The Doha accord

According to As-Safir and al-Akhbar, an agreement has been reached between March 14 and the “opposition”. It is not clear whether the agreement has the consensus of all parties involved, but it appears that Hariri, Jumblatt and Hizbullah, and the Qatari backers, have given their approval. 

According to as-Safir, Berri will call parliament into session in 48 hours to elect Suleiman. The agreement stipulates a 3-11-16 composition of the new "national unity" cabinet, with 16 going to the parliament’s majority, 11 to the "opposition" and 3 to the president. The majority will still hold the right to name the premiere, according to as-Safir, although Siniora’s chances of returning are slim, considering that he was pretty much left on the cutting room floor during the making of this episode.

The bottleneck, the electoral law, will be largely based on the 1960 law, with one exception: Beirut, which will be divided into three districts reportedly guaranteeing a chance for Hariri to win a majority of seats, and Aoun to conveniently use the Armenian vote.

Reportedly, the agreement will include a part about the use of weapons to settle political scores. The president, once elected, will call for dialogue to define the relationship between the state and the armed groups.

The prince of Qatar had to intervene personally to force the two parties, and especially the opposition, to pick a solution. According to the pro-March 14 media, the Qataris and the Arab delegation were upset with the opposition for rejecting two proposals, describing them as “non existing” at some point, and going out of their way to sabotage the talks. The opposition was then reportedly given 24 hours to “take it or leave it”.

Regardless, by the time you read this, and if the reports are true and the opposition does not shift the goal posts again, this act of the Lebanese drama will be over.

Samir Geagea, who is probably the least excited about all this, did well to remind everyone earlier tonight that Hizbullah’s weapons are the real issue, and that people like Aoun lie when they claim to defend the Christian vote. Sadly, it was Aoun whose ego the Qatar prince had to massage, not Geagea, and not the Christians of March 14, who appear to have lost again. But that's another story. Let's wait for the full details first.

Update. Suleiman will be "elected" Sunday. As to how an army commander can just waltz into this post without a constitutional amendment, it is not clear, but I am sure they'll figure it out.

Michel Aoun was interviewed by Future TV, and Saad Hariri was photographed kissing Mohamad Raad of Hizbullah.

Hizbullah has started dismantling the tents in downtown Beirut. Solidere stocks are up through the roof. Both Syria and Iran have blessed the agreement.

Speaking of Syria, note the timing of this announcement:

Syria said it was conducting indirect peace talks with Israel through Turkey, confirming an earlier announcement by the Jewish state.
   
"Syria has started indirect peace talks with Israel under Turkish auspices. Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in goodwill and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace," a foreign ministry statement said.

Comments

[Charlie]

AK,

Thanks for the summary...

[ghassan karam]

As I said in my previous post the official announcement , according to the BBC, is in under three hours from now. It will be made at 7:oo am GMT. (Sorry for the repetition but some might wish to listen to the actual announcement).

[pragmatism works]

So at least the dreams of Aoun of being elected a president have dissipated for ever...so now he will try to prove that he is the real leader of Christians by attcaking both Gemayel and Geagea...
This deal will allow a truce to be established for a while..the bottom line Hizb have won again guys...

[ghassan karam]

Just a reminder that it took March 14 19 months to agree to the original demand by HA for veto power. The first demand was done on Oct 30, 2006 by Hassan Nasrallah. They have wasted almost two years during which the country got involved in a war, a quasi coup, illegal occupation of downtown Beirut, the establishment of a state within a state, billions of dollars in deficits,in addition to billions wasted on ISF and the army in exchange for electing to the presidency an unofficial member of the opposition. Had the above scenario been a play then critics would have claimed that such events would never happen. What a let down. I just hope that no one will support these loosers in the next elections, if from hereon elections mean anything, Maybe by this time next yeaty the Lebanese parliament would become a mirror image of that in Damascus and our civil liberties would become akin to those in Tehran where even barbershops are to provide only sanctioned hair cut styles. And then we go around proclaiming Lebanon a democracy and a land of enlightenment.We don;t even have the intellectual honesty to call things by their name.

