Whats with all those demands for the change in Government?? at The Ouwet Front: A Lebanese Forces Blog

Whats with all those demands for the change in Government??

Posted by othello

Lately, this topic has been the subject of every major or minor political debate and discussion… change the government…down with Sanioura’s govt…etc…

Suddenly, everyone forgot the efforts put up by PM Sanioura during the 34 days of the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon…everyone forgot the important role he played in the making of resolution 1701…everyone forgot the stress and the hardships the man successfully went through to see a cease to the hostilities brought through…the question that comes to mind is WHY???

The way I, and many fellow Lebanese see it, is that the demand for a govt overthrow is an offensive defense… i.e., HA knows that it is cornered, and must submit its weapons sooner or later…having learned from the lessons of the past (I’m sure HN is very weary of the LF experience from the time they unconditionally handed in their weapons until 2005 and is not willing to repeat the same mistakes), HA wants to raise the stakes at the negotiations table as much as possible in order to sell their weapons for the highest political price attainable… so it is all a question of time…

Going to the street, IMO, is not a viable solution because despite all that is said, this would be a replay of 8th march/14th march 2005…HA knows better than to play the numbers game this time…

This would leave them with the other choice, and that is to withdraw their ministers from the govt…here again, I doubt they will venture into such a thing…as for going the long way by having their MPs resign, and forcing a new election, I believe it would take too long a time for it to achieve the desired results…

My first question to those that are calling for a change in govt: who do you have in mind to form the new govt?

Saad el Hariri? IMO, and with all due respect, he is not PM material…neither his age, nor his political expertise warrant the post…
Siniora? what the heck…he is already there…what are they trying to do?
Karami? Well…twice he was selected as PM and twice he was overthrown by public protests…care to go for a 3rd???
Mr. X? what is his agenda? What are his positions towards Syria? I’m guessing that HA’s definition of “national unity” is “anyone who is pro HA” … from what we have seen lately, that includes a whole bunch of ex Syrian henchmen and cronies…are we in front of another attempt to reintroduce Syria??????? I mean just like they have a right to question the “patriotism” of anyone, we, the remainder of the Lebanese people, have the same right…after all, Lebanon is still our land…

My second question is what does HA want from the new “bayen wizari” or governmental agenda?

Recognition of its right to bear arms? once the Shebaa farms issue is settled, this right will exist no longer…
vetoing power? that would be contrary to any democratic concept…and frankly speaking, a vetoing power in the hands of the likes of HA and aoun is indeed a scary thought, especially after all we have seen in the last two months in terms of political agendas…
including major powers in the govt? IMO this is an empty one…in any democracy, parties participate in govts through coalitions with other parties…moreover, what is, in HA’s dictionary, the definition of “major party”? I’m betting they mean the FPM…hey doesn’t the famous “memorandum of understanding” constitute such a coalition? or are there hidden factors no one is aware of?? as for the other political figures, I doubt they deserve to be called a party, well, at best they are a bunch of has-beens who want a spot in the limelight and are ready to do whatever it takes…

My third question is what can be achieved with Lahoud still in power??? basing my analysis on his performance in the last year, as well as his unhidden bias for Syria, he would use delaying tactics to negatively affect the timely formation of the new govt…

This would mean constitutional vacuum, and of course could lead to, among many other problems, a cancellation of the international court…a purely Syrian demand…everyone remembers how HA deputies boycotted all cabinet meetings with the aim of sabotaging the international court project.

Is this another attempt to do so? are we today catering for requests of Bachar in his last speech???

I mean it is clear that the only beneficiary of this cancellation would be Syria and anyone involved in the assassination…

I, as many, have a lot to reproach to this govt…it may not be the best we have, and it certainly committed a lot of mistakes in its lifetime, but overthrowing it now would be a grave tactical mistake…

IMO, the change should start at the top of the pyramid…change the president…it is high time that Lahoud goes…then, with a LEBANESE president, one with only LEBANON’s interests at heart, can we embark in the rest of the journey…changes would include everything from the weapons of HA to main political figures today on the scenes…

As the saying goes, if you want to do it, do it right, or don’t…

Filed under: Editorials, Other, Personal Opinions
Posted by othello on 08.31.06 @ 9:01 am |

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15 Comments. Add your own...

1. N10452 | August 31st, 2006 at 11:52 am

What amazes me is how Aoun is reacting after this war was over. Instead of finding ways to help the people, he s looking for every single way to attack the government.

Is this what really interests the people now Mr.Aoun ??

We are coming out of a bloody war and all you can think of is overpowering the government.

