Rejoice, Lebanon`s savior is here

Now that the Doha agreement between the opposition and the government has took place, it appears to be a day of rejoice and celebration for the Lebanese. Because on Sunday, Lebanon will not be presidentless anymore. Both factions agreed on General Michel Suleiman as a president, and agreed on an electoral law, thanks to the opposition and their "sacrifice".

Tents are doing down, no more sit-in in Beirut Central District (Downtown). That's a good thing at least, this town is beautiful and hopefully some life will come back to it.

As we have gotten used to things by now, nothing is as simple as it appears, dialog has been called for since ever in Lebanon, they have had many attempts so far, 20 times the presidential elections has been postponed as well, and in 1 week, in Qatar, solution has been found. Is it a permanent solution or just a temporary one? On the regional scale, is something going to happen between Iran and Israel/US? We'll wait and see.

Dialog in Qatar and Berri in Pyjamas

Apparently, it's not going well. All I saw yesterday on the news was that Berri was in the Qatari tradiotional outfit, known as "Dishdesheh", I think. But that's not all, he was also wearing slippers. I am thinking he feels more comfortable in Qatar. Hopefully, others will join him, and they all stay there.

We are back to square zero, because even if both factions, the opposition and pro-government have agreed on a president, General Michel Suleiman, they still disagree on the electoral law that will be used in the next parliamentary elections. How will Beirut's district be divided? For those who don't know, it is a simple matter of math, each faction is giving the division that it will win for it more seats at the parliament. I have no idea, how they can actually find a solution for that. I am sure no faction will sacrifice for the other, because after all, it is not Lebanon that it matters for them, it apparently is their own benefits.



Today, an organization named KHALAS organized a gathering along the road of the airport to call for the leaders not to come back in case they don't agree. Talk about improbable things.

Not wanting to sound pessimistic, yet it seems like the day the opposition and the government agree will be when we won't have a Global Warming problem. At least there is hope.

Recap on the past 3 days in Lebanon

The Arab Ministerial Committee's mission was a success. Their mission last wednesday was to calm things down, open the airport again, bring opposition and government closer, adopt the fact that the government retracted the May 5 decisions, and went on with the next step which is dialog.

This time, dialog is going to take place in Doha, Qatar.

No more signs of weapons on the streets, no more clashes, several airplanes landed in Beirut's airport yesterday, and several left our airport today.

In the past 3 to 4 days, some of the government's officials and pro-government political party leaders, such as Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora, Samir Geagea, etc... have toughed up their tones, while many thought that it only meant things were not going to get better even with the Arab Ministerial Committee's upcoming efforts.

But in my opinion, it was only a theatrical broadway show, orchestrated to make those pro-government people appear as they are pissed, because if they do show that they backed down so smoothly, the pro-government followers, and the big players who support this government were going to be extremely pissed.

In my opinion, the government did not lose per se, however it compromised for the sake of this country.

Awaiting.... what?

Sunday 11th of May, 2008, the 5th day of the bloody demonstration gone wrong, of the strike gone war, of the genuine demands gone terrorizing.

The airport road, the port road and the Masnaa road (bordering with Syria) is still closed, and many other roads in Beirut are still closed. Lebanese army is widely spread in all Beirut, and there are no sign of armed men on the streets, even the Sukleen cleaners are on the roads cleaning. However the civil disobedience asked for by the Opposition leaders is still present until all their demands are met.

North Lebanon is calmer now, some sort of agreement on calming things down have been set.

Many foreigners are leaving Lebanon, and some have been advices by their own embassies to leave Lebanon.



The arab ministers will be in session soon, in order to discuss the current crisis in Lebanon. Should we expect much from them? I believe not, until now, they never really helped this much. Refraining from offending anyone, but we all know who the big regional players are, and at this point, all negotiations are done silently and discretly away from the crowds.

The death toll has risen to more than 40, I don't have the exact number, but yesterday alone had 20 casualties. In particular, the victim during the Tarik Jadidah's funeral.

Siniora is not budging, the army is trying to compromise, the opposition is still firm, less firm than the beginning, nonetheless, it appears for the situation to get better, it needs a minimum of another 2, 3 days of tension.

