Blogging Lebanon
since 2005
Blogging Lebanon since 2005
The Daily Star makes a good point in Today’s editorial: Why is the international community more supportive of PM Sanioura than his own Lebanese allies?
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 28, 2007
After taking a peak into the FPM’s forum, I came up with two conclusions: 1-They are sane and intelligent people. 2-Some of them are just a tad paranoid.
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 27, 2007
This comment by an Alarabiya reader is offensive on so many levels to Lebanon. It would have been funny if it weren’t a commonly held belief in Syria:
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 27, 2007
Condolleeza Rice, Nicolas Sarkozi & the United Nations are all talking about supporting Lebanon. Do their actions measure up?It seems natural for Prime Minister Seniora to feel all puffed up after meeting the American Secretary of State Condi Rice and having launch with the new French President Mr. Sarkozy. After all, it never hurts to hear that the international community “reiterates its support” (can you remember how many time you heard that expression before?) for the legitimate Lebanese Government.Paris was also good politically for March14. Alhayat reported yesterday that Dr. Rice convinced Mr. Sarkozy to remain close to March14 and and stop treating all the Lebanese parties as equal. That lead to Sanioura’s comments which underplayed the significance of the Paris meeting between the Lebanese groups scheduled for mid-July. Ms Rice also convinced the French President of hardening France’s policy on Damascus.The United Nation is also talking of “upgrading” the Lebanese border security system by spreading “international experts” along the borders.Yet as much as support is important, the United Nations (or the French and Americans for the matter) have not mentioned any action to be taken in case Syria was offended by those experts and completely shut down the Lebanese-Syrian border. The Lebanese Government and the International community could do well by lobbying the Turks, the Iraqis and the Jordanians to credibly threaten closing their borders with Syria in case Syria takes that road. The World Trade Organization should also be involved in warning Syria from cutting off a member country. Those are all areas where the muscles of the International community could really come in Handy..
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 27, 2007
Who wants to free Allan Johnston? Hamas of course… Who wants to track down the UNIFIL bombers? Don’t think twice: Hezbollah.. Who needs a state when you have those wonderfully efficient Islamists?
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 26, 2007
The Lebanese Government is calling for international help after the killing of UNIFIL soldiers.After a special cabinet meeting, the Lebanese government appealed for outside help to prevent the country and the region from spiraling out of control.So let me get this straight: We need Help to protect the UNIFIL, whose initial mission, after much fanfare about how “beefed up” it was, is to help us keep the peace. In other words, do we need help for those who are helping us? Which leads to this other question: In the event of future trouble, who will help those helping those who are helping us?
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 25, 2007
Our very own sex-symbol was almost killed while she was shooting a video clip.
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 25, 2007
According to March 14’s website, our President sneaks every afternoon, unescorted, out of his Baabda palace for 4 hours. Where he goes remains a mystery.
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 25, 2007
A bunch of notes and thoughts on politics and other stuff.Those Pesky Lebanese:
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 24, 2007
It is becoming clear that “Sweet Talking” is an essential part of Iran’s quest for dominion.First, a quiz: “The way out of the present crisis is through […] dialogue without preconditions on the basis of no winner, no loser; a government of national unity,” Who made the above statement today?You’d be excused to think it was Hassan Nassrallah. After all, it’s filled with those nice Lebanese wishy washy terms. But no it’s not, that was Hamas’ Ismail Haniya laying out his vision of the best solution to the Palestinian crisis.In other words, after militarily taking over Gaza and brutally killing many fatah members, Hamas wants “dialogue” and a “nationaly unity government”. This is a classic Iranian charm offensive, or what I call “sweet talking”, where after violently creating facts on the ground, like invading a territory or descending to the capital’s central district, you pretend that all you want is friendship and brotherhood (mousharaka). Of course, when those initially attacked (like Abu Mazen and P.M Sanioura) see right through the deception and refuse to give in, Iran, Aljazeera and Assafir immediately play their P.R. Ace: America and Israel are preventing Arabs and Muslims from dialoguing with each other.And it actually works! It’s amazing how many people keep falling for this gambit, which is an essential part of Iran’s Modus operandi (step 3) as described by Barry Rubin (Via Tony):
Mustapha Hamoui · Jun 23, 2007