Nasrallah knows best

Let me preface this by saying that I have always admired Ramses the Great and never appreciated the Bible's and Qur'an vilification of him. So when Hassan Nasrallah compares George W. Bush to my favorite pharaoh, this will not cause me to hate the US president, fear him, or participate in some mass exodus to some promised land where sacrificial death awaits me and my sons.

You know a man is desperate for glory when he tries to rewrite the history of the world. And I'm not just referring to Nasrallah's reading of Ramses' history, but the social history of occupied people. It turns out that only Nasrallah understands the timing of resistance, only his people have the courage to fight, and only his method is valid. And if you don't see it Nasrallah's way, it's OK, for Nasrallah sees it for you, and will fight for you, until you come to your senses and realize that Wilyat al-Faqih has decreed that pluralism in Lebanon should be preserved!

Nasrallah noted that, contrary to popular belief, Lebanon’s situation was far from exceptional. Drawing on the Israeli invasion of Beirut, Nasrallah said, “Throughout history, when a force invaded a country, the people of that country would divide. This was the state in Lebanon in 1982. … People break into numerous groups.”

One group stands by neutral and does … another group does not care … a third group is a group of conspirators, such as Lahad's army… a fourth group cooperates with the invaders due to common interests. A fifth group is a group of pathetic losers … works to limit national losses, and these are usually the elites. A sixth group rejects the occupation politically and throught the media but is not ready to pay the toll. And a last group considers that its humanitarian, ethical, religious and national duty  is to liberate the nation, and is willing to pay the price, no matter what religion or nation it defends. This is the resistance. (Now Lebanon with corrections/additions)

في مقابل استحقاق الاحتلال وكيفية التعاطي معه ينقسم الناس لمجموعات عديدة: مجموعة كبيرة من الناس تقف على الحياد  في المرحلة الأولى وتنتظر. مجموعة أخرى أساسا لا يعنيها ما يحصل، المهم أنها تأكل وتشرب و"تشم الهواء يوم الجمعة أو يوم الأحد"، السلطة والسيادة بيد من والبلد بأي موقع فهذا لا يعنيها بشيء. مجموعة ثالثة هم من  العملاء والأدوات كجيش أنطوان لحد رخيصون مرتزقة وهم لبنانيون أيضاً.  ومجموعة رابعة تتقاطع مصالحها مع مصالح الاحتلال فتتعاون معه نتيجة تقاطع المصالح. مجموعة خامسة هي مجموعة مهزومة من الداخل ويائسة ولكنها تُنظر للتعاون مع الاحتلال طبق نظرية الحد  من الخسائر الوطنية، وغالبا ما تكون هذه المجموعة من النخب. ومجموعة سادسة ترفض  الاحتلال سياسيا وإعلاميا ولكنها ليست حاضرة لدفع الثمن وضريبة الدم. ومجموعة أخيرة تعتبر أن واجبها الانساني والأخلاقي والديني والوطني هو تحرير بلدها من الاحتلال مهما كان الثمن وهي حاضرة لتدفع الثمن، وهذه المجموعة هي مجموعة المقاومة التي تؤمن بالمقاومة وتقاوم  بالفعل.

هذا الانقسام هو انقسام طبيعي وتاريخي واجتماعي وليس حكرا على لبنان، ومن نتائجه فقدان الاجماع الشعبي والوطني على أي خيار. البعض يقول ليس هناك إجماع وطني على المقاومة في العام 1982، أو ليس هناك اجماع وطني على المقاومة في فلسطين وليس هناك إجماع وطني على المقاومة في العراق، ولكن ليس هناك إجماع وطني على الحياد ولا على العمالة ولا على التعاون ولا على اللامبالاة، إذا أي خيار لا  يحظى باجماع وطني، وكل مجموعة تأخذ خيارها وتمضي وتمشي، وهذا ما  حصل في لبنان. وأنا أقول لأي شعب تحتل أرضه كما في الماضي، لا تنتظر المقاومة إجماعا وطنيا  ولا شعبيا، وإنما يجب أن تحمل السلاح وتمضي لتؤدي واجب التحرير، تحرير الأرض والانسان والأسرى واستعادة الكرامة والعزة  بالسلاح والدم والتضحيات الغالية