Lebanese Army`s statement to the rescue

The Lebanese Army declared the following statement (not word by word):
- It has been decided to keep Chief Wafik Shoukeir in his position in the airport
- Demanded for all armed forces to be withdrawn from the streets, and to open all the streets

I believe that this statement, is not only the road for things to get better, but it is even better than we have asked for.

With the leadership of the army deciding to keep the Chief Shoukeir in his position in the airport, the first point of Nasrallah's demand is being met, and the first point of the government's demand is also applied.

By this, Hezbollah is bound to accept the 2nd point of the government which is electing General Michel Sleiman as president, as courtesy to his wise decisions in the past few days and especially in the Shoukeir one.

Moreover, this can lead everyone to the dialog again.

Prediction not for the near future, but for the slightly far one, there will be new elections soon.

Hariri threw back the ball to Hezbollah`s court

In summary, the speech that Hariri gave tonight at 8:10 pm, in response to Nasrallah's press conference this afternoon, concluded in 4 main points which Hariri believes if Nasrallah complies by them, then he does mean well.
1- Within the army regime, there will be ones assigned to investigate the Chief Shoukair issue
2- Reopen the road to the airport and free Beirut from its siege
3- Elect General Michel Sleiman as President
4- Sit together and try to talk things thru led by the newly elected president.

Hariri also highly insisted that he does not want a war and turmoil erupting between sunnist and chiite, and their sole enemy is Israel, and that the airport will not become a base for CIA, FBI and Mossad, and the issue with the communication was not a problem if it is about 3, 4 or 5000 lines, but when it reached 99000 and 999000 then it is a threatening issue for the government and they need to maintain national security.

Now, this kinds of seems like the government is willing to give and take, they did not exactly answer Nasrallah's two demands to make things better, but I believe this is how negotiations go.

Let's cross our fingers.

Nasrallah threw the ball in the government`s court

Or at least, this is how he made it appear. No one denies the power of convincing this man has, but there were a lot of flaws in his press conference. I will get into them later.

But in a summary, he spoke about 3 main points:
1- The private communications central
2- The airport and Chief Wafik Shoukair
3- The crisis

The major points were the following:
1- Sheik Nasrallah explained that a major part of a resistance or army's weapons are the communications, and they need a safe one as unwired and mobile phones are breached and will allow Israel to know their tactics.
2- He called this government to be Walid Jumblat's government, whom is an employee working for Condoleeza Rice
3- The airport step, is to prevent from any clashes in the future with the army and national security, because Hezbollah has no desire in clashing with the army, showing much respect to them
4- Nasrallah threatened anyone who approaches their weapons, will get his hand cut off. Even though he promised before that Hezbollah's weapons won't be used inside Lebanon, he said when the government crossed the line and declared war by taking the decision that Hezbolla's communications are illegal and a national threat
5- Narallah said that they have no interest in taking over the country, the government or any political stand.
6- The don't want Chief Wafik Shoukair to be removed, because they don't want the airport to become an FBI, CIA and Mossad base, which is near their homes.
7- Nasrallah told others to stop using the "Civil war erupting between sunnist and chiite" anymore, as it will not happen!
8- He finally said that there are two things the government can do that will solve the recent issues in Lebanon, which is taking back the decisions in confiscating Hezbolla's communication (which is a big part of their weapons), and answering Berri's call for dialog.

There has been heard some gun shooting as a joyful response to Nasrallah's press conference once it finished, which later led to armed clashes in the streets of Beirut, in principal in Kornishe Al Mazraa, Ras Al Nabaa, Aisha Bakkar, Karakol el Druze.



It has moved from just burning tires, throwing rocks, blocking roads and occasional gun fire in the air, it is now officially a battle between members from Hezbollah and members from the Future Movement, using AK47, RPGs, B7 and Bombs...

Some minutes pass by when it is relatively calm, and only after a couple of minutes to reintiate the gunfire between the two groups. Some persons are wearing masks, and hiding behind buildings, and stealing a moment every minute to shoot at the others, and at buildings. Smoke can be seen from as far as Mount Lebanon.

The party has just begun, Saad Hariri will have another press conference tonight, and now that the ball is in the government's court, I do not see any atom of hope that they will calm things down, as a matter of fact, there is a high probablity that they will only escalate things. Which will translate into the streets as more shootings, bombs and rockets.

