Obama: time to engage in diplomacy

Guess what time it is? It’s time for Obama’s “diplomatic efforts” to come save the day.

Hezbollah's power grab in Beirut has once more plunged that city into violence and chaos. This effort to undermine Lebanon's elected government needs to stop, and all those who have influence with Hezbollah must press them to stand down immediately. It's time to engage in diplomatic efforts to help build a new Lebanese consensus that focuses on electoral reform, an end to the current corrupt patronage system, and the development of the economy that provides for a fair distribution of services, opportunities and employment. We must support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions that reinforce Lebanon's sovereignty, especially resolution 1701 banning the provision of arms to Hezbollah, which is violated by Iran and Syria. As we push for this national consensus, we should continue to support the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Siniora, strengthen the Lebanese army, and insist on the disarming of Hezbollah before it drags Lebanon into another unnecessary war. As we do this, it is vital that the United States continues to work with the international community and the private sector to rebuild Lebanon and get its economy back on its feet.

Oh the time we wasted by fighting Hizbullah all those years with rockets, invasions of their homes and shutting down their media outlets. If only we had engaged them and their masters in diplomacy, instead of just sitting with them around discussion tables, welcoming them into our parliament, and letting them veto cabinet decisions. If only Obama had shared his wisdom with us before, back when he was rallying with some of our former friends at pro-Palestinian rallies in Chicago. How stupid we were when, instead of developing national consensus with them, we organized media campaigns against Israel on behalf of the impoverished people who voted for them.

During that time when we bought into the cause against Israel, treating resistance fighters like our brothers, we really should have been building consensus with them. Because what we did back in 1982, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2006 – all that was plain betrayal and unnecessary antagonism, a product of a corrupt patronage system and unfair distribution of wealth.

We stand today regretting the wasted time that could have been wisely spent talking to them, to the Syrian occupiers who brought them into our system, and the Iranian revolutionary guards who trained them.

Yes, this is change we believe in. Get me a time machine.

Comments

[Doha]

C'mon AK, you're being too harsh here with Obama. I mean what do you want him to say? These are the kinds of snippets you'd hear from any liberal US politician. He's not going to say, oh Iran should be bombed to hell and we should be sending the Marines to get rid of HA.

[Doha]

The bigger news here is what Annahar is posting on its first page which is that the Arab League reps are meeting tomorrow concerning Lebanon, but Syria and Qatar have excused themselves from attending. What??????!!!!!

[Charlie]

May be Obama can go deliver to HA and Hamas one of his "great" speeches so they see the light. After all he can solve any problem through a speech. This big lie Obama is never going to get my vote.

[Snippet]

Get used to it.

America won't protect you. For a million and one reasons, America WILL NOT PROTECT YOU.

Those days are gone.

[Snippet]

Get used to it.

America won't protect you. For a million and one reasons, America WILL NOT PROTECT YOU.

Those days are gone.

[Bad Vilbel]

AK, I don't know why you bothered even posting that. Obama doesn't know what he's talking about, when it comes to HA. It's just an idiotic talking point on the campaign trail.

And yes, snippet, I agree. America won't protect us. I keep trying to hammer that point in.

[Min Canada]

There is no shame in what the M14 did the past few days. I believe the stance on the Phone systems and the Ass at the airport where sound decisions that any sovreign nation should put as a line in the sand.

There is also no shame in unarmed or lightely armed men to fall to a trained militia that withstood one of the strongest army in thw world. No shame at all.

There is also no shame in still looking for a solution. Politicians have to do that. That is their job.

The shame falls on the USA and the USA alone if they do not act to reverse this action. The USA says it supports the Gov. in Lebanon. Ya? How?

It parked 7 ships off the shore to signal its wish for stablilty in Lebanon. Ya? What'cha gonna do?

It warned and warned and warned again Syria and Iran against interfearing in Lebanon. Well? Now what?

It warned against re-arming HA, THEY HAVE BEEN REARMED ALREADY!!!! Now what?

Iran has played its hand in Lebanon. It put its chips in... I think everyone else at the table is about to fold.

