Lebanese BlogoSphere

Some Reads

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:39 GMT

Here are some reads to help you ease into the working week:

Michael Young finds Samir Geagea, and the Maronite-Sunni partnership of which he is a foundation, in Syria's sights;
Matt Nash reveals the President's plans to push through constitutional reforms;
Michael Totten posts an extensive interview with the Kataeb Party's Vice-President, Salim Sayegh, and;
Mustapha allows for no excuses in Walid Jumblatt's political acrobatics

1960 Election law won't benefit Christians

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:14 GMT

What better day to talk about democracy than on the Fourth of July? And yes, let’s leave it as an exercise to the reader to decipher if this is meant ironic or not. In any case, the other day L’Orient-Le Jour’s columnist Emile Khoury provided a highly interesting analysis of the impact of the 1960 Election Law the opposition wants to be reinstated. Conclusion: While marginally better than the current one, it still would leave the Christian candidates at the mercy of the Muslim voters.

The reason for this is that most electoral districts under the 1960 law still would have a majority of Muslims in them and thus they would ultimately decide which Christian candidate they’d like the best. According to the stats quoted by Khoury, roughly 40 out of the 64 "Christian" districts are dominated by Muslims. In other words, only 24 out of 128 seats are directly decided by Christian voters whereas the Constitution grants Christians 64 seats.

So why is that a problem? Personally, I would favor the abolishment of the confessional voting system which in my view undermines democracy. In fact, it has been argued that Lebanon is not a democracy for this very reason. [Note to self: blog about this in the near future.] Still, if a country wants to have a confessional system, it better be a representative one.

All Lebanese would agree that the current law used during the last election was anything but a fair law. But the thing is, the new law won’t bring much improvement. Yet, especially Michel Aoun is lobbying feverishly in favor of the 1960 Election law, which in his mind would address the problems of the current law.

So what’s wrong with the current law? For starters, it didn’t get Aoun the expected victory, which according to his followers, is already a major indication something is fundamentally wrong. But seriously (which I already was, actually), the 1960 Law won’t change the fact that Christians will be overruled by Muslims…again.

The opposition must know that their fight for the 1960 Law is merely a fight for fight’s sake. Is Aoun used again by Amal and Hezbollah into fighting for something that won’t improve the situation of the Christians and perhaps would only benefit the Shiites? Now that we know the 1960 Law won’t bring much to the Christians, it would be interesting to see whether it would strengthen the position of the Shiites.

See also this blog for another analysis of Aoun’s position.

Understand Jumblatt

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:51 GMT

If you ever want to understand why Walid Jumblatt, the effective political leader of Druze community in Lebanon, does what he does, keep the following in mind:

The Druze leader has been willing to alter his position on virtually everything in the past 32 years, usually through mesmerizing acrobatics, but he has consistently stuck to two principles: defense of the Druze, and defense of Jumblatti domination over the Druze. The seemingly volatile Jumblatt is among the most predictable of politicians if you understand what motivates him.

If you only read a couple of Michael Young pieces a year, make sure one is about Jumblatt and the other about Aoun, two of the country's most consistent turncoats whose motives Young has a gift in deciphering. For Young's two most recent pieces on Jumblatt check here and here ... and then you'll understand.

Breaking News: Rocket Exchange in South

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:40 GMT

Update: Israeli police reported no casualties from a single rocket which landed in the north of that country. Meanwhile Lebanese security officials reported Israeli jet incursions into Lebanese airspace over the south of that country.

Reports are emerging of a rocket launch from South Lebanon towards Israel followed by an artillery attack by the IDF on the Lebanese village of al Houla.

Excellent Find

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:59 GMT

Excellent post by fellow blogger Marillionlb, highly recommended, read it here.

Interview with me in German magazine

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:19 GMT

For those who read German, here's an interview with me for the German magazine Readers Edition. Memorable quote:
“Es ist traurig festzustellen, dass es so viel leichter ist den Frieden zu beenden als die Gewalt zu stoppen.”

translation: "Unfortunately, it's easier to end the peace than to stop the violence".

In German, it sounds much better obviously. No wonder they had so many philosophers:-)

GWR

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:45 GMT

No comment...

1999: Most points in an international rugby league match - individual
The most points scored in a game is 48 (16 goals, 4 tries) by Hazen El Masri of Lebanon against Morocco in a World Cup qualifying match at Avignon, France on November 17, 1999.