By saying this, Nasrallah is admitting that we do not need to buy into his apologetics about the role of resistance in warding off the evils of neo-Egyptians and thwarting alleged American plots. But that didn't stop him from defending it. For didn't you know? If it hadn't been for the Hizbullah's "divine victory" in 2006, the US would have attacked Iran and Syria, and Israel would have finished off Lebanon.

Not a single word was uttered on Syria's negotiations with Israel. Not a single mention of the assassinations that probably originated in areas under his control. Nasrallah, however, challenged the Future Movement to follow in the footsteps of Rafik Hariri, whom Nasrallah claimed was able to reconcile his vision for Lebanon with the "resistance". Nasrallah apparently wants Saad Hariri, who came close to being killed by this "resistance", to commit suicide.

Ozymandias-wannabes like Nasrallah come by often. Salvation through destruction is the mantra of washed up fighters who wake up on thousands of rockets and no clear targets. So they're in the government, "united", under "consensus" with others. Big deal. Nasrallah is not a happy man. His speech, delivered to a huge crowd through a giant TV screen, used anger to mask defeat. Not military defeat, and not even political, but the defeat of his expired ideology of "resistance". Even President Suleiman used the past tense when referring to this resistance. Nasrallah is on the defensive, trying to construct models and apply them to Iraq and Palestine, while at the same time claiming a commitment to Lebanon.

So Nasrallah told us he had never tried to usurp power, and that he offered the south to the state in 2000 after he finished the liberation. Where has the state been in the past 8 years? Good question. Form 2000 to 2005, the Syrians ran the show. And when people tried to take over and spread the authority of the state over Lebanese territories, what did Hassan do? He unleashed his mob, paid them dollars to sabotage the building of the state, launched a war without consulting anyone, trained militias from other sects, and laid siege to the very government he claimed was lax. And yes, he rejected government help after July 2006, the same way he rejected Rafik Hariri's numerous attempts to bring prosperity to Shia areas. Prosperous people cannot be brainwashed into believing their brethren are the enemy.

But they can do this:

Amal and Hezbollah gunmen opened fire and hurled rocks in the direction of Tarik al-Jedideh and Corniche al-Mazraa earlier today, coinciding with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech. RPGs were also fired at the Abed an-Nasser mosque. The Lebanese army has been deployed and has cut off the roads between Corniche al-Mazraa, Barbour and Tarik al-Jedideh. The wounded have been transferred to nearby hospitals. (Now Lebanon)

A Lebanese citizen, Muriel Choueiri, is injured by celebratory gunfire during Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech. (Now Lebanon)

Maqassed Hospital reports 18 civilians wounded by Hizbullah and AMAL fire in Beirut. Some of the injured were in critical conditions. (Naharnet)

Read the Arabic transcript here.  Now Lebanon's translation is not accurate. Naharnet's less impressive summary is here. Or just skip and read about the King of Kings.

Comments

[Sydney2008]

"Nasrallah... used anger to mask defeat. Not military defeat, and not even political, but the defeat of his expired ideology of "resistance"."

You succinctly expressed the essence of the matter

[Bad Vilbel]

Bingo! Great post AK. I have absolutely nothing more to add, for once :)

[Simone]

Anyone who doesn't fear George Bush is truly a fool.

[maverick]

hahaha...." Kasarteloo haybtoo" La Sayyed, and this is all he has left, the romantic overblown idealist figure that is the saviour hero, Hassan Nasrallah.
Watch the timebomb get dismantled slowly but surely.
and question, Isnt it a huge paradox to say that you encourage "Willayet Al Faqih" and pluralistic coexistence?

