Lebanese analyst Rozana Bou Monsif says “no but”:
Sources suggest that there could have been a partial acceptance from some regional players of a [Mikati] Syrian initiative, since it’s the least bad among other options, namely :
1- A complete explosion in Lebanon and the region,
2- An open-ended political stalemate
3- A Karami Premiership
4- A Hariri Premiership that can’t take off because it will be boycotted by the oppositionAmong the options above, it was seen that a Mikati Premiership was the most applicable. The choice should not be seen as a regional endorsement, but rather as a half-hearted green light.
This is appeasement, pure and simple. A “complete explosion in Lebanon and the region”? And who’s going to start that explosion? The United nations and the Special tribunal? Let’s call this what it is: This is a pathetic surrender to the blackmailing of armed thugs disguised as a resistance.
Note: The translation above is my own. To see the original Arabic text, hover the mouse over the translation.
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As an observer, I don’t understand why you people aren’t more upset with Hariri. He was handed leadership on a golden platter, and even had Hzb and Iran’s acquiescence, and all he had to do was to not f it up, but he couldn’t even do that. He’s so incompetent and dumb that he let himself be played by outsiders who now, not surprisingly, aren’t lifting a finger to help him. Disgraceful person.
@Alex, 100% in agreement.
Nothing else to add. As usual.
But in the main time, I have to agree with Alex on the “specific” part of his statement where he said that Hariri son is a incompetent. Hell yes he is. This guy is a cheep and have no back bones.
Anyway, this country will remain f..cked up since everything is around the sects.
If nobody can’t say it out loud : you guys need l-a-ï-c-i-t-é.
But of course it’s easy to say, suicidal to apply since you would walk on the drugs/weapons/death dealers.
Aaaachhh … Lebanon … “sigh”
The shortcomings of Mr. Saad Hariri are known. But this is entirely beside the point and has nothing to do with today’s events.
It is a fact that, whether we like him or not, he’s the one who the overwhelming majority of Sunnis want to be prime Minister, the same way as Mr. Berri (a man also with no shortage of shortcomings) was the one chosen by the Shiaas to be Speaker of the House despite a clear parliamentary majority against him back them.
The outrage today is not about the leadership merits of Mr. Hariri. It’s about a sense of unfairness and of being cheated and scorned.
You know, I was under the impression that you were somehow above this, having previously called against sectarianism, against the proposed Butros Harb law, for democracy, etc…
Fine, the Shiites picked the speaker of Parliament therefore the Sunnis should be able to pick the Prime Minister, and so the vicious cycle will continue. However, although I don’t particularly like the opposition (well I guess they’re no longer the opposition now), what is happening today is both good and healthy. The next time there are parliamentary elections and subsequently an election of its speaker, were Marh 14 to be the majority, they can pick Oqab Saqr for all I care to be said speaker, and use the “democracy” logic that is being used today were they to be opposed.
Also, allow me to add the fact that the Christians never get to pick their President, which being a Christian, annoys the hell out of me. Should we take to the streets next time the Shiites and the Sunnis consent on the army General, someone who usually sucks in politics as clearly evidenced by our current and previous presidents, to become President? What would you have to say to that? I’m sure that I would see posts poppin up on this blog saying how irrational we are and that this country is a democracy blah blah blah, everyone should be able to pick the president.
Pick your philosophy in life and stick to it; don’t go about preaching anti-sectarianism and whathaveyou, then as soon as those same philosophies touch something else you believe in, be it God or the fact that you have the sole right to pick the Prime Minister, you completely forget about your other beliefs, or rather, your very well documented beliefs.
Just because one is against sectarianism (and racism if you’re a regular reader), doesn’t mean that one can’t analyze why a certain sector of the population is upset.
I see my parents, friends and family livid at what is happening and they’re all citing the same reason (unfairness. Berri V Hariri).
But you’re wrong. Oqab sakr can’t be installed as speaker. The problem is that like many, you’re assuming that Hezbollah is playing by the rules of fairness and precedence. But they’re not. What’s theirs is theirs, and what’s ours is ours and theirs. At the end, we were reduced to “might is right”.