[pragmatism works]

Ghassan,

Did you really expect much from the Doha?
It just means hiZ is saying to everyone: MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY...

[pragmatism works]

can anyone tell me what on earth are the 14th march benefitting by pushing SULEIMAN into the presidency?

[ghassan karam]

No Pragmatism, I did not expect much but I have been involved in many kinds of negotiations, arbitrations and Hiwars in my life. A major principle is usually always observed, make both parties look as if they have gained something, it is essentially a horse trade although more often than not one side is a winner and the other a loser. But in this case March14 got absolutely nothing. It was a purely one sided trade forced at the point of a gun. I feel so let down and even betrayed by everyone in March 14. I am sure that you have heard the empty cliches by Mr. Hamade: "It is true that they have a veto but we hope that they do not use it to disrupt Lebanon" or something to that effect. What a disgrace.

[e]

Ghassan,
You are being too harsh. First, there are only 12 months till the next elections and if March 14 are smart, they will try to move those elections forward. There are two options after the next elections:
1) March 14 win
2) March 14 lose by a small margin

In case 1, March 14 will be able to rule because it would be considered fully legitimate. After all, ALL parties agreed on the electoral law. The veto power for the opposition goes away in the next election. Nobody would have any basis to complain.

In case 2 (which is less likely but possible), Hizballah would not want to form a government without March 14 so the PM would still be from the FM.

In addition, Hizballah will have pledged not to use the weapons internally. If they do so again, they will be completely discredited in Lebanon.

You may believe that March 14 has gotten a bad deal. But the opposition are only thinking about the next year while March 14 are thinking several years forward. The government will not be able to do much in the next 12 months that's true, and that is a win for the opposition. But, after the next elections, the power is back with March 14. And who knows, maybe elections are closer than you think? With the parlaiment open, everything is possible.

In the end, March 14 pushed Hizballah as much as it could until Hizballah eventually used force. If they would have been more assertive earlier, Hizballah would have used force earlier. It is a difficult situation and you are asking too much of them.

[pragmatism works]

Fortunately i am not living in Lebanon and all that Brouhaha does not affect me personally but one should side by the truth and the 14th march, despite their lack of wisdom, are victims...Remember most of them lost their fathers, sons or husbands...
HIWAR? there was no hiwar or negotiations in the presence of weapons directed to the other negotiators' heads.Right?

But if the ARABS and the Europeans and the Bastards Russians will pay the price of giving Lebanon again to Iran...the shiaa axis stretching from Lebanon to Syria to Iraq to Iran will eventually distabilize the middle east and creates a domino effect...just wait and see

[EV]

I can't believe how short sighted our M14 leaders are. A bunch of uneducated wanna-be intellectuals.

Yes, the Opposition will discuss Hezbollah arms after the election, but nothing will come out of it as we all know it.

The one-third veto power is now forever casted in stone in the government until it becomes at a later date one-half.

Overall, that was another move by the Opposition towards the slow and long process of cementing the Iranian State of Lebanon.

[Min Canada]

Folks this is the best they could do under the circumstances. We live to fight another day.

I am sure the issue of the International Court was accepted early on. At least that was done. The rest is what they had to give up for being left high and dry. There is a price to pay for betting on an partner who does not show up. This is the price.

Now...if the people were to fill the street tomorrow and say they do not accept the deal, fine. Kil 7adis elo 7adees, but I doubt that will happen. The Cedar revolution was a moment in time not a thing that lasts in a nation that would rather go shopping!

[pragmatism works]

just to go back in time...one AOUN the idiot decided to fight Syria and his fellow christians and stood against the USA in its struggle against Saddam...the arabs interfered backed by the USA to restore peace in Lebanon through the TAEF Accord. This Accord created false peace and allowed the Syrians to wreak our economy and HZB to grow like a cancer...
NOW, Syria is out...basically Iran in and the Doha accord allows anther false peace to make HIZB cancer to invade all Lebanon....as i said earlier...ISRAEL,moderate Arabs, europeans and americans will pay a heavy and bloody price...

