Ace: Indeed. M14 is afraid or incompetent or both. A state of emergency should’ve been declared a couple of years ago. After the first string of assassinations. And failing that, it should’ve been called when Nahr Al Bared happened.

Let me give you an example: When 9/11 happened in the US, within HOURS, all sorts of emergency plans were in action. The entire United States became a no-fly zone. Planes were grounded everywhere, and measures were taken. Based on ONE attack.

Don’t you think that having a terrorist group in Nahr Al Bared slaughtering our soldiers and barricading themselves in a camp be enough reason to declare some kinda of emergency????

Is it really a “civil war” when it comes from a guerrilla force that is armed, financed, and run by a foreign country? I said all along – Nasrallah can’t afford to lose on this deal and he NEEDS a war to escape the corner he is in. He will bring that war because it’s his only choice if M14 does not give in to his VETO.

To elect Suleiman with a 50+1 vote, you need him to get on board. That’s all I’m trying to say…

Oh and martial law does smell like a fresh cup of coffee…but I’m not sure we have neither the army, nor the General capable of undertaking such a mission.

It’s not that complicated, you know. How to elect a president: Go to parliament and elect a prez with 50+1. Done.

Not sure what the hold up is.

Happy Arab,

Another investigation? Let me laugh for a minute here. There’s a stack of about 30 investigations that are currently open. 12 or so assassinations, the murder of the two Ziad’s (remember that one?), the investigation into Fath Al Islam, and countless others….

I think this is a reasonable and fair request.

However, before we start this investigation, I think it is also reasonable and fair that their ministers return to the government and sign the International Tribunal paperwork. They had resigned because they didn’t want to sign.

Because not only Shiites have been murdered lately!
Many more Christians and Sunnites have been murdered by terrorist bombs for the past two years. And someone needs to investigate those murders too. Nasrallah and Berri don’t seem at all in a hurry to investigate those murders!

Double standards?

If there are no double standards, then please Nasrallah and Berri, send back your ministers to the government, sign the International Tribunal documents and let’s start investigating all crimes.

I’m really not sure what all the frustration is about? They rioted and wrecked havoc,so they got beaten up by the army. That’s something we should be happy about no? (Of course, I’m not referring to the deaths, but to the strict army response). Compare this to last year; at least it was the army that protected Ain el Remmeneh, not Fohood Tareek Jdeedi and Soqoor Jounieh.

Now, they’re accusing the army of being responsible. Let them have their clash with the army. Let them have as many clashes as they want. Instead of having the government(or the majority) deal head-on with them, let the army deal with them and diffuse any sectarian strife that could result. Meanwhile, the majority should keep its focus on how to elect a President.

The only other option available if we don’t like the -wait till everyone’s patience runs out- plan, would have to be a decisive measure on all levels.
Sleiman declares martial law, starts a real cleaning campaign from the roots, and crushes all those that stand in his way. To put a halt to the bombings and the illegal weapons, he shuts down the borders with Syria no-matter what that would implicate on the economy, and implements a secular state by force. To replace Syria, he also initiates the project for Lebanon’s energy resources by approving the underwater gas pipeline between the South and Egypt, and makes arrangements for our imports/exports to go through Jordan/Turkey. He then sends all the Palestinians to Europe since the Brits and the French are the source of the problem, and withdraws Lebanon from the Arab and Muslim Leagues. Finally after all thats been done, he resigns presenting the platform for the next secular, democratically elected government to come and negotiate what it would take to have normal relations with either Syria or Israel.

And the army should have clearly announced, a year ago, that protests and road blocks would be met by first-bullet in the air, second-bullet on the fucks protesting. Whether they are M14, M8 or M-tizi.

Instead Saniora is closing schools in mourning, might as well tattoo: I AM FUCKING SCARED on his forehead.

Ans I forgot, he condemns what’s going on in Gaza.

What we are seeing here is very careful brinksmanship. The question is: is it careful enough to avoid civil war? And also: is civil war unavoidable? Are people angry enough to want it? “Offended” enough?

Amir: Lebanon does not seem to work like that. The army is the most credible and appropriate force available for moderating civil disorder, as well as containing possible militia brouhaha (Hizbollah notwithstanding). If Lebanon was a place where police could effectively keep the peace, then a lot of bad things would not have happened anyways.