By the way, I think that the Christian scene is much more healthy politically because they are not monopolized by a single party. They are engaged in a competition of ideas. This doesn’t apply to the Sunnis, because Mikati is no threat to Hariri’s dominance. But artificially propping Mr. Mikati is not the solution.
When you say things such as “he’s the one who the overwhelming majority of Sunnis want to be prime Minister” you’re no longer analyzing, you’re taking a side.
I understand that everyone around you is aggravated, believe me, so am I, I’m finding it difficult to imagine a HA government, where Aoun is omnipresent, and his sole purpose is to dig in the past as opposed to work towards a better future for all.
And re Oqab Sakr, I would expect the Sunni’s reaction today to happen then, when the attempt to install him as speaker fails, not today, heck, I would be in the streets with you guys, defending democracy and standing against the idea of “might is right”, but that day is not today.
And saying that the Christian scene is healthier because it is not monopolized by one party is complete BS. The reason for that being in that in the current way this country is shaped, the Christians, being divided, no longer have a say, and are therefore being marginalized.
what do you call the animals in tripoli square attacking journalists and destroying cars, while shooting at the army and the ISF?
armed thugs.
I call them Copycats, who learned that the opposition gets its way by doing exactly what they are doing.
There is no way anyone can condone such acts of mob violence.
But after condoning years of Hezbollah-backed acts of rioting, from the attack on LBCI, to the numerous ‘strikes’, culminating in the coup d’état in May 2008, many of our friends in March 8 are shocked, positively shocked, to see people resort to violence.
It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
This has set a dangerous precedence. Today’s riots are just the beginning, this thing is going to boil over. Anyone who thinks Hariri doesn’t know what he is doing is dead wrong. This guy is becoming a master politician, learning quickly on the job. The best way to deal with Hizballah’s guns is to oppose them and to do so both on the political front, international front and now the legitimacy front. Hizballah crossed a major red line and they will pay dearly. Playing in the game of nations is not a good role for any so called resistance group – Hamas is a prime example. The Gazan’s are starving because of them and their base is dwindling as those who were moderate and supported them are no longer doing so and those that are radical are becoming more radicalized as Hamas can no longer resist and rule at the same time.
Long and short, you can’t resist if you rule. If you can’t resist than you are no longer a resistance. If you are no longer a resistance than your weapons are illegal. So maybe this will turn out with Hizballah rolling up into the Army, who knows. Might be one light at the end of the tunnel? But I doubt it.
“The Gazan’s are starving because of them and their base is dwindling as those who were moderate and supported them are no longer doing so and those that are radical are becoming more radicalized as Hamas can no longer resist and rule at the same time. ”
You have to be an Israeli to post something like this, in light of the recent document leaks that have delegitimezed the PLO, and the fact that Israel wouldn’t dare blockade Lebanon like they do Gaza.
Alex,
Are you trying to refute that Gaza is not being blockaded and that people are worse off today than they were before Hamas took over Gaza via a coup? Can you really be serious and say yes? If so, this is the Lebanon that you will get. Hamas are dead on the water and I can guarantee they will not allow another election to take place. This is how fanatics work. They only respect democracy until they can get into power. After they control the helm they change the system so that they never lose it. You probably also support Mr. Chavez so there is not point even discussing freedom and human rights with you.
P.S. what most people are missing here is that in the last election, M14 won. Not the other way around. In a real democracy if alliances leave the winning party, than an election is held. Jumblatt leaving M14 is grounds for a new election. He ran under the pretext of M14 coalition and won votes in this manner. The only way to know his real base is to run again and see what unfolds.
“P.S. what most people are missing here is that in the last election, M14 won. Not the other way around. In a real democracy if alliances leave the winning party, than an election is held. Jumblatt leaving M14 is grounds for a new election. He ran under the pretext of M14 coalition and won votes in this manner. The only way to know his real base is to run again and see what unfolds.”
Amen to that
At least seven people taking part in a minority Shia Muslim procession in the Pakistani city of Lahore have been killed by a suicide bomb, police say.
Looks like Sunnis have been having a field day today
Facts prove today that this “Analyst” bou Monsef was wrong.
We (The opposition) won and the thugs are coming from the other side.