Between the two evils of having General Lahhoud’s term as President extended, and having General Michel Aoun as President, the March 14 coalition has chosen the former. Don’t bother waiting for a miracle tomorow..
(Self sensorship: friends and family have emailed about the previous picture and the opinions ranged between “inapropriate” and “tasteless”. Those of you lucky enough to have seen it, sorry. As for the rest of you, well, you’re not missing on much)
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The beirut spring is a blog that is interested in Lebanese society and its politics. It started in February 2005 after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
April 27th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
I would rather have a MONKEY as president then either Lahoud or Aoun the pro syrian asses. But i agree with March 14 forces, that lahoud has a little over 1 year where as the rat Aoun would have 6, u do the math. when lahoud leaves office then the March 14 will pick there own guy, who is ANTI SYRIAN!
April 28th, 2006 at 2:40 am
HARIRI & CO eat their own s*** and leave lahoud after haulting the economy and life for a full year! What a shame on Hariri Jr that made people rally on Feb14, 2006 and curse lahoud in the memory of his beloved father!! and now he re-extend him without the syrians pressure… hypocrites!
April 28th, 2006 at 7:20 am
The question is why would the prefer Lahoud over GMA? The answer to this has been known to us and many other for some time, and further reinforces our ideas regarding their actions and their plans for the country. Our resolve is higher than ever.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:59 am
The question to both camps:
Why, for the sake of the country, could not they agree on a “neutral” non-politician person to finish Lahoud’s term? (and not be eligible to run again).
They could have put tacit conditions on not opening old corruption files, leaning Hezb alone for now etc…
It would have removed the shit/traitor from Baabda and kept the options open for all a year down the road
Omega, if FPM doesn’t want to remove Lahoud for whatever reason, fine, your right.
But please don’t (GMA) tell me Lahoud is due respect, or should sit at the dialogue table. It insults my intelligence and yours.
April 28th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Josey is absolutely correct.
In either case, the country will suffer for at least the next 16 months or so. I just hope that the already weak March 14 forces don’t get any weaker. Let’s see what political alliances materialize then when the vote should take place.
April 28th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
Hey, Perpetual,
Just in case you didn’t notice, I commented on your blog :)
April 28th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
This is actually the outcome I was hoping for. Lahoud is as impotent as they get, so why not have him as a dummy in Baabda. That way, as soon as he looses his presidential immunity, he will be treated as the criminal he really is. I predict, he will disappear a few days before his presidency is over…
As for Micho, the small, Aon…again, he will find himself losing popularity by the minute, anbd will end up a very lone;ly psycho.
Fortunately, the best thing the Taif agreement ever produced is teh change in law, whereby as soon as a president’s term is over, the current prime minister takes over, so we do not have to worry about Emile Lahoud pulling a last minute stunt.
FGA
April 28th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
General aoun is blinded by the chair. he only see that as his goal. as for a political agenda and political reforms cmon. the papers the fpm produce are nothing but juvenile attempts at showing they have any political intellect. this movement has no backbone but a pshyco leader that is losing any fake credibility hes built in the past fast. Aoun gained popular support in the elections because the christians were opresed for 15 years and had no real canand suddenly he comes back and makes use of this wave and christian reaction. now we see he doesnt have any agenda but the chair. he is making alliances with all of the past periods ghosts and the symbols that are trying to keep the police regime afloat. Lebanese people tend to be lead like sheep and that how the remaining pro fpm members are being lead. they only have the image of their leader in their minds and dont seem to be listening to whats coming out of his mouth or seeing the alliances he is building. March 14 will wait out lahoods term and elect a true patriotic president. we dont want any more generals on that chair.
April 28th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
FGA,
Re: Keeping Lahoud. Beyond the terrible symbolism, you think Leb can afford no new ambassador/security/judge appointments for another year and a half.
There’s no judge yet on the Tueni case. Weapons are pouring in the country????.
April 28th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Mustapha,
I replied via email :-)
April 29th, 2006 at 12:57 am
Joseywales,
Actually, no.. I dont think we can afford it, but unfortunately we will have to do with it. The economic, social, and political situations will worsen progressively over the next year, while the jackass of Baabda steals money to secure a comfy retirement in halab and the moron of Rabieh dreams of becoming a 21st century napoleon. But I dont see any other alternative to this dismal situation, unless there is a direct tangible incrimination of Emile Lahoud by the upcoming Brammertz report.
April 29th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
A little bit off topic, but I am wondering what you guys thought about this article describing 2000 young children in military fatigue carrying fake rockets in a rally organized by hisballah? Isn’t disturbing that a generation of Lebanese children are being raised to internalize hatred and violence, even if towards an enemy? Would these children ever be able to be future responsible citizens of a country, or only cannon fodder?
I am personally outraged. What are your thoughts?
-Imad
April 29th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
I loved the cartoon :) I am an American and would like to get one of George Bush like that, just change the date he was re-elected. Take a lesson from the young in France and many other places, if you want change, get a million friends to march in the streets for two months. Gandhi and Martin Luther King were right, non-violent protest is the way to change a society.
By the way, I am also the author of Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel.
Ya Haqq