Assad's blood shield

The Assad regime is using Palestinian blood to justify the holding of an Arab summit in Damascus.

“Isn’t the situation in Gaza too dangerous to be ignored by those trying to show a link between the Damascus Summit and the Lebanese presidential elections?” he asked. (Now Lebanon)

Of course many will buy into this, for the region's despots are expert at helping Palestinians be perpetual victims, using them to justify despotism and the general state of ignorance that prevails among the masses. God forbid should anyone dare punish the Assad regime for killing Lebanese and destroying their country-- don't you see what the Israelis are doing in Gaza?

It was really ironic to see school children in Lebanon being bussed to protest against the Gaza killings outside the UN building, in an area occupied by Hizbullah and the Assad regime's allies for over a year. Hizbullah's popularity among Arabs derives from that same misguided pan-Arab sympathy for the Palestinian cause that buoys regime like Assad's, which, unbeknownst to the masses, support Palestinians against each other in the name of defending their livelihood.

But I have digressed. Let us go back to Lebanon, shall we. Here is Mouallem saying it is up to the Lebanese to resolve the crisis:

Mouallem said that it is up to the Lebanese themselves to decide whether or not to postpone the debate over the government until after the summit so that a Lebanese president can be elected and attend in Damascus.

“I hope that the Lebanese reach an agreement over the Arab initiative,” Mouallem added. (Now Lebanon)

Mouallem, of course, is a professional liar. I don’t need to dredge up evidence proving that it really isn't up to the Lebanese. Mouallem's boss himself can do it.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has come up with a new plan to end the prolonged political crisis in Lebanon: formation of a transitional government to oversee early parliamentary elections, a measure seen as torpedoing the Arab League initiative.

The ruling March 14 coalition slammed the proposal, saying it "comes in contradiction with the Arab League initiative."

Arab diplomatic sources said the "plan" was conveyed by Assad to Arab League chief Amr Moussa during a recent meeting in Damascus.

The sources said Assad's proposal calls for electing army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president on March 11 in return for the immediate formation of a transitional government to oversee early parliamentary elections based on the 1960 election law, a move that has been rejected by the pro-government ruling majority as well as Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

They said Assad informed Moussa that the proposal still needed to be discussed with the Hizbullah-led opposition. (Naharnet)

Assad will let Lebanese elect pro-Syrian General Suleiman president in return for more interference in Lebanese affairs. This generosity was lost on March 14 and Patriarch Sfeir, who rightly rejected the "offer".

It's interesting but not surprising that Moussa would allow himself to transmit proposals that violate the sovereignty of an Arab League member state. I wonder if he would have done the same thing in Egypt, where he was once foreign minister before Mubarak gave him the boots. Forget Egypt, would he have done it in Sudan?

Speaking of boots, the much maligned deployment of US war ships off the Lebanese (and Syrian) coast was a welcome change, even if it's not immediately clear whether the Lebanese are able to benefit from this. Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that the move aims "to make very clear that the US is capable and willing of defending its interests and the interests of its allies." Unfortunately, the interests of the US allies in the region do not meet (March 14 and Israel), so defending them both at the same time might be a tricky affair. Regardless, it is good to know that the "Great Satan" is telling Assad and Nasrallah to be careful what they wish for. As Jumblatt put it, if it's war they want, it is war they will get. And it won't be as easy as phoning your favorite assassin.

Comments

[Ex-Aounist]

An excerpt taken from an excellent article I read in anaharonline.com By Samir Attallah

المنطق الذي يرتضي اغلاق المدينة وابقاء البلد على حافة كل حافة، هو المنطق الذي يقول اليوم انه من الافضل ان يغيب لبنان عن القمة، من ان يحضر بالحكومة الحالية.
الغريب ان الجنرال عون كان ايضا السبب في اول غياب للبنان عن قمة عربية في الدار البيضاء عام 1988. يومها انقسم البلد حكومتين وفضّل اهل القمة ان يغيب لبنان على ان يحضر مفسوخا. ويومها، للمصادفة، حضرت فلسطين القمة كدولة. ويومها كتبتُ: "غابت فلسطين كقضية وحضرت كدولة، وغاب لبنان كدولة وحضر كقضية".
وفي القمة المقبلة لن نحضر "كقضية" بل على اننا نحن القضية. ويشدد الوزير وليد المعلم على ان القضية هي غزة ولا مجال للرئاسة اللبنانية الآن. وربما كان على حق. فقد كان لبنان دائما بلدا مؤجلا ودولة آجلة. ودوما كان هناك منطق يعتبر ان غيابه افضل من حضوره.