[shunkleash]

Im back!

Yeah I know, I said my good byes and I even went so far as to promise myself not to be drawn back into debates that gave me nothing but high blood pressure. But as is the custom in lebanon, i will break my promise and rescind my good bye just this one time! I hope you all understand. I do it in the interest of the country! Needless to say i've been keeping tabs on this blog at the neighbourhood "le cafe du internet du liban", that is, when the power is on.

As regards the latest display of "civility" and the ensuing migration of previously thought extinct dodo birds that went to their ancestoral nesting grounds in Dodo, Qatar I have just one question, and it is a brief one...WHAT THE HELL? I spent the last 10 days in the mountains reassuring two old people that everything would be all right and wondering what is happening to the people in beirut and the Chouf. Now I know what happened...it happens all the time, its called getting hosed by the politicians. Did someone tell them it would be more patriotic and less cowardly to find a "solution" in another country?

To recap...
Hizbteezee divinly destroyed, killed and maimed to protect AT&T and some guy called General Sugar at the airport;
The army played tarneeb YALLA!! TARIK MARIK YA SHABAB!
Michel Slimy tried on the first cut of his white suit at bashars' tailor;
A hot chick from future TV scolded the pols for among other things burning down tv and radio staions and for making her recent nose and boob job a waste of money
The old man of the mountain went on a long overdue vacation to the international getaway of Houston Texas where he will eventually make his way to the texan riviera at galveston
The people of the Chouf made hizbarBQ;
Wahab and Arslan are ghostly figures who I hear only move around at night (obvioulsy to protect their complexionns from the heat of a well sharpened durzen blade)
Claoun is president of Rabieh and NOTHING ELSE!
M14 were able to negotiate Nabih Berri's honourable retirment as speaker...NOT!!! fucking losers.
The tribunal is ever so close to being a reality...just 2 more years to go!!!!
The hizbteezee were FINALLY REVEALED for what they are...just guess what that was!
We all stood in a minute of silence (to add to the previous year and half of silence from our govt and esteemed weeping willow PM) in respect for the dead;
SAAAAAD looks good in Armani;
The guys who did the killing are respected heroes who foiled a "coup" or something and will never see jail time;
Those that got killed are martyres who would have prefered not to be so called;
The shia of Lebanon have been sacrificed at the alter of the "enemy" israel and the righteous palestinian "cause" and divine "coup" stopping;
and...FINALLY we are back to square one! Well, maybe not entirely, let wait and see.

I think I should relate a story that unfolded during the clashes in the Chouf. It goes a long way to explaining the total stupidity and absolute lack of logical thinking of a large number of lebanese. An intrepid homely guy who lives with his parents (actually a cousin of mine) still a babe in arms barely 40 (lazy bum) decided that he and some of the shabab were going to go and help the Druze. Needless to say Indiana Jones came back two days later with a heroic tale of bravery...he says he shot a hizbteezee! Wow! I say. But Indy! I exclaimed, how do you know it was a hizbteezee? Im still waiting for the answer.

Anyway, even if I may not be back to this blog for good, I (and my pissed off wife and baby)are back to lebanon for good (mainly because i spent all my money getting here).

AK i am pleased that your folks are well and I pray for the souls of those who did not make it through the latest bout of hate.

Peace and love to all and sorry AK for the long post...but its just for this one time:-)

[pragmatism works]

so funny shunkleash...plz come back again

[Bad Vilbel]

I am too fucking pissed off to say "told you so", as this has played out exactly like I predicted last week.

As I've already mentioned in my comments in the previous thread, HA got all their demands in return for a few seats for Hariri in Beirut and some vague promise about weapons. What an absolute disgrace March 14 has been. It serves them right. I hope they all rot in hell.

