And finally...

The time is set
The die casts
The men ready
And sanity has deserted our small country

Tomorrow, Friday at three, Hezbollah, Aoun and their allies are marching on the streets in down town Beirut, where they will start an open protest that might continue for days…

With tension at a record high, I do not think it will take much to ignite senseless violence. And once blood starts flowing on the streets “c’est fini” like we say in French.

So if you believe in god pray, and if like me you do not, hope for the better.

Good night Lebanon…

Expressive caricature, from the Economist!

Tic toc

I feel as if I am in a movie theater watching a documentary of how my country fell into civil war. I see the images and hear the never ending speeches and the blaming, while in the background a ticking alarm clock can be heard.

There is one single topic on people’s mind: “what will tomorrow bring”. And the waiting is excruciating, I sometimes wishe for the worse to happen, just to end this agonizing wait…

People are already in a different mind set, yesterday we were planning an outing in Beirut when a friend of mine, half jokingly, asked if we would got stuck in Beirut or we would be able to come back (referring to the fact that Hezbollah supporters could close the highway between Saida and the capital Beirut at any moment) everybody nervously smiled and few chuckle were heard, but we were all seriously thinking about the possibility.

And two days earlier my sister skipped a wedding invitation, because she was afraid to leave her children in the house, because “in these days you never know what could happen, better to be safe than sorry.”

The hoarding of food stuff, fuel and basic commodities already started, people are excepting the worse. For many Lebanese hope is dead and we are already sliding without any doubt into a bottomless abyss, however I still feel that there is glimmer of hope still alive, but not for long…

More pictures...

Trampled posters against President Lahoud that roughly translate into "enough already”. The other poster further up is about Aoun asking who divided the line (referring to Aoun moving out of the March the 14th alliance and allying with Hezbollah...

The beautiful crowd...

So many dead killed by the Syrians, Rafik Hariri, Gebran Tueini, Pierre Gemayel and so many others...

A brave demonstrator's much deserved rest...

22 November!

Many people came to express there sadness and their anger with the never ending assassination and violence. The crowds were big, but a large cloud of fear hung over Freedom Square, fear of what the future might bring, fear of the unknown, fear of a civil war that might engulf anything in its path.…

At the end Lebanon's is split into two factions, and this polarization is only increasing. However, no party holds an overwhelming public majority. So the only way out is to sit and talk...…

The picture in the foreground is of the killed minister, the background is the entrance of freedom square already filled with people hours before the official start

No arms outside the state's (referring to Hezbollah's weapons)

A sea of flags...

A picture of all the Lebanese leaders killed by the Syrians

Lebanon, a country for life...

Why I accuse Syria…

I accuse of Syria of killing Pierre Gemayeil, because in all accounts it gains the most from this heinous crime. First and foremost, the young Minster is one of the 14th of March coalition (in addition to Saad Hariri, Walid Joumblatt and Samir Geagea and several smaller groups) and he is both a minster and a member of parliament of the slowly dwindling majority.

Second his death further exasperate the relations between the 14th of March forces and the pro-Syrians ones (headed by Hezbollah and Amal, who are also supported by Aoun) and make it harder to find any chance of making a deal or a compromise between the two camps, pushing them for even more clashes, tensions that might culminate into a full fledged civil war.

What will Syria gain form a renewed civil war? First a civil war will forever bury the international tribunal in the assassination of PM Rafik Hariri and the rest of the assassinated leaders. Once there is no longer a legitimate council of ministers then the UN will be unable to continue establishing this tribunal…

Further on if Lebanon plunges into civil war, with the US deeply occupied in Iraq the international community will have no choice but to ask Syria to come back in and reigns the violence, especially if it gets nasty, with many civilians casualties, that could involves European and US citizens and their abduction. It happened once in in the 80’s and it might just happen again…

So it is clear that Syria gained on all accounts, taking advantage of the recent lessening of the international community pressures on its regime, to once more liquidate a Lebanese leader from March the 14th.

What will happen next I have no idea, all what I know is that tomorrow, in Freedom Square in Down Town Beirut,I will, like thousands and thousands of my fellow citizens, express my anger, my refusal of violence in all its aspects and my support of the international tribunal that will once and for all stop all these killings and punish the perpetrators.

PS: I promise to publish a detailed account and some picture of tomorrow’s demonstration.

Another death…

Once more our dark fate strikes again, and another member of the 14th of March is killed. Minister Pierre Gemayiel, 34 years old, was shot to death this afternoon in plain daylight close to Beirut.

Most of Syria’s allies have restarted their attacks while Pierre Gumayiel’s blood is not yet cold. Their arguments? The same old ones: 14th of March are with America, they hold the government so this assassination is their responsibility; forgetting the facts that Syria and its allies still hold the border police (Amen Aam) so anyone from Syria can come in and out with no hindrance.

It has not been hours yet and the vultures have gathered and they accuse! Yes accuse the 14th of March of killing one of its members, citing the argument that this killing is too convenient for March the 14ht and that it will bring them the popular support they lost, and that some of them (Geagea and Joumblatt) spoke about the possible killings of ministers, beforehand! Forgetting the fact that every time the international tribunal to uncover who killed late PM Rafik Hariri and the rest of March the 14th heroes, is close at hand one of us is slain, and the fact that the council of ministers is teetering on an knife’s edge (if two more ministers are killed or change their mind then Lebanon will be plunged into an endless abyss, check my previous post for more info)

For all of Syria’s allies, Suleiman Frangieh, Charles Ayoub and the like, I can only say shame on you, shame you! Before impressing us with all these ignoble and disgusting accusation you could have at least held your silence for a couple of days…

Hard times are waiting for my beloved country and tempers are flying high very high… But all what I know is that no matter what happens Lebanon will always be free, secular and democratic country and will never ever be transformed into the like of Syria or, even worse, Iran!!!