http://www.annahar.com/content.php?priority=20&table=makalat&type=makalat&day=Wed

BTW, How Convenient (for the Syrians) are the Gaza massacres,( the best timing there could be ) !!! Don't you find it very Syrian-serving...??? Or am I the only one paranoid about this ?

[Andre]

The palestinian cause has been claimed by more than one arab leader as a way to distract public opinion from internal problems and instead rally against israeli agression and behind the plight of the palestininan people. What has Syria or anyone else in the arab world done beyond rhetoric to help the palestinian cause? Just as they have done for Lebanon and Iraq. Nothing.

Ex A,

whether Lebanon goes to the Arab summit or not, is not going to change the fact that like many of its predecessors it will not result in anything beyond words and useless resolutions. it's probably better not to attend in that case.

[danny]

Stay at home...or send a janitor to attend! As for Gaza, at a drop of the hat Hamas sends dozens of rockets to illicit the savage response by Israel; Voila X-man, here's defending the Palestinian cause! But as AK articulated above, the new champion, Syria, is the one who has created the split among the Palestinians!

[Bad Vilbel]

So, since this hasn't been brought up yet (at least not on this blog): Does anyone else find it immensly amusing that for the past couple of weeks, a new "issue" has suddenly surfaced in the "negotiations" between the opposition and M14? The 1960 electoral law has suddenly, and almost magically become an "issue".

It's incredibly amusing that the opposition seems to trot out new "shiny objects" for the populace, every few weeks, distracting everyone from the REAL issue at hand. And most of the naive Lebanese, like the good sheep they are, fall for it hook, line and sinker. I see blog after blog now suddenly filled with comments arguing the pros and cons of the 1960 electoral law. Yet NO ONE was talking about this a month ago. How easily distracted we are....

As I posted elsewhere, I fully expect Berri to start circulating another new demand, in a few weeks, tying the presidential election to the price of tea in China. And this will surely be followed by weeks of hand-ringing and "expert analysis" regarding said price of tea and the various factors determining its pricing, from monsoon predictions in the Indian ocean, to the price of gas in Beijing.

[Meghwar]

Andre,

We all that the Arab league is just a bunch of impotent people gathering for Pitures op, hand shake, and empty speeches....

Yet Lebanon as a founding member of this "F...d up" League should be present there, whether by a president...or the PM or minister Mitri or any other ...

The absence of Lebanon is the best service we can offer syria as to prove their " we told you so...these stupid lebanese need us, they cannot govern themselves, see they are unable to elect a president and now they need us again .... we told you we should NOT withdraw ....you did not listen to us....etc etc etc "

I just read an article by Abdullah Eskandar in al- Hayat ...and I want to reproduce some passages...because I think he summond up the whole miserable situation in this bloody region

Starting quote:

Priorities for Solutions…and Priorities for Escalation

"When the focus of dispute becomes a competition on how to address crises that must be dealt with by the Arab summit, one can conclude that priorities are no longer an issue related to the crisis and the means of resolving it. Rather, the issue is about using, if not exploiting the crisis itself."

"There is no direct link between the events in Lebanon and Palestine on the one hand and the new sanctions on Iran on the other hand. However, compliance with and commitment to these sanctions will impact the nature of the relationship with Tehran, and hence, the alliances that are based on it. They will also affect the Syrian position on the Lebanese and Palestinian crises, the two fronts that test Syria's influence and resilience in holding on to its roles."

"The priorities of the summit, meanwhile, must focus on Palestine upon resolving the Lebanese presidential crisis. Once a president is elected, the Lebanese issue should no longer be a priority on the Arab agenda. However, the problem lies in the effort to say that the Israeli aggression eclipses any other issue, including the Lebanese crisis, because such an effort implicitly denies Lebanon's right to have a president and consequently a state."