RIP Lebanon. Pack your bags and move to Canada or US, guys.

[pragmatism works]

or Australia ..it is easier

[Bad Vilbel]

And for the record, let me say that HA's weapons have now indirectly been cemented as "legitimate" yet again, by the mere fact that this Doha agreement postpones discussion of the "relationship between the state and HA's weapons". This reads to me like Cairo accords #2. The mere fact that a "relationship" to those weapons has already been determined means the weapons are here to stay with the blessing of Qatar and M14 and whoever else signed their name to this stupid agreement.

I am officially declaring 5/20/2008 the day Hezbostan was born.

There is no turning back now, guys. There isn't even any legal recourse to call on the UN or anyone else to help the Lebanese Army disarm HA (as some of you were asking for) because such a request must now originate from the cabinet, in which HA has 11 seats. Good luck and goodnight.

[pragmatism works]

LEBANON IS OVER...welcome Hizbostan with bad vilbel...
I wonder whether people will be interested in lebanse politics anymore

[sweden1975]

EV, "The one-third veto power is now forever casted in stone"

You are too pessimistic. The veto power for the opposition goes away in the next election.
In the election we will see how popular you become by turning Iran-funded weapons against your own people.

[pragmatism works]

between now and the next election...do you know what the veto can achieve?

[Anonymous]

I have been watching this discussion really for two years now. And I wonder was there ever any doubt to the outcome. It was a long term plan. March 14 got played from the beginning, they never stood a chance. Look at it everything that has happened. Hezb picked a fight with Israel, sure they may not have thought Israel would retaliate so strongly but they knew it would do something. Bringing back some of the support from those who feel the "resistance" is necessary. Hezb knew they had to wear down the support of March 14, the sit-in broke the economic back of the country. Tourism mostly gone, probably for good. Investing in Lebanon, who will do that now? Who benefits the most from a demolished economy? People call Hezb a state within a state, this is wrong, they are a state within a non-state. The rest of Lebanon is simply a shield to them, the people and infrastructure, disposable.

It has been a war of attrition, all the little fights and bickering just served to increase the level of frustration in the March 14 supporters, while the March 8 group had no such problem to deal (sheep are easy to lead right?). For the last few weeks leading up to the Beirut battle we have been reading about increasing fights between supporters. My guess it was a good time for Hezb to strike. Then they just wait again. March 14 went to Doha with no power to negotiate, none. What were people saying when they went off to Doha? Agree or don't come back, that was the voice of the people. I can't tell you how many people I heard say let them have the government just let us live in peace. I agree the leaders of March 14 did a despicable job, no planning no inspiration, just so unbelievable incompetent. Given all these factors wasn't this "agreement" a foregone conclusion, was there any doubt Hezb would hand them their hats, smile and say thank you for coming............

[Riemer Brouwer]

@BadVibel:
it should be 5/21/2008 because the agreement was reached after midnight

[pragmatism works]

SO what? Hariri, pierre jumayel, Tueini all these martyrs died for nothing???????

[prl]

Seriously now, (now one-liners with bickering if I may ask) will someone please tell me what March 14 got out of this? The opposition got the 1960 law, with minor adjustments and they got their veto power.

What are we not seeing? Is it a time issue? Knowing that elections are around the corner, and not wanting to waste anymore lives, and thinking that the previous status quo was not in favor of the govt, and spekaing of the sovereignty of the state and the rule of law, could these have influenced the govt to go along with veto and 1960?

[sweden1975]

pragmatism works, "between now and the next election...do you know what the veto can achieve?"

No, perhaps you can expand?
The Chapter 7-Based International Court Tribunal can not be stopped. Besides, the veto goes both ways.

I find the board pessimistic to an almost comical degree. As in all wars, it is the powerful International Opinion that counts. The very same power that forced US to leave Vietnam. March 14 has won an enormous propaganda victory, Hezbollah has more or less committed political suicide.

