I was having today a very long and intereting debate, which started of with the assassination of Dany Chamoun and led to other political assassinations throughout our history and the ‘arguments’ that some refer to to justify killing their opponents and whether there are certain circumstances that could justify killing a person ..

It is true that most parties had a bloody history in Lebanon, and all leaders wanted to take control of their people, either by force or by bribbing their opponents .. and by force i mean eliminating ur ennemy physically ..

In the 70s, there was a struggle within the Christian militias, and Bashir Gemayel came out victorious after eliminating all opponents, and many were eliminated physically, starting with Marada and Frangieh followers and then Safra ..

Could this bloodshed be avoided in anyway ? Was Bashir capable of fixing things politically but he decided to take the easier way ??

Frangieh was already harrassing and killing Kataeb supporters in the North, Noumour el a7rar in Safra were causing too much trouble … can one unite armed militias in the middle of Palestinian presence without referring to force ??

I argue that Bashir had a greater goal, but to get there, one had to adapt with the current circumstances, since we were in war … but is that enough to justify the killing ?? I say yes & no ..

Yes because one cannot fight with his pen or his articles in times of war, when Palestinians were there along with Syrians and co, but was it impossible to reach an agreement with Dany the same way it was reached with Amine Gemayel in North Matn ??

No because i strongly believe one can find other ways to marginalize the other without eliminating him physically, and i strongly believe there is always another way to solve things ..

Keep in mind that this thread is in no way attacking Bashir, but is rather tackling the use of force in general ..

The Church defends the use of weapons or any tool to defend your property or when threatened .. but many cases do not apply here ..

If you look all over the worlds, Ataturk managed to create Turkey by force, while Indians did it peacefully, Americans had freedom & democracy ideas imported from the West, so they adapted and formed their country ..

As for us Middle Easterns, we are still on this killing mentality wishing that our political opponent to die and get sick

I was inspired to write this post by the Rugby games lately.

I think the best way we can describe our status as Christians in Lebanon as two rugby teams in a scrum.
You have two sides pushing and exhausting each others to assume leadership, every now and then, one does a mistake messing up the scrum and giving an advantage to the other but then takes back that advantage on the next scrum.

You have the referee, an external factor putting the ball on the side of the strongest everytime.

It is more than natural than all of us be on the same scrum, joining forces and pushing away the invadors, yet ironically each is on his own side.

As a result, we are both getting penalized while others are taking advantage of our mess to score tries and drops.

What we need is a “wilkinson” in our team.

Here were the LF and its leader stand, second class behind Hariri, Jumblatt and even Nayla Mouawad.

Another mystery sways the Lebanese political scene today: Shaker al-Abssi, dead or alive, seems to be out of sight. According to the Associated Press, “Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza also said in a statement that a DNA test on a body suspected to be that of militant leader Shaker al-Absi proved it was not his.”

Here are a couple of questions worthy of consideration:

1) Why did Marcel Ghanem insist while asking Walid Jumblatt about Michel Suleiman calling Bashar al-Assad (Minute 17:45 & Minute 20:24)?

2) Why did Walid Jumblatt briefly thank Michel Suleiman for Nahr al Bared and insisted that he stepped aside once his mandate as a general commander of the army was over?

3) Walid Jumblatt has access to inside information within the army thanks to his strong connection with the Lebanese Army Chief-of-Staff Chawki Masri. Does he know something we do not know?

4) It is quite understandable that the Lebanese Army had a hard time penetrating the Nahr al-Bared camp since the terrorists were using snipers and hiding underground. However it is not plausible that the army could not surround the area and keep terrorists from fleeing.

5) Many question marks that lead us to a big one: Did Michel Suleiman broker a deal with Bashar al-Assad concerning an evacuation of Shaker al-Absi?

If Emile Lahoud is still Syria’s lackey today, it’s because the Syrians appointed him. Suleiman was also appointed and bred and fed by the Syrians, so what makes him different from Lahoud today?