"The echoes of this effort were heard in statements made by Lebanese politicians saying that Lebanon's representation at the summit was unnecessary, without considering the implications of eliminating a founding member of the Arab League. "

"In this context, the Lebanese crisis imposes itself as a current priority that tolerates no delay or negotiations within the institution of the summit. In fact, the Lebanese presidential void should not have lasted from last November until the scheduled date of the summit at the end of this month in the first place!"

"In this sense, the debate over priorities reflects intentions for bargains rather than solutions, and perhaps an attempt to drown solutions, keep the crises floating and justify defiance by continuously managing them."

Even the Palestinian cause which has topped the priorities of all Arab summits seems to be the target of efforts that aim at turning it into a means to support Hamas' behavior rather than support the solution agreed upon by the Arabs at the Beirut summit; rather than step up efforts with the United States to realize the promise of a Palestinian state this year.

"In other words, the intention is to turn the Palestinian priority into a means to support one domestic side against the other, just as the case was with the Lebanese crisis. This by far is the easiest way to obstruct solutions, to maintain the continuity and escalation of crises, and subsequently to focus on managing rather than resolving them."

Ending quote
------------------------------------------------------

It did not take that Syrian ass Mouallem a couple hours to start barking about the PRIORITIES of Gaza,do you think he gives a hoot about palestinians dying ??? Who gave hamas the orders to shoot qassam again and again ??? or do you believe that Syrians are so keen on finding any solution for Lebanon or palestinians, before RESOLVING and OFFING the threat of the IT??? We all know to the contrary...except the opposition and that retard Aoun for that matter who humored us with his blindness as his "opinion" as to "preference" not to represent Lebanon in this summit.
But as the saying goes...."Bad advertisement is still better than none at all” and IMHO Lebanon should be there whether with or without a president ...

Ironically I prefer to send Saniora to damascus just for the fun of seeing Syrians' reaction to Shoving him down their throat as the LEGAL and CONSTITUTIONAL PM of cabinet despite their allies desperate actions to prove the contrary :D

[Meghwar]

BV

As far as that 1960 electoral law is concerned...those who brought it up they can shove it ( back ) where the sun doesn't shine....I wasn't even interested to waste my time, reading about their reciprocated bickering, concerning it...

BTW, Just curious to know, if anyone of you have any info as to Fouad Butros' commission and the work done ??? results ???

As for that Istiz, Lemme ask you , Who trust that SOB anyway???? Even hizb do not trust him ... they sent Aoun as a negotiator ...walaou ??? LOL ...

Lebanese are Sheeple indeed my friend ...sheeple with an Ameba memory span !!!!

[Meghwar]

Ex Aounist,

here's your answer by Randa Takkieddine :

http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/OPED/03-2008/Article-20080305-7f59e09b-c0a8-10ed-017c-4324e93bcf56/story.html

"Despite the developments and massacres in Gaza by Israel, and despite the Syrian proposals to trade in its cards - pressure on Hamas to stop rockets at Israeli regions and pressure on Hizbullah to speed up the election of a president - in exchange for ideas about the international court, this proposal could be acceptable by Israel but not by the world. Even if Israel wants to pressure the US to accept a Syrian deal, how can the Americans give up on the international court?

Arab countries, small and large, which are trying to find solutions to the disastrous situation in Lebanon and Palestine, should ensure that their actions continue to involve no going back on the international court after the matter has become the province of international law.

A different course of action needs to be adopted, even if the problem lies in the attempt to obstruct the political system. The roots of the problems gripping Lebanon lie in the attempt to obstruct the international court."

-------------------------------------------------
No you are not alone in sensing Syria's exploitation of Gaza to its own advantage. Actually everyone was expecting it. Syria’s trying to pressure Israel to pressure US concerning negotiations peace talks Golan but mostly to try and hinder the IT, and relegate Lebanese presidential election to oblivion, at least to delay the IT issue…just like BV wrote, about taking one rabbit after the other out of Berri's magician hat!
Just wasting time....
Hamas is just a tool in the hands of Syria and Iran…and the poor Gazans are paying the price.