2000 Youngest series writer
Randy Nahle (Lebanon) wrote the second book, Mirror Image, of his Hawk Archives series at the age of 13. The book was published in February 2000, when Randy was 14 years old. Randy Nahle's first book, Revenge, was published in July 1998, when he was 12 years old. Along with Revenge, he compiled a workbook which is currently used in several schools. The Hawk Archives is a series starring young detectives Jenniffer, Jake and Ralph.

2000 Largest bowl of tabbouleh
The Municipality of Kornet-Chehwan, Ain Aar, Beit elKiko, and Hbous in Lebanon created the largest bowl of tabbouleh weighing 1,535kg 3,384.9lb at a festival that they organized in Lebanon on July 23, 2000.

2002 Oldest spider in amber
The oldest fossil spider trapped in amber has been dated at 125-135 million years old. It is from the family linyphiidae, and was discovered in Lebanon and analysed by David Penney and Paul Selden (both University of Manchester, UK) and announced on 26 December 2002.

2003 Largest floor lamp
The largest floor lamp measures 7.69 m (25 ft 2 in) high and was created by Charbel Barouky and Abdo Barouky of Wadi Chahrour, Lebanon in September 2003. The lamp shade is made of iron and fabric and measures 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. The supporting pole is made from a single oak tree.

2004 Largest bar chimes
The largest playable bar chimes in the world were built by Georges Barbar (Lebanon), and played at the Byblos-off Festival in Byblos, Lebanon on 17 June 2004.

------

2007 Biggest Joke!
A world breaking record of 10 postponments to the presidential elections!!

And they lived happily ever after, good morning Lebanon!

So why did Hezbollah use their weapons?

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:57 GMT

There's this question that still needs answering: why did Hezbollah rock the boat back in May? After all, things were going just swell for the Party of God. Downtown was comfortably occupied, a political solution was not anywhere in sight and the government of the hated Siniora was brought down to its knees.

Hezbollah's violent overtaking of West-Beirut changed all that. Downtown is booming once again, leaving the Hezbollah followers empty-handed and quite possibly increasingly angry as most of them can't even afford a coffee in the expensive restaurants. A political solution is within reach and March 8 is talking to Siniora with all the due respect they can muster. So what exactly did Hezbollah gain?

As Michael Young has pointed out, by using so much violence against their fellow Lebanese, Hezbollah has effectively rendered itself toothless. Sure, last week saw the warning by the Opposition of escalation if the new government wasn't formed soon, but no one is taking this seriously. It's hard to imagine another round of airport blockade or another battle in West Beirut. In fact, the Opposition's warning could be read as a heart-felt plea for PM Siniora to start sooner rather than later!

So now that the dust has settled and the last echoes of Hezbollah's weapons have faded away, it's time for that simple question: what, exactly, has Hezbollah won by its actions back in May?

Worth a Visit

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:41 GMT

This website certainly has some propaganda intentions behind it; however, FACTS are facts...

I highly advise everyone to read it, then draw your own conclusions.

Memories...

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:11 GMT

She said:

'I am a child with something to say, PLEASE listen to me...'

' I am a child who wants to play... why don't you let me...'

Her words fell on deaf ears and no one listened. Her innocent pledge was banal, lame and naive in the eyes of the war-lords of that day... But history is fair! she gave us (the war generation) hope and life-lasting memories of a beautiful child who once stood in her white dress and sang for peace, while the 'wise' warmongers gave us numerous YouTube videos, witness to their crimes, their inhumanity and savageness.

Oh just forget every word I said... Usually I'm the 'no-emotions' type, I seldom let my emotions flow or show, but I have to admit that I felt tears 'invading' my eyes yesterday when I stumbled upon her video on YouTube. For those who were 'born and bred' listening to Remi Bandali's songs, this video is certainly for you (keep a napkin close, just in case). For those who have never heard of her, well, it's your chance to have a peek...

I later found out that Remi has a profile on facebook, I am not facebook material nor will I ever be, but it seems she has been elected for the 'president of facebook' thingy, if you are a FB user and would like to support her, search for Re-mi B.

Beirut Art Center

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:22 GMT

Here's the NYTimes with the write-up.

Syria ready to finish off Hezbollah?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:48 GMT

Rumors about Syria wanting to get rid of Hezbollah have been spreading increasingly since the killing of Hezbollah strategic mastermind Mughnieh in Damascus. Now, good ol' shaky Abssi (back from the dead) has vowed revenge against those who started the sectarian war that has lead to the takeover of West-Beirut, saying that suicide bombers would not spare God's enemies wherever they are.

