear and vote now, can he? HELL, NO, NOT WITHOUT PERMISSION.

And, on the bright side, at least the necromancer has crawled back into his hole. But still, YOU CAN NOT TOP THE IMAGERY OF THOSE BODY PARTS! AND ON A HOLY DAY TO BOOT!

Yep, time passes, things change, everywhere but in Lebanon.

Time for a public service announcement:

Got Guns?

[fubar]

gunners can seem to hit jack = gunners CAN'T seem to hit jack

DUH!

[Samir]

How we are seen fro the other side:
Hassan the butcher

Nasrallah reaches zenith of repugnance; even Arab rulers would welcome his death

Smadar Peri Published: 01.20.08, 23:12 / Israel Opinion
A normal person cannot digest the “human butcher shop” list presented by Hassan Nasrallah Saturday. By revealing the 'merchandise' he claims to be holding, he turned himself, with his own words, into the 'butcher from the Dahiya,' Hizbullah’s Beirut stronghold.

If Nasrallah had any trace of a doubt regarding his place on Israel’s list of candidates for elimination, on Saturday he again bought himself a permanent seat in the first row.

What stands behind the despicable statement is the pressure Nasrallah faces at this time. Any way he looks at it, he can sense trouble and a collapse in his status. On the Lebanese street he has turned into a despised character because of the ruin left in the wake of the war that broke out after Hizbullah abducted two IDF soldiers.

Thousands of uprooted residents, unemployed farmers, crippled and wounded people all remember that Nasrallah confessed to the folly of the abduction that led to the war.

When it comes to the Lebanese political arena, Nasrallah failed in his effort to topple the Siniora government. For three months now he has prevented the appointment of a new president, but he managed to further turn the international community, as well as Arab rulers, intelligence agencies, and the Saudi royal family against him.

He is also pressed by the publications, which have not yet been denied by Tehran, regarding the reduction of his military authority in favor of his deputy, Naim Qassem. In Iranian eyes, Hizbullah has three heads at this time: The operational department headed by Imad Mughniyah, the military wing headed by Naim Qassem, and the public relations and welfare departments, headed by Nasrallah. This is what Tehran believes he is capable of doing these days out of his bunker.

Prisoner swap could be lifesaver
For a year and a half he has been underground, moving between hideouts, fearing for his life. One moment of distraction could cost him his life. If one of his security guards betrays him, Nasrallah will disappear.

Moreover, Mossad agents are not the only ones seeking to settle the score with him. Even al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, who planted secret cells in Lebanon and nurtures the Fatah al-Islam group, disparages Nasrallah. Should he be eliminated, nobody will be shedding tears in the palaces of Arab rulers. Only sighs of relief will be emanating from there.

A prisoner swap with Israel that would enable him to secure the release of Samir Kuntar, who is serving a life term for murdering an Israeli family, could serve as a lifesaver for Nasrallah. For two months now he has been engaged in desperate pleas to complete the “big transaction.” However, Nasrallah the blood merchant rejected to this day the Red Cross’ requests to visit the abducted Israeli soldiers.

way to get a sign of life from them or to transfer letters and medical equipment to them.

Under such grim circumstances, Nasrallah received from the German mediator a slow timetable and swap terms which he would not be able to present as a glorious victory in Tehran and to his Hizbullah movement.

On Saturday, at his weakest junction, he reached the zenith of repugnance by sinking to a human nadir.

[Andre]

Nasrallah is bitter b/c of many failures and the apparent decision of Teheran to demote him. His popularity has taken many hits since the 2006 war, he has failed to carry on his promises to topple the government, his constant need to move for fear of assasination and his inability to appear in public when he chooses are wearing him out. His latest disgusting statements about "body parts" are designed to psyche the israeli public and embarass their government for whom the issue of missing or unrecovered bodies is a very sensitive one. In sum he is acting as a desperate man who's trying to save his credibility and his tactics are having just the opposite effect. Someone like that with this type of mindset can be very rash and dangerous. Perhaps that's why he was removed as head of the (illegal) military wing of his party.

[Bad Vilbel]

Syria has once again decided to close the border crossings today (according to Naharnet) and blockade food supplies to Lebanon. I still don't understand why no one calls them on this kind of behavior, given that it's no different than the siege Israel lays on Gaza. Why is PM Saniora (as pointed out by fubar) wasting his time talking about Gaza's plight when the same shit is being done to Lebanon by Syria?

Why doesn ANYONE still believe that Syria is NOT interfering in Lebanon, and is NOT our enemy?