This failure if it persists, will be a significant blow to the USA in the whole region and will have repercussions way beyond Beirut. If Beirut can fall, so can 'Amman, and Doha and Jedda and Riyad and yes even Cairo. The new Ilkahnid Empire is upon us. Do we have any Mamluks to fight back? Shall we all pitch in to rent Black Water for a few days?

[fubar]

"He's not going to say, oh Iran should be bombed to hell and we should be sending the Marines to get rid of HA."

Cuz first he would have to know where Iran was and who, what, and where HA was. Kinda much, considering...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws

[e]

Saddam invaded Kuwait in August but was kicked out only the beginning of the next year. That is how the US works. These things take time. First step Arab leauge. Then UN security council. Then sanctions. Then, creating a coalition. If Obama wins maybe nothing happens, but if McCain or even Clinton gets in, this is going to have a familar ending.

Does this help those that will need to suffer the HA goons on their streets for months? Not much. But at least they know how the Kuwaities were feeling when the Arab street was cheering Saddam on.

[e]

One thing to the Lebanese. HA are ready to put their life on the line, you can give them that. Are you? Or are you going the demand US soldiers die for freeing Lebanon? Are you going to show that you are willing to sacrifice for your country or are you just going to demand that Americans die for you?

[ghassan karam]

Is it asking too much of those that have immediately pounced on the Obama statement to look at it carefuuly:Let us look carefully at the Obama statement:
Lo and behold it calls for practically everything that March 14 has ever wanted but been afraid to ask and it even dared touch on meaningful systemic reform;

(1) Undermining the Lebanese government must stop.

(2) Its time to build a new Lebanon based on electoral reform and put an end to the corrupt patronage system.

(3)We must implement all UNSC resolutions especially 1701.

(4)Support the elected government of PM Saniora.

(5) Strengthen the Lebanese army.

(6) Insist on disarming Hezbollah.

Could you please explain to me which of the above is not in the national Lebanese interest and in particular which of the above is objectionable. I bet that your objections have nothing to do with the ends but you were looking for more meaningless bluster a la "We will obliterate Iran".

[Safe in US]

Good evening all, a friend of mine pointed me to this blog for Lebanon news and I have been following for a few days. So many fascinating theories....... good luck to those who are actually on the ground! My prayers are for your safety.

[Charlie]

Min Canada,

What do you expect the US to do?
put boots on the ground when the honorable Lebanease Army is hanging out playing spectator or better yet back up to HA!
So you want them to go flatten Dahieh, it is already flat.

It is one thing if the Army was in the fight like they did in Naher al-Bared then they can turn to the US and others for help in supplies and logistics, but no one on M14 side is willing to fight, may be they are all hung over from too much partying at Gemayzeh

When 2 fighters line up for a fight and only one shows up, well he is the one who won the fight.

[e]

Ghassan,
AK demands a little realism from Obama. What is this a tea party?
"I insist you try the coffee cake" - "we should continue to support the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Siniora, strengthen the Lebanese army, and insist on the disarming of Hezbollah before it drags Lebanon into another unnecessary war"

Obama is not even acknowledging that he is up against a ruthless organization which glorifies martyrdom. Obama will insist? He must be ready to eventually shove the coffee cake down HA throats. Otherwise, they will not respond to any neogtiating. And since HA know that Obama does not have that in him, they will just laugh at all his efforts.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ghassan,

Come on you know better than that. The 6 points you listed are just TALK. The current administration has demanded the same 6 things and hasn't done shit about it. TALK TALK TALK

As for Min Canada's comment. I disagree. Blaming the US for not saving our Lebanese asses is dumb. WE are the ones to blame. Why on EARTH would you blame a foreign nation that doesn't even know where Lebanon is (ask most Americans) for not saving your ass? Might as well blame the Burmese and Koreans for the holocaust too, while we're at it.

[Rowan Berkeley]

The US has reached the "apres nous, le deluge" stage, globally. This means that they can precipitate sectarian war in Lebanon, or anywhere else in Asia or Africa, but they cannot control it, they can merely use it as a pretext for subsequent destruction of non-US-subservient areas by means of carpet bombing. So, unless that is what you truly desire, I suggest you de-escalate your rhetoric.

