Monday, April 21, 2008

Aoun's tribulations!

As Aoun’s party crumbles around him, the retired general resorted to his old tricks, as usual. He stired open the wound of the war, despite the fact that the blood of innocents stains the hands of all current leaders, the “divine” ones and the not so divine.

Aoun launched a new round of accusations, of imaginary mass graves and land selling for the purpose of resettling the Palestinian, trying to draw attention away from the consequences of the staggering blow he suffered. Michel Murr, one of the few real politicians in Lebanon, and one fo the most corrupt, decided to break his alliance with Aoun!

The consequences of this change of allegiance are staggering: First, Aoun will never again dream of winning any parliamentary seats in the Metn area (check my analysis of 2007 electoral results)

Second, Murr move further weaken Aoun, especially when internal vicious fighting between Aoun’s inner family members over the control of his party are reaching a peak, that reeks of nepotism and corruption. Especially, between Aoun’s “genius” son-in-law Gebran Basseil and his Nephew Alan Aoun, and the factions they each represent.

Third, with his parliamentary bloc crumbling, Aoun feels his presidential dreams slipping farther away from his grasp, making him reach for any illusionary hope, in order to keep his Napoleonic dreams afloat. And the latest such boast, is Aoun claim that FOUR members of parliament from March 14 will join his bloc.

So I will make a small wager with the general (although I know I am unworthy of that honor –sic-) “on the contrary to what you think “mon general”, no one will join your bloc from 14 March (of course if Hezbollah or Berri want to lend you some MPs that their problem) and an additional number of your allies will leave you!”

In the end, only time will tell...

3 comments :

Slavic Mike said...

Hey Bob,

Just checking in.

I finished reading Michael Young's piece on the slow pace of the Hariri Tribunal being delayed past June and how Syria is currently "cleansing" itself of witnesses on its side of the border along the lines of the final scene in "Casino".

It's the Scorcese film about the real life of a Casino Boss who ran the most successful mafia run casino and then lost it.

The mafia reference is only worth mentioning because it's always reminded me of HA since they have similar codes of conduct, rules, initiation; as in only letting their own raised under their system rise in the ranks keeping out all outsiders, and so on draws a strong parallel with the Costra Nostra (or whatever's left of it).

The main point for stopping by is that the intel on the Syrian - North Korean nuclear reactor is due out today and I'm just waiting to see how the landscape unfolds having not only the Hariri Tribunal constantly hanging over Assad's head, but now also nuclear proliferation.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, I suppose.

Anonymous said...

Aoun stock has steadily fallen ever since he decided to do Hizbullah's and Syria's bidding rather than live up to the ideals of his party when he was seen as the idisputable christian leader who would be speaheading much needed changes and bring new vitality to the country with his reform program. Unfortunately, as it is too often in politics, the general got way too ambitious and greedy that he hurt his chances for the presidency and now his christian allies are desrting him. If the latest local elections are any indications, the FPM would not get near the votes that it did in 2005. Aoun is in trouble and his allies in the opposition namely Hizbullah know it and have started to plan for when Aoun is not a factor anymore. How sad!

Anonymous said...

Hi, AS an israeli I was interested in what the lebanese people think. We had a war with Lebanon last year, but we did not have a war with the lebanese. You guys have to believe me that israelis dont see the lebanese as enemies. On the contarary, you are the only nation we consider as advance and modern as us. We truely want to live in piece with you. But you are controlled by a cancerous organization that is controlled by Iran. Hizballa is the origin of all conflicts in this area and Iran is the master mind behind it. I have several Iranian friends and they hate their leaders and told me that their country was ruined by the fanatics that control it. If you don't want to end up like them- having to be under a terorizing leaders. If you don't want to be in the middle of another conflict between Israel and the fanatics that want to control your country, please resist! We will die for our country , why dont you fight for yours. WE are not your enemies , we want to live with piece. to see you visit israel. to go drink a coffee in your beautiful Beirut. Wish you success and Piece.
OMer From Israel.