[ghassan karam]

We have been discussing these same issues for close to three years and so there is no need to repeat the arguments one more time. Suffice it to say that many of us have always thought strongly that HA cannot be victorious in the long run. So yes Nasrallah's speech reflects frustration that cracks might be stating to be detected in the invincibility of the resistance. But in the short run HA has made important advances politically and militarily and that is what makes them exceptionally dangerous at this stage. They might detect some weakness in their position but I fear that they will lash out to overcompensate for that perceived weakness. March 14 cannot afford the "failed" strategies of the past. They need to govern justly but firmly and decisively. If March 14 fails to assert its prerogative then the next phase promises to be full of instability and maybe even violence.

[Sydney2008]

Is there any sign that this time the 14th of March's performance will be better?

[mustapha]

Wilayat al-Faqih is a worse ideology than Zionism and must be fought by the Arabs with greater vigor. Look at Iran. There is not a single mosque or school for the Sunnis. The Sunnis are not even allowed to build their own mosques or schools. Wilayat al-Faqih is a Persian Majian invention which is alien to Islamic beliefs. This man, Hassan Nasr al-Shaytan, is a conceited thug who has no courage to admit and apologize for the crime he recently committed in West Beirut. It is the responsibility of the Lebanese Army to arrest him and try him for mass murder.

[Helen]

GK, Jeha, Maverick etc..
I apologize but this is pretty much off whatever is related to Nasrallah (this is another guy that I avoid listening or watching otherwise I see myself projected in European Middle-Ages).
Have you seen the latest comment by Arthur Dent in 'Hate something..." it is worth noting as I believe it touches the issues accurately.
By the way, Hayyabina, Mallat blogs seem to be updated and I am sure will be working hard again before the elections. To my belief, there are so many NGOs in Lebanon that are secular (croix-rouge, CEMEAL, environmental organizations, some benefit organizations etc..). It helps joining effort.

[Sydney2008]

I am so impressed with the celebrations going on in dowtown beirut as people are enjoying the "wawa culture"...This is the new Lebanon...people were so excited to the extent of jumping on stage...disgusting!

[Riemer Brouwer]

@Helen,
If you're talking about Chibli Mallat, the french daily L'Orient-Le Jour reported on Friday that Mallat had issued a press release stating he had withdraw himself from public life.

Now, he might run as MP next year but that would almost surely mean he has to accept the corrupted system he so vigorously has been attacking. We can only hope he will not sell out next year.

[Helen]

Thanks for the info. I haven't seen Mallat for sometime now. He was pretty active in 2005. Too bad, he was adding some flavor into Lebanese politics.

[maverick]

RB,
By running as MP or bieng involved in Lebanese policy making, does it necessarily mean that he has "accepted" the system? We need more of these independant and honest reformist figures,the Mallats,the Carlos Eddes etc, to be more involved and within the framework as opposed to side commentators.

[Min Canada]

Such clever people those early Egyptians. After 30 years of rule, if the Pharaoh is still alive, they turned their Pharaoh to Gods and let the next generation rule. 3ebar min al taareekh.

I wish I had time today to analyse Hass's speech point for point as it answers Soolymon's (I'm having fun with this name). I think in many ways Hass answered every point that el-Rayyes made in his speech including the issue of repatriating the La7d people.

We can't really make Hassouna a God eh? Any chance we could get close? I mean he is a Sayyed so close enough. Anything to get him moving on would be fine by me. Of course his next-in-line is not so... how shall I say...minione. Perhaps we can get Hayfa Wehbe to stand in for the Fuqahaa2 el modeern. You know, the type who can mix a Wilaayat al-Faqeeh with breast implants. What are you smiling about? That is exactly our Lebanese dichotomy.

