An Assortment of Observations ... and an Interview with Aoun

First of all, Internet is not exactly conducive to frequent posts. My dial-up is unbearable ... I've adapted to the connection I have back in the States. Because of that, I'm going to lump different topics in one post every couple of days. I've tried using email option, but I still need to figure out how to control the formatting for that.

On My Neighborhood

There are no pictures of Gebran Tueni.

There are hardly any Lebanese flags hanging off balconies, which was not the case in June.

There are a few pictures of Bashir Gemayel, but these have always existed here over the past 10 years. There are some remnants of the election posters of Pierre Gemayel and Michel Aoun.

Compared to June, the amount of LF crosses spray painted on the walls has increased. Some of these may have been painted after Geagea was released, but quite a few looked fresher than that. In June, these crosses were usually lumped together, but now there are many more individual crosses. These can be seen next to the entrance of various houses - either next to the door, or next to the gate. There are also a few pictures of Geagea raising his fist, which is modeled as a source of light.

On Rumors

It seems there were some relatively clandestine activites going on in a few groups several months ago. I heard this from someone yesterday. Today I have heard it from another friend after I checked with him. And then tonight I got the "it's common knowledge" speech by a third person who proceeded to tell me why.

On Government

A consensual government contradicts democracy of the majority. We should decide on one, and then move on. This is related to one of the hypocricies inherent in confessional democracy.

On Sukleen

I felt ashamed when I saw today a Sukleen truck that had workers stuffed into the back like cattle.

On Youth Activism

Yesterday there was a small tribute to Tueni in AUB with candles and a few posters.

On NBN there was a talk show that involved some young "leaders". They represented how much we lack the capabilities of constructive dialogue.

I was only able to catch part of Zaven's show on Future TV, which also included young "leaders". It was more organized than the one on NBN, but there was very little originality, and alot of the comments were filled with empy rhetoric, unconstructive poetry, and bold patriotism. To be fair, I was not able to catch the beginning, so it is possible that something great had come out then.

On Camp Freedom

The above show by Zaven was about this camp. The camps during the first "revolution" were real tents. The sense of spontenaity they created deserved respect at some level. Today's camp is still not constructed yet. There are bulldozers and workers setting up this "Freedom Camp". Only then will it be occupied by the outh.

There is no real "mass" in this "uprising of the masses".

On the "Youth Afraid for Their Homeland"

I was happily surprised to read in Assafir yesterday a mention of the First Decleration of the "Youth afraid for their Homeland". According to this article, there were around 15 youth in Sodeco next to the destroyed building that is a remnant of the War. What was strange in the matter was first of all, that these youth did not carry Lebanese or party flags. Second of all, they decided to remain silent. Third of all, they did not use prepared tents, but just sat next to the building opposing Sodeco building, and they held cardboard signs that were written on with things such as "Remember ... where has gaining strength from the outside or hiding behind sects taken us", and "The Silent afraid for their country". and "Stop and take a breath and think to where are we heading." Moreover, the declaration that these youth passed out did not ask for removing the head of the security forces or the president of the republic, or use other phrases that we have heard lately, but only had on it "Declaration number one", with their name "Youth afraid for their homeland". I am looking forward for more declarations.

On Journalism

There doesn't seem to be a sense of investigative reporting in today's Lebanese newspapers. They are either some form of press release, or opinion editorials.

On Apple

Apple has finally invaded Lebanon. There are now (I think)two stores called "Mac Zone". It probably won't take too much time before the Ipod infiltrates the upper class elite.

On the Beirut Skyline

There few things as beautiful as the Beirut sky in winter.

On Santa

Only in Lebanon would you see Santa coming down from a helicopter.

On News

A Hezbollah member was released today from Germany. Was this really a gesture of goodwill?


Interview with Aoun (On Al-Manar - Hadeeth Al-Sa`a)

I've suspended my personal opinions on Aoun during his interview with Al-Manar on Hadeeth Al-Sa`a, and have kept a list of topic and quotes that he discussed. Although there were typical Aoun traits in the interview, he asked quite a few legitimate questions. His main point was that the current government is not capable of controlling the situation, not because it is inherently faulty, but because they haven't taken any necessary steps to diffusing the situation. As he said, "I am living within a country that can't protect my life, and if I die, it can't discover who killed me." He proposed an initiative for dialogue, the main premise of which was

"Instead of going on TV and shouting, what prevents us from meeting and discussing things face to face ... let them come to me and tell me General I don't trust you, you visited America for the presidency, you are sectarian ... "

The presenter didn't let things go and did ask about his aspirations for presidency:

- You are hiding some things. Your aspiration for the presidency ...
- Me? Lek, what can the presidency accomplish. What can he do. Can he whistle for a foul? ...
- On a personal level?
- Not necessarily.

He had previously commented on how much control the president actually has on the current situation.

- Till now, I haven't seen anything that was proposed that was opposed by Lahoud. Someone even said that it is as if he isn't there ... no one is complaining about him ... If Lahoud resigns today, what would happen? ... Be careful, the situation is dangerous ...
- So you have no other condition besides who would fill the gap?
- No, I do. What is their plan?

Aoun is planning on taking his role as the opposition very seriously, since to him "The majority doesn't have the support of the people ..". He then said

You will see the list of demands I will present to them ... I will ask for an explanation for everything they have said in the recent times, since Tueni's assassination ... not just about me.

He believes he has been patient with the government.

"Of course I'm being patient. the president is doing nothing, the government is crippled, and the parliament is watching."

He became slightly angrier since there have been "15 murders, and they don't have a shred of evidence? And you ask if I have the right to blame the government?"

He also asked "At the time of Mehlis, the Mkalles road was secure and protected. Why did that stop? When he was here, it was secure ... "

Moreover, he also accused the majority of planning to remove the president in order to gain more control.

- I am not defending the president ... They want to remove him so that they can put someone who is controlled by the 72 ...
- You are saying they are creating a president outside Lebanon?
- Yes, "shoubek". They all met in Paris ...

He has also claimed that "Those who don't have two thirds of the parliament don't have the right to have two thirds of the government", and went on to ask

"What I don't understand is how the majority that is currently governing is going down to the streets and demonstrating ... against whom? What a joke (maskhara)."

However, some of his typical attitude towards him being the main reason for the Syrian withdrawal came through when he insisted that

"We were the base ... We were there [in March 14], and they came after us ... it is part of our history ... they are the second child in it ... there were alot of people who had no right to talk about it, and they did. We didn't talk about it."

Some other topics that are worth mentioning as follows.

- Under the insistence of the presenter, he has given an official invitation to Walid Jumblatt for lunch, dinner, and even for a drink.

- He and the FPM have a thorough plan for Lebanese security, yet has not presented it because "no one talks with us".

- The meeting between him and Hassan Nasrallah is very close.

- Finally, he compared dialogue in Lebanon to that of the Tower of Babel.

During the interview, Aoun did present alot of issues that the government should be dealing with in real time. However, it will be interesting to see how Al-Moustaqbal and Annahar portray this interview. Will they stick the script that they have been putting forth with regards to Aoun, or will they this time, stick with the words he actually said?

posted by Lazarus, 1:37 PM