I critisized the government a lot and still do but what Sanioura and Hariri did during the war was exceptional and the least we can do is support them till we get over the crisis.
2. gabrielf | August 31st, 2006 at 2:50 pm

man u seem lıke a cool guy loved ur posts but for god’s sake take off that cross from ur blog man…
what ıs the meanıng of a swordy-cross ın the year 2006!!!???
3. Michael J. Totten | August 31st, 2006 at 3:42 pm

Othello,

I am working with Adam Bellow, son of Nobel Prize winning author Saul Bellow, and we want to republish one of your blog essays in a small book. Please email me. michaeltotten001 at gmail dot com.
4. Othello | August 31st, 2006 at 5:35 pm

Well…looks like Berri settled it today…total backup of Sanioura’s govt

wonder what aoun’s excuse will be this time
5. Othello | August 31st, 2006 at 5:47 pm

gabrielf
glad you like my posts…the cross is not mine it is one of the symboles of the Lebanese Forces…this cross has a very special meaning to many…

The LF cross was inspired from the eastern crosses and symbolizes 3 things:

1- The Cross of our savior Jesus Christ In red, the sign of martyrdom and glory.

2- The bearing cross of the Lebanese Christians The sign of their suffering throughout history.

3- The Diagonal cut at the base of the cross It symbolizes the strength of the Lebanese Christians’ will and their determination to keep the cross planted in this region of the world.

Date of its release:
This cross has been launched by the Department of Faith in the Lebanese Forces on “Resistant Prayer day” in the Church on St-Charbel, Annaya, Lebanon on April 19, 1984

cheers
6. N10452 | August 31st, 2006 at 10:05 pm

gabrielf,
This is the LF cross and we are proud to have it.
Even if its 2006 ?? I didnt know crosses expire and this cross has a lot of meaning and should be kept on all LF forums and sites.
7. othello | September 1st, 2006 at 9:02 am

Dear Michael J. Totten,
You have been sent an email as to the request you submitted.

Thanks for your interrest
8. Anonymous | September 2nd, 2006 at 9:12 am

Othello watch out from spam emails, I ve seen the same message by Michael J Totten on different blogs.
9. Othello | September 2nd, 2006 at 5:22 pm

Dear Anonymous…
Spam emails? In Lebanon there lurk dangers that are scarier than spam my friend
10. lynne wooldridge | September 2nd, 2006 at 9:50 pm

Interesting ideas presented—whatever happens, I hope that the persons in power have this main agenda: to do what is best for the people of Lebanon and to promote peace with its neighbors (which will also benefit the people of Lebanon). It would seem unwise to start blaming the government now. They responded to a situation that they did not cause or encourage. Hezbollah’s actions took everyone by surprise. Best regards from Texas, lynne
11. John | September 3rd, 2006 at 2:47 pm

I agree with gabriel on the cross issue. I think the cross is outdated and should be removed. It is no longer a symbol for the LF, the Hakim said it himself. It remains in our hearts however. I believe that the cedar tree is a much better idea and dont frgt that the cross was used during the war to distinguish the tanks of HK from the tanks of Samir. It was a sign of our ‘ta3assob’ which is no longer the case.
12. Jim | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:18 pm

I am an ouweti and my friend john the cross will always be our highest honor, the cross doesn’t get outdated, we are not in the fashion week here! it represents us and represented our martyrs.
13. lynne wooldridge | September 4th, 2006 at 4:51 am

I love your cross and what it represents (and I’m Jewish). Thanks for explaining the meanings that it represents lynne
14. Othello | September 4th, 2006 at 7:35 am

Dear John and Gabrielf…

Allow me to disagree with you on the issue of the cross…

I do not see it as a symbol of radicalism as much as I see in it a symbol of the presence of the christians in this part of the world…if it is still in your heart, then why not show it openly???

Beleive me, he risk of it offending our partners in this country becomes much less when you show it and explain its meaning…but if you keep it in your heart, hidden, mysterious, it will cause uneasiness and fear…

I have many muslim friends, who once they came to understand the meaning of this cross, came to accept it for what it is: a symbol and not a threat…
15. John | September 6th, 2006 at 8:33 am

Dear Jim & Othello
Sorry to break it to you, but most of the people view the cross as a sign of radicalism. It represents the old era of the LF. We Christians will remain in this part of the world and we do not need to show it openly. You are a Christian through your actions and thoughts, and not throught the crosses you wear. I did not say the cross is not an honour to us, but it is a thing of the past. It’s not a matter of fashion, its just a need for adaption to the change (or reactivation)that the LF is currently going through.