Something is definitely fishy about Michel Suleiman. History should not repeat itself. We have a platform for every decade: The general full of integrity and courage will come and save the nation.. (Michel Aoun 1988, Emile Lahoud 1998, Michel Suleiman 2008?!?)

I have noticed that people dont feel like talking politics lately, like they are so confused about whats going on they are just watching or even ignoring.

I ve noticed this trend on the net lately as well …

How can one be sick of Lebanese politics ya shabeb
Where do u have politicians calling a patriarch horny ?? or politicians cursing on public tvs ? burning tyres on the streets ?? fighting over posters ??

In what country do you have an “illegal” president, an ( as per M8) “illegal” government and a head of parliament deciding to keep the parliament closed and turning off his cell ( cause his battery is dead).

I didnt convince you .. did i ?

Who thinks that the Lebanese Army has won the battle ?
Some of you would think that the Government has won.
Others would think that it was a pure Lebanese Victory and it was done by the Lebanese Army.
How about Michel Sleiman?
isn’t he a winner too ?
Why did the battle end now?
Why did Hassan Nasrallah claim that Nahr El Bared is a red line as well as the Lebanese Army?
And if I got wider imagination, I would have got more and more questions.
All those questions listed above are dots and if you connect those dots you figure out that Nahr El bared battle has been cooked by the syrians not only for weakening the Lebanese Army nor even to cause instability and security issues in Lebanon. It was meant also to give credibility to Michel Sleiman.
Once the battle is done, he would look powerful, strong and able to act without responding to anyone not even to Hassan Nasrallah.
Now, the battle is done. The Lebanese Army claimed Victory. Michel Sleiman became Michel Sleiman the great.
What’s the next syrians step ?
Lahood spoke about it, he will name Michel Sleiman to lead a transitional Government and you know the rest.
Michel Aoun gave us an example of such scenario. The only difference this time is Aoun wasn’t 100% controllable (They didn’t give him the candy) but Sleiman is.

Remember guys, Sleiman became the leader of the Lebanese Army during the syrian occupation.

Pray for the Lebanese Army Soldiers, the martyrs and the alive among them.
Despite all the political filth, they were a great honored soldiers.

It is time to quit you and the Tayyar, and all the servile servants around you. I have done with you and for you the possible and the impossible. I remember happily the days when my words were music to your ears. Gone are the days where no one could possibly listen to you, and learn about you more than I did.

But, first let me remind you of our good old days. Our story dates back from some 27 years ago. We met in Paris and quickly became good friends. All in all, we talked to each other more than 6000 hours. Please calculate with no less than 5 hours per week, each week. I suggest telling our readers that I know who you are and what you are more than any one else.

Remember my General on July 31st 1987 when you called me in catastrophe and asked me to come urgently: Richard MURPHY was just leaving your office. I can never forget the radiation of your face when you told me that the Americans saw you favourably as the future president of Lebanon. In 13 months you were going to be the president. I asked you: how do you want me to call you in one year time: “Mr President” or still “My General”? And your laughter filled our spirits.

You never became president…

Was it Dick MURPHY who created your madness, or just accelerated it? After his third visit in April 1988, he never came back and left you in total disarray, after telling you about a secret note from the C.I.A. explaining that you were “mentally ill”. You became anti-american and very depressed. You saw the “presidential armchair” fading away. I was there, always there to calm down and raise the spirits.

Do our readers know the truth about your “illness”, or more explicitly about your madness? Do our readers know how many times I took you to Dr Assaad Al Ramy at Deir Al Saleeb between 1987 and 1988?

I often feel responsible for having added to your madness more madness. I knew you needed the drug of flattery, and delivered more than allowed.

May God forgive me for having told you crazy things. It was only to boost you mental. It was only to help you gain time against the “disease”. Yes, my General I contributed to your madness. It is I who made you believe that God created you to be “the” saviour. That God had created no one before you who could “reach your shoes”, from Hannibal, to De Gaulle, going through Churchill and General Eisenhower… I was the first to label you NapoleAOUN and made your EgoTherapy go sky-rocketing. I was the first to tell you that you are an extraordinary leader because you “behave out of the common”…do you remember the long evening we had on that?

