Comments on: Why Walid Jumblat Has Embraced Samir Kuntar

By: Pajamas Media » Two Visits to a Fast-Changing Lebanon

Pajamas Media » Two Visits to a Fast-Changing Lebanon — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:12:15 +0000

[...] of Lebanese security and intelligence services, Druze leader and former supporter of March 14 Walid Jumblatt, the German ambassador, and the commander of UNIFIL honored Samir Kuntar, the recently released [...]

By: Eva

Eva — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:16:18 +0000

We witnessed yesterday a change in Jumblatt’s tone towards Hizballah and a reiteration of the Palestinian cause, an indication that the tables have turned, and Jumblatt’s alliances might be taking different routes as well. Just remember that Jumblatt’s main goal since the death of his father is the survival of the Druze minority in Lebanon, and the alliances he makes are ones that will secure the continuity of his people in Lebanon. Whatever decisions/words he chooses are a clear reflection of where Lebanon is heading. His words may seem confusing and unanticipated, but Jumblatt is needless to say, an extraordinarily intelligent man. Anything he says or does is for a well thought out purpose.

By: Last Week Recap | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog

Last Week Recap | The Beirut Spring, a Lebanese Blog — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:25:40 +0000

[...] Why Walid Jumblat Has Embraced Samir Kuntar [...]

By: Fuziyad

Fuziyad — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:23:41 +0000

Abbas…there is something right in yr analysis but how can you explain that walid was the one to push m14 into confrontation with hezbollah with the 2 famous decisions and then pushed m14 into capitulation after the thugs had shown their teeth.

Then making declarations saying that everyone expcets talal arslan in the gov are loosers is sickness to say the least, let alone his comments on the LF…

By: Abbas

Abbas — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:16:43 +0000

Sorry to say that, but I think some of you sound like novices when trying to analyze Jumblat’s views. His father was the leader of the patriotic movement that all the freedom fighters belong to including Mr. Kuntar.
Walid Jumblat did not ask for international tribunal when his father was killed by the Syrians instead he allied with them just because he always believed that Israel was the only enemy. But don’t you think Syria has gone so far in killing and humiliating us in our beloved country? Yes, he was an ally to Syria, and he became an enemy and he got them out of Lebanon. Isn’t this a great achievement? And, I hope that the other parties in Lebanon would understand him now. He is trying to reconcile with the Lebanese partners so we would have a sovereign and free country. It is time that we all work together and make our own decisions without any international interference.

By: Zalfa

Zalfa — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:47 +0000

it could be all those reasons.
it could be because we’re about to handed back to Syria, now that it’s making nice with Israel.
Or it could be that this morning he cut his breakfast cocaine with Vim instead of sugar.
Who knows?

By: Fuziyad

Fuziyad — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:59:57 +0000

Seems quite clear, Jumblatt understood that the international community had sold out lebanon after David Welch refused to take his phone call when hizbus started shelling beirut after their lord told them civil war was halal…

I understand things change and you need to adapt ect…but overall once more, jumblatt has prooved that his personality and his illnesses were a libaility to lebanon in genral. Nor it was right to say the Iranian ambassador was to be kicked out “mne7ro2 el akhdar wal yabess” type of habal or his minsters hysteria at the council of ministers when the declaration of war decision was taken. Then he was the first one to start begging nabih berry and wafic safa. Then the first one to push the gov to pull back on the decision, then in doha he insisted on the blocking third as if he was part of the opposition… this is without mentionning how low he got on the negotiation on the minsisterial portfolios…

Bottom line, Jumblatt confirmed that he never changed and is still the snake he used to be…

STILL, I find very interesting that he is still regularly attacking Syria while he’s working on his reconciliation with Hezbollah/Iran…. is it because as a revenge against the westerners who sold us out to the advantage of Syria, is it motivated that his death penalty in Damascus is not something that can be lifted anymore while he still can manage the Tehran one???
anyone?

By: Ralf

Ralf — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:38:18 +0000

He stroke a third bird with the same stone. I’m done believing that Jumblat might one day be trusted. Enough “clever” moves and strategies Walid. You totaly suck!!!!

By: theFool

theFool — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:32:15 +0000

He might be Jumblat’s opponent in the 2009 elections. Hezbollah could easily grab Kuntar as a candidate in their camp.

By: Tarek

Tarek — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:30:50 +0000

I’d say that your points would be the outside shell of his positions; Arab multi-colored resistance, national unity, Israel is the common enemy, bla bla… I think the real deal is the fact that the winds are changing and some sort of deal had been struck, the terms of which are yet to emerge, but look something like the end of the international tribunal, granting Syria their wishes and the end of any support to the March 14ers (not that any real tangible support was given to them).

The recent events in Lebanon showed that Hezbollah will get what they want when they want it, and there is no arguing them. Legitemacy, law, rule, government are all concepts that could be easily ignored, and it looks like the March 14ers have grasped that and realized that they need to work with them somehow.

Shame really…

By: maverick

maverick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:14:16 +0000

Excellent points Mustapha, although, I dont see an alliance per se in the near future….Its more of chipping away Hizballahs excuses, and finger pointing.
By championing the Arab cause via Palestinian/Isreali conflict, Joumblatt looks less like a zionist/American stooge, henceforth removing a very important ideological card Hizbollah regularly uses.

By: MM

MM — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:28:34 +0000

That’s a good point Mustapha. It could be posturing, but something is certainly afoot with the ever “elastic” WJ.

By: tg

tg — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:32:30 +0000

He’s not an idiot. He realized the march 14 ship sinking, and like a rat, instinctively know to abandon ship.