[danny]

Hassan is upset:

 War & Peace: He declared that the decision of war and peace and the ultimate destruction of the country could be taken by him ALONE. Most don’t have to agree… However, if you were to elect a prez for the republic for an almost ceremonial post; the church mousse opinion counts…Everyone must agree!!
 Political gains: I somewhat disagree with Ghassan on this matter. His ‘experts’” calculations must me in for the possibility of his winning a majority coalition. It must have shown his side will lose in May 2009 as Orange colour is not MODA any more.
 Control over the three posts: For the first time in nine years at least, HA will not have the President as an employee from Damascus. Also, he still sees that parliament would be against his “faqqih”. Thirdly the PM position is gone….
 Fear of Shiites having prosperity: Herein is the biggest fear of HA!! What if this “contraption” called democracy works? What if Israel releases the child killers from Israel and hand over the Shabaa to UN? What if Shiites come out of the fear of the gun and challenge him. Most important what if HA finds out that Shias declare their zest for life not death?
 The fear and anger (he almost lost his voice and lost 10 lbs sweating) in his voice reflect the uncertainty and loss of control of his BS. It frustrated him that the Beirutis played dead and did not fight back with his thugs.
 I am not writing the eulogy of HA; however I can see it in their leaders’ eyes. The old sparkle of mischief and arrogance has gone. You can sense the fear of uncertainty.
 Finally, I fear for the life of all politicians more now than ever, if this unstable bearded buffoon snaps!
 Again, remember he wished that Lebanon enjoy a great summer?? That was 2006…
Here he goes again wishing to God that Lebanese have a quiet summer…I’m worried! Jeha’s prediction of Hot July???

أيها الإخوة والأخوات, النقطة ما قبل الأخيرة: إني آمل بقوة وأدعو الله تعالى أن يكون أمام اللبنانيين صيف هادئ وادع. تعالوا لنتعاون، هناك حلمان حلم لبناني وحلم أميركي الحلم اللبناني يتحدث عن صيف هانئ
............

[Min Canada]

Did you folks read NapolAoun's Tasree7?

وحول خطاب السيد حسن نصرالله خصوصًا لجهة حديثه عن ارتباط حزب الله بولاية الفقيه، رفض عون "التعليق على ايديولوجية وعقائد الاحزاب"، واكتفى بالإشارة الى ان " ما يهمنا لبنان ومستقبله وارتباط الاحزاب اللبنانية بالدولة اللبنانية واحترامها لخصوصية المجتمع اللبناني" واضاف عون "يجب توضيح العلاقة بين حزب الله والدولة على المستوى العسكري على ان توضع استراتيجية دفاعية تخضع لحوار وطني لتحديد ماهيتها

So it is true. Once the crisis is up not M14, but M8 is falling apart. Call it what you will, but the above text is in direct opposition to what Hssouna was saying.

So no one liked my idea of using Hayfa? Hmm... a grumpy bunch this morning.

[danny]

Luv Hayfa min canada. Do you know that hayfa's child is purported to be Hassan's love child???...

[danny]

Min Canada,

I really do not care what Orangebutt says...However; it seems he is on a salvage mission of Christian minds. I doubt it if his "followers" (who ever's left that's not on payroll)take fancy to W of F...

Aoun lost all credibility long time ago. Currently he's being taken to task publicly by DSG and Gemayel for his dumbass self serving stances. Aoun was discarded like a piece of soiled diaper in Doha...His spins are not working!!

[Min Canada]

Danny you may not care much about NapolAoun, but without him Wilaayat al-Faqueeh comment becomes meaningful. I was wondering why he came up with that. So he is on his own now. No more Marontie cover. No more "Christian" allies. That is significant.

[Umm K.]

What did Aoun say? My Arabic is pretty bad and AK is busy working, so he can't translate for me!

[danny]

min canada,

hold your horses...clAoun is known to "comment" then retract as if he did not say it...or give it a different spin.

[Charlie]

Civility continues to be an alien concept in Lebanon. An egomaniac like NAS delivers a speech only to see people get hurt afterwards. Bunch backwards hicks

[Bad Vilbel]

Someone FINALLY decided it was a good idea to ban motorcycle convoys, demonstrations, and flag waving in Beirut.

Only took them 18 months!

[LebExile]

whatever happened to Claouns comment that his alliance with Hizb would last for eternit???