1) The only way Hezbollah can offer some resistance against Israel is by hiding against civilians.

2) If Hezbollah take over the state there are no longer any place to hide. That is the last thing they want, their wish is to HIDE behind the government, not be the government.

3) The majority can if they want just to refuse to participate in the government
if Hezbollah not disarm or transfer their weapons to the Lebanese army.
 

[ghassan karam]

I finished writing a short article about the Doha situation and it occured to me that the best descriptive title would be Doha: SNAFU or Doha: FUBAR

[R]

Holy crap Shunkleash, I almost fell of my chair there.
Interesting that you of all people are migrating back to Lebanon while people are literally killing each other to immigrate out. Seriously tho, Best of luck!
As for the Doha accord, whether this was the best that March 14 could do does not really matter. In the bottom line, it is another blow to the prospect of democracy and a consecration of sectarian power politics and the status quo.
Another thing that is interesting, in retrospect (and I may be waaaaaaaay off here so bear with me), is the relationship of the Qatar deal with the mutual confirmation of the Syrian/Israeli indirect talks, and the bizarre rise to record levels of the Solidere stocks even before the politicians left to Doha. It'd be fun to know who the clairvoyants who are banking on makin a sweet buck or two are...

[ghassan karam]

Look at this gem:

شدد الحاج حسن على ان الاحتكام الى القوة لأهداف سياسية خارج تفكير حزب الله

How can they say this after all what took place two weeks ago. Is this what is meant by the victors write history?

R, You just might be right when it comes to the question of the Doha declaration the Syrian?Israeli contacts and the price of Solidere. It has always been interesting that the organization whose only purpose is to fight Israel has as a co-sponsor that that are negotiating with Israel and accepted a host for negotiations the country that has strong relations to Israel.

.

[Slowhand]

Hey all,

Really there should not be such pessimism on this board. I am M14 whole heartedly, but the leaders leading this cause have absolutely nothing to do with M14. I agree with the person from Sweden who says that Hizbollah is not out to conquer the entire country, or take away any political freedoms we currently enjoy, or make us a mini-Iran. It is not in their interest to do so, and more importantly we Lebanese in Lebanon will not allow it.

I know many of you were hoping for an all out battle to be played out here. And I don't blame you calling for destruction of one force when you are safe with your jobs and lives in a far and distant land. I only moved back to Lebanon 7 months ago. The news outside Lebanon is so biased. Individual stations are equally biased in Lebanon, but there are many stations that represent both sides. The truth is somewhere in between.

M8 followers/leaders are not evil people who preach only death. M14 followers/leaders are not saints that believe in independence, sovereignty and freedom. Both are mirror reflections of one another. The leaders on both sides are corrupt and only care for their own personal power and wealth. The followers on both sides are honest, hard working people and only care for their own livelihood and safety of their children.

It is insane that we the people will fight each other, trade accusations and spit on each other and our leaders sit and joke around in airport lounges. We the people are to blame. Prediction for June 2009, it will be the same bunch of a-holes representing all the different parties. Who's fault is that? No one but ourselves - the voters.

Walking around downtown Beirut today was quite a scene. The feeling in the air was very similar to that on March 14, 2005. You could feel the hope in the air, and see it in people's smiles. Let's try to build on this feeling of hope rather than complain that we didn't get out way. I know it sounds empty coming from Hamade, and it was probably a political slogan spewed out of his mouth in the first place, but nonetheless it was true. For the residents of Lebanon there was no loser in Doha as we the people won. Yes, a corrupt political elite from one branch outsmarted an equally corrupt political elite from another. I think this is fair play.

I heard many on this site call for the end of the "no winner, no vanquished" system of government in Lebanon. And I agree whole heartedly that it should be tossed in the annals of history. Now that we finally have reached a stage where someone has won don't complain because it may not have been your side. Suck it up, and get it back in the next election.

