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A Big NO to Michel Suleiman

Posted by Eiffel

Before it’s too late, the representatives of the 14th of March coalition should reconsider any step towards amending the constitution and electing General Michel Suleiman.

Such a move would not only be a major setback to all of March 14’s endeavors in the past two years, it will be a blow to each and every one of us who went down to Martyrs’ Square on March 14, 2005.

The word is out and it’s spreading rapidly. Yesterday’s hawks are now acting like wet defeated chickens unless this is a bluff – in which case we would definitely be reassured. But what happened exactly? Has the futile Christian paranoia exerted by the Hizbullah- Theofascist ally, General Michel Aoun, finally made its case? Are we abandoning ourselves to the overt Islamic threat in Lebanon and their madman ally? But first, who is Michel Suleiman and what do we know about him?

General Suleiman was appointed by the Syrians as commander of the Lebanese Army in 1998. This fact for sure is not assuring.General Suleiman was at the head of the army when – to name a few events –: a) we were banned from demonstrating; b) we were summoned by the Lebanese Army secret services because of our political opinion; c) we were tortured by the Lebanese Army to “confess” whatever they wanted us to confess; d) mass arrests occurred on August 7, 2001 and demonstrations were violently and publicly crushed in front of the Palace of Justice two days later; e) Ramzi Irani disappeared and was found dead in the trunk of  his car (I will leave a question mark on that one). These facts are also not reassuring.

Now to give Suleiman some credits, he did not stand in the way of the demonstrations that were banned by Omar Efendi Karame’s government between the night of February 27 and 28, 2005. (Just for us not to forget, the decision to ban them was issued by both Sleiman Franjieh and Elias el Murr). In other words, he didn’t stand in the way of the emancipation of the – now fainting or six feet under – Cedar Revolution.

He also commanded the harsh battle – led by our brave soldiers – against Fath el Islam, thus crossing Hassan Nasrallah’s “Red Line”. This also gives him an extra credit. However, I resorted to conspiracy theory questions back then which are still unanswered. He also filled in the security vacuum after his predecessor finally found his place in “the garbage of history”. But why did he do that? Was it national duty or personal ambitions?

There are two undeniable facts that are uncomforting. The first is that General Suleiman denied all Syrian connection to Fath el Islam, he therefore sought to exonerate them from this crime. The second fact is that he is connected to the Syrian regime more than we know. Hi brother in law, Gebran Kuriyyeh was the official spokesman of Hafez Assad. He also recently paid a visit to his Syrian friends. Needless to mention is the Syrian-era reformed Lebanese Army creed that depicts the incestuous relations between the two countries…

Reassuring? No, I don’t think so. You don’t think so. We -14th of March supporters – all don’t think so. So what is happening at the head of our pyramid? Why are the leaders excelling in disappointing us after praising our patience and promising us to reap the ripe fruits of our long march? Mind you, it’s not just a 2 year battle we’re talking about. It’s a struggle that has been going on for a century to say the least…Why? It’s all because of us, Lebanese Christians.

Just when the Arab and Lebanese Sunni community subscribed to the “Lebanon First” objective, just when the international community joined hands to secure our independence, we had to blow it. How? Let’s call this phenomenon the Orange General.

The Orange General and his presidential obsession Part Deux (Part One was in 1988) will always be remembered as the second blow to Lebanon’s independence. The first blow was when his misadventures paved the Syrians into the last free stronghold in Lebanon in 1989. Back then, the Syrians came in through the main gate. The Orange General is now allowing them back in through the window. His alliance with the Safavid’s Qizilbash division in Lebanon – which certainly goes against the laws of nature – and his supernatural arrogance has put the Christian community in an undesirable situation. 