[Abilama]

The crreep hides in his rathole and sends others to die. More THAN 90 DEAD AND OVER 200 INJURED JUST TO MASSAGE HIS INFLATED EGO. THIS PLUS THE unnecessary loss of life and destruction. When he kills it does not count only when Israel does in reaction to his provocations.

[Bad Vilbel]

Well said, Abilama.

I for one, would like to see some kind of ad campaign, as morbid as it might be that shows the tally of casualties caused by Nassrallah against those caused by Israel and those cause by Syria in Lebanon.

My guess is Syria and Nassrallah have overall caused a lot more deaths and injuries in Lebanon than Israel has, despite the 1982 invasion and the 2006 war.

[LebExile]

Bad Vibel...

In creating such a tally... do you assign the victims of July to Israel or to Hassin???

I believe that they both share responsiblity for the deaths, however, I personally believe that Hizb has more responsiblity - by using civilians as shields, and firing from civilian areas..

[Bad Vilbel]

I'd probably split that one 50-50. But my point was a point of principle. I don't think it's worth nitpicking and breaking it down that way. The general point I'm trying to make is that in a country where Israel is demonized as being some kind of root of all evil, that kills and maims Lebanese, Nassrallah and his thugs, the Syrians, and countless other LEBANESE have probably cause MORE death and destruction on the nation than Israel has.
That should - in theory, if people weren't so stupid - invalidate that moronic habit they have in Lebanon of blaming Israel for every damn thing.

[Shunkleash]

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

A prisoner swap is in the works folks...!

Our long lost HEROES QANTAR AND NISR are comming home. Golly for the days when these brave men fought the evil unarmed JOOOO father and the ZIONIST daughter and managed to vanquish them. But you guys know the story...those pesky Joos just caught Qantar by an umph. But nevertheless, he is BACK and we must now show our appreciation for his sacrifice for za fazerland. WOOOOWEEEE!!! I have gooosiepimples! A true SON of the lebanese soil RETURNS after being unfairly jailed and subjected to such unbearable cruelty! He epitomises all that is good in the lebanese! We must fete him like the prodigal son and make sure he has every comfort...every one sick yet?

Right, well repeat after me in UNITY please--->...FUCK YOU HASSAN NASRALLAH YOU BIG FAT PIECE OF UNIFIED SHIT!!!!!!!

bye bye

[LebExile]

It's not nitpicking, but, if you were to say that there have been 150,000 deaths in Lebanon from 1975 to today - I would say that

1. 20,000 were from Israel
2. 20,000 were from Syria
3. 110,000 were from Lebanese slaughtering each other - being proxy to regional powers or not.

I dont think that Hizb really has killed that many Lebanese compared to others - unless of course you want to tally from 1990 onwards.

[LebExile]

here's an idea...

what about starting another resistance group.

This new resistance would instead of resisting Israel be resisting Syria and Iran.

they can get their weapons and money from Saudi or US, be based along the Syrian border, demand to be included in the ministerial statement, set up their own private phone network, and have their own security squares...

it's just a thought - and Hassin is in the business of resistance, I dont think he can really complain about the competition!! or is it a monopoly thing???

[Bad Vilbel]

Leb,

See this is why i didn't want to nitpick and tally. because it's very hard to ascribe blame on who killed who in what period. Were they being a proxy? if so, do you blame the proxy or their master? where do you draw the line? 1990? etc.

It's all really irrelevant. My MAIN point is that some parties in Lebanon (others in the past, but currently, it's mainly HA) insist on attributing deaths and destruction on OUTSIDERS (a typical case of that living in denial thing I always talk about) when in truth, the majority of the killing was done by Lebanese against other Lebanese.

But the way Lebanese people live in denial, they have a psychological mechanism for justifying their actions by projecting the "Them" (in a us vs. them mentality) as being an outsider (which then makes it ok to kill said outsiders).

If it's not "Israelis" or "Syrians" or "Palestinians" (look at how easy it was for Lebanese to psychologically get behind the killing of people in Nahr Al Bared), it's on a smaller scale: the sect (Sunnis v Shia v Druze, whatever)...and so on.