[vox]

This is an election year. The US ain't going to do shit, and especially not Obama who's too busy surrendering Iraq to think about Lebanon.

[Bad Vilbel]

Some people around here really have no idea how US politics works, specially in a campaign year. Stop deluding yourself folks. Honestly.

[Rowan Berkeley]

I know it's a leftie rag, but I recommend the articles by Franklin Lamb at CounterPunch. I think it was him who came up with the phrase "the Welch Club," otherwise known as "the Friday lunch club." Google it.

[JohnDoe]

Hi Everyone,

Can some adults on this site explain to me why the military wing of Hezbollah does not just integrate with the Lebanese Army and maintain its political wing with the democratically elected government? Has this scenario been suggested to Hezbollah by the current democratically elected gov’t?

If it has been suggested, why would in your opinion Hezbollah not cooperate within State institutions? Why would they rather keep their military wing separate?

I hope some responses come from people within the Hezbollah circle who can give concrete explanations.

[JohnDoe]

Hi Everyone,

Can some adults on this site explain to me why the military wing of Hezbollah does not just integrate with the Lebanese Army and maintain its political wing with the democratically elected government? Has this scenario been suggested to Hezbollah by the current democratically elected gov’t?

If it has been suggested, why would in your opinion Hezbollah not cooperate within State institutions? Why would they rather keep their military wing separate?

I hope some responses come from people within the Hezbollah circle who can give concrete explanations.

[A.]

There's over 10 000 UNIFIL troops south of the Litani in South Lebanon with nothing to do- why not deploy some of them nothwards to Beirut.It would take them a couple of hours to move say 5 000 UNIFIL trops with their APC's....

What would do you guys think it take for such a decision?
A request by PM Saniora to UNSC?

[Rowan Berkeley]

No one is going to 'disarm Hezbollah' just by citing UN resolutions, and no one wants to tackle them on the ground. Not UN troops or anyone else. The 2006 Israeli campaign made it clear enough that only saturation bombing of whole Shi'ite areas will clear them, and no one in Lebanon wants that either. Nasrallah knows that ; he isn't stupid. he has stated terms for a solution, and the alternatives are, either to accept those terms, or wait for Israeli air strikes, which could come whenever a suitable pretext is created, such as a claim that Hezbollah is moving missile launchers down to the Israeli border, or something like that.

Am I wrong? Do tell me if I am.

[Rowan Berkeley]

This is a smart blog, by the way. Nice layout.

[RebLeb]

Maybe if we group hug Nasrallah (after he takes a shower) everything will be fine. No?
idiot Obama idiot

[Umm K.]

No worries--AK knows the US is not going to save Lebanon. He was just highly annoyed with Obama's statement. When you issue a statement like that, he found it a little patronizing to the Lebanese who HAVE tried. Instead of a lame, empty statement, you might as well not issue a statement at all. He doesn't know Lebanon at all and it shows. (Has any US president/politician "known" Lebanon?)

We checked to see if John McCain issued a statement so he could pick that apart too, but nothing as of last night.

[JoseyWales]

Shut down AnNahar and any frigging paper that's gonna talk about any more frigging Arab League meetings. Aaaargghhh.!

Obama, US blah blah blah. Forget it.

Min Canada:

There's a lot of SHAME.

Shame for waiting TEN years to draw the line.

Shame for not being ready when you drew the line

Shame on the fucking army and its commander for letting people run scared in their own streets, homes and city

Shame of Hariri and Saniora for being themselves.

Shame on anyone expecting anything from the US , the UN, the Arab League, our leaders...

What will he says at 2pm?: Saniora is as Saniora does.

If he says we are in control and the army is doing its job and the state is being rebuilt and we ask for support from our fucking friends, the GOD DAMN fucking BEGGAR FROM HELLL should be taken and shot on the spot.

Heres' the latest gem (Naharnet)

1:50pm The Lebanese army command is tilted toward taking a decision to pull militiamen out of streets, al-Arabiya TV said

That's what we need a "tilted" army command that needs 5 days to clear a street. Yeah, Sleimane's fuckers are ready to take on Israeli aggression...maybe after Hezbo lets them get to the airport.