The army at this point is not getting involved, I believe they cannot do anything right now, due to the fact that the leaders of both parties did not try to halt anything. The army gave a statement that things cannot be solved by guns, but only by dialog.

Armed clashes for now are between Sunni members and Shiite members, no christian existence yet. If by any shroud of bad luck, christians do get involve, there is a risk that the clashes will reach christian regions, which then officially declares a civil war in Lebanon.

We hope, by a miracle from God, that everything stops today.

For a minute to minute update, check Tayyar.org.
For Sheik Nasrallah's today's press conference in English, check this article on NowLebanon.com

Update: There is a fire in one of the residential areas, and they're shooting at the fire department so they do not put the fire down!

This is bad, very very bad

I've been meaning to sum up what happened starting yesterday and uptill now, but I just can't seem to focus. I can sincerly say, I am scared.

Now that its is being screamed from the top of the roofs that yesterday was a well orchestrated subordination. While the Labors Syndicate Union decided to halt their demonstration and postpone it to another time, the opposition continued their subordination!
The union said that the government was not ready to protect them. What the Union failed to mention was that the ones who closed their roads was the opposition. I believe, the army did a fine job considering the danegrous individuals they were dealing with.

The union, could've done a normal demonstration taking place in one sole location, holding some whiteboards with few slogans on them. But no, they decided to paralyze and open up the opportunity for others to paralyze the capital. Slogans and peaceful gathering were few yesterday. Yes, there were few innocent people really asking and demonstrating against the government for a better living.

After that, the opposition continued to close roads, and the infamously airport road. Many flights were cancelled, no flights departed from Lebanon except empty airplanes. The people who arrived yesterday waited and sat on the ground, some who insisted on leaving the airport had to cross on foot a couple of meters with the help of the army.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we the Lebanese, are being dissected and torn apart by two major evil forces, the Haririst and the Hezbollah!

The coming days will unveil the upcoming war, not necessarily a typical civil war which we are used to, but when RPGs, Snipers and bombs are used in a supposedly "peaceful" demonstration, then it is an ugly battle taking place to say the least.

Uuntil now, some of the Future movement members have closed the road in Saadneyil and also in Masnaa, which is the crossing border between Lebanon and Syria in response to the closing of the road to the airport by Hezbollah. The first, claimed that once the airport road is open, they will open the roads on their ends.

What is funny, is how Tayyar.org refers to Future movement members as "Militia" (which maybe they are), but fails to calls the Hezbollah ones (who are doing exactly the same thing, even though they started it, but it's irrelevant at this moment) militias as well.

Congratulations to propaganda, stupidity and cowardness of the Lebanese people.

Israel closed down our aiport in July 2006, and now Hezbollah closes down the same airport in May 2008.

P.S. When Hezbollah was accused of using spy cameras on the road to the airport, they said if anyone removes those cameras are spies for Israel! Seriously?
Moreover, I don't want to be terrorized into doing or believing something, and at this point Hezbollah is terrorizing the government and the people into succumbing into their own demands.

Kudos for all the political parties for ruining Lebanon just when I thought it couldn't get worse.

After Nasrallah`s speech, where does this leave us?

On 14 February 2008, it was not only another commemoration of Rafic Hariri's assassination 3 years ago, when tens of thousands of people gather in Central Beirut District, Martyr's square to pay tribute and respect to this man, and of course to show once again that they are against the Syrian regime, and most importantly show a big number to the opposition.


On the other hand, that day also was dedicated to the burial and funeral of Imad Moughnieh, an important member of the Hezbollah organization. "Mugniyah has been implicated in the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy, and U.S. Marine and French peacekeeping barracks, which killed over 350, as well as the 1992 bombings of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires" [1]. He was assassinated only 2 days before (12 February 2008) in Damascus, in a car-bomb explosion.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah offered his condolences, but also Hezbollah's preparation for retaliation and revenge for losing Moughnieh, sending a clear and assertive message to Israel, that this time there will not be just one Moughnieh, but hundreds. By "this time" he meant, the next war. He told Israel that if they wanted another war, then let it be.
He also criticized 14 March's speeches in Hariri's commemoration that same day, angrily declaring that they should stop with the low and disrespectful way of talking.

One of the many similar responses that came yesterday to Nasrallah's speech was Samir Geagea's, in which he acclaimed that Nasrallah does not have the right to include all of Lebanon in his war on Israel, such an action can only be decided by the government itself.

