The Lebanese authorities are targeting various Syria-loyal factions at the same time. Is this the sensible thing to do or are we outstretching ourselves?
Two News bits caught my attention this morning. One tells of the Lebanese authorities’ efforts to reclaim property forcefully occupied by the extremist pro-Syrian Ahbash faction, and one of a large-scale operation of the Lebanese Army to surround a Palestinian camp in a bid to capture the killers of a Lebanese Army surveyor.
What I’m really concerned about is this: how much control do we have over our law-enforcement and security bodies? Can we really go about cutting all the tentacles of the previous Syrian regime at the same time? What about the Syrian allies in Lebanon? Don’t they have followers in the Army and other government bodies over which they have considerable influence? Wouldn’t it be better if we take on the powerful Syrian remnants one by one?
What’s your take on this?
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I've been blogging about Lebanese society, business and politics since February 2005.
The article is accurate about al-Ahbash whom I know very well. They have much more weird fatwas! I will not waste my time listing them! Last summer, I met several ahbash whom I was surprised to tell me that they are “politically” not Ahbash! We were predicting the end of that group and the end is near. Also, the end is near for the Syrian mafia Al-Asad Inc. regime!
A lot people view themselves as outside the law in Lebanon. This is one main reason the civil war started in 75.
At this point you cannot let any visible assault on authority, especially the army and police, go undealt with.
If elements of the army/police have other loyalties, better have them uncovered and punished, right here and now.
(See my last post on Jund el Sham
Even if elements of the security services have other loyalties, when the Army command gives an order, it better be followed!
So if some General wants to disobey those orders because he has other sympathies, let him do so at his own risk, which is why I think this is not as big a problem as in other countries like Colombia, where many times rank and file soldiers tip-off people in the drug trade that they are about to be raided.
We have to start at one point, so it is about time we bring the issue of arms outside government control into the open. It is imperative however that we seperate Hezbollah’s weapons from everyone elses, because everyone besides Hezbollah will try and hide behind Hezbollah’s weapons, knowing that that is a sensative issue.
Mustapha,
You could have chosen a name other than Samir, couldn’t you?
Unless it’s a sidekick
Anonymous,
I’m sorry, you are right. I just realized the Samir issue right now. “Samir” was the first non-secterian name that popped into my head. (for those who still don’t understand, i think anonymous objects because Samir with a rifle is a bit too reminiscent of a Samir Geagea period we all want to forget (especially Geagea himself)
It’s a bit late to change it now though.
Fair enough Mustapha.
Thanks