[JoseyWales]

There's a problem in Lebanon and it ain't the 1960 law, nor the Paris book fair nor the USS Cole.

It's the anti-sovereign forces and their moron opponents who talk about 1960 law etc. The electoral law is a joke when NO law on the books is being applied and parliament is SHUT down you stupid fucks (Sfeir et al).

Fuad Butros may be a great guy and a smart guy and an honest guy, but his approach to Leb politics, both as an insider and an outsider, leads nowhere. He and his commission are irrelevant.

I cannot emphasize enough that trashing the Palestinian cause (because of all the abuses in its name in Leb) is an ABSOLUTE necessity and prerequisite to any solution and any future.

Before you all jump on me, whether you think the cause is worthy or not is not the point. The point is that the ideologies that sought to make it our NUMBER ONE priority have, not surprisingly, implied the foreign meddling ad infinitum and the destruction of the country.

The ideologies in question are of course Aran nationalism then and its modern day version, Islamism today. Both have zero interest in a Lebanese state.

I am not interested in academic debates about the nuances and differences between the two. Suffice it to say that they both gave fodder to and protected the traitors and foreign agents in Lebanon.

That is why Wiam Wahhabs run free in the country and why the Sanioras are hiding and why the Berris are Assad's dogs.

It's because a non-Lebanese party is stronger than the state and that is justified and made SACRED by the Palestinian cause. The use of the Palestinian cause is the root cause of Lebs problems.

We have got to liberate ourselves FROM Palestine.

[fubar]

JW,

Well said.

News Flash: The vast majority of Iranians are not Arabs. And the Iranian Shia are not "real Muslims" according to the Sunni Arabs. Iran does not really give a shit about the Palestinians except as a wedge issue to use against the Arabs.

Iran is and has been using the Palestinian cause to out Arab the Arabs. In spite of their support for "the cause", the Arabs have never put "the cause" ahead of their own individual state interests. However, even knowing that Iran is using the Palestinian cause to force the Arabs into unwanted corners, the Arabs have a hard time disagreeing with "the cause" that they created and perpetuated for so many years. Hoisted on their own petard, so to speak.

Until Lebanon puts its own interests ahead of all else, including "the cause", Iran, through Hezbollah, will continue to force "the cause" to be placed ahead of all else whenever it is advantagous for Iran and Hezbollah to do so and Lebanon will be nothing more than a battleground. As long as the Lebanese continue to fall for the old canard, they will never have an independent state.

There is nothing anti-Palestinian about the above statements or your statements JW. It is a fact that no state puts the interests of another state or people ahead of their own interests, especially not to the detriment of their own interests. Have the Lebanese put the interests of the Armenians above the interests of Lebanon? Of course not. Why should the Palestinian cause be any different, especially when it has the potential to bring nothing but war and destruction to Lebanon?

[Bad Vilbel]

JW,

I can't agree with you more. Sadly, I don't see this happening anytime soon.

[marillionlb]

JW,
Yisslam hal tim, finally someone has the guts to say things the way they are. I have no sympathy towards the Palestinian cause and never will have. I do blame the PLO and all other Palestinian fractions for having contributed GREATLY to the pain and suffering of my fellow citizens (I saw how they use to torture). I have no pity towards any of them whatsoever. As for No Balls Saniora and all the rest of them, they still condemn and shout out loud that our only ennemy is Israel. Even our soon to be president (And do hope he never sees that day) promised to protect Syria against Israel. That f****k should start by protecting the Lebanese from internal thugs who fire RPG rockets in the air, and then he can go to Syria and help his master reclaim the Golan heights and free Palestine.
What in the name of GOD are M14 still waiting for?

