Ahmad Fatfat is a well-intentioned man, but he’s incompetent as a Minister of Interior. He should resign.
We’ve seen it all before: A Hariri loyalist gets appointed as an interior minister with fresh promises of toughness on crime and terror, only to be rattled well into his tenure by seemingly unstoppable waves of… well, crime and terror.
It is tempting, as many in the March 14 (M14) movement are doing, to blame President Lahhoud for this ineffectiveness. After all, the President still has the power to stall security appointments and, with the help of the remaining Syrian loyalists in the security establishment, to meddle endlessly. The M14 people are often heard saying: If we are ruling, we should at least be given the full ability to rule (code for: we should be given the freedom to make all the appointments we wish to make)
While that makes sense, it only partly explains the catalogue of failures of Ahmad Fatfat in the Interior Ministry. A look at the rocket attacks in the Beirut Central District last Sunday for instance reveals a colossal failure of imagination. All it took was lacing obvious intelligence points together to conclude for instance the the Fuad Shihab bridge would make an ideal launching point for rockets aimed at very sensitive targets. Why wasn’t the bridge monitored?
The shooting of two young boys by the security forces in a Shiaa area was another big gaff.
There’s another important reason why Mr. Fatfat should go: He has become a political liability for the Future Movement.
Mr. Fatfat became the object of much ire when he licenced the establishment of Hizb-el-tahrir, a marginal extremist islamic party that advocates the resurrection of the islamic khalifat. Mr. Fatfat’s logic was impeccable: Since those people are going to assemble anyway, they might as well do it under our watchful eyes (this is a very liberal principle followed by the Netherlands for instance in regulating drug use and the sex industry), but the execution was flawed. He should have pre-empted his critics by calling for a public debate on the matter and explaining in the press. Instead, he went in a typical Lebanese hush-hush way about it and gave munition to M14’s Christian opponents, including LF supporters who are not fully convinced of their alliance with the Future Movement.
Ahmad Fatfat is also very exposed to the embarrassing episode where the M14 shook hands and exchanged smiles and gifts with the universally hated John Bolton.
Can the Future Movement benefit from Ahmad Fatfat’s removal?
Removing Fatfat can be a three-in-one master stroke:
- Since Hezbollah and Aoun are both asking for Fatfat’s head, letting him go can be made to appear as a concession that needs to be countered by a similar move from the other side.
- Dropping the Dinniyeh Minister can further strengthen the alliance with Samir Geagea’s LF by denying the right-wing elements the chance to vent about the Islamist Minister, an argument that is also used frequently by the FPM to shore up its Christian base.
- And finally, the position of Interior Minister can be used to install a competent, high profile…Armenian.
Yes, Armenian.
The Armenians allied with Mr. Hariri (mainly the Hanshak and the Ramgavar) are in a fix. They have no benefits to show their constituents from their alliance with Hariri. Instead, they appear to be increasingly ignored. Look at how the Turkish troops were admitted in the UNIFIL2 despite strong Armenian opposition? Having a high profile Ministry in the Government can go a long way in fixing that situation, and prevent Armenian opponents (like the Tashnak) from tapping into those grievances.
Yalla Mr. Fatfat, sorry, but it is time to start packing.
| Print: 
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
October 18th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
completly logical!
If you follow the same kind of objective political analysis (wich is crucial for the uprising of modern institutions), then we should simply fire all of “tawlit 7iwar” members becose they are simply lebanese employers (if we pay there salaries) that are incompetent just like FATFAT is.
He he… but go tell that to Hasan, GMA or Hariri pre-historic followers on the streets……
We just are so far away, and we only have to blame our selves for following employers that we consider super-heros or mabe super-gods.
Ciao
Royter
October 18th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Of course by removing him you don’t mean resignation,
Rather he can join “sabe3″ and keep collecting salary while they appoint a third incompetent moustakbal person in the same position without accepting the resignation of the first two so that they don’t have to give up a grain of power to anyone.
And when we complain because of the incompetence we can always be called syrians, iranians, traitors, hariri killers and sectarian unless we happen to be sunni, in that case we’d be syrians, iranians, traitors, hariri killers but not sectarian :-)
Hopefully it is only a matter of a couple of years when the hariri case/tribunal will be over maybe then we’ll be able to tackle the real problems in the country … Ain’t optimism a wonderful thing?
October 18th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
So you want to replace a Sunni Muslim minister by an Armenian Christian one? Are you trying to cause a civil war? :)
October 18th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Even though he tries hard to appear modern, advanced and civilized, Moustapha is a pure product of Lebanon’s sick sectarian and backward system.
1) He describes as a “gaff” the death of the two young boys in Dahieh. Had these two boys been members of his own sect, Moustapha would have described their death as a crime against humanity and would have asked for an international tribunal.
2) Moustapha complains about Fatfat’s incomptence and suggests he be fired. And what is the criteria to select the new minister ? Well, he ought to be Armenian ! ROTFLMAO
Moustapha’s mentality is a case in point and demonstrates how even supposedly liberal Lebanese are infected with the sectarian virus.