Each time I called you NapoleAOUN, I could see the smile on your face and the good it did to you. Fool, I was. It did well on the short run. Now I can see the effects of the disaster. After October 1988, you lost your temper and your mind. You were not only mad, you became a madman… who wanted to destroy everything on his way.
Then, many flatterers came and surrounded you. They copied my style and made you believe more and more that you were nearer to God than to any human being.

Now, the presidential elections are in less than three months time. Once again, you will not become president and I am going to tell you why.

I can witness the same expression on your face and in your eyes, as you see the “presidential armchair” running away from you. How can it be, since you were born for it, and that no one else deserves it more than you do?

You are going to miss it one more time especially that the flatterers are in bunches. Many of those who were in 1989 and 1990 are back. Like the good old days, no one dares to speak, but everyone nods and applauds. All are giving you the same message: “you are next to God”. It does good to your megalomania, but not to brain and neurones. Because, at the same time you keep receiving an opposite message: the majority of the parliament doesn’t want you. This increases your madness, and your errors.

So, the flatterers made you believe that if the parliament is not with you, the majority of the population is with you. Vox Populi Vox Dei, isn’t it ? if the people is with you who can be against you. YOU are the sole leader who was created for it?

But, at the same time, the people don’t vote for presidents, and you are opposed by some stupid guys who cannot simply understand that you are the greatest, the exceptional, the admirable, the remarkable, the magnificent General; and this makes you furious. Furious and MAD. Mad and more mistakes. More mistakes and everyone are worrying about your mental health. Now more and more start perceiving the truth about you.

My General,

We had stupid presidents at the top, and we also had unable presidents.

We had traitors at the top, and we had corrupted men at the top.

Please go home and treat yourself. Lebanon cannot bear an additional problem to its complicated problems: a madman at the top.

ADIOS my FRIEND,

Mike HELU

P.S: This message can be released to all parties. Only the General knows my real name.

A year later from the «Divine Victory», maybe we should face the «Divine Difference».

First, there’s the difference between two societies. Even though one seems more homogeneous than the other, both of them are pluralistic. The Israeli society is, to a certain extent, as fragmented as the Lebanese one but it when it comes to politics, the rules are different.

At least fifteen different political parties are represented in the Knesset. The Israeli Jews who constitute around 80% of the Israeli population are divided into at least four ethnic groups. But when it comes to electing a Prime Minister, the Israeli citizens vote according to the candidate’s platform regardless of his political and ethnical affiliation. This being said, the Israelis remain loyal to their parties when it comes to legislative elections.

Then, there’s the difference in democracy. Every decision that is taken by every Israeli politician is subject to scrutiny and accountability. And this doesn’t end here: even when the disaster befalls on non-Israeli citizens, whoever is in charge is liable. Two great examples that the Lebanese could remember are the «Kahan» and «Winograd» commissions that were established after, respectively, the Sabra and Chatilla Massacres in 1982 and the Lebanon Summer War in 2006.

Last but not least, there’s the difference in global activism. Israel the state acts as a nation in the world. Every Israeli citizen in the world defends Israel, struggles for Israel, lobbies for Israel and, mostly, optimizes the support of the International Community for Israel.

In Lebanon, everyone’s divided, everyone wants to be the leader and everyone wants to be the President and the Prime Minister. And if your – tribal, feudal, confessional, party, whatever – leader is not the President or the Prime Minister, you’re willing to destroy the country to have him or her rule.

In Lebanon, if someone screws up, a shift of alliance will allow you to forgive and forget. Oh wait! Forgive? That’s not sure, you just keep his errors in the archives to use it against him once another shift of alliance will occur. Accountability? What does that mean? Oh yes! This could be used for selective criticism or selective justice.

In Lebanon, if someone tries to rally the support of the International Community to build a better country, what do you do? You do better. You rally the support of the rogue states to counter this attempt of having a better country…

Back to this «Divine Victory», Michael Young does a very good job demystifying it.