Moughnieh is regarded as a master terrorist in the whole world. The US and Israel welcomed his assassination, also leaving Israel on high-alert. Iran and Syria condemned it. Lebanon, on the other hand is divided in two opinions:
1 - The first cannot really say that they welcome it (because that would be a very very bad move), nevertheless imply that they do not agree at all with Hezbollah's actions (dragging them into an unwanted war)
2 - And the second clan are deeply saddened for Moughnieh's loss, considering him as a hero, moreover angered and ready for war and revenge.

Where does this leave Lebanon? Presidentless, open for war, and open for more assassinations and explosions, drowning in debt, high prices in almost everything. This is where Lebanon is.

IN HELL.

14 February 2008

On this day marked as a holiday (although I personally think it shouldn't, we have much more than 1 assassinated person, should we declare all these days as holidays?), where all schools and universities, official institutions and some private sector companies are closed, people have started to gather coming from North Lebanon, Akkar, Shikka, Anfeh, Kobayet and others, hundreds of cars and dozens of buses, with Hariri and other Lebanese martyrs pictures, Lebanese Forces and Phalanges flags. This gathering is intended to go participate in the 3rd commemoration of Rafic Hariri's assassination in 14 February 2005.

More groups from Zgharta are holding Rene Mouawad pictures as well while coming to Beirut District to the participation.

Expatriates have come from abroad to participate in today's gathering (14 March), and some of them have one message, they are asking for a president for Lebanon.

At the same time, today at 2pm and in the southern suburb of Beirut, a public march will be held for the burial of Imad Moughanieh who was assassinated in an explosion near the Iranian school in Damascus Syria on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. Imad Moughanieh is a senior member in Hezbollah accused of being in charge of the 1983-94 bombings of the American Embassy only at 19 years old and the 1992 bombings of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aeris killing hundreds of people. He is on top of the wanted list in Israel, considered as a fugitive and terrorist. The US administration welcomed this assassination, saying the world is safer with one less dangerous man.
Saad Hariri, Rafic Hariri's son, said only the grief united 8 and 14 March on this sad day.

Sad day or Valentine's day? No body knows in Lebanon anymore.

Worries of clashes between the two clans, even though at separate locations, however people will be coming from all over Lebanon to both gatherings.

Stay tuned for more news and updates on today's commemoration of Hariri and Burial of Moughanieh.



Update 9:57am:
- Many convoys are stuck in the high mountains because of the snow.
- A Lebanese Forces convoy starting from Jbeil to Batroun is preparing to arrive to Martyr's square

Update 11:30am:
- A huge traffic on the roads that lead to the central Beirut district, especially those coming from North. It has been advised to park in Dora and continue walking.
- A flame has been lit in the memory of Rafic Hariri in Saint George, the area where he was assassinated 3 years ago. Bahia Hariri, the ex-prime minister's sister has been present on the uncovering of the memorial statue of Rafic al Hariri.
- Till now many speakers have addressed the large presence in the Martyr's square, paying tribute to all the assassinated in the last 3 years, be it the Politicians, Government members, Forces and Army, Journalists: Rafic Hariri, Bassel Fleihan, Samir Assir, George Hawi, Gibran Tueni, Pierre Gemayel, Antoine Ghanem, Walid Eido, Francois el Haj, and the latest Wissam Eid.

A solution in the horizon

If you ask any Lebanese person (who follows local news), they will tell you that things have been calm lately because, they continue, it's either this or a war. Now that Iran and Saudi have interfered in finding a solution to Lebanon which haven't been declared officially yet, means two things:

1- We still get our orders from outside (surprised?)
2- While some of the March 14 really believed that "they" can control Lebanon and hopefully move it from its follower state to its country state, it turned out, that when they will be pressured to succumb to foreigners once again.

Concerning the second point, I will just like to send a message to all those who were in the opposition, despite how some of the current government politicians have gone wrong, etc... there is one fact and that is that some really wanted the betterment of this country (some got assassinated) and these people did not get anywhere because there was no union. Of course, we can't sum up the whole reasons and consequence in one paragraph, but point noted.

Government to govern, Opposition to oppose

To each its responsabilities, to each its purposes, to each their reason to improve the country.

We want both, we want a government and an opposition.