[pragmatism works]

Slowhand,

it is so painful to listen over and over again sweeping generalisation like not differentiating between victims and their torturers...
what happens in Doha might be good for awhile...but in the end HIZB will keep expanding and at a certain point it will impose its will on others they like it or not...
Yes it might be better to live with cancer than die..that is the logic in DOHa...

[danny]

Remember what I asked yesterday...What were your expectations from the Doha???

Lebanese seem to me like little babies that love to stay in their soiled diaper!! Good for them.

I have not read anywhere any mention of the "resistance" or its guns...I guess we'll have to wait for the ministerial statement. HA has gained itself a reprieve of at least two years to solidify its mini state….waiting for the next ‘war”…. Lebanese are always looking on what's next?
OK...Here it is: Spare the people added pain and call for elections immediately and move forward with a new regime.!!!! Why waste anyone's time. That will reduce HA window by a year. Make electoral reform and modernization an issue and forge forward. If they slip back to their sleazy feudal bartering; then as BV suggested for the 20% of the population that does not have a foreign citizenship...GET one and move.

[Doha]

Guys, I think the real news here is Syria's launching negotiations with Israel via Turkey.

AK, any thoughts at how this all ties with the Lebanese questions?

[Ace]

Welcome back skunkleash - don't be a stranger.

""Just a reminder that it took March 14 19 months to agree to the original demand by HA for veto power.""

Yes it did - and it took Hezbo opening fire on Lebanese to convince them to "agree". There is no "negotiation" when a gun is pointed at your head - the best you can hope for is to live to fight another day.

For those of you who will never "vote" for these M14 losers again - good for you. Vote Hezbollah next time & back a winner.

I also heard over and over - "we need a President, I don't care who it is" and "just give us peace - I don't care if HA wins". I'm glad the people are smiling now but they are the real problem. The people accepted that Parliament should be closed, that the Government should be considered "illegal" when Hezbo walked out, that Hezbo should be able to throw out elections and claim a VETO + pick a President & decide on the cabinet. To top it all off - they accepted that Nasrallah would send his goons to kill them to get all this.

M14 lost this because the Lebanese wanted it that way - with their "just give us peace".

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" ~ Benjamin Franklin

[danny]

Doha,

They had been negotiating for over two years...What's the big deal here? Also, HA has gotten all it wanted. Especially, for the time being, NO DISCUSSION of its weapons!!

[Vodka]

What really angered me was the audacity of Nabih Berri when he considered dismantling the tent city in downtown Beirut: A PRESENT !!!His insolence is intolerable ! Is downtown 'Berri property ' handed down from his ancestors ??
Slowhand :
I very much admired your unbiased and wise approach towards the whole situation.Yes you are right.Let us try to build on this feeling of hope.

[naja]

Slowhand, I agree with you wholeheartedly, not because I am convinced in any way that we're out of the woods, but because I will choose wide-eyed optimism - even of the most naive kind - any day rather than doom-and-gloom cynicism that pretends to know it all. I wish I could describe the feeling in Beirut to the Lebanese abroad. I wish you could sense the massive, overwhelming, euphoric feeling of joie de vivre today, the overnight switch from get-the-passports to where-are-we-going-tonight-honey. From there's no hope to lets do business. From which way to the airport to which way to the beach. It makes any of us who has elected to return feel vindicated, even if it is only for a while, because we know that this "while" will be far more intense and vibrant and alive than anywhere where long-term stability is taken for granted. I have a foreign passport and a job that gives me a wide choice of places to base myself. Today, more than ever, I wouldn't swap Beirut for any.

[danny]

Naja,

You are correct about the "feel Good" atmosphere. i have spoken to a few relatives and friends and all feel like they can breathe again (smoggy air and all)...
Again, i am certain there will be rejoicing and with the announcement of festivals... and thousands of "moughtaribeens" are on line with their travel agents to visit Lebanon. I wish the summer will be a great one. we certainly do not know what the future holds of added misery with the HA unchecked...