All this, in my mind, is nothing more than a mechanism to justify committing what is considered by all religions, moral codes, and legal frameworks as a sin/crime/etc (Killing someone else).

The short of it is...WE do the dirty deeds. And it's hard time WE start owning up to it and start admitting it is WE who have ruined our country, it is WE who have been the enemies of Lebanon, it is WE who have killed and maimed and massacred and destroyed.

[ghassan karam]

Umm Kais,
Aoun refused to "comment on the ideology and beliefs of the parties" and he was satisfied in pointing out that "what is important to us is Lebanon and its future and the relationship between the Lebanese parties and the Lebanese state and its respect for the uniqueness/what is special of the Lebanese society". Aoun added " The relationship between HA and the state must be clearified at the military level in order to subject the defensive strategy to a definition through national dialogue"

وحول خطاب السيد حسن نصرالله خصوصًا لجهة حديثه عن ارتباط حزب الله بولاية الفقيه، رفض عون "التعليق على ايديولوجية وعقائد الاحزاب"، واكتفى بالإشارة الى ان " ما يهمنا لبنان ومستقبله وارتباط الاحزاب اللبنانية بالدولة اللبنانية واحترامها لخصوصية المجتمع اللبناني" واضاف عون "يجب توضيح العلاقة بين حزب الله والدولة على المستوى العسكري على ان توضع استراتيجية دفاعية تخضع لحوار وطني لتحديد ماهيتها

So it is true. Once the crisis is up not M14, but M8 is falling apart. Call it what you will, but the above text is in direct opposition to what

[LebExile]

Bad Vibel,

I totally disagree with you there - it is not we, it is a selfish few who in thirst for power will align with a foreign master to overcome the others..

first it was the Sunni's siding with the palestinians, then the christians with the Israelis now the shia's aligning with the persians..

for their to really be peace, you need to get those outsiders to back off..

In the current instance, you have hassin - who has hijacked the shia community and is acting as a proxy to Iran. The others - who cannot even think of taking on Hizb directly or Iran indirectly would have no choice but to align with a regional power to counter Iran - what choice do they have... the problem is that there is no law and order to prevent this from happening...

If the state was stronger, they may be able to put controls on the border, stop the flow of illegal weapons, and so on...

I cant imagine that the other camps in Lebanon today are not actively rearming...

[Umm K.]

Thanks Ghassan!!

[Bad Vilbel]

LebExile,

At the risk of turning this into a debate, I disagree. One man is incapable causing so much damage if nobody listens to him. Sure, it is the leaders that aligned with foreign powers, to try and further their own greed, ambition and lust for power, but ultimately that means NOTHING unless hordes of morons don't take up arms for that leader.

Without the several thousand HA "supporters", Hassan Nassrallah would be nothing more than a crazy man in a hole. Trust me, I see delusional homeless guys wandering the streets, talking to themselves and ranting about this or that everytime I walk around downtown Los Angeles. Yet somehow, these guys haven't started any civil wars. The difference is that in Lebanon, you have the sheeple, who get all riled up and follow these insane delusional guys like Aoun, Nassrallah and others like them in the past.

[Son of Lebanon]

Good post indeed. Wilayet el Faqih is a dangerous concept. While I supported the resistance (when it was resisting, that is) against Israeli occupation the Wilayet el Faqih is an incredible import of the Iranian Islamic Revolution's goal to 'wipe Israel of the map' (a rough translation of a comment made by Ahmadinajad)... only its at expense of Lebanon! Besides, there are non-violent ways of dealing with Israel and bringing justice finally for the Palestinians.

[Nadim]

Great post, AK.

