This is a test.

Not sure if to delete blog or create a new one with different subject. We'll see.

Situation seems tough, we're being screwed from all side and now the much unneeded zealot Absi threatened the Lebanese Army. I'm just wondering how he got out of the camps when the Army had them surrounded...

So the opposition as part of the "package deal" want a consensual PM. Aoun stated today that everyone should be treated equally so if the Christians have to agree on a consensual candidate (in this Lebanese sham of a democracy) then Muslims have to also agree on a consensual candidate.

Now what strikes me over here is the amount of rhetoric spewing from the opposition's mouth.

1st, Aoun forgot that the Muslims have two positions. Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament. He's insisting that the PM should be consensual, but Mr. Aoun what about the Speaker of Parliament? Shouldn't you tell him to step down so we agree on a consensual candidate as well? Or this the kind of hypocrisy and double standards that you want to bring to Lebanon?

2nd, I dare anybody to tell HA that they want a consensual candidate when it comes to electing the new speaker of parliament. Odds are that they will literally tell them to fuck off.

3rd, who gave the Lebanese "leaders" this form of oligarchic rule over Lebanon? How made them princes and kings?

It pisses me off, and it pisses me off even more that the Lebanese people follow them blindly, and what pisses me off even more than that, is the people who are actually convinced with the path that Aoun has been taking. I personally don't mind differing opinions, but looking at his actions politically and in front of a camera, in a country where the people do not form tribal loyalties or "Za'amet" he would be last person on TV.

The so-called 14th of March has agreed that GMS should be elected as president. Not only does this show how weak they are in the face of threat, but also how they are willing to compromise in order to save their own interests.

They fail to realize that it is a time for confrontation in Lebanon and not a time of conciliation. This is a time where start purifying the Lebanese institutions from foreign interference, but why should when our own narrow personal interests are at stake. As long as Lebanon has these kinds of politicians that lack the balls to take any controversial measures, then we will never build a state, because free and sovereign nations do not rise to power through conciliation with their own country's enemies.

Lebanon is quite unique with the passivity of its people that wait for a knight in shining armor and their acceptance to whatever their leaders tell them to. It is where the constitution is amended for one person, and it is where the first signs of authoritarianism are starting to show. Where a candidate asks people why are they afraid of his candidature since they want peace and stability. But what about persona freedom Sleiman? WHAT ABOUT IT ?!

I wrote this small piece on one of the Lebanese political forums. I am completely opposed to the idea of the election of Sleiman, and was disgusted when I saw the jeering.

Reading through the some of the Lebanees political forums, I am nothing but appalled from reading the "acceptance" and "cheering" for GMS as the "perfect" candidate, or the savior from vacuum.

I would just like to say that I am completely opposed to the mere mentioning of his name as a possible candidate for following reasons.

First, no one knows where his loyalties lie. He was appointed by the Syrians, and we do know if he kept in contact with the Syrians. His response in Naher El-Bared is not enough to ensure that he is a man that will put Lebanon's interests above all, especially after he acted as a representative of the state and contacted a foreign country on his own accord.

Second, his qualifications as a politician have been untested. He is a military man. However, while I am not opposed to an ex-military man running for president, I am extremely opposed to some one making the immediate transition from a soldier to a politician. How does he value differing opinions ? Will he be like Aoun and refuse a differing opinion? So many questions run through my head about this man. Why ? Because all I know is that he is a General and possibly a good soldier but all else ends there. Politics are left for politicians and military operations are left for military men, that's why we have a system in Lebanon that separates the two.

Third, you talk about the 14th of March wanted to respect the Patriarch's wished. How do you respect his wishes by amending the constitution, when he opposed it? And if he does not oppose it, how would you even accept a constitutional amendment solely for his highness ?

There is a concept that is very alien to the Lebanese mind. It's called the rule of law. Perhaps it has not taken shape because of the war, and before the war there was the politics of patrimony or "ma7soubiyet". The constitution is not a rag for the politicians to wipe their feet with. It is not something that you amend continuously for one person, who is the president.