So far the Syrian regime has been targeting their opponents within the March 14 coalition. Since none of its plans to restore its hegemony have so far succeeded, their next step might be to target some of its own lackeys in Lebanon.

The latest US entry ban that was imposed on a list of Syrian criminals and their Lebanese pawns might be one of the main ingredients.

Then you have Nasser Qandil’s statement that might cost him and his allies dearly:

Former pro-Damascus MP Nasser Qandil was also barred from entering the U.S.

Qandil said in a statement carried by the National News Agency that the ban was a “precious gift,” adding he will hold the Bush administration responsible for any harm inflicted on him or any member of his family.(AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, 30 Jun 07, 11:16

In order to make up with the frustration they’ve been up to due to their foiling plans, the Syrians will probably use this as an option to increase internal hostility.

By killing one of theirs, they will then start to accuse both March 14 and the Americans of conspiring against the Arab world and the Resistance.

Is it just me or did anyone notice how this billboard for the army has a hidden political message, i sense Lahoud or someone Anti-LF within the army had a hand in doing it ..

Al Amrou laka ?? does it ring a bell ?? “Al Amrou li” famous quote by Dr.Geagea.

And this quote is heavily used by Lahoud to attack Hakim as well.

PS: notice the Hawa Chicken Logo (Djeij) logo under the billboard, i didnt show it on purpose though

“The man who lets a leader prescribe his course is a wreck being towed to the scrap heap. ” (Ayn Rand)

To those who have disrespected me and called me names and who keep on doing so everytime we critisize an LF decision or Dr.Geagea, let me remind you we have fought for more than 30 years a syrian regime on the pretext of preserving freedoms and democracy ..

If we as Lfers cannot be a role model for a democratic party, then maybe this is not the LF i was fighting for or that Bashir founded.

Hakim is our leader, and by fair elections he will voted leader of the LF again & again.
However, when rifa2 see mistakes and feel the need to point them out, a leader must be open to such critics and accept them and learn from them if there is anything to learn.

Following blindly decisions and insulting and attacking everyone who points out a mistake will not get us anywhere but bring us backwards ..

When i post and critisize Hakim or the LF, it is not the same way an FPMer attacks the LF, i point out the mistakes and even try to find solutions to the problems shown ..

Now you can either take it in a positive and constructive way or you can start the insults ..

I dont really care, it is your loss ..the LF taught me to say the truth and point out the mistakes whatever the cost is ..
If you cant handle that, refrain from posting here ..

My red lines are our Cause, Our Martyrs and God …

I suggest we show those criminals the empty spots where they can empty their bombs …

All those bombings are signs of weakness, signs that they are uncapable of committing their acts except in the darkest most isolated places …

Keep bombing and keep trying to terrorize us …
Keep doing so until you fall in our hands one day, and you definitly will ..

based on my previous post critisizing the job openings posted on a certain site, and just to show that i am not critisizing for the sake of it, here is a corrected version i wrote in like 10 minutes ..

I didnt write an extra professional thing, just a more appropriate one, and didnt take more time doing so just to prove no effort was put into writing this page, meaning whomever did it was not serious about it, and therefore will be damaging to the LF and this whole reform project rather than helpful.

Feel free to send it to whomever is in charge there and use it, i dont want any credits nor thanks whatsoever.

I just wanna see who’s gonna critisize or attack me this time …

This is a CONSTRUCTIVE post .. if you dont wanna take it that way, dont read it at all, and i hope there are concerned people who will pass the message to whomever wrote this disgraceful page ..

PS: am not gonna link to the page.

The Lebanese Forces is inviting Volunteers, interested in being part of a dynamic reform, to apply for senior positions in its organization.

Pragmatic and results oriented approach
Ability to manage and motivate team and deliver outputs of high professional standard in challenging circumstances
Strong written and oral communication skills
Proven ability to take initiatives and make decisions under pressure
Proficiency in the Arabic, English, and French

Remarks,
Whomever wrote this is not even competent to write proper english .. is that so much to ask ??
Punctuation is so horrible and the text is so unprofessional and the contact is a GMAIL Address ??

