Yesterday evening a political debate show welcomed the current Minister of Sports and Youth Ahmad Fatfat, Faris Sa'aid, and Fawwaz Traboulsi. At least Traboulsi expressed my views on the show. I tried to capture what he was saying as much as I could. These points can be summarized as follows:
- Both camps are relying on External Forces/Alliances and escalations.
- Situation is unusual: Prime Minister attributes himself to a camp and member of party (and hails his city whereby he could have proceeded with his speech without that) while the Head of the Parliament belongs to the opposing camp and head of a party.
- The majority of the Lebanese are interested in the topics least tackled by both camps:
. Current Status of the Non-Shooting Treaty (el-Hodna)
. The fate of Syrian relations
. Immigration of the Lebanese youth
. Current problems that Lebanon faces with geography: Lebanon is surrounded by two neighbors: An enemy and a "friend" that is trying to establish hegemony
. Others
- Both Camps are messing up on the expense of the Lebanese
- Seems there are two phase Settlement:
. The International Tribunal
. The Ministry Issue
- Both camps are escalating and what is worse neither camp is taking the consideration of a back door (Khat el Raja'a) to the crisis
- Problem with 14th of March that they want the International Tribunal to be active whereby they expect that its investigations would shoot down the Syrian Regime; henceforth, this causes too much pressure on Lebanon to handle.
- Ta'ef Accord is no longer feasible ever since the Syrians withdrew from Lebanon. The Taef accord focuses on:
.the Parliament
.Institutional Sharing
- As regarding the topic of Hezbollah's arms: There is a big difference between disarming Hezbollah's arms and Hezbollah handing over their arms. Currently, the defence situation of Lebanon relies heavily on the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah. There is no current formula on resisting the Israelis, so again both camps are not tackling that issue,
- Running to regional and international forces means failure to solve the intrnal problems. This is a problem and a sign of weakness since both refute to admit failture and face the problem.
- The problem about Ta'ef and revisiting it is important, because it is no longer a problem of the Parliament and sharing power. This is a structural short-run solution, the core essence soution needs a whole set of discussions.
- As for the current status quo, it can generate a settlement
- Problem with both camps that people are sick of the situation. Both camps are promising a largue explosive situation, but then they tell the people: Thank heavens these are tiny explosions. Even these small explosions are part of the on-going settlement. (Even Faris Sa'aid admits that this dispute is no longer local, rather regional).
- Final comment: When two groups argue that they can't settle the crisis internally, they are preparing Lebanon for a new civil war.
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13 comments:
See! We found a common ground!!
Loved the post and the points tackled! Wish I watched this show.
you should have read his analysis on the situation, amazing!
eh ma killl l 3alam sarou 3arfin hal Ossass..
el mouhim chou 3am ya3mlo tayssalho l wade3
Sa'aid said that currently, at least on leadership level no domestic solution can came out of the crisis
It’s a bit facile to blame both sides, while one is clearly way way worse than the other.
I share Najah Wakim’s view: two days ago he said that “we have to get rid of Lebanon’s Mohammadât Dahlan” first!
Be they “Pro-Persian” or “Napoleonic” or even “Marxist” whatever that means in 20006, no one in the opposition can be as bad as the sinister assortment of Wahhabi Islamists and Neocon Neo-Nazis ruling Lebanon…
It’s time we got our country back!
Najah Wakim is already part of the two camps as his Party "Movement of the Commoners" is an active part of 8th of March Coalition.
Second, both sides got factions willing to work with US imperialism. Whether it was Aoun pushing for the "Syrian Accountablity Act" at the COngress or Berrie's flirtation with both camps. To be exact, even Hezbollah's ministry of Labor took a decision to block Palestinians living in Lebanon to attain Graduate Assistantships from university.
Third, the camp members who are demonstrating in down town played a crucial role in annhilating the Union movements that were active.
Fourth, we have to be careful not to tag anything as Neo-Cons and proceed to support one camp over the other. Both camps have no problem (except probably the SSNP and LCP) of having Lebanon joining the World Trade Organization, and actually, at the parliamentary level both camps voted (except for the FPM) of adopting Harriri Sr.'s plan to join the WTO.
Fifth, Najah Wakim is not a reference himself, as during the wave of Civil marriage campaigns that hit Lebanon in 1998-1999, Najah Wakim publicly abstained from voting to the implementation of the Civil Marriage.
Sixth, what country? The term lebanon is so relative per individual in a party within a camp. Free Lebanon 100%? The Lebanese Forces would call it so as long as their political ties are untouched. The Free Patriotic Movement? Sure, any logo would do if it gets him the President chair.
Seventh, neither camp is sticking to what is 100% Lebanese, they are all resorting to outside for aid and negotiations within the inside politics. Moreover, Faris S'aid said it that currently no domestic solution can come from the inside.
BTW, welcome to my blog doc. :)
Being a socialist in the US, it's not uncommon here to oppose both sides. At times that is what leadership means.
Good points, unfortunately if Lebanon was led bu adults and not selfish spoiled brats, we wouldn't be in this mess. Every single one of them keeps contradicting himself and his principles. shi te7fe!
Cheerios Liliane
Hello,
Christmas Day falls on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not thought to be his actual date of birth. Much respect!
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