[RecoveringHog]

General consensus is that Lebanon is already toast. They have already bowed down to both Sryia and Iran....why should anybody else lift a finger? If you sleep with dogs, you wake up with fleas. Just sayin...

[RebLeb]

The only solution is to start lobing missiles at Syria, clear Damascus of its people, just like Haifa in 2006. This is an attack by Syria and therefore retaliation should be against Syria (until we get the longer range missiles to hit the f-ing ayatollahs in Tehran). These mofos have had it coming for years.

[RecoveringHog]

RebLeb.....why would your Generals start lobbing missiles at their own masters?

[RebLeb]

RecoveringHog, the army won't do it. Small groups of sunnis or druze or christians could do it. It doesnt take much nowadays. A small mobile launcher hidden in a garage, and some friends to give you the missiles and a quick training. Hezbollah demonstrated that strategy in 2006. But two can play that game.

[Rowan Berkeley]

I just spent a couple of hours working my way through a huge article by someone called Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, which has the merit of presenting the whole regional situation from a value free point of view, as I would see it, anyway. That is to say, it's as if an alien was looking at the region and saying, I see the western imperialist stooges trying to do so and so, and the local rebels trying to do thus and thus. I know that doesn't SOUND very "value free," it sounds like raving leftism, but historically I think it's accurate : ALL the regimes are the products of either neocolonial stooges or unbalanced rebellions against neocolonial stooges, and it couldn't be any other way, given the history of Western colonialism. What's NOT "value free" is when you have internalised all the Western neocolonial goobledegook about "democracy" and "freedom" (your guy) versus "oppression" and "tyranny" (the other guy). Anyway, I got it down to about half length and blogged it, so if anyone wants to look, just click on my name and you'll get directed there, and there is also a link to the original which is twice as long.

[danny]

Hi guys,

A friend sent me this link to a song(I think it is an old Enrico Macias tune...but I'm not certain) in French and Armenian about Beirut...A little breather to enjoy the music and the sights of Beirut means to all of us...and those dogs are destroying it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bim7jm2g97o

[Doha]

Guys, woke up this morning and found out that militiamen fired at a funeral procession in Tarik Jdideh killing two and all hell is breaking loose in Tripoli and the Akkar area. this is insane! and saniora addressed the Lebanese.

[VODKA]

Doha ........I live in Tripoli.No hell is breaking loose!The city is quiet with the exception of some sporadic limited fire at the offices of Hizb el Baath.As for "Akkar" ...Akkar is a large area of North Lebanon.There was a skirmish in Halba .We remember how the exageration and blowing up of any incident used to fan the fire .Is that what we want to do now ??
Pray do not do that again.Our generation had enough of that.

[Min Canada]

This is not Lebanon's war. It never was. This is a clear war against the US and all it stands for in the region. It has been declaired as such and the challenge is for the US to answer the other side. If they don't, then they have conceeded the middle east and that is just fine. but they can't have it both ways.

[Doha]

Vodka, thank you for letting us know what's happening. I mean we wake up in the morning and read the news and hear the news and go crazy when they say there's gunfire here and there.

Actually specifically in Akkar, it's Halba that faced clashes with SSNP.

[Doha]

BTW, it seems that the Army has taken over command and declared that all gunmen should get out of the streets and called for an investigation into Choukair's situation and that he should stay in office pending investigation.

[JoseyWales]

Keeping Choukair and calling for an investigation:

Brilliant, especially given the great success of all previous investigations.

Here's the other caving-in to Hezbo:

2:55pm The Saniora proposal also calls for adopting an ethical code by media organizations halting campaigns and counter-campaigns. (Naharnet)

And again, FUCK the army command. NOW they decide that gunmen should get off the streets?? They are useless. SCREW Suleiman and army command whoever that may be.

[LH]

Here's the other caving-in to Hezbo:
Via BBC, Reuters:

Lebanon's army has overturned two key government measures in an attempt to defuse tensions between the pro-western government and Shia group Hezbollah.

The army said the Hezbollah-allied head of security at Beirut airport should remain in his post and the group's phone network be maintained.