Assuming Syria's sponsoring Fatah al-Islam, it seems natural to conclude that Assad has had it with Hezbollah. They must be wanting that peace with Israel pretty badly.

Addendum: a friend wanted to add another argument in favor of the idea that Syria is trying to ditch Hezbollah, namely the "new documents" that president Suleiman apparently has received that would provide additional support for the claim that the Shebaa Farms belong to Lebanon. A plausible theory would be that these documents came from Assad. Is this Syria's way to make Hezbollah even more irrelevant?

Addendum II: someone pointed out another event that supports the theory that Syria has had enough of Hezbollah, namely the cancelling of the national strike by the Labor Union on May 7. Interesting enough, I had written about this angle, but subsequently forgotten about it.

Adha Moubarak

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:52 GMT

To Muslims in general and fellow Lebanese Muslims in particular, may the coming year bear with it solutions to our innumerable daily problems.

�?�?ا�? برس�? "ا�?س�?�?د" �?صرا�?�?�? �?تابع�? ا�?أ�?�?�?

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:45 GMT

All of the following, are headlines from ANNAHAR newspaper, you can check their authenticity yourself if you subscribe to the Online Archives service (my comments are in Italic).

14-03-1989 �?ص�? عش�?ائ�? ع�?�? �?�? ب�?ر�?ت�? ع�?�? �?ت�?�?�? س�?ر�?ا ب�?�?ارسة حرب أبادة ع�?�? �?ب�?ا�? �?�?ع�?�? بدا�?ة حرب ا�?تحر�?ر
Riz Allah?

29-03-1989 �?ارثة خز�?ا�?ات ا�?د�?رة, ع�?�?: س�?ر�?ا �?حد�?ا �?تعا�?�?ة �?ع اسرائ�?�?
Syria is the only part dealing with Israel, I wonder why he'd changed his mind now...

30-06-1989 حزب ا�?�?�? �?ع�?�? ا�?�?�?اء ا�?�?ط�?�? �?آ�?ة ا�?�?�? ا�?س�?�?د ع�?�? خا�?�?ئ�?
Why would the Divine 'Lebanese Resistance" claim complete and utter loyalty to a foreign turban-wearing Mullah?

31-08-1989 ع�?�?: ا�?ح�?ار �?ع س�?ر�?ا �?ستح�?�? �?أ�?�?ا تر�?د ض�?�? �?ب�?ا�?
I'd like to ask Mr. Aoun & the FPM partisans if they truly believe that things have changed now... if Syria is finally convinced that we are a HISTORICAL entity with every God-damned-given right to exist as a sovereign nation, or not!

01-09-1989 حزب ا�?�?�? �?ع�?�? حرب �?�?ت�?حة �?ع ا�?�?�?ار�?ة �?عتبرا ح�?�?ة ع�?�? ع�?�? س�?ر�?ا �?�? ح�?�?ة �?أبادة ا�?�?س�?�?�?�?
Have no fear Maronites, The MoU is here! God Bless our Savior, General Aoun, the secular leader!

21-09-1989 حزب ا�?�?�?: �?ر�?ض رئ�?س�?ا �?ار�?�?�?ا �?�?ر�?ض ا�?ذ�?�? تحت اس�? ا�?تعا�?ش �?ع ا�?�?صار�?
But that was back in 89, Hezbollah is a peace loving, neighbor hugging, tree planting, make love not war party... they want a Maronite Christian for a president now, in 2008... and guess who did they nominate? hmm...

13-10-1989 حزب ا�?�?�?: س�?�?ز�?�? ات�?ا�? ا�?طائ�?
Phase Complete... moving on to phase 3? 4? I lost count...

06-11-1989 ع�?�? دع�? ا�?بطر�?ر�? ا�?�? ا�?است�?ا�?ة اذا تعارضت ا�?ت�?اعات�? �?ا�?شعب
For those who think that his ever growing love towards the patriarch is a new issue

12-11-1989 حزب ا�?�?�?: ا�?طائ�? استس�?ا�? �?�?�?ار�?�?�?�?ة ا�?س�?اس�?ة �?اسرائ�?�?
Translated into: coexistence, national unity!

27-11-1989 س�?ر�?ا ترس�? �?ع�?�?�?ات عا�?ة ع�?�?ا ا�?�? �?ؤسسة �?ب�?ا�?�?ة ح�?ث ت�?غ�? �?�?�?ا �?ب�?ا�? �?�? حد�?د�?ا ا�?غرب�?�?ة
Syria loves us, to the extent that they want to hug us, hug us so strong and never let us go... how nice these guys are.