[Andre]

There is an interesting article in the french daily "L'orient Le Jour" discussing a scenario according to M8 "sources" that alleges that Israel seeks to Weaken Hamas through incursions and other operations on the ground in order to strengthen Abbas hand. Meanwhile the PLO would draw Hizbullah into an armed conflict in Lebanon, while Israel mounts operations in southern Lebanon as to draw them into a strategic war designed to create internal chaos and cause an armed conflict internally, thus weakening their claim to "resistance" which would force a political resolution that would call for disarming all parties incl. HA. The US would stand guard in the mediteranean while all of this is happening. It may all be a bunch of hot air, but it is worthwhile to dig into HA's psyche given all that is happening up to this point. Expect to see talk and rumors of plots and subplots in the days ahead filled with rhetoric as things continue to develop...only no one truly knows where all of this is headed.

[Meghwar]

JW,

Hit the bulls’eye, cannot agree more !!

As far as I am concerned the Palestinian cause is becoming the “ wall of Lamentations” for all the Arabs, who are using Palestine and Palestinians to oppress their populace and keep them under their respective regimes boots. All the hot air is just to try and get the lion’s share of “Soumoud and tassadi” empty slogans …to make sure they can use it to their own advantage.

Lebanon as JW so accurately spelled it out, should FREE herself from the Palestinian cause. But Could she do so??? I doubt…not in our time …

Fubar asked :” Have the Lebanese put the interests of the Armenians above the interests of Lebanon? Of course not. Why should the Palestinian cause be any different, especially when it has the potential to bring nothing but war and destruction to Lebanon?"

Fubar do you want an honest direct and blatant answer to your question???

I will take the gloves off to say this:

Armenians aren’t Muslims my friend, here I said it.

Arabs are so confused that they cannot differentiate between the “Palestinian cause” as a rightful cause and Palestine as an Islamic cause!!!! That is where the whole knot lies, and that is what Iran is exploiting.

Arabs consider Palestine an ISLAMIC land, before being an Arab land.

The Aqsa Mosque is the second important Islamic holy place after Mecca …if you ask any average Arab about the Palestinian cause, he will tell you to free and bring back the whole of Palestine to the “Islamic” world !!!
“Hamas is more about Islamizing Palestine than freeing it” that's what Mahmoud Darwish ( the Palestinian poet ) said …and I agree with him.

The arabs would have CREATED ISRAEL AND USA if they haven’t existed …to suit their schemes…and their exploitation of their own oppressed people in the name of the cause…indubitable example Assad regime, Saddam, Kaddafi …etc ...what makes you think Lebanon will deviate from this trend ???? Why Lebanon had to bear the whole Arab – Israeli conflict almost alone ??? Again I will take the Gloves off and say BECAUSE Lebanon is the ONLY ARAB country with CHRISTIAN president.

If Lebanon treated the Palestinians in the 1970s like King Hussein did in Jordan, or what Assad did to PLO ??? what do you think would have happened ?????

Well, may be we could have spared ourselves lots of destruction, but the difference is our president is no Muslim, hence you can draw your own conclusions…as to the whole ARAB/ISLAMIC world concerning the palestinians in lebanon. ( have you already forgot what "Al-Jazeera" labelled the Lebanese army battles in Naher el-Bared against Fatah al Islam ??? GENOCIDES...needless to say how many arabs watch Al-Jazeera...) just one recent example...and i needn't remind you all that all of this took place after 20 soldiers were SLAUGHTERED while sleeping in their barracks!!

Adding Iranian Turbaned freaks to the equation, and not only you get an explosive region, but a region heading towards a big bang…no matter how they are going to delay it …it is not about the IF but about the WHEN …

As BV said it, I myself do not see Lebanon free from Palestine, you have got generations of brainwashed or I should say programmed robots who are getting more radical by the day, seeing only the honor of Islam and their Nation’s identity and salvation in freeing the land of Muslims….yet if you tell them that there are Christian Palestinians as well …
I guess you will get the answer Nassrallah had in 1983 when he said they are the leftovers of the Byzantine empire …!!!

In Short …there’s no end to this tunnel until you change the individual in this bloody society.
Lebanon is cursed geographically with two conniving (reciprocally accommodating) bullies for neighbors, but what’s worse, a dumb horde of sectarian sheep for populace.
The Body can and will fight viruses if the immune system is healthy and working.
Lebanese immune system has been undermined by decades of sectarian discrimination, nepotism, lack of patriotism…you name it.

