Does the French president have what it takes to face Syria’s meddling in Lebanon?
After an E.U. summit in Brussels, the French President engaged in a little chest thumping: Monday, he declared with a feisty look, is the last chance for the Lebanese parliament to elect a president. If that didn’t happen, France and other nations will “isolate” the forces responsible for hampering the elections.
Those are fine intentions and fine words. In fact, they could even be serious if one heard what our Minister of communications Marwan Hmadeh said in Paris. The international community, he said, is as determined to elect a new Lebanese President as is was in 2005 when it managed to boot out the Syrian occupying forces.
But one can’t help but ask: Does Mr. Sarkozy have the ability and wherewithal to face the Assad regime?
Le President hyperactif – le Lapin Duracel as he’s known in France- strikes the portrait of a tough-talking man in charge who’s nevertheless anxious for quick results. His dealing with the Bulgarian nurses crisis, the French strikers and recently, the Lebanese crisis, indicate that he’s willing to strike deals at the expense of some declared ideals.
The regime in Syria to the contrary, is a time buyer. Like the resistance movements they love to espouse, they lay low when the enemy is attacking, only to sneak back later when fatigue exhausts the assaulter.
Such a troublesome adversary needs is a well-developed long-term plan that combines patience with a gradual increase of pressure. Until now, Mr. Sarkozy hardly looks like the man to spearhead such a plan.
Related Beirut Spring Articles:
• In March, I wrote a post endorsing Mr. Sarkozy for the French presidency • But I later noticed that Sarkozy’s France is misguided on Syria • Recently, I was startled at how naive Mr. Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, seems to be on Lebanon • I had noted that big carrots, like those France are offering, are not what Syria needed.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I've been blogging about Lebanese society, business and politics since February 2005.
Why don’t you ask Bush?
He’s been at it long before
Either case, I wouldn’t mind Sarko taking on Syria – The french way, not the American way. Lebanon and Syria are staying side by side for the next foreseable future. Lets not make them enemies for life.
We already know our intellectual superiority, lets not be brats and rub it in.
Fool,
Hariri and Joumblatt made “friends” with Syria and took it to the limit. What exactly do you have in mind to stay friends beyond bending over again and taking up the derriere???
As to the French, screw them. They are about to sign “contracts” with a guy that blew up A French plane with 200-300 French people in it (UTA).
Your intellectual superiority? LOL
Hariri had problems with Syria because Syria didnt let him steal and sell Lebanon to the Saudis the way the “BIG PIG” wanted and for Jumblad..hmmm Isn’t that the Snake who sell his mother for a Dollar? And For the French :”F**K Them”, who are they anyways? Like the Americans always say : “Never Trust The French”.And I dont Trust those Stinky Mother F***ers.Long Live General AOUN.God bless Him.Amen
Fadi,
- Where were our American freinds during the summer war?
- where was France?
You judge friends and foes when in time of need.
Now America wants to save us?
We wanted them to save us too.
They have malicious intentions, for my view at least, until “proven” otherwise.
Ok so lets do a prediction punditry discussion again.
Who here thinks there will be an election tomorrow?
Who here thinks Sulieman will be the President?
Anyone think ‘Aoun?
And who thinks they won’t solve this till 2009?
Sarko is organising the donars conference for the Palis
They are doing this to show how much they love the arabs, so that when the time comes they can ask syria for a favor, and have the saudis play guarantor