03-12-1989 ع�?�? ا�?ا�? احد�? أ�?بر ا�?�?ظا�?رات �?�? بعبدا: �?ا ار�?د أ�? ا�?�?�? �?ائبا ا�? �?ز�?را
I want to be a president (but alas, he didn't declare that)

02-01-1990 �?�?اء ب�?�? ا�?ع�?اد �?جعجع �?�? بعبدا - ع�?�? �?صر�?ح: �?خرج دائ�?ا �?ت�?ا�?�?�?�?
Kinda makes me wonder why he'd want to 'clean the area' from 'militants' a few days later...

08 -01-1990 ع�?�?: ع�?�? س�?ر�?ا أ�? ت�?سحب �?ا�? غدا س�?�?�?�? راس ا�?�?ظا�? �?�? ا�?ث�?�?
Tomorrow... came 15 years later.

09-01-1990 ا�?�?�?�?�?: �?دع�? �?ازا�?ة ع�?�? ب�?�? ا�?�?سائ�?
Aren't those the cute guys that the FPM struggles to make alliances with in Universities? aren't they the same bastards who do not believe in Lebanon as a country? who assassinated Bachir Gemayel? who fought Lebanese Army that was under Aoun's control? hmm...

30-01-1990 ع�?�?: �?�? �?س�?ح بعد ا�?�?�?�? بب�?د�?�?ة خارج اطار ا�?ج�?ش
What I like about Aoun is that he always keeps his promises, he has never changed.. what a man!

31-01-1990 بدا�?ة ا�?�?�?اج�?ات ب�?�? ا�?ج�?ش �?ا�?�?�?ات
Why? Mon General?

13-02-1990 ا�?ع�?اد ع�?�?: �?د�?�?ا تح�?�?�? د�?�?ة �?�?�?ذج�?ة �?ا تس�?ط �?�?�?ا �?ب�?د�?�?ة غ�?ر شرع�?ة
God Bless your soul Mon General, Thank you for taming Hezbollah's weapons the same way you did with the Lebanese Forces, what a great man you are.

08-04-1990 ا�?ع�?اد: �?ج�?ة ا�?�?ساطات �?ش�?ت �?�?�?س �?�?بطر�?ر�? س�?طة ع�?�? �?ا�?�? �?ا است�?د س�?طت�? �?�? ا�?�?�?�?سة
Again, his love to the patriarch is deep, strong, and has been growing for a long period of time...

05-10-1990 ا�?ع�?اد ع�?�?: ا�?ا �?�?�?�? ا�?�?ب�?�? با�?�?سا�?�?ة �?ت�? تع�?�? ا�?ا�?ر ب�?ص�?ر �?ط�?�?
I'd like to ask General Aoun the same question regarding the current dilemma...

13-10-1990 ا�?ط�?را�? ا�?س�?ر�? �?�?ص�? ا�?عس�?ر�? �?�?درسة ا�?ج�?�?�?ر �?ا�?�?ع�?د ا�?ا�?ط�?�?�? �?�? بعبدا ث�? �?ضرب �?صر ا�?شعب
ا�?ط�?را�? ا�?س�?ر�? �?�?ص�? ا�?�?�?اط�? ا�?س�?�?�?ة ب�?�?�?ا �?ا�? �?�?ا�? تح�?�?�? �?�?ط�?را�? ا�?اسرائ�?�?�?
ا�?ج�?ش ا�?س�?ر�? �?جتاح ا�?�?�?ط�?ة ا�?حر�?ة بتغط�?ة �?�? �?دا�?ع ا�?�?�?ات
ا�?ع�?اد �?�?ت�?�? ا�?�? ا�?س�?ارة ا�?�?ر�?س�?ة �?ا�?�?طاع ا�?اتصا�?ات �?�? بعبدا ا�?�? ا�?خارج �?تب�?�? عائ�?ت�? �?�? بعبدا
ا�?ع�?اد ع�?�? �?ط�?ب �?�? ا�?عس�?ر�?�?�? ت�?�?�? ا�?ا�?ا�?ر �?�? ا�?ع�?اد �?ح�?د �?تس�?�?�? ا�?�?رزة ا�?�? ا�?ج�?ش ا�?�?ب�?ا�?�? �?شرط �?�?�?�? ا�?�?ص�? ا�?س�?ر�? �?�?�?�? ا�?�?ص�? است�?ر
ا�?س�?ر�?�?�? ارت�?ب�?ا 4 �?جازر �?بر�?: بس�?س �?د�?ر ا�?�?�?عة �?ض�?ر ا�?�?حش �?ت�?ة ت�?رز
ا�?ضباط ا�?س�?ر�?�?�? اعد�?�?ا 120 ضابطا �?عس�?ر�?ا �?�? بعبدا �?سر�?�?ا ا�?�?ا�? �?د�?ر�?ة ا�?�?خابرات �?�?زارة ا�?د�?اع
ا�?ج�?ش ا�?س�?ر�? �?عت�?�? ا�?�?ئات �?�? ع�?اصر ا�?ج�?ش �?�?�?�?�?�?�? ا�?�? ا�?شا�? �?�?ح�?د �?ص�? ا�?�? بعبدا بعد ا�?ظ�?ر
تست�?ر ا�?�?ت�?بة 102 �?�? ا�?د�?اع ع�? جب�?ة ض�?ر ا�?�?حش حت�? ا�?ساعة 5.30
Well, let's straighten things up, General Aoun was very clear when he said that he'd be the last person to leave, and true to his promise, that's what he did... He DIDN't leave his faithful and loyal soldiers to meet their destiny, he DIDN'T run away leaving his family behind, he DOESN'T have HUNDREDS OF detainees in Syria, he... is clueless!