Another must read on this subject: http://www.tajaddod-youth.com/blog-page/288/

[Linda]

So does he make "la pluie et le beau temps" or not? I am sure every Lebanese analysed his demeanor just like the Agency analyses Oussama's voice every time a tape surfaces. "He blinked 20 times as opposed to 50 and that means he is.... AFRAID!!!!". Do we have a final count on how much sweat he poured?
I read all the positive spins on Doha's results and I cheer the current new development and then Hassouna speaks and.... duck and cover. No I was not on the Kornich el Mazra3a in case nshaghal belkon... Shouldn't our new Amshiti elect give an appeasing speech and an answer to yesterday's lecture?

[ghassan karam]

Um Kais,
Please disregard the last english language line in my pearlier post. It just snuck in there when I was cutting and pasting.

[Solomon2]

"there are non-violent ways of dealing with Israel and bringing justice finally for the Palestinians."

Yes, BUT that would involve making crazy Arabs sane. If Israel gave back every square inch of territory and its population removed itself to the Moon, wouldn't Arabs and Muslims STILL be chasing around looking for "Zionist enemies", both internal and external, unless a better enemy came along?

Not just to keep Arab and Muslim leaders from being democratically accountable, but to keep Arabs and Muslims themselves from looking in the mirror and confronting just how much of their ills and those of the entire planet are attributable to themselves and their forefathers?

After sixty years of re-writing history and forcibly purged memories, it is a given that the Jews are responsible for the fate of the Arabs of Palestine.

After less than two years most Lebanese believe that Israel started the 2006 war.

On the same day Lebanese are attacked by Hezbollah thugs, Nasrallah publicly proclaims his peaceful past and present intentions, even as his forces receive their own orders over Hezbollah's private communication network, so tomorrow you may hear that any unpleasantness was due to the fact that Hezbollah's forces were unjustly attacked and had to defend themselves. In a year the story may be spread that Hezbollah never carried arms into Beirut at all...

How in the world could Arabs and Muslims handle the psychic backlash of guilt and remorse - not just directed towards Jews but towards God - that sanity would force onto their minds? Isn't that what Qadaffi warned everyone about just last month?

Islam simply does not offer, or perhaps has not evolved, the same relief to the soul that Christianity offers for followers who overcome their ego and renounce evil. Many ex-Khmer Rouges have adopted Roman Catholicism for that very reason.

Therefore, until a suitable spiritual alternative is developed how can Arabs and Muslims do without a sectarian feud, jihad, or "resistance"?

[ghassan karam]

Linda;
"I read all the positive spins on Doha's results" .
You would not hear that from me. If you are interested in a different analysis and a divergent perspective to all of these "positives" then you can read my 3-4 articles on the first page of Yalibnan,con. I especially recommend the most recent :Hllow Victory: :-) If you and your freinds prefer Podcasts then by all means visit Ramblings11.mypodcast.com

[Linda]

Ya Ghassan: I know your take on this one. I was just referring to the optimistic views like Young's and AK's and using it for effect when it comes to Hassouna blinking. I am swinging between optimism, pessimism and defeatism. I can spill 3 very convincing arguments supporting each one of them and contradicting the 2 others. Facts are facts. And time will tell. For now I have a dishwasher to load kus no srilankis abound in the land of the brave and the free...

[Bad Vilbel]

Naharnet is reporting that M14 is nominating Fouad Saniora for PM. Which means he's pretty much the shoe-in for the post.

This should make for an interesting turn, considering all the abuse he had to withstand from people who are now going to be sitting in his cabinet.

And we'll probably have another year of calling him "spineless" and "Milquetoast" and so on...

Although, I have to say, I think Saniora makes a much better statesman than Hariri, at this stage. That's not to say I was too pleased with Saniora's performance so far, mind you...

[Min Canada]

Frankly I love Sineora. His methid of working with the Opposition is priceless in my mind. His speeches and the way he sonewalls them with words about al-Shaquiqua and al-3adoo al-sahyooni must drive them up a wall!!! I see no better way to crown Doha than to stick Seniora in their face for another year.