I repeat, I think they should go to early elections and let people get on with whatever lives and direction they chose! I'm certain that these elections will fe feudal again, as well as the Shias will be voting to Amal/Ha under the power of the GUN. Representations could be different if the diaspora is allowed to vote!!

[Max Power]

Credit to Sheikh Hassan for his standfast leadership and getting what he wanted by standing on his laurels. Let this be a lesson to the opposition party to grow a pair and come back a real platform.

Winners:

Sleiman the Syrian Lapdog.
Shias
HA
Syria (Welcome back?)
Iran
Tent Dismantlers
Israel
Turkey
Aoun (he stuck his finger in every christians eye)

Losers:

US Arab Allies
Armenians
Druze
Sunnis
Christians of every sect
Sinoira
Lebanon's place in the world
Lebanon's diplomacy
M14, not the people but the party.

[Max Power]

As for all of you telling the Lebanese to get out. Sfeir has spoken to the US and Canadian Governments, there are no exit visas. Lebanese have to make Lemonade with the Lemons they are given.

This could be a blessing in disguise in the years to come. It's HA with the ball in their court, let's see what they do and how the people respond.
This could give rise to a Secular system, not necessarily a sectarian one.

Iran will be dealt with by either Bush or McCain. The head of the serpent falls and we shall see what happens next.

[Max Power]

In Men's Vogue last year, it talked about a strain between Siniora and Hariri.

I want to clarify this, Siniora did an admirable job for a bean counter and being put in his position.

This could lead to an opening for a statesman type and a new vision for the opposition led by DSG. Through this whole issue, he has been a voice of reason and is saying what everyone is afraid to.

HA's first order of business is to ask for the release of Lebanese Political Prisoners in Syria as well as an investigation to whom killed Hariri, Gemayel and Tueni. They should then try the state of Israel in absentee for crimes aganist Lebanon and give Bashar Asaad the key to Lebanon and allow him to make an official state visit. HA should also than rename the Airport Aytalloh International.

I wonder what there response to the opposition setting up a tent city will be. I have a feeling they will show us how a government services really work in those types of matters.

As for those advocating the fleeing of Lebanese. Sfeir has asked the Governments of developed countries to not allow emigration and the process is on lockdown.

[danny]

Here's how a Lebanese negotiation is supposed to be done:

Father : 'I want you to marry a girl of my choice.'

Son : 'I will choose my own bride!!!'

Father : 'But the girl is Bill Gate's daughter...'

Son : 'Well, in that case... ok'

Next ... Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father : 'I have a husband for your daughter...'

Bill Gates : 'But my daughter is too young to marry!!!!!'

Father : 'But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank.'

Bill Gates : 'Ah, in that case... ok'

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father : 'I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president.'

President : 'But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!

Farther : 'But this young man is Bill Gates' son-in-law.'

President : 'Ah, in that case... ok'

And that, my friends, is how the Lebanese do business.

[switzme]

May I ask what happened in the shouf?

[Max Power]

Sadly, Lebanese are masters of negiotation and play nice when dealing with people outside of their element. Lebanese overall, don't know how to play nice with each others. Instead of being piranhas and feasting on others. The Lebanese love eating their own.

[beyrootbeat]

Might i also add that although the March 14th representatives did not seem at all happy with the emergence of the accord, by agreeing to it, they are putting the interests of the LEBANESE PEOPLE at hand for the first time, even if it makes them seem like the biggest losers. They agreed to the accord for the sake of peace in Lebanon, something which the lebanese strive to see.
Of course, what the future holds for lebanon is something impossible to predict. This accord is pretty much a declaration of peace for a limited amount of time, until something larger than lebanon itself will happen with Iran or Syria.

[Doha]

I don't know what to say about the agreement. The people living inside the country are happy, regardless of the outcomes, that there was an agreement because they get hurt the most from any return to fighting. It's usually those who live abroad (i.e., most of us here commenting) who have the luxury to philosophize and criticize. When faced with fighting and blood, I guess you'd rather settle for stability. I mean let's be honest, weren't things more stable under the Syrian tutelage? Sadly and with a lot of sorrow, yes. What did freedom from Syrian tutelage bring upon Lebanon and the Lebanese? Sometimes reality trumps ideals. We continue to fail at governing ourselves.