05-05-1991 ا�?ع�?اد ع�?�? �?تر�? �?ب�?ا�? ا�?�? �?ر�?سا
Go back there for the love of Cheese-topped-Spaghetti...

* From fighting Syria (on false claims) to signing MoU's & unofficially allying himself with Baathists, SSNP, Amal....
* From fighting WARS to remove a 'Christian resistance's' weapons to signing treaties and acknowledging the SAINTHOOD of 'Shi'ite resistance' and the NEED to keep their weapons
* From accusing Hezbollah of being a terrorist organization to 'giving condolences' when a major terrorist 'Imad Mughniyeh' gets toasted
* From assuring everyone that he'd be the last person to leave the battle, to the first man to flee in the trunk of a car, leaving behind a family, and heroes who believed in him, and fought for him, only to die deceived...

General Aoun, your acts are too numerous to be summarized. You Sir, are an imposter, a fake, a warmonger, a megalomaniac, a schizophrenic, a delusional don xichote who's mental illness and below average IQ brought nothing but pain and misery to a nation I cannot help but love... You sir, are a fraud, a backstabber with no loyalties, no honor and certainly no dignity... You sir, have no respect for your martyrs, no commitment towards your PoW's, no stability in your decisions and certainly no common sense.

God Bless you... Mon General!

German Public Radio July Interview - On Iran

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:47 GMT

Below is a transcript from an interview I did about a month ago with a German public radio station regarding the protests in Iran. I typed up my responses to the questions while in transit and so I chose to keep the details to a minimum. What are your views on the matter and what would you have answered to some of those questions?

What have you felt when you saw the pictures of the young people demonstrating in Iran?

In all honesty my first thought about the protesters was a sort of worry for the protesters. We anticipated what the authorities’ reaction could be – night time raids, arbitrary arrests, beatings, kidnappings, murder. Such are the ways of an autocracy desperately holding on to power.

My second thought was closer to home. No matter the immediate outcome of the protests in Iran, it is clear that a domestic struggle has begun for that country’s future. A struggle that could have serious consequences for the region as a whole, and Lebanon in particular given the presence of Hizballah, a proxy militia integrally attached to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Do you think that the youth of Iran can be an ideal?

I think the youth of Iran have decided that they want to have an active place and voice in the affairs of their country. The blatant electoral fraud engaged in by the regime in that country came in addition to unpopular economic and foreign policies implemented by the regime. It was the stick that broke the camel’s back.

How was the reaction of your friends, and the people of Libanon in general, as to the protests?

Our reactions were conflicted. On the one hand, we’ve aspired to define our sovereignty on a national level, attempting to limit our involvement in regional affairs due to the heavy cost those affairs have inflicted on our country. With this in mind, it was difficult for us to even advocate paying attention to what was going on in Iran – we didn’t want to have anything to do with that country’s regime and we didn’t want them to have anything to do with us.

On the other hand, it was hard for us to turn away. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves had taken to the street to protest an injustice (here I’m referring to the Hariri assassination).

Finally there was some worry and some hope with regards to what a destabilization of the Iranian regime would mean for the stability of Lebanon given that that regime maintains a proxy fighting force on Lebanese territory.

