What He Said, What He Meant

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Two statements by two different men can be taken for face value, or understood cynically. This post gives them the benefit of the doubt.

1- Patriarch Sfeir said that the Presidency has to be highly respected.

Cynical interpretation: The Patriarch would rather have a criminal Christian at the top than see his mandate shortened. In other words: President Lahhoud should stay.

Benefit of the doubt: The Christians are squabbling among themselves and they can’t make up their minds yet on who should be the next President. The Patriarch just wants to give this power struggle its due time.

2- John Bolton said that the investigation should be able to interview President Assad.

Cynical interpretation: The Americans want to humiliate yet another Arab Leader.

Benefit of the Doubt: The Americans are trying to make it easier for Bashar to broker a deal with them at the expense of Assef shawkat and other men who could be more powerful than him.

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No comments for “What He Said, What He Meant”

My little prediction that I have been thinking about for months now, although the Syrians have now left, Lebanon will not trule enter its post-Syrian age until Lahoud and Berri are both gone, which will be a few years at the least.

Posted by Anonymous | October 27, 2005, 10:17 am
Mustapha,

I’m not too comfortable with your “cynical interpretation” of Bolton’s statement. Since when could Bashar claim the privelage of being called an “Arab leader”?

This kind of sentimental talk is probably what is circulating throughout the “Arab street”, and is, in my opinion, very damaging.

Posted by Raja | October 27, 2005, 5:02 pm

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Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.