[JoseyWales]

LH,

Yes and in other news: Geagea, Jumblatt, Bush Rice, and my ass are all firmly behind the Saniora government.

[Rowan Berkeley]

I don't have a problem with this:

16:54 Army Command announces it will take control of probe into Hezbollah network without harming the resistance’s integrity and will interrogate Brigadier General Wafik Shoukair as head of airport security, but will not force him to resign.

17:21 Future Movement head Saad Hariri and PSP leader Walid Jumblatt agree to Army Command statement.

[Bart]

This is the reality of the situation.

Most Americans do not know what is going on in Lebanon and do not care because they do not see how it impacts their lives.

Most Americans believe the ME is a mess and always will be no matter what they do.

Most Americans believe that everyone in the ME hates us and always will.

Most Americans believe our action in Iraq has not made things better for us or for the people there, and the only net result has been the deaths of 4,000 of our young people there (I and others, maybe 20-30% of Americans, who follow news from alternative sources and take a longer term view of history, do not agree, but the general sentiment cannot be denied).

Most Americans are in no mood for more foreign adventures and will not support them without a strong need and definite benefit.

If you want American help, you will have to ask for it loudly and explicitly. You cannot just stand by hoping for it. The request would have to be loud enough and explicit enough to get through the media firewall and reach the American people with the message that you desire our help, and that you and we are on the same side, because the average American believes the exact opposite.

[Pug]

"One thing to the Lebanese. HA are ready to put their life on the line, you can give them that. Are you? Or are you going the demand US soldiers die for freeing Lebanon?"

Damn good question.

[Pug]

"Yes, this is change we believe in. Get me a time machine."

You don't need a time machine. You need a machine gun. Quit whining about American politicians and fight for yourself. Otherwise, don't expect anything from the U.S.

[BenFranklin]

There is one thing that the world needs to understand about Obama... he will be the first affirmative action president if he is elceted. The guy is really an intellectual lightweight with no experience whatsoever in anything of significance. He doesn't know anything about American or world history nor does he have the slightest understanding of the nature of those whom he would seek to appease. This election is about America expunging the last vestiges of its white guilt... the rest of the world be damned.

Y'all are going to have to fend for yourselves for a change. Look on the bright side, you won't have to worry about "western colonialism", freedom or democracy anymore. So when you are suffering under sharia or the latest flavor of middle eastern dictatorship, maybe you can get Rowan Berkeley to explain to you how "value free" is in any sense different from "worthless."

Today Prime Minister Siniora asked all Lebanese to raise Lebanese flags tomorrow at 12 noon. This action will rekindle the spirits of our 1.5 million majority that evicted the Syrians from Lebanon. Our Cedar Revolution was based on massive demonstrations in the streets. These demonstration showed the world and our fellow Lebanese our will to live freely, independently and democratically. We should go back to these basic tenets of the Cedar Revolution.

The Lebanese Expat community around the world needs to do the same. Tomorrow (Sunday the 11th) at 12 noon local time we need to be in front of every Lebanese Embassy and Consulate in the world with Lebanese flags. We must gather in silence and not make any speeches. This should be done all over the world but especially Cairo where the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League will be meeting.

Remember our courageous compatriots are going to raise Lebanese flags in Beirut and throughout Lebanon tomorrow even if it means danger for them. By seeing us do the same abroad, it will give much needed support to our government and our fellow Lebanese in Lebanon.

Thanks!

[Rowan Berkeley]

cheap gesture politcs. grow up. you won't see me here again, by the way, because the several new posts you have put up overnight don't seem to me to be even worth reading. bye bye. pretty much all the lebanese blogs I have found in the last few days have a similar cheap emotive "we love future tv" attitude, maybe you all work(ed) there or something, but, even in the near East, emotions and pseudo glamor do not make power politics.

[Freedom Now]

Rowan,

I know Totalitarian Communism is Leftist, but under your philosophy maybe we should check it out.

[Swami]

2 suggestions for the Lebanese:

1) Discover oil. Lots of it.

2) If that doesn't work, sincerely re-evaluate the relationship with Israel. A lot of people in the Middle East have not been rational about choosing friends, and enemies.