Do you see a similarty between the Protest in Iran and the Protest in Libanon after the assassination of Hariri?

As I mentioned earlier, I think both protests arose out of an injustice that came after a long history of injustice.

Politic need symbols. What were the symbols of the Demonstrations which most have impressed yourself? Do you think, that this symbols will also will have an influence of your political work?

Over the past several weeks we’ve seen a number of symbols emerge out of the protests in Iran, from the stark, shocking images of a young woman dying before our eyes to motorcycle “policemen” chasing down female students and beating them with batons. As a young English language blogger from the Middle East, two images have resonated especially with me. The first was the image of smashed computer screens in university dorms following a Basij raid on them. This came in light of the broad-based phenomenon of social networking providing a voice to the outside to those who could not, for years, find a voice on the inside of this theocratic autocracy.

In Germany we think, that a lot of young people in the MidEast are attracted by radical religious groups like the Hizbollah or the Hamas. I don’t know if this is true, but do you think, that in the succession of the protests there could be grow a countermovement?

Extremist movements around the world, no matter what their ideological underpinnings, feed on a society’s weakest and most neglected portions. In the Middle East there are huge demographic changes in progress. Vast portions of countries’ populations are below the age of 25, in many of countries this demographic makes up the majority. Economies in the region face difficulties in providing opportunities for these young people, meanwhile these economies are burdened with wealth distribution issues which worsen feelings of neglect, and decrepit political systems which prevent the expression of political will normally available in countries with more developed democratic systems. These factors therefore end up driving some youth towards radical symbols of protest and disruption. But if the youth of Iran have shown us anything it is that they, and other youth in region in general, want to be active members of the world, and don’t want to be regarded as terrorists.

Do you think, in the future, there could be a cross-border movement of young people in the mid East, towards more liberality?

Each country in the Middle East is different, with unique social and economic structures and politics. Of course, there are overriding universal humanitarian principles towards which the civil societies of each of these countries will aspire. The path they will take to reach these principles will be tempered by each country's domestic factors.

One photo, all the Lebanese problems

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00 GMT

Now with downtown open again, the sight of the Lebanese parliament at Place d'Etoile against the backdrop of the Al-Amin mosque explains the problems with Lebanon: with religious buildings being taller, bigger and certainly considered more important than the Parliamentary building, it's no wonder peace will always be the next step.

Photo 1: Al-Amin mosque in Downtown Beirut with on the left (somewhat out of sight) the Parliamentary building

And please, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Sunnis, it's just that this huge mosque makes the buildings of the Lebanese state so insignificant. If the Lady of Lebanon church was not at Harissa but in Downtown, it would have made a similar picture.

'Death to the Rahbar': Iran, Hezbollah, Velayat-e Faqih, and Lebanon

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:35 GMT

Here's my commentary on Hezbollah's recent statements about the Velayat-e Faqih concept, in light of what's going on in Iran.

Hassan Mneimneh's essay, "The Arab Reception of Vilayat-e-Faqih: The Counter-Model of Muhammad Mahdi Shams al-Din," that I reference in the article, appeared in Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, Vol. 8, along with a related essay by Hussain Abdul-Hussain, as well as my own essay on Hezbollah's Agenda in Lebanon.

As for the Ibrahim Mussawi episode with David Samuels, you can revisit that here.

Finally, for the record, and for those who read French, I'm also copying the L'Orient-Le Jour interview with Saoud al-Mawla referenced in the article.

Saoud el-Mawla : La wilayet el-faqih n’est pas une notion théologique

20/06/2009

INTERVIEW
M. Saoud el-Mawla a contesté les récents propos tenus par le leader du Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, au sujet de la wilayet el-faqih, soulignant notamment que la wilayet el-faqih est une théorie de jurisprudence et n'est nullement une notion théologique liée au dogme de la foi chiite, comme l'a affirmé Hassan Nasrallah dans son discours de mercredi dernier. Saoud el-Mawla, note-t-on, est un écrivain et professeur d'université chiite qui était conseiller de l'ancien vice-président du Conseil supérieur chiite, feu l'imam Mohammad Mehdi Chamseddine. En sa qualité d'intellectuel chiite, il a été l'un des fondateurs du congrès permanent du dialogue libanais et du groupe arabe pour le dialogue islamo-chrétien.