In the past 18 years it has been amended 3 times perhaps even more, and maybe this time the 4th, for what ? No it wasn't amended to give people free health care, no it wasn't amended to give people the unabridged freedom of speech, and not it wasn't amended to give the Lebanese courts more power. It was amended for the the sole graces of the president, and the prolonging of his term, even though each one did a job worse than the other.

Some people argue that they prefer Sleiman over vacuum. This is probably a good justification, but it is not good enough. People have to start understanding that they cannot overstep the constitution whenever they feel like it. This has to stop somewhere. It was meant as a ceiling and not as a floor. If politicians can't understand that then the people never will.

I am not advocating a 50+1 president, although I would not mind it. But a president that has been elected *cough* appointed *cough* through a constitutional amendment, and accepts such a constitutional amendment is no different than Lahoud, and is no different than all the over glorified, over celebrated, over welcomed, and ego inflated failure of politicians that came before him.'

You want to build a country, start by respecting its constitution.

I think we all need a good laugh today after everything that's being said and been said. Let's take a chill pill and have a good time.

Nice video from Abu Taysir :)

Our ex-president, who picture is not even worth posting on this blog has finally stepped down. We have finally rid ourself one of history's worse presidents. No one was committed to the undermining of the independence of this nation more than Emile Lahoud was.

As Johnny Abdo once said, " During his nine years as general he made Hizballah stronger than the army, during his nine years as president, he made the Hizballah stronger than the entire Lebanese nation.

Again, to quote my 5th grade English teacher, "Good riddance to bad rubbish".




As of now however, much more important questions pose themselves on us. What is the 14th of March going to do ? The LF block have said that as of midnight today, any call by Berri doesn't matter since the constitution states that the parliament is now in session indefinitely. The constitution is again a source of conflict, especially when one of the FPM leaders, Mr. Kenaan, starts arguing and shouting (for the lack of a more proper word) about how Aoun's proposition was rejected. Regardless of the fact that the proposition appoints Aoun as the selector of the President and Saad Hariri as the appointer of the PM. But who needs democracy anyway.

The way I see it at the moment. The 14th of March have two options. They can either convene tomorrow and elect a president with a 50%+1 , or they can take the more diplomatic road and try to get to an agreement with the opposition. I am personally against such prolongations of conflict. They will be doing nothing but moving the argument another 6 years. But what surprises me the most is that there will be no need for agreement over the PM or the Speaker of Parliament. It's just amazing how low the Christians have sunk, turning the presidency into an external issue with the president of Zimbabwe looking for a way to stick his nose in.

On the other hand, some trust sources have stated that Jumblat and the PSP have changed their minds about the 50%+1 , and wants to reach a settlement because he is afraid of a clash with Hizballah. Again you have the militant Hizballah, hindering the way for progression. But that's not the core of the problem actually. The core of the problem is that Jumblat is screwing the Christians again by changing his mind last minute for his self-preservation like he did before the 2005 elections.

One is left to wonder what's going to happen. Arguing about political maneuvering is useless at the moment. There's no telling what the self-serving Lebanese politicians will do this time around, but let's just hope it's for the good, and they don't screw Lebanon over and over again.

Emotions are flying ridiculously high, and the country has been polarized for the last 24 hours. We are waiting to see what is going to happen in the next few hours in Lebanon. Makes me wonder if I should actually go to sleep, or wait for the clock to strike 12.

Berri did not postpone the session, which is arguably unconstitutional to begin with. There is a suspicion that the FPM might boycott the election, but independent members of the R&C block are saying that they are going to show up. Honestly, I do not want to speculate, because there's nothing more I hate than theorizing, but we'll see who shows up and who doesn't.

All Hizballah cares about is a president that'll maintain their weapons. Earlier they decided to tempt the 14th of March, by saying that if Aoun is elected they'll be willing to "discuss" their disarmament. This declaration is very interesting, since they left room for a possibility of them not disarming at all.

Anyway we are left to be witnesses. Us the people, whose hands are tied.