[Linda]

very well put min canada... he can keep up the beaten wife role who always comes back with a pleading "how can i make it better and/or where did i fail you". HA being the hubby with the quick fist here if anyone missed the metaphore. i guess the passive agressive way is the best way to deal with them. but I forgot, we have a new daddy home now. meanwhile we the kids are terrorized, holding on to any glimmer of hope as they are bringing down the house. and we are being blamed for just focusing on fun in the sun?

[Sydney2008]

Linda,
I found your previous post about Doha's results interesting. For we all go through the three phases you mentioned: pessimism, optimism and defeatism...but as you said facts are facts ...it is all about our expectations...
I found it too harmful to go too low in our expectations and celebrate as if Lebanon is sovereign and free from HA.At the same time, it does not help to go too high because that leads to unrealistic goals and therefore to frustration and inability to plan for the future...
As we all know,the situation in Lebanon is the product of the dynamics of internal and external factors which means that we are in a grey zone. Even a skillful analyst cannot predict what could happen in the future

[Sydney2008]

GK,
I read your article on Ya Libnan...You are right regarding Berri, everything he did was unconstitutional so far and he is more dangerous on the democratic process than HA because he is the political arm per se of HA who is able to skillfully twist the law...and when the rule of law is permanently violated by one branch of the government, i wonder whether it is fair or possible for other branches to follow the democratic rules
On the other hand, i was reading the news this morning and one can at least tell that HA is not cooling it down at all..they will probably create a limited political unrest to destroy the new summer season and to snatch some political gains from the new cabinet...But this time i have the impression that the army won't be able to be neutral because that will make Suleiman look weak in the eyes of people , the arabs and the west...Interesting to see what is going to happen

[Linda]

GK: I went on the yalibnan site also and i feel like your passenger in the water...

[Andre]

Nominating Saniora to the Premiership is a big mistake. He is not liked by the opposition and has a chip on his shoulders given the beating that HA gave him when they decided to deal with his last decisions by force. At this juncture, it is perhaps best to put in someone who can work with the opposition without having any bone to pick with them. With the right to veto, this new government will not achieve much with Saniora at the helm...you can rest assured HA will be at loggerheads with him and will frustrate him with a veto left and right...that's not what is needed to try and work out some kind of an agreement before the 2009 elections which promise to be another bone of contention b/w majority and opposition.

[Min Canada]

But we are not the kids Linda. We should not look at ourselves as so helpless as to be kids. After all, we drove the Syrians out not the battered wife!

As to the fun in the sun, I used to send my wife and kids every summer. I would join them for 2 weeks and then go back to work but they would stay with the grand parents for the summer. That was until they got stuck in 2006. I was here, they were there and it was the most helpless feeling ever. Also a feeling of betrayal. I never wanted them to know war. We sacrificed a lot to uproot ourselves and rebuild a future here. Thankfully we are doing very well. But it was not easy. But to know that idiots like Hassan can still have the power of life or death over us all including our kid is what drives me to want to castrate him and his thugs.

When you go for fun in the sun after 2006, you are playing with fire and you are encouraging the people to think that their lives are normal. You are giving people like Hassan quarters. You are saying "you can have lebanon, just give me the summers". When what we should all be saying with our checkbooks from abroad: No. We will not spend a nickle while your thugs rule the streets. Get back into your holes, or face the responsibility for a failed season. This is how the Mughtarebeen can send a clear message to HA.

As for the people, they are not and we should not make them feel like they are a circus to visit and not care about after we leave. Fhemna we want our summer. Can't we sacrifice a few of these for the well being of those who get to spend the winters there as well? Would it be too much to ask for you not to treat the situation as relatively convenient enough so that you can have your holiday?

You were so happy that they had the Doha agreement in time for your holiday. Ya 3eeen. You were ready to hug and kiss all of them for making it possible for you to enjoy your vacation. To hell with what they achieved. They got you the summer. The logic is that there is a season for war (Winter sring and fall) and a season for those visitors (Summer). So have you summer. I hope you enjoy it. I hope Wilaayat al Faqeeh does not start a war while you are there. But be aware that for people like you Lebanon is a vacation spot not a country. Not a nation, and not a people.