Reconciliation without apology

After Hizbullah and the PSP, the Future movement is set to reconcile with God’s warriors. The fairy tale continues. One of god’s former warriors, now a reformed March 14er, has apologized. Samir Geagea, whom some of us grew to respect over the past two years, despite his war crimes record, said he was sorry for terrorizing the population during the civil war.

Hizbullah, mind you, has not apologized. With March 14 busy electioneering under the banner of reconciliation, the Iranian-backed militia is not showing any signs that it will reconcile with the state, or recognize it for that matter. And why should they, when the president of the very country they claim to defend is in denial about their arms.

According to As-Safir, and during a meeting with Condoleezza Rice, President Michel Suleiman denied reports of weapons smuggling to Hizbullah across the Syrian border, calling them Israeli exaggerations, and adding this gem: “if the Israelis have evidence and satellite imagery to prove their claims, then let them hand them over to you.”

You would think a man who spent his life in the military would know better than to presume American ignorance of what’s happening on the border, or that they even need to use Israeli satellites to see what the Party of God is doing. And you would think he’d ask for the evidence for himself and not for Rice’s viewing pleasure.

With thousands of Syrian troops digging trenches along the northern border, and Hizbullah getting ready for another round with Israel, Lebanese had better hope their elected leaders know what they’re doing when they’re bedding one another out of wedlock. This isn’t reconciliation. It’s temporary marriage at best. Just ask the experts at Hizbullah.

And apology accepted, Samir. I would take that over fake reconciliation any time.

Comments

[danny]

AK,

How can you make sense of what is happening in Lebanon...I really do not comprehend what the hell do these "reconciliation" meetings mean?
In NORMAL countries these would not make sense.But in Lebanon there has to be a method to this madness.

Druse reconcile. What does that achieve? Everything WJ wants except he has to give up a seat for Arslan

Sunni & Shiite reconcile. BS...Nothing changes. Hopefully less deaths...arguable!

Christians reconcile. Not happening between FPM and LF... Aoun is isolated and wounded. the slippery Murr seems to be working on a deal with Kataeb and even LF to squeeze clAoun. Marada and SF are marginal at best!

So, in final analysis HA's so called moves do not anything to add to their position.

DSG seems to have struck a chord and judging from the negative comments of his opponents he must have hit the bullseye!

It is incumbent on the Bkirki to stop this dumbass crap and chastise the Orange/Teale side and ask the christian population to support the March 14 ticket! If Qabalan and Fadlallah can support the HA and Amal against the rest; and if Qabani can support the Future block; then Batrak Sfeir can damn well support the LF/Kataeb and rest against the asshole murderers like aoun and SF...

[Jeha]

I have a feeling that they are all moving away from Geagea, and closer to an accommodation with Syria... In for a penny, in for a pound.

[naja]

Apology accepted indeed, AK. Am I hallucinating or is Geagea genuinely growing in stature? Ever since his release from jail (and, lest we forget, this is the only warlord to have already actually paid anything for his crimes) he has not put a foot wrong. So much so that many people who have been at the receiving end of what he has apologised for, seem to have found respect for his stance. In fact, many who are critical of his apology are as guilty of the electioneering they accuse him of. And, in my book, if this is electioneering, well it's a damn sight more likely to get my vote than the cheap sectarian shit-stirring Aoun seems to favour, or the military parades HA will inevitably display on "Jerusalem Day". Like you, AK, I'll take this kind of electioneering ahead of "reconciliation" any day.

[Chris]

Please have a look at the following - I can't help but laugh...........

Keep the posts coming AK..........

http://www.israellawcenter.org/Missions-general-information.html

http://www.israellawcenter.org/Costs.html

[Bad Vilbel]

HA apparently now is allowing/requesting the ISF to help out with security in Dahieh.
Interesting read here:
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=60328

I have to wonder why there are no strings attached to this assistance. HA's weapons stay off limits, but the state gets to go help them deal with the rising crime and deterioration of social fabric, which were a direct result of their own actions. Why? Let them deal with the consequences of what they created. Or if they want the help of the ISF, then let them turn over their weapons.

[danny]

BV,

It cuts both ways my friend! The Shia's under the Hizb control could finally realize and see that the State can and does function in making their lives better!

[Bad Vilbel]

Danny. I somehow doubt that. We both know how the people perceive stuff in Lebanon. This will almost certainly not be seen as "Look at how great the state is" in Dahieh. You and I both know how well law enforcement really works in Lebanon.

And as usual, there will be ZERO accountability for any of this.

You want an example of a precedent? The government's reconstruction aid to those hit by the 2006 war. The people took the money (often funneled through HA). They complained about the government shortchanging them. They pointed out every thing that did NOT go well with that process, and who got the credit for whatever DID go well? HA.

I'm gonna make a bold prediction here: HA will take credit (at least in the eyes of its constituents) for cleaning up Dahieh. The ISF will get the bad wrap for everything that goes wrong, every abuse that occurs (and we both know there will be abuses) and so on.

If you want to spread the state's authority, and make it count, if you're gonna take a bad wrap anyway, at LEAST ask for something in return (HA disarming in Dahieh, for example. Or something along those lines).

[Max Power]

The problem with Hezbollah is the following:

Their rank and file are out of control from their reigns as well. They are involved in many black market activities that prior to recent political events were tolerated. Any religious leader/Sheikh would be ashame to turn his head from.

First and foremost, they must clean up the dirt and trash in house. Led by example.

They are using Lebanon to the fullest and now the spotlight is on them. No longer are they are rogue element on the world's stage, they are now in a seat of power with a very legitimate voice.

They can go two ways:

Either the way of the IRA and tell their followers and the constituents that they have achieved the victory of legitimacy and that the Shia voice will now be heard. They can become a respectable political organization that serves the Wattan and competes in a open market of ideas. With that would come proposals to solve some of Lebanon's problems they have a hand in.

On thing is for sure, it can't happen as long as they choose to be a pawn in a chess game. First things first, they most come to the conclusion that the Shia would be better served long term with them as a political entitiy and to led by example.

Disarm and or negiotate an assimilation into the Lebanese Army and put country (after God) 1st.

Or they could go the way of a PLO or just be the thugs they choose to. If they choose to remain a thorn in the side whatever interest they oppose, they will lose long term. Opposing voices will come of the Shia community in due time. They also mark themselves for any ramifications and or price to pay so to speak.

The Shias would be better served if they choose to join the Lebanese community as a whole and have the chance to lead.