Moustapha is just another one of those naive and archaic Lebanese who think they are smart machiavellian political masterminds.
October 19th, 2006 at 4:00 am
Mouse Dude,
Although you’re trying to be objective and fair :), and present a logical approach as to why fatfat should go, it seems you’re more concerned with him going because
“HE’s a LIABILITY TO THE FUTURE MOVEMENT”,
than a Liability to the people! :) (us)
it seems tribalism affects even the intellectuals amongst us, pls rearrange your priorities and goodluck breaking free,
Regards,
October 19th, 2006 at 4:47 am
even if mustapha’s analysis isn’t 100 % objective, at least he is exposing it out loudly without any hipocrisy, just as you will do in a brainstorming session in order to find new solutions.
After all this is a blog reporting a point of view and not a press room!
Keep the good work Mustapha
October 19th, 2006 at 5:06 am
royter,
thank you for your input. Obectivity is in the eye of the beholder :). However, from my brief moments here i feel mustapha is essentially independent. Hence (according to that assumption ofcourse, it could be wrong), hence its a shame this post feels its motivated by partisan dynamics rather than being driven by the welfare of the people. Independents should essentially be driven by that motivation, at least thats what i think, wouldnt you agree? :)
Now regarding this post particularly, it can resemble a consultants work and approach toward a particular party and thats fine too! If however, its neither (not partisan, nor consultant), then my post can be considered a reminder of what should be our priorities as independents!
Regards :)
Mouse, no hard feelings brother, i hope you take my input to heart as i take yours, regds
October 19th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Hey,
No problem Guys, I always apreciate a good debate..
October 19th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Back to your Post Mouse, :),
What do you think is stopping Hariri from changing Fatfat? If lets say he’s presented with this logical tactical move, what will prevent him from jumping and latching on immediately?
As for the FM minister (ministry) :) that is “Interior Ministry”! I think you do know very well that hassan sabe3 was removed as to create a steam opening in the anger of the opposition and people as to vent it that way, instead of arm them further. However, Sabe3 is still behind the lines doing most the groundwork (speculation), what does fatfat really know about security? :), Sabe3 really isnt a bad worker, he’s actually quite good i think, but his relationship to hariri has fixated him (as interior minister) on one overall thing, thus affecting his ability to perform hollistically! It is right to boot him but certainly not replace him with another hariri stooge that knows nothing about security! :)
2) Why does Future still not latch out sabe3 properly? and reinstate fatfat properly? :),
Well, it could be that emile lahoud is a bitch (which he is) and wouldnt sign him, however, it could also be that if and once sabe3 is properly gone, it can be considered that one minister down, 7 LEFT to go and the hukoomeh automatically falls, thats means: lahouds 3 loos ministers and HA and AMALS 4 and its gone hookooumeh :)
So, do you really think Hariri will replace fatfat again and embarass himself further? :), he cant really let go of him or sabe3 :D, so what does he do???
he makes us think the status quo is better, but do we fall for it? :)
Regards
October 19th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Michel kilo is Finally Free
Thanks everyone for your support and your help in trying to release him.
This is a great day for Syria. Congratulations for everyone who is happy for the news.
October 20th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
There are limitations and regulations in the Netherlands laws. Some particular kinds of videos are still illegal. The kinds and quantities of acceptable drug possession are limited. Stepping over the lines drawn by law still results in arrest and court procedures, conviction if found guilty.
Licensing any political group should prohibit the use of any weapons by any group member. A single incident is enough to revoke any group license and should include government search and seizure of all arms or related supplies from members of that group. End of story.
October 21st, 2006 at 3:00 am
Regardless of what I personally think of Fatfat (not much), he can not be held responsible for the interior minsistry in the country when the security agencies refuse to take orders from him.
Lebanon is a failed state.
October 21st, 2006 at 10:56 am
Man that Fatfat is ugly: what a picture
October 23rd, 2006 at 10:36 pm
There is danger in Surrender
I guess Michel Kilo is still in Jail. Need some creative art to cause an impact. Some people said I am only saying words, but together we can make a difference. Keeping Kilo in Jail will be very costly.
Lebanese Artistic talent and originality is urgently needed.
October 24th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
In a stricktly Lebanese/National logic, I agree with you that Fafat is a liability. But the problem goes deeper; as proof of it, I cite the fact that the government did nothing about any of the nasties who alomst started us a civil war back in February.
I think it is not Fatfat’s fault, but the future movement as those who call themselves march 14. I fear that they have reduced Hariri’s dream into a strictly sunni/sectarian ambition. I still hope to be wrong about this, but the signs are not encouraging…
So, in a strictly nationalistic goal, yes, we need a few new guys. I am afraid, however, that we’re past that; our March 14 spring has not borne fruit yet. All its flowers have dispersed, each going back to its own community/clan.
October 26th, 2006 at 12:11 am
Anon 3:00pm
he [Fatfat] can not be held responsible for the interior minsistry in the country when the security agencies refuse to take orders from him.
Who is responsible then? If Fatfat can’t do his job , he should resign (and spill the beans, see my last post on Fatfat).