March 14 and the Arab League

March 14’s call on the Arab League to form a “fact-finding mission” to investigate the Fateh al-Islam group will likely increase the dandruff population, since many inside and outside of Lebanon will be furiously scratching their heads in wonder over the futility of such a move.  The Syrian media stunt had left many in the failed independence movement angry at the regime’s insolence in making up facts and airing them so blatantly. How dare they accuse the free Lebanese of conspiring to kill their own? This at a time the Lebanese and their counterparts in the UN have been investigating for years now! So, March 14 logic goes, if anybody has the moral right to fling accusations, it is March 14. And the logic continues: The Arab League should act. As if the league members do not already know who is behind this group, or need a fact finding mission to figure it out.  Whatever happened to the briefing on the Islamist group that Siniora gave Amr Moussa many months ago? They didn’t condemn the Assad regime then, and they will not condemn it tomorrow. Not even Europe is prepared to level accusations at Assad. International denial and compromise is the name of the game -- just read the naive statement by British FM David Milliband on Syrian-Lebanese relations and the UK and Syria cooperating in the fight against terrorism. 

So why is March 14 expecting the league to deliver what Lebanese authorities and the world couldn't? And does this call not undermine confidence in the work of the UN commission and the Lebanese authorities? Why are Lebanese papers bothering with accounts of arrests and investigations? Will the Arab league unearth evidence or facts that years of interrogations, investigations and fact-gathering by hundreds of individuals from across the world didn’t?

 The Arab League involvement makes no sense. If this is March 14’s way to defend itself against Syrian accusations, then someone in their leadership needs to fire his advisors. 

Of course, the Lebanese government’s response was as pathetic. They send the interior minister to Syria, and continue pushing for diplomatic relations with the regime, and form a committee to “address methods of cooperation”. Sending Baroud with no mission to defend his country and confront the accusers is an act of treason. And having your information minister, who once denounced the regime’s acts, say that relations between the two countries are “built on mutual respect” is mind-boggling. The same can be said about this whole embassy business. The Lebanese government should not have accepted diplomatic representation before the Hariri investigation is over. In most other countries, ambassadors are expelled and embassies shut down when there is violation of sovereignty and sponsored murder. Lebanon, however, chose to REWARD the Assad regime by not only agreeing to exchanging diplomats before a criminal investigation is concluded, but also allow the Syrian regime to vet all candidates for the post of Lebanese ambassador!

Of course, this twisted logic was made possible by the Arab League. That March 14 is yet again resorting to this body is yet another thing to add to the heap of nonsense that is Lebanese and Arab Politics.

Comments

[Lebanese Patriot]

I agree with you that the Arab League, most probably, will not do anything. But, what should we do?

My personal opinion is to air every single fact that implicates Syria in Fateh Al Islam and for sure cut the relations (Assuming they already started)

[danny]

I can only assume that the only objective is to expose Syria...as they (M14) are fully aware that it will not "share" the 'confessions" with anyone. Thus their unwillingness will 'prove" that they were staging the "confessions"...

[Rima]

Good post AK...As you said I don't understand this kinda Lebanese infatuation with diplomatic relations with Syria. For sure it is an act of treason to send Baroud to Syria after all these assassinations. But this is a reflection of the President's policy as outlined by his Presidential statement. The 14th March are just loosing because they acted cowardely and unwisely in many occasions. Being weak is not an attractive feature in international politics.

Love your blog. It is very classy and thought- provoking

[VOR]

Diplomatic relations with Syria is not going to make a difference as long as the syrians are intent on interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs through proxies and their desire to always have the latest say. It's a joke,the syrian embassy will serve as a nest for troublemakers and agents who will be only closer to their cronies ready to take orders! Syria is banking on this move to restore its credibility with the west and break out of its own inernational isolation which could have weakened and threatened the Assad regime. The stupid moves of the former Iraqi leadership will not be repeated by the baathists in Syria.

[Shunkleash]

Miliband is an idiot, Sarkozy is an idiot, Brown is an idiot, Rice is an idiot, Moon is idiot but as usual when these twats come around Lebanon suffers. I feel if we hear the word "change" muttered any more from the mouths of charlatans, and other members of the herd, that it will start to sink in. Stop the nonesense of engagement with murders and dictators, stop playing with Jimmy Carters failed foreign policy of testiculr fondulation and for goodness sake someone please shut the Claoun up!

The last thing we need around here is a bunch of Euromommas boys with their flower power bullshit to tell us how we should all jsut get along. The woods are still filled with wolves, wahhabs, moallems, assads, ahmadasses, faqihs, and Claouns and hizbkharrah that need to be eradicated. You can't do that by giving them RED MEAT! Have we not learned our lesson from Ashton's and Mickey Moussas last round of visits to the whore house? Enough with the pettiness, multiculturalism,realism,egoism,relativism,backstabism,whoreism, jingoism.

JUST ENOUGH!

Common sense must prevail NOW!

[Bad Vilbel]

Welcome back Shunkleash. Your rants were missed. :)

[Marillionlb]

The wolves will soon be roaming the streets free, just wait until the Syrian embassy opens.
M14rs have lost most of their credibility on the international scene and can only look towards such a useless body of idiots like the Arab league. What have they achieved since 2005? nothing but concession to the those traitors in M8 and the next elections will show how they have let them OFFICIALLY take over the country. M14 is more liable than M8 in all that is happening. Anyway it was always my opinion that all of them should be hanged in public place and their bodies left to the vultures.
Wishing all of you a nice week-end and a happy INDEPENDENCE day !!!!!!!!!

[LebExile]

Are you kidding me...
I agree totally with going to the Arab League...

Not only that, go to any and every organisation that will hear your complaints..

I think everyone in and out of syria knows the confessions were extracted by torture, no one is really taking them seriously..

There is enough being investigated by the international commision, dont really nead to raise more issues and delay it further..

The reason I say go to the Arab League and any other organisation that will hear our complaints - ahh well - it's not really going to help I know, but it does publicly embarrass the Syrians, it makes it harder for them to to make any use of the confessions - really - if you believe the future movement is responsible - why dont you let the Arab League investigate?? hmmm..

next I say raise the issue with the European Union - I hear Syria is really eager to get the EU Med partnership moving!!!

As for Embassy and Ambassador well, really, this is just another kick in the nuts for the Syrians really. Having them publicly comit to opening an embassy was probably March14's better acomplishments of 2008 - and besides, gives us the opportunity to expel their ambassador!!