President Bush’s latest travel ban is so far-reaching even the many FPM supporters in the USA could be in danger.
ABR just pointed out President Bush’s Latest travel ban. And frankly, it can be scary even to legit Lebanese opposition. Check this out:
In order to foster democratic institutions in Lebanon, to help the Lebanese people preserve their sovereignty and achieve their aspirations for democracy and regional stability, and to end the sponsorship of terrorism in Lebanon, it is in the interest of the United States to restrict the international travel, and to suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of aliens who deliberately undermine or harm Lebanon’s sovereignty, its legitimate government, or its democratic institutions, contribute to the breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, or benefit from policies or actions that do so
So in other words, if another “black tuesday” were to happen tomorrow, where Aoun declares the government illegitimate and FPM supporters block the roads and “contribute to the breakdown in the rule of law”, George Bush’s text would apply to the FPM.
Is this a good thing?
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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
June 29th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Could you imagine Der General redirected to Guantanamo Bay, He should take Emile 1er with him.There is a great view there on the Ocean however Emile won’t be allowed to swim!
June 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
No, this does snot apply to the FPM.
Here is the immediate list of names Banned in the US:
- Assef Shawkat, Syria’s director of military intelligence
- Hisham Ikhtiyar, adviser to President Bashar al-Assad,
- Brig. Gen. Jama’a Jama’a.
-Rustum Ghazali, identified as another top Syrian intelligence official
- plus five former “Lebanese” Cabinet ministers and a former lawmaker.
The United States froze Ikhtiyar and Jama’a’s U.S. assets last year, saying they had played a key role in what it said was Damascus’s policies to support terrorism and destabilize Lebanon.
Source: Reuters.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Not “sweeping”. It’s discretionary. Which in American terms means people are permitted unless some official can justify otherwise by citing this proclamation, rather than the idea that negative proof be produced by every individual.
That said, I wonder why they’re running this now. For example, will it be applied to the Syrian FM’s daughters, who go to school in the U.S.?
June 30th, 2007 at 5:36 am
Shouldn’t that list include Nancy Pelosi, Massimo d’Alema, and all the useful idiots who went to Damascus?
June 30th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Wow, really scary,
If you continue to undermine the Leb gvmnt, you may not get a visa to Disneyland.
June 30th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
I’m with JW on this one.
Who gives a shit…As if these idiots on their list would actually want to go anyways.
As for the FPM question, they should be designated supporters of terrorism, along with the Amal movement, Marada and any other delusional supporters the Party of god (small g)…Watch the funds dry up and see what their next move would be.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
[…] Now that Mr. Abdel Rahim Mourad, a rare Lebanese politician who admitted he was upset when the Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon, can’t fill the post because of the American Ban, why not give the honor to one of the most loyal Syrian allies? […]
July 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
One thing is for sure - if the so-called ‘opposition’ decides to go the 2nd government route, any and EVERYBODY and their families will go on this ban list. IF it becomes a FPM sponsered deal or they participate in it as a party then the FPM and all it’s members (who can be identified, both in and out of the USA) would be eligible for the ban list. Big questions is - what are they doing with those already in the USA who fit the criteria? Are they going to deport them? The answer is probably hidden in the immigration laws that support the new Proclamation.
The whole point of this Proclamation is the up-coming Presidential elections and the threat of the 2nd government. Bush just drew a line in the sand.
November 16th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
[…] • Last June, I wrote about the possible effects of an American presidential ban on the Aounists in the US • In September, I argued that Mr. Saad Hariri is becoming a shameless pro American • Afterwards in October, I made fun of how Assafir covered his Washington trip. […]