Tuesday, November 21, 2006

And now Pierre Gemayel…

Two ministers…Two ministers are enough to topple the government and prevent the establishment of the International Tribunal. One was killed today. This is not a coincidence. RIP Pierre Gemayel.

This has Syria written all over it. This is no time for compromise. Any political maneuvering to disrupt the establishment of the international court, by any local political side, will be looked upon with a lot of suspicion. Neutrality is a privilege nobody can afford anymore.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The former Prime Ministers

The former Prime Ministers seem to be very busy lately. Meetings, statements, public appearances etc… In fact, we’re seeing so much of them that it appears as if we’re witnessing the birth of a new institution in this country: the institution of Former Prime Ministers. Just when you thought we’re out of ideas!

Think about it, this is exactly what we need. Another institution…for former retired politicians who have yet to make peace with the fact that they are (or should be) retired! After the 14-knights-around-a-round-table (headed by a disinherited, do not underestimate such a detail), here comes the council of Former Prime Ministers, sort of a council of wise elders, selflessly providing guidance for a Nation constantly drifting away from the right path. Rejoice oh Lebanese!

Monday, November 13, 2006

March 8 resigned; March 14 puts its foot down

I have mixed feelings about the resignation of Hezbollah and Amal ministers. I would have loved to say “good riddance!” but the situation is much more complicated than that and it is not yet clear how the situation will evolve.

A glimmer of light in all this chaos: March 14 have finally decided to take matters into their own hands and act as a Majority. In a statement released Sunday, March 14 leaders called on the government to approve the draft text of the International Court and PM Fouad Sanioura reiterated his call for an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Monday to endorse the U.N. draft text.

The current government is not expected to last for long. Despite Sanioura’s rejection of the resignation of the five Shiite ministers, the government will suffer a lack of legitimacy resulting from the non-participation of all of its Shiite members. Replacing the five ministers is virtually impossible since the signature of the President is needed on any decree appointing new ministers and I can’t find any reason that would make Lahoud sign such a decree.

As a result, the current government will soon have to be replaced or modified, unless the Shiite ministers withdraw their resignation. The formation of a new government granting a blocking minority to the opposition is likely in the near future. It is therefore crucial to speed up the adoption of the draft text of the International Court and avoid going through the risk of submitting it to a government granting veto powers to the opposition.

The Majority is under huge pressure to postpone the cabinet meeting and the debate over the U.N. draft text. Will it be able to stand firm and proceed with the adoption of the document?

Update: the Lebanese government convened today in the absence of the Shiite ministers and Environment Minister Yacoub Sarraf who resigned this morning. The draft text of the international court was unanimously approved by the government. “We tell the murderers that we will not give up our rights no matter what the difficulties and obstacles are”!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Let’s nationalize the Resistance!

isn’t it amazing how the same people who recently discovered a sense of national unity and who have been repeating over and over again how this country can only be built on consensus between all sects; reminding everyone how it is contrary to the very essence of Lebanon that certain factions, despite being democratically elected, control the government; reaffirming on every possible occasion that the decisions - starting with the least important ones such as appointing civil servants - should be adopted unanimously… isn’t it amazing how such vigorous positions are not observed by the very same party that is so graciously distributing lessons to everyone else in the country? Unanimity, it seems, is essential when appointing low-ranked civil servants, or ministers from a certain sect. But it is absolutely unnecessary when it comes to more serious issues such as life or death, or declaring war or peace.

So I suggest we take advantage of this newly-found spirit of national unity among these people and ask them to take it a step further: Let’s nationalize the Resistance! Let the resistance reflect the national unity we all aspire to. Why should it be restricted to some people when it could embrace all citizens? Why should it be controlled by a certain sect if all others would be more than willing to take part in it? It is obvious that the implications of the resistance are felt by all the Lebanese, in every singly part of the country. It is only reasonable then that they have a word in it, that it represents them all, that it follows orders issued by leaders whose allegiance wouldn’t be questioned by their countrymen and not by a sectarian leader who is likely to be influenced by certain foreign actors.