The bearer of the Christians’ idiocies and sins, none other than the Patriarch Sfeir, was cornered recently in naming a president. Aoun’s escalating threats and scare tactics concerning the Christians’ future and the “Sunni takeover of the republic” prompted our Patriarch to push for Suleiman’s candidacy.  I hope this candidacy is bubbling in the media just like Michel Edde’s candidacy was. Otherwise, I hope there’s something good about Suleiman that we do not know about… 

So far, there’s only one side that seems to be satisfied with the latest developments. Guess who it is?


Filed under: Critiques, Editorials, Other, Personal Opinions, Political, Political Islam
Posted by Eiffel on 11.28.07 @ 11:11 pm | 17 Comments

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17 Comments. Add your own...

  • 1. gary | November 29th, 2007 at 1:36 am

    in 1988 in order to get rid of aoun and his madness we accepted the taef agreement & we lost the presidency in 2007 to get rid of aoun again we are gone loose the republic i gess nobody serve better the syrians & there allies then this idiot GENERAL AOUN

  • 2. Eiffel | November 29th, 2007 at 1:47 am

    Michael Young’s opinion is out now. It’s more or less along the lines of what I just wrote.

    It is an interesting piece:
    http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=87088

    Here’s another article suggesting that Hariri is supporting Michel Suleiman to corner Aoun:
    http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=87102

  • 3. shadi | November 29th, 2007 at 5:27 am

    Your article is not true for most of it ,it reflects jealousy and hatred besides that christians are always fighting one another if not through weapons then through media which is reflecting depression in the christian commubity .I ask you to be more faithful to you christianity if you really are and try to work and help in the unity of christians for they are facing their existance and identity in that part of the worl.for God’s sake Israeli’s and Egyptians reconcile and Aounists and Geageanian don’t.What a shame jihi ma fi illa 3ala khaltou.

  • 4. fad14 | November 29th, 2007 at 7:28 am

    If Syria ever wanted anyone better than Aoun to destroy Christians in Lebanon, they will never find.

    Everytime they are out, he comes in and brings them in with full power.

    And the orange crowd follows.

  • 5. Ali1559 | November 29th, 2007 at 7:39 am

    The unspeakable is now acceptable. For many ppl GMS is acceptable , but what about you CEDAR revolution? Are you listening to what your alliance are telling you? تيار «المستقبل» اختار النائب عمار حوري لإعلان الموقف الداعم لتعديل دستوري لانتخاب قائد الجيش

    Also,أا النائب وليد جنبلاط فدخل اللعبة نفسها من خلال تكليفه المسؤول فالحزب التقدمي الاشتراكي شريف فياض الإعلان أنه في حالة المقايضة بين الفوضى وبين قائد الجيش، فإن الأمر يدرس بجدية. Wow.

    The symptoms may be different for each person , but the message is the same ; A BIG yes for michel sleiman. Got it ?
    Helpfully things will go smooth , so we dont have to kill eachothers again .

    PS : ya di3n al tad7iyet wel mps li meto iza ra7 bit7otto GMS ra2iss …Mich kento 7ataytou ra2iss min zamen w ma ken 7adan met ?

  • 6. EV | November 29th, 2007 at 8:15 am

    Suleiman is Lahoud in disguise.

    It is a big shame that M14 is falling into the trap set by syria. Suleiman is undoubtedly syria’s man and he collaborated closely with their agents when they ruled the land.

    Who will be suleiman’s prime minister? scary thought indeed.

  • 7. fad14 | November 29th, 2007 at 8:29 am

    Its the same game that 8 march is playing.

    They said their only candidate is Aoun since 14 march would never accept him.

    14 March told them GMS is our candidate since Aoun will never accept him.

    Its a game ya Shabeb.

  • 8. Eiffel | November 29th, 2007 at 8:37 am

    Fad14,

    I agree. This may be a bluff indeed.
    Aoun won’t accept it and Hizbullah will accept him to please Syria.

    It might be a tactic to create discord among March 8 between Aoun and Hezb.

    Also, constitutionally it’s too late for an amendment as the next parliament session has to be electoral and not legislative.