And as always, Peace forever and ever!

Waiting!

It is how Lebanon is feeling at the moment, how it has been feeling for the as long as I can remember…

Waiting for the war to start, and then for it to end… Waiting for an occupation to start and then end and for another one to start and then end...Waiting for the next assassination, and then waiting for next explosion...Waiting for the results for the national dialogue and then waiting for national consultation…waiting for another war to start and then to end… Waiting… just waiting…

These days the waiting is even worse… we are waiting for what will happen… for hell to break loose... for civil war… but still only waiting…

The tension is palpable and the pressure is suffocating. No one dares plan for more than a day or two ahead, for who knows what will happen meanwhile.

It is as if we live in a country with no future, just an extended present, and an overwhelming past.

General Aoun's lessons...

General Aoun gave us, a few days ago, a lesson in the constitutionality of PM Siniora’s government, after the resignation of six ministers including all the shiia ministers. I feel that Aoun is not the persons to teach others about such issues, taking into account his own history…

In 1988, in the wee hours of Amine Gemayel presidency, as no agreement on the next president was reached, Amin Gemayel appointed General Aoun to head an interim government, formed of six ministers (him included) three Muslims and three Christians, vested with the combined powers of the president and the council of ministers.

Shortly afterwards, the three Muslims ministers resigned and Aoun insisted on his government's constitutionality and stayed in office (as an interim Prime Minster) for two additional years.

Compared to day situation it is clear how objective is Genral Aoun's lesson...

The masks are finally off

The charad is over. Hezballoh, Berri and Aoun have finally revealed their true intention. They do not want the formation of an International Tribunal to judge the criminals implicated in the assassination of Late Prime Minster Rafik Hariri.

No matter what Hezbollah’s arguments are or what they claim the situation is, this is the second time they withdraw from the government over the same issue: The International Tribunal.

The reasons behind their refusal are secondary. In any legal system any one who defend, hide or aide a criminal will be considered an accessory to that crime, therefore “J’Accuse” Hezbollah, Berri and Aoun as accessories in the assassination of Prime Minster Rafik Hariri.

Hezbollah just made the first step down the very slippery slop to civil war. And for what? To defend Bashar Assad? If they cared that much about Lebanon and knew how much the International Tribunal is important many Lebanese, so why didn’t they sign on for the International Tribunal and then resigned! It would have only taken a day…

J’accuse…

The current situation

The two main coalitions in the Lebanon (the 14th of March and Hezbollah and its allies) are at a deadlock, regarding the expansion of the council of ministers to include Aoun and to give HA (Hezbollah and its allies) veto power over the government and its decisions.

The leaders of the two parties have been meeting in the parliament in an effort to find a solution that will solve this crisis that could explode in the streets, if left simmering in the next week or so…

The official thorny issue is the blocking third. Lebanon’s constitution states that a third plus one of the council of ministers can block the government’s functions and even cause its resignation ( if a third plus one ministers resign, then the government is desolved)

Of course the 14th of March coalition, which currently holds more than two third of the ministers, is refusing any talks of giving HA this blocking third, linking the whole issue to the removal of the current present (considered pro Syrian.) While Hezbollah, Aoun and Berri consider a blocking third the minimum they can agree to (they hinted of early parliamentary election and massive demonstrations if the expansion of the government is refused.) and refuse any talk about removing the president…

There is no solution visible on the horizon, as trust between the two factions is at a record low. It looks like the country is heading for a confrontation by opposed demonstration and civil disobedience…

Cry Havoc...

Cry 'Havoc', and let slip the dogs of war...

The lines have been drawn
daggers sharpened
and hearts are full with murderous rage
only a spark is still missing...

The National Dialogue version two has started. The rumors mill is abuzz with the news of a heavy verbal clash between our esteemed leaders. But at least they will meet again tomorow same time, same place.

PS: Hezbollah's delegation is headed by Mohammed Raad, known as a hard liner and for his absolutet loyalty to Iran.

Nassrallah's threats...

Nassrallah has just raised the stake; it is time to call his bluff…

He want a larger slice of the government and a veto power, well you know what, the other party in this country also have demands: We want a real president freely elected, and we want peace!!!

So if Nassrallah wants to demonstrate and surround the Government Palce until the government resigns, then we will march to the presidential palace and camp there until Lahoud “the usurper” goes home.

Nassrallah also stated that he cannot trust the 14th of March coalition to rule the country; we also cannot trust him with a veto power. For HA actions in the government have not been very reassuring, as for example when Bashar Assad insulted our Prime Minster Hezbollah minister walked out of the Ministerial session…

It would have been much better to have a real open dialogue, with a agenda that takes into consideration all the parties issues and misgivings, in order to find a compromise (such as changing the president and the government at the same time) Rather than issuing silly threats and pushing the country down a slide, that no one knows where it will end.

But it seems that Nassrallah is ignoring the fact that whether he likes it or no, there is a big part of the Lebanese who are sick of his wars, threats and rhetoric. And just want to live in peace, prosperity and most of all freedom.