Dans une interview express accordée à L'Orient-Le Jour, Saoud el-Mawla a commenté la déclaration du leader du Hezbollah qui avait invité les journalistes, les responsables politiques et les forces du 14 Mars à s'abstenir désormais de soulever le problème de la wilayet el-faqih, sous prétexte que cette question relève du dogme chiite « que vous devez respecter », avait-il affirmé. M. Mawla a commencé par dénoncer sur ce plan « le mutisme des ulémas chiites et des hauts dignitaires religieux, et à leur tête Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, cheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan et tous les juges chériés et les muftis ». « Dans son dernier discours, sayyed Hassan Nasrallah a déclaré que la wilayet el-faqih fait partie du dogme chiite, affirmant que toute atteinte à cette notion ou toute discussion à ce sujet est une atteinte au dogme et à la religion. Hassan Nasrallah sait plus que tout autre personne que la notion de wilayet el-faqih générale est une théorie de jurisprudence et non pas une notion théologique ou dogmatique. Cela signifie que la wilayet el-faqih représente des dispositions et des mesures de détail en rapport avec l'organisation (de la vie de la communauté). Les musulmans chiites divergent au sujet de ces dispositions depuis l'occultation de l'imam Mehdi. D'où le fait que l'on a ouvert la voie au ijtihad (l'interprétation personnelle). »

Et Saoud el-Mawla d'ajouter : « Faire de la question de la wilayet el-faqih une affaire de dogme, c'est-à-dire prétendre qu'elle est au cœur de la croyance du musulman chiite et des fondements de la religion, constitue une atteinte à la Constitution libanaise ainsi qu'aux fondements de la coexistence, de la citoyenneté, de la démocratie et de la liberté au Liban, car adopter une telle attitude revient à brandir le spectre du terrorisme et de l'apostasie face à tous ceux qui rejettent la wilayet el-faqih (général, c'est-à-dire ayant une dimension politique globale). Or ceux qui rejettent la wilayet el-faqih (générale) représentent la grande majorité des ulémas et des dignitaires chiites en Iran, au Liban, en Irak et dans d'autres pays. Et cette position se retrouve à travers le siècles. »

L'attaque contre le patriarche maronite
« Les ulémas chiites, a ajouté Saoud el-Mawla, ont rejeté le principe de la wilayet el-faqih générale (englobant un pouvoir politique absolu) en lieu et place de l'imam Mehdi. Ils ont choisi d'accorder au wali (autorité religieuse) un pouvoir limité, c'est-à-dire celui d'un médiateur social, d'un conseiller, d'un juge, d'un cheikh. Les ulémas chiites n'étaient même pas d'accord sur les limites de tels pouvoirs. Certains d'entre eux ont englobé dans le pouvoir du wali le khoms (le cinquième des bénéfices du croyant payé aux imams), la zakate (taxe religieuse obligatoire), la prière du vendredi, ainsi que le fait de commander le bien et d'interdire le mal. D'autres ont donné à la wilayet el-faqih un pouvoir très restrictif n'incluant pas une autorité sur les individus, ce qui implique le rejet du recours à la force et de l'effusion de sang. »

Après avoir souligné que « la mise en place du gouvernement de la justice divine est du seul ressort de l'imam infaillible » (l'imam Mehdi), Saoud el-Mawla a relevé qu'« à travers l'histoire, aucun faqih chiite (savant de la foi) n'a prôné la wilayet el-faqih générale, à l'exception de cheikh Ahmad ben Mohammad Mehdi el-Nouraki (1245 de l'Hégire) dont l'imam Khomeyni s'est inspiré ».

Qualifiant d'« attitude répressive étrange » le fait de considérer la wilayet el-faqih comme un dogme, Saoud el-Mawla a relevé que « le peuple d'Iran ainsi que les hautes personnalités de la révolution de l'imam Khomeyni, ceux qui croyaient dans la wilayat el-faqih révolutionnaire font face aujourd'hui aux décisions du wali el-faqih » (l'imam Khamenei). « Sont-ils donc des mécréants ? » s'est-il interrogé. M. Mawla a appelé sur ce plan à la conciliation et au dialogue, à l'acceptation de l'autre et du droit à la différence, ainsi qu'au respect de la liberté d'opinion et d'expression. « Ce qui se passe aujourd'hui en Iran est la preuve la plus éclatante du fait que la wilayet el-faqih n'est pas agréée, même dans le pays d'origine, et donc à plus forte raison au Liban, en Irak et dans d'autres pays. »

Sur un tout autre plan, Saoud el-Mawla a souligné que les attaques de Hassan Nasrallah contre le patriarche maronite constituent « une calomnie et une injustice injustifiée ». « Ces attaques ne peuvent s'expliquer que par la volonté de justifier la défaite aux élections du fait que leur base populaire s'attendait à la victoire », a-t-il déclaré. Et de conclure que les accusations de traîtrise et les attaques personnelles lancées par les responsables du Hezbollah sont aujourd'hui déplacées car même l'Iran de Khamenei et d'Ahmadinejad pratique une politique d'ouverture en direction des pays arabes et de l'Occident.