If you are selling a product, the first rule in Marketing is to promote it and present it in a proper way ..

Finally, we have the best universities in Lebanon, isnt it better to go there and look for potential applicants ?

Thank you.

I posted Operation Cold River two days ago and got laughed at by some people.

Well, they are executing the plan as i posted it and have reached Phase 3 and should be undergoing Phase 4 tomorrow or the day after ..

I should seriously consider joining the army !

You will find people betting where will the next explosion take place and actually enjoying the talk …

Careless about what can happen, given the fact that they could be among the victims ..

This people has a strong will, lets pray that God will protect us.

Patriarch Sfeir surprising everyone went to visit Pr.Lahoud today.

He informed him that the Bkerke & The Vatican put their hands on the presidential elections and that there shouldnt be any attempt to delay electing a new president.

I dont know how smart was that move, i dont know if Lahoud can do anything about this whole issue, but the man is giving it a last attempt. Announcing from Baabda that the presidency issue is now in the hands of Bkerke and Vatican is important, and will be a test for all the 14th of March and 8th of March Christians.

I Say Batrak must pick the president after consulting everyone and have them stick to it.
Berri said he will support Batrak’s call, Hariri the same ..
As for HA, they will put themselves in the corner by critisizing Batrak’s choice.

So what are we waiting for ?

Just Pick a president wou khaleena nokhlass ba2a ..

صفير ابلغ لحود قرار بكركي والفاتيكان وضع يدهما على الانتخابات الرئاسية
نقل البطريرك الماروني الكاردينال مار نصرالله بطرس صفير في زيارة مفاجئة الى القصر الجمهوري في بعبدا موقف الكنيسة المارونية في لبنان وموقف القيادة الروحية الكاثوليكية في العالم من التطورات السياسية المتعلقة بانتخابات رئاسة الجمهورية المقبلة وملف المحكمة ذات الطابع الدولي لمحاكمة المتهمين بجريمة اغتيال الرئيس الحريري ورفاقه وجرائم الاغتيال ومحاولات الاغتيال التي شهدها لبنان منذ تشرين الأول 2004.

وكانت محاولات عدة قد تولاها وسطاء مقربون من لحود في محاولة لاحتواء موقف بكركي والحيلولة دون صدور المواقف التي صدرت عن مجلس المطارنة الموارنة الأخير لناحية رفض تعطيل انتخابات رئاسة الجمهورية أيا تكن الظروف.

وبحسب معلومات مقربين من بكركي فإن البطريرك صفير قرر القيام بزيارة الى بعبدا لإبلاغ لحود بجدية الخطوات التي قررت الكنيسة المارونية اعتمادها في ضوء التطورات السياسية الراهنة والاستحقاقات المرتقبة وبضروة عدم القيام بأي شيء يمكن أن يعيق وضعها موضع التنفيذ.

وقد شدد البطريرك صفير على ثلاثة عناوين:
1-وجوب اجراء الانتخابات الرئاسية في مواعيدها المحددة ووفقا للدستور، ورفض كل المحاولات الهادفة للتحايل على الدستور سواء باجتهادات على علاقة بتفسيره او بتطبيق بنوده لنسف الانتخابات وتعطيلها.
2-ضرورة أن يسهل رئيس الجمهورية اميل لحود عملية انتخاب الرئيس المقبل وتسليمه مقدرات السلطة، ورفض أي شكل من أشكال ازدواجية السلطة المتمثلة بطروحات تشكيل حكومة ثانية أو رفض الاعتراف بالرئيس الذي سوف يتم انتخابه.
3-رفض أي شكل من اشكال تعطيل مجلس النواب ومنعه من القيام بواجباته سواء من خلال الطروحات المتداولة حول اقدام الرئيس لحود على حله او عدم الاعتراف بشرعيته وبشرعية الخطوات التي سيلجأ اليها.
4-وجوب الانتهاء من ملف اقرار المحكمة ذات الطابع الدولي في اسرع وقت ممكن للتفرغ للملف الرئاسي. وقد كان البطريرك صفير واضحا في اعتباره انه اذا لم يتم اقرار المحكمة وفقا للفصل السادس فان اللجوء الى الفصل السابع من ميثاق الأمم المتحدة يصبح ضروريا.