The only WAY out is a SECULAR REGIME in LEBANON and peace treaties with both Syria and Israel ... apart from this ...we will stay decades to come in the same vicious destructive circle.

[Bad Vilbel]

Sometimes, I think the only way out is to drop a nuke or 5 and sterilize the whole region, from the Nile to Afghanistan. Then start over.

[Ex-Aounist]

BV,
If Iranand its puppets Hizb, Hamas & all the rest of the bozos insist on "whiping Israel off the map"..and continue in their suicidal path... it is exactly what would happen, believe it or not.

[Meghwar]

BV,
Better start from Morocco ... cannot leave any pockets unsterilized ....whether in Maghreb or Mashrek! Just saying....

[Bad Vilbel]

Here's an ominous report:

A few weeks ago, articles published around the world reported that Hezbollah is undergoing two major changes. Both portend greater violence from the Iranian-sponsored global terrorist network.

Analysis: Hezbollah gets a billion dollar subsidy from Iran

http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/03/analysis_hezbol.php

It's a worthwhile read. Most of it isn't really new. But I have to wonder why this kind of information isn't brandished and published all over Lebanon by the M14 side. Hizbollah is always so good at disseminating any kind of rumor or story they can use to claim M14 is in Israel or US pay. Yet somehow, a BILLION dollars, or the fact that the Supreme Leader in Iran gets to appoint leadership in Hizbollah goes almost unmentioned. Use that to play Hizbollah's game and prove to the sheeple that Hizbollah is NOT a Lebanese entity.

[Andre]

BV,

Everyone known HA is an iranian product.

[Bad Vilbel]

Andre,

Try talking to the sheeple who actually believe HA is a Lebanese Resistance (and this includes some of the Aounists)....You'd be surprised how many people don't seem to want to add 2+2, but are more than happy to theorize about how the USS Cole is somehow supplying super robot soldiers with Zionist brains, to help Saniora and Hariri keep the Shia down...(eyeroll).

[danny]

"Fadlallah Calls Jerusalem Attack 'Heroic'"...(Naharnet)

Is this the "spiritual leader" of HA and sorry to say the Shiites in Lebanon?

Where's the humanity and civility?

A murder by anyone is still a murder. Now they are celebrating the massacre of children!!

[Bad Vilbel]

Yeah. And then when something like Qana happens, they expect the world to take pity on us.

[Meghwar]

"Muslim Spiritual Leaders Denounce Israeli Crimes" (Naharnet) !!

So in their convictions, beliefs and rationale, it is "HEROIC" to shoot Israeli children/students in a school ...but it is counted a CRIME if Palestinians are killed during Israeli retaliation, to Hamas’ Qassam firecrackers shot on civilians, albeit Hamas KNOWING quiet well the intensity, ferocity, and viciousness with which Israelis are going to deliver… These are "Religious and spiritual clergymen " ???? These are supposed to spread the “WORD” of God ?????

FREAKING UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!

Hamas needed martyrs just like hizb in 2006….Or how else could they have made Syria the service of delivering the summit from the Lebanese issue, forcing arab countries to attend because of Gaza Massacre, and pushing Lebanese file to the 2nd priority on the list if at all …..( Mr. Muallem said the summit is About Gaza, same refrain from the Syrian Ambassador in Egypt …etc…) Amazingly enough Israel ( the Friend ) is always there to lend a hand to Assad's Ass...in need!

[Solomon2]

I wonder, if there is another Israel-Hezbollah war soon, will non-Hezbollah again willingly shelter refugees from Hezbollah-run areas as they did in 2006?

[Bad Vilbel]

Solomon,

I fucking hope not. (pardon the language).

Then again, this is Lebanon. People are stupid.

[Andre]

The massacre in jerusalem is not justified with the slaughter that took place in Gaza, the only difference is that Hamas benefits from israeli retaliations in order to rally arab and international public opinion, while Israel is constantly trying to use brutal force, in vain, to try and prevent these acts....a vicious circle that has been going on and on and on....in the meantime innocent civilians from both sides pay the price of this madness with no end in sight to the violence.