  • 9. Rodge | November 29th, 2007 at 9:49 am

    Everything is possible in Lebanon, and an amendment could be done if there is a polictical agreement.

    I don’t agree on Michel Sleiman as Prsident, for many reasons, many of them mentioned in this article and are related to his history and the ambiguous political ideas that we know nothing about, but also for a strange concept in Lebanon saying that only the Army Commander can save Lebanon.
    I don’t know why a country like Lebanon coould not find one decent man to become President other than this Military guy, it’s like they are forcing an idea that only Militaries are the straight people.
    It’s like we’re repeating the same mistakes, even Fouaf Chehab, who was known for being a straight and clean politician , failed to rule in fairness, and his time is still known as the “Maktab Tani” who have done many bad things in realton to Freedoms and Human Rights.

    We don’t need a corrupt President to steal from the State, we don’t need a traitor who will give the country to Syria, and we don’t need someone clean but who use opression to rule.

    We need him Straight, Clean, Democratic, Patriotic, open to all, and above all with a sane personnality not another Mad General or politician

  • 10. fad14 | November 29th, 2007 at 10:30 am

    out of all candidates that were listed before and now, only few fit the profile of what you mentioned Rodge and to be specific, Riad Salemeh is the only man who can fit this.

    Although we are still miles away from proper reforms but the current government has achieved a very high level of financial recovery in the past months.

    That should be complementd with a good Economically educated president to get back to the highly urgent issues.

    A general or politician is the last thing Lebanon needs. It needs a smart business man.

  • 11. john | November 29th, 2007 at 12:59 pm

    i dnt feel 8 of march want sleiman, they r showing alot of hezitation, sooo 14 of march r nominating him 2show 2the public who really doesnt want a presidential election…

  • 12. الله لا يردّك | November 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    I think GMS is a bluff…I can’t beleive we gonna have a president who his brother in law, Gebran Kuriyyeh was the official spokesman of Hafez Assad.

    Ya ta3tiri isa Geagea accept!

    Still thinking is a bluff.

  • 13. EV | November 29th, 2007 at 5:28 pm

    I’d like to believe that GMS is a bluff. I sure hope so.

    I agree that Riad Salameh is the most honest guy (I knew him as a schoolmate), but he also needs a constitution amendment and I’m afraid that his personality might be too weak for the syrian hawks who will try to tame him as soon as he gets into office. But, hey I’ll choose him any day over GMS. At least Salameh will have the international respect and will raise Lebanon to new economic heights and at least will serve his people rather than tribal leaders.

  • 14. john | November 29th, 2007 at 6:41 pm

    guys i cant hope but wonder if the Nahr El Bared battle wasnt to create popularity for this man so that he can be president and serve syrian interests ..Why are we wasting our time , anybody who was named at the time the syrians were here shouldnt be allowed anything .

    Let General Sleiman , clearly cite his agenda for his mandate and we will see.We shouldnt choose him blindly.

  • 15. fake | November 29th, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    ana li bchoufo eno 8 azar ma rah twefe2 2ella ma tle2e hejje. wlik hata 2eza 14 azar wefa2it 3ala aoun hezballah w 8 azar ma rah ywef2o la2no ma badoun

  • 16. Tarek | November 29th, 2007 at 10:53 pm

    I just hope it’s a maneuver. I really can’t believe it is happening.

  • 17. Lebanese | December 10th, 2007 at 1:25 am

    I really hope that GMS won’t become president. I think he’s just another Lahoud. It’s just history repeating itself. I think Geagea is making lots of mistakes right now and especially how they just put Boutros Harb to the side like that. I think that man would have been the best candidate next to Riad Salameh.
    If you really look at it the right way, it all goes back to money. All of this is about who keeps getting money and for the Americans to hide every war and killing they have done everywhere.
    Did you guys here the new news (which i think is amazing) that there have been files from the CIA that have been burnt recently and they are all big top secret information of everything that has been happening in the middle east from Iraq to Lebanon. what can we do? the americans will always be in control.



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