وبحسب معلومات المطلعين على زيارة البطريرك صفير الى بعبدا، فإن رأس الكنيسة المارونية ذكر لحود بالرسالة التي سبق للبطريرك ان أرسلها الى رئيس الجمهورية مع المطران رولان ابو جوده في تشرين الثاني الماضي يطالبه فيها بالاستقالة من موقعه.

وشدد البطريرك صفير استطرادا على أن انتخابات رئاسية مبكرة ولو بقي الرئيس في موقعه حتى نهاية ولايته كمخرج يحفظ للحود ماء الوجه من شأنها أن تنفس الاحتقان وتساعد اللبنانيين على اختصار المسافات الزمنية وتلافي المزيد من التوترات والازمات السياسية والاقتصادية والمعيشية وتنعش موسم الاصطياف وتحول دون الحاق المزيد من الخسائر بالاقتصاد الوطني ومصالح اللبنانيين المقيمين والمغتربين.

وشدد البطريرك صفير في حديثه مع الرئيس لحود على أن هذه المواقف لم تعد فقط مواقف الكنيسة المارونية المحلية وانما باتت موقف الفاتيكان بعدما تبناها البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني واعطى توجيهاته الى الدوائر المعنية في الكرسي الرسولي للعمل بموجبها بعدما استمع الى رأي البطريرك صفير في التطورات خلال

Many blame me for critisizing all politicians here, for showing how worrying the situation is, how desperate our people are, well those are all facts to be honest and i cannot describe the situation as prosperous and not worrying when it is.

I cannot tell you everything is gonna be ok when it is not.

One thing i can tell you, is that i have been resisting the temptation to leave Lebanon for more than a year now, i tried to convince myself that i must leave this country, but something kept me from leaving everytime, either i would get a better job offer here, or i would change my mind at the last second. The only reasons that i had to leave were purely carreer-wise and financial, but those fortunatelly i was able to fix here.

I am staying in Lebanon for the time being, i dont care what happens, we survived a civil war and an Israeli war and 25 years of Syrian hegemony, we went to Anti-Syrian demonstrations, we achieved the Cedars Revolution, we cannot leave all this behind and leave, not to a bunch of rotten politicians ..

I stayed optimistic for so long, i kept faith in my country and my people, even though they didnt show anything to back this faith and hopes.

I am staying here, we should all stay here.

I must say the 2007 French elections have been the most interesting since years, and France is in my opinion making a right choice by voting for Sarkozy.

The latest polls after the debate that opposed him to Royal gave him a further advantage that reached almost 9 points which is a considerable advance over his opponent.

Segolene Royal showed incompetent during the debate, and even lost it and got nervous and started talking nonsense. Sarkozy on the other hand, stayed calm and blasted her gently ..

France is in need of a charismatic and pragmatic leader to face their current problems, and Europe is in need of a powerful France.

The campaign is over, tomorrow is the decisive day, lets just wait and see.

Here is an interesting article by Der Spiegel on the French elections entitled:

‘France’s Comeback as a Powerful Player in Europe’

I was watching yesterday the Sarkozy-Royal debate and it was sensational, a true political debate where each has to impress the voters ..

Both candidates tackled the slighest problems in France promising pragmatic solutions ( Sarkozy at least).

My question is :
Why cant Aoun & Geagea be called for a debate ?

We are sll sick of PRers and press interview and interviews, let the two men sit facing each others and debate about politics and everything, but in front of the camera and journlaists and the spectators who will finally have the chance to judge and critisize in a constructive way of course.