Hariri has to think carefully before ignoring Samir Geagea.
Those were the days?
The pressures on Hariri, the leader of the Future Movement are enormous. The Saudis, the French and the Iranians are all working, each in their way, towards a so-called “national unity government”.
The Tribunal now behind, Hariri seems tempted. Notably, his Almustaqbal front page didn’t even mention Samir Geagea’s press conference in which he lambasted the current designs of hush-hush compromises.
But before rushing into shaking hands with Nassrallah, Hariri has to listen carefully to his LF ally, whom many suspect could be scapegoated in the case of a deal.
Do you really want to go back to the days of paralyzed governance? Geagea seemed to be asking Hariri yesterday. The LF’s head asked a simple yet revealing question:
“If Hezbollah were in the cabinet, would the Lebanese Government have taken such a strong action against Fateh Al Islam, considering their leadership’s position?”
Geagea was also uncompromising on the Presidency, an issue which Hariri hinted he might bargain over.
Before getting into anything similar to the disastrous quadripartite agreement in which Hariri and Jumblat thought they could bargain with Hezbollah and Amal at the expense of the Christians, Hariri’s advisors ought to learn from their past mistakes and remember why Hariri got into an alliance with Geagea and Jumblat in the First place: An independent, Free and sovereign Lebanon. Wheeling and dealing with parties whose strategic interests are the opposite of yours would be a great mistake.
Even Nabih Berri is now making fun of your disunity.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I've been blogging about Lebanese society, business and politics since February 2005.
Mustapha,
Do you really believe that The Future Movement would re-align with Hezbollah at the expense of LF and alienate the Christian element supporting the Government? Surely this would strengthen General Aoun’s hand! and do we know what Jumblatt’s outlook on the issue of the Presidency and National Unity Government is at this point in time?
The Lebanese government cannot afford to be in a situation that for every one step forward they take two steps backward and unfortunately the agenda’s of the opposing camps are diametrically opposed.
Keep up the much appreciated work on the blogging front.
Cheers.
Whereas, I agree the green in harriri is showing through in that he is not yet as seasoned as he should be. He may be playing games in the sandbox but he must be careful thath te bullies are still there and they do not play nice…only a fool will miss the opportunity to unite once and for all, all all all all sects in this country under one banner. L E B A N O N….!!! nuff said
AYESH LUBNAN!!!
You’re welcome Tony, I appreciate your readership
Shunkleash,
Because hariri is inexperienced i addressed this article to his advisers. I’m afraid our politicians don’t do “once and for all” in this country. This is why it is our duty to nag them..
“If Hezbollah were in the cabinet, would the Lebanese Government have taken such a strong action against Fateh Al Islam”
I think they would … how would hezbollah have prevented that? They needed Aoun to block such a decision with the “blocking third” but Aoun’s army background made him back the decision of a strong action by the military.
No ?
There are many reason not agree with them on the blocking third but I don’t think this is one of them or am I readin gthings wrong?
easy anonymous: by withdrawing all shiaa ministers and claiming that the government is no longer constitutional. That would be regardless of whether or not the shiaa ministers form 1/3 of the government or not.
Unless Aoun insists that is of having a shia minister himself.
Harriri has many advisors, I am sure. Beyond that, how free are politicians to modify their positions…little to none. I am sure this deal has been blessed by Saudi Arabia and with Bush’s nodding.
Mustapha,
Which is exactly what they are doing now, unsuccessfully. So they would have no advantage in a government with 1/3 opposition.
My whole point is that the nahr-el-bared example is one of the few bad examples to why Hariri cannot accommodate the opposition because it would not change anything or give Hizballah any more power than they have now.
However as you mentioned, it would be a great idea to give hizballah a sunny minister and mustaqbal (better than Aoun) a shi3a minister etc … to prevent any side from having all ministers of a certain sect …
Billionaire boy’s behaviour will only increase distrust Christians already have towards his (intended)unified Sunni party.
Christians know he’s to weak to control all parts of the Sunni community.
And the Hariri tic of buying political support(presidential candidates with links to Hariri money)security(ISF) is annoying Christians more and more.
Add to that a Prime minister wich cannot pronounce a sentence without mentioning the word Arab.
And legitimising fundamentalist groups.
Nahr el-Bared and Ein el-Hilweh just confirm to Christians that Sunni boogeyman are out there.
To many Christians Hariri&Hezbollah are the same,wich one you support depends on wich one your ‘halfgod’/political leader supports.
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