I was just skimming through a book edited by Nawaf Salam, a PS prof at AUB, about reforms in Lebanon (Khiarat Li Loubnan) and specifically reading about the 1960 electoral law. This electoral law is parochial; it intensifies the patron-client relationship (qada' level) as opposed to encouraging political and policy platforms that transcend sectarian and parochial lines. Anyways, this country brings me heartburn!

[Anonymous]

Smiles on everyone's faces, and a happy feeling in the air. We've got an Agreement. We've got peace and happy feelings.

Meanwhile, HA still has it's weapons and will use them again on innocent Lebanese the next time it wants something that it's not supposed to have.

[Solomon2]

HA still has its weapons - for now. But its occupation of Beirut is over, and the political situation appears to be moving forward. Meanwhile, what do you make of this item:

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&378615FFB5E495B5C22574500016E433

"Two Hizbullah gunmen were arrested in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Tuesday after helping a suspicious vehicle cross into Syria without inspection by Lebanese customs...the gunmen were carrying safe passage cards issued by the Lebanese army's intelligence unit -"

Are the days when Hizbullies could get away with anything over? Is Lebanon now a land of law-and-order rather than law-of-the-gun? Even hope of that is enough to justify celebration, IMO.

[ghassan karam]

Doha, I cannot believe that you did really raise the question of whether dictatorship and stability is better than freedom and flux. Does the expression "Live free or die" ring a bell. Why did the slaves revolt, they had everything that they wanted provided by the master... Principles matter don't they?

[Bad Vilbel]

Ok. I'm going to go ahead and be the jackass here, for one second, but you people are INSANE. Well, some of you.

"Hope"? Seriously?

The commenters on this blog are truly a good representation of the Lebanese shortsightedness. Someone throws a shiny object in your general direction and you suddenly think everything is well in the world.

Lebanese people are given such low standards that nowadays "I'm not going to use my weapons for the next week" is suddenly considered a GOOD thing.

Such low standards that "Anyone, even the most incompetent idiot, is better than no president."

Such low standards that going back to an antiquated election law, with special exceptions for Hariri in Beirut is now a good thing?

I'm disgusted. Not just with the leaders, but with the people who are patting each other on the back and chanting "Koulouna Lil Watan" this morning. Oh what a glorious day for you! A few dozen terrorists and sleazeballs got together in Doha and pressured each other at the point of a gun into raping you folks yet again, but promised you folks they send flowers the morning after the rape, and you guys are busy congratulating yourselves. "Yay! He's gonna send me flowers!"

Disgusted! Completely and utterly disgusted.

All the people who died between 2005 and today, all the people who died last week are probably spitting down on Lebanon and its idiotic populace, for they have died in vain. March 14 should've just stayed home on March 14 2005 and leave the Syrians here. It might have spared all these lives. I mean, why bother getting all these people killed and maimed, if you were going to agree to all of HA's demands and get absolutely ZERO in return?

So you guys keep on patting each other on the back and singing your "Koulouna Lil Watan" and cheering on an Army general who's shown to be a complete failure at his previous job, while he unconstitutionally presides over a cabinet in which you have no say.

Oh yeah, and don't hold your breath for the 2009 elections. With all the gerrymandering and the 1960 law, and HA's weapons pointed at the voters. Free elections my ass.

(And apologies to AK for being so full of venom in what is after all his space, but I'm sickened)

[Solomon2]

"I'm disgusted. Not just with the leaders, but with the people who are patting each other on the back and chanting "Koulouna Lil Watan" this morning."

From now on I've decided to pay less attention to what is on paper and more on what is actually happening. Give people today for partying, BV. Clouds and maybe even thunderstorms are certainly in the forecast, but for now it's sunny outside.