Imad Mughniyeh: Rot In Hell!

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:55 GMT

Around 11.00 A.M this morning, Hezbollah announced the death of Imad Mughniyeh, one of the party's key figures.

Apparently, yesterday's Damascus bombing targeted that rat and successfully gave him a one-way ticket to meet his 72 virgins. (na3iman ya... Imad)

The Lebanese Forces website has a detailed biography of this cock-roach...(arabic)

A wishful thinking to wrap up this post: One down, a few other clowns to go... Oh, and make sure not to miss Hezbollah's announcement, these guys are funny :)

Major Victory for March 14

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:57 GMT

March 14 is headed for an impressive victory in the elections. Michel Aoun's Wunderkind son-in-law in Batroun has lost, and there's a slight possibility that Aoun himself will not be reelected in Keserwen, though that remains to be seen.

Results so far (some final, some preliminary) have March 14 winning big in basically all the battle districts: all seven seats in Zahle, all three in Koura, both seats in Batroun, all five in Beirut 1, and it's looking very good in Metn, with only Baabda not looking good.

The big news so far is a very strong showing for the independent-M14 alliance in Keserwen, where Aoun has his seat, but the final results have yet to come out.

So much for Bashar's "imaginary majority" and "transient condition" (as he famously referred to M14), in spite of all his terrorism, bombing, murder, violence, intimidation, coup attempts and information warfare over the last four years. And cheers to Andrew Lee Butters, Mitchell Prothero, Hugh Mcleod, Robert Worth, et al. Good call there, gentlemen.

Hezbollah, showing its high democratic spirit, has spent the day assaulting rival Shiite candidates and clashing with the majority's supporters in some districts.

And now, as I noted in my pre-election briefing, for the real, post-election battle. Jumblat gives us a preview: He rejected the idea of having an obstructing third, calling it a “fallacy.”

UPDATE: Al-Arabiya is quoting sources "close to Hezbollah" as conceding that M14 has won circa 70 seats. In other words, they have kept the numbers they won in 2005, despite everything.

UPDATE 2: Alas, Keserwen was swept by the Aounists, despite a really strong showing for the independent-M14 list. Mansour al-Bone and his list put up a strong fight in Keserwen, losing by less than two thousand votes out of 30 thousand. Gone are the days of Aoun's "tsunami."

Wikipedia Knows!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:45 GMT

In the past couple of days, Gen. Michel Suleiman's odds of getting the presidency seem to have soared. I am not going into analyzing and\or criticizing this... Not yet! (not in the mood for any)

Bound by the nature of my job, I have to stay mesmerized, glued and gazing at a computer screen (I just bought an LCD, yay me!) for over 10 hours a day. However, in-between the (yes boss, I'm on top of it) and my cigarette breaks (down to the 1500 L.L lucky strike.. I can no longer afford the luxury of intoxicating myself to death with 2000 L.L Marlboro), I sneak into forbidden websites, the tabooed world of Lebanese Politics...

Today, for no reason whatsoever, I got onto Wikipedia. I think my intention was to read a little bit more about the Iranian Revolution. However, I found myself reading the polished profile of Lebanon. Boring, nothing new, Baalbeck festivals, east meets west, 1975... Suddenly, in a quick glance, out of no where... Something caught my eye! Just under the Lebanese flag and the coat of arms, scroll down a little bit more and start reading the 'country facts'. Capital, Beirut.. duh! then a few jabajabas until you reach the name of the president. Ready? -President: Michael Suleiman (Emile Lahoud's term expired 23/11/07). What the... Who... How they... Those...

My final conclusion is based on the preachings of Saint Hassan Nasrallah and his midgets:

The Judeo-Christian zionist American Imperialist occult organization is to blame, they have edited the article just today but seem to be oblivious that we type Michel, not Michael. Ohhh thoze joooz!

PS: For those March 14'ers with sever amnesia, who seem to agree on Suleiman, might I remind you that he's the brother in law of Jibran Kourieh, Late Hafez El Assad's spokesman for 22 years, and that he was appointed General Commander by the well-loved Emile Lahoud ?(get the hint? nudge nudge).