Hey, Fairouz! You still wanna go sing to the poor Syrian people? I wonder if you'll get a free border pass, when the rest of your people in Lebanon are intentionally being starved by the very folks you're going to go sing for.

I'm sorry, but in any civilized part of the world, food blocking at the border is grounds for IMMEDIATE declaration that the country in question is an enemy state. The Lebanese government needs to declare Syria an enemy state and close the border from our side too. End of story.

[Andre]

BV,

Syria is using this blockade as an intimidation tactic. They tried that before in 2005 after they were kicked out out of the country and were in turn blockaded by Jordan and Turkey for a while in support of Lebanon before they had to back off. The borders have been closed off and on since then as a "security precaution" according to them, complaining about arms smuggling when in fact the smuggling was flowing in the opposite direction...they'll stop at nothing and will raise hell until we all bend to their f&$%#g will!

[Bad Vilbel]

Andre,

You don't have to explain WHY Syria is doing it. I'm well aware of that. I'm simply pointing out the hypocrisy, and the fact that some people (like Fairuz) don't seem to grasp the notion that Syria should be treated as a hostile enemy country.

[danny]

BV is right.

I cannot understand how much humiliation can someone take?
One question is anyone can answer...What the hell is the progress on IT?? I think if that were to be set up March 14 might instantly grow kohones and act most aggresively, including electing prez with 50+1..

By the way in today's Elaph: wadih Safi is singing for bashar. (I had seen him serenade Bashar with Assi Hillani, Walid towfik, etc before. Here's the link

http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/Music/2008/1/298040.htm

[Ex-Aounist]

Fairouz's Message To Damascus
Elias Harchoufe Al Hayat - 20/01/08//

Fairouz is the last surviving symbol of what used to be our national unity ever since the flag was torn between two opposing camps and the anthem was transformed into marching music by militias. With every taboo gone in this expanding circle of madness, all that is left for us is this pure lady that has always stood by our dreams and tears, the companion of mountain nights and the beginnings of our passions. For all this and more, keep her out of your conflicts. She does not deserve any of that and you do not deserve her.

Fairuz heads to Damascus to participate in the "Arab Culture Capital" ceremony, not to visit a regime or chant for a political party. She carries with her the message of "Qronfol" (Carnation), the innocent girl who feels pity for her parents who are tired as they await the awakening of the "governor" who drowns in his slumber month after month, unaware of the concerns of his citizens who are victimized either by poverty or by prison and who fear Chancellor Zaidoun who connives against them with the governor and supervises the "hearing room" that counts their breaths.

"Carnation" steals the governor's seal to notarize claims and handle the affairs of the people. When the governor becomes aware of "her crime" and tries to punish her. Confronted by his people, he is forced to revoke his rule and his injustice, returning to his deep sleep in his palace, rightly named "the palace of slumber" and leaving this girl, a symbol of salvation, in charge of state affairs.

This is Faiouz's message to Damascus and to the Syrians. It is more articulate than a thousand articles or political speeches. In the face of such a message, it is hard to comprehend the campaign that preceded her awaited concert at the Opera House in the Syrian capital. This humane artist who bore the wounds, the cross and nostalgia of her nation around the world, and whose songs were uninamilously broadcast by the stations of the "heroes" of the civil war in a country plagued by its sons, finds herself cornered by a debate that stinks of politics in its narrowest form, a debate over whether it is politically correct for Fairuz to visit the Umayyad capital and to participate in the Damascus ceremonies, or to remain confined in her house in Rabieh, at bay from the campaigns and desires of politicians.

If a political message is to be found in Fairouz's participation in the Damascus festivals, it is the message of "Carnation" in all its simplicity and clarity. Honestly, Fairouz could not have chosen a more expressive and symbolic musical from her wealthy legacy (except perhaps for "The Person") than "Sah El-Nom"). I therefore doubt that those waging the campaign against Fairouz's participation in the festival are familiar with this musical or the message it conveys, because had they done so, they would have realized that Fairouz is there to make a purely political stance. Indeed! But it is politics for the people, not for the rulers. It is politics that speaks a simple language to express popular passion and emotions.

Fairouz on her way to Syria during the worst moment in the history of relations between the two states and nations is probably the best ambassador to the Syrians, bearing the message that whatever link has been broken by political and state interests should not entail a rift between the nations in both countries. Evidently and simply, this is attributed to the fact that whatever survives between nations is more enduring than regimes and the whims of politicians.

This great lady had refused to sing in one Lebanese region rather than another and insisted on uniting the Lebanese around her music during the darkest years of the war. She brought them together in the only places where they could congregate, that is, in Diaspora. Yet now she is the target of vicious campaigns amidst the worst rift that the Lebanese have ever experienced in their history, not only over the fate of country, but also over its relations with its bigger neighbor.

At a Damascus festival, Fairuz once sang the following masterpiece by Said Akl:

Oh Syria if your people are in pain, then so is my heart,
My voice to Barada (River in Syria) is like your springs to my clouds
The snows of (Mount) Haramoun have fed us both with the pride that resembles the dignity of high domes

The imagery in the poem reflects the kind of relations that we aspire for between the two neighbors. It is a picture that has been torn by the abuse of neighborly ties, repeated interferences and narrow mindedness. Yet, it is the true picture that should prevail as an ideal that brings us together away from the present conflicts and their repercussions.

[Rami]

Great point BV-

I love how our PM has found time to denounce the Gaza blockade, but somehow is missing that of his own country. Don't you have better things to worry about in your own land before sending off useless, cliche statements in business that does not concern you. You have enough to worry about, namely your larger foe to the east. I would like someone to explain why Arabs feel like they can scream bloody death at injustice committed by Israel, but are dead silent when their "brothers" practice the same tactics amongst each other. Cause the only explanation I have is that we are cowards; afraid of each other, afraid of ourselves. What a sad shame.

[Rami]

And as a side note, how incredibly sad the the Arab Capital of "Culture" and "Resistance" is a home of totalitarian government, with no opposition, that murders its own citizens, throws creative minds and dissidents in jail, and whose only 'resistance' is that of formenting violence and instability in their 'brotherly' neighbors. That surely should make any Arab proud!

[Andre]

Great point Ex-Aounist, I couldn't have said it any better, I feel the same way about our national icon and I have already expressed my opinion along the same lines.

[danny]

I guess there are two diametrically opposed views on this. However, for the life of me I think it is time to take heed on what confusius said: Eye for an eye, rather than what Jesus said: Turning the other cheek!!
Fairuz, then Safi...What kind of losers have we become? Is there any way we can make a statement except lowering our heads for the butcher to walk on??

[Bad Vilbel]

Ex-Aounist,

I hear what you're saying. And I have no quibble with Fairuz as an artist. But I do think that sending "messages" by performing is going to accomplish anything (you think the regime in Syria doesn't already realize they're a totalitarian regime?). There is a point at which our "national identity" that you are so interested in Fairuz displaying and symbolizing, goes the way of the dodo. National pride has to come in to play at some point. Every country in the world would boycott such an event. When the soviets invaded Afghanistan, the US boycotted the Moscow olympics. When some paper or magazine publishes an anti-semitic or racist article, it is usually boycotted. When that danish magazine published cartoons that were deemed offensive to muslims, there was talk of boycotting Danish goods, and a bunch of protests. Hell, even after the Qana massacre last year, PM Saniora told Condy Rice she wasn't welcome in Lebanon. Was she the one who dropped the bombs on Qana? Of course not.

Yet somehow, no one seems to want to take a stand, even a peaceful one (such as a boycott) when it comes to Syria.

[Fawzan]

Guys, while we quibble about Fairuz, I am worried about a gift box that Amr was supposed to receive but didn't when he was in Beirut. Does it go to waste? Or will it be given to someone else?

There is a fuzzy logic to this process, but I feel that another assassination is not too far off.

The bully's Logic:

a)Any time the small kids begin to lose fear and form a consensus, case fear to divide them.
b)Any time the small kids get upset and begin to form a group to react, case fear to divide them.

a) applies to the Lebanese / b) applies to the Arab League.

If there is an assassination soon, it will cause the Arabs to settle down and not confront Syria because they don't have the stomach to see the next step. They are more than willing to bark when they don't see a consequence, but in the face of a determined bully, they back off!

[Bad Vilbel]

I'm afraid you might be right, Fawzan.

[Andre]

Fawzan,

You are right in your assessment. The only way to defeat a bully is to stand up to him and to not let him get the advantage through his tactics. Unfortunately, the bully in this case is armed to the teeth and no one else is able to face up to him. Tough situation indeed.

[Ex-Aounist]

Guys,

I can understand all of your stances considering Fairuz issue, For me It is BETTER to Keep Feiruz OUT OF LEBANESE DIRTY Politics, PLEASE, Or at Least keep it Civil towards our ambassador, for I have read " Friruz can kiss ...."and other insults....
SHE does not deserve such violent comments.

To each his own, everyone of us thinks he can resist syria the way he sees fit, and She has the same right too. Whether by singing there or ABSTAINING, it is her choice not ours, still she is not committing a crime, it is the ONLY WAY SHE KNOWS How TO RESIST, BY Taking Lebanon The MESSAGE OF BEAUTY AND PEACE TO THE HEART of SYRIA, You cannot blame the whole population for the Ass criminality, She is not committing a TREASON like those filthy leaders Syrian A**lickers, who day in day out thank Syria and ass-ad!!! those should Kiss our A** and Feiruz 's Ass as well.

Please Shabeb Let's keep it Civil with the Lady, after all She is the Only SANE and PURE Lebanese Symbole Left, Let's not DESTROY this one as well.

We have Dire times ahead of us, and we need every single prayer she chants to HELP US SAVE our BELOVED COUNTRY from the Bullies Ass-ad and Iran, and their spies and agents inside Lebanon the Hizbullies & Co.

Take care all of you, and May God protect lebanon and the Lebanese.

[Secular]

Ex-Aounist
You are serious aren't you when you say that in dire times the prayers of a singer will help save a country from bullies etc.. and that we have to depend on God to protect Lebanon. My friend, that is exactly why Lebanon is in the mess that it is in. It seems that many, besides you, feel that prayers and God will come to the rescue. Where was God during the civil war, where was God during the Iraq war, where was God during Katrina , where was God during WWII etc etc etc Was she hiding or does she take sides?
We the Lebanese mortals have a problem and we need to stand up and solve it. God helps only those that are willing to help themselves:-)

[Ex-Aounist]

Secular,

You have answered yourself in the end !!!

"God helps only those that are willing to help themselves:-) "

EXACTLY SECULAR, :) and it is not by insulting Feiruz we are doing so .

I can understand your "Secular" point of view and respect your opinion, I am not asking you to change them, neither force my opinion upon you,

God oave us not only BRAINS,but the FREEDOM to use it as we see fit, if we are not using it,and misusing our freedom, IT IS NOT HIS FAULT,(You can take a horse to water but you cannot force him to drink as the saying goes....) Hence we do not have THE RIGHT to ASK HIM "WHERE have you been God WHILE THIS AND THAT took place and in the same time WE DO NOT RELY on Him, Or at least BELIEVE that he could help us !!!" THAT means WE ARE CONTRADICTING OURSELVES, you do not need God's help FINE, but then do not ask where have you been God at this time and that year!!!

As for Feiruz, All I asked is some respect towards her, SHE IS the ICON and Symbole of Lebanon, she is a Cedar among the Cedars, is that too much to be civil in our manners towards her ??? And yes I do believe that prayers help ...
Still I am not asking YOU to belive this as well.

You reminded of a funny story about a secular person who met with Einstein ..after debating the issue of God Einstein invited him to dinner in a restaurant, after the fancy meal was over, the guest was very satisfied with the food served, at that moment Einstein asked him ..." you do not believe in Chefs too ?" :)

Excuse me for this long post, and believe me I am NOT preaching or trying to change your secular Belief, just expkaing MY point of view on the matter.

Lastly I would like to quote Montesquieu :

" Je ne suis pas d'accord avec vous, mais je me battrai jusqu'à la mort pour défendre votre droit de dire ce que vous pensez »

" I might have a different opinion than yours, but I will fight until death to defend your right of saying what you believe in" ! :)

Thank you for the time and answer you have given me, I do appreciate it.

Take care my friend :)

[Fawzan]

Well it happened. on the 22nd I wrote:

[Guys, while we quibble about Fairuz, I am worried about a gift box that Amr was supposed to receive but didn't when he was in Beirut. Does it go to waste? Or will it be given to someone else?

There is a fuzzy logic to this process, but I feel that another assassination is not too far off.

The bully's Logic:

a)Any time the small kids begin to lose fear and form a consensus, case fear to divide them.
b)Any time the small kids get upset and begin to form a group to react, case fear to divide them.

a) applies to the Lebanese / b) applies to the Arab League.

If there is an assassination soon, it will cause the Arabs to settle down and not confront Syria because they don't have the stomach to see the next step. They are more than willing to bark when they don't see a consequence, but in the face of a determined bully, they back off!"

Posted by: Fawzan | Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 10:03 PM ]

This is getting too silly. If a guy sitting in Toronto can pridect when a bombing is going to take place, it becomes too much. A message to the ISF or not, I am sure this is the same bomb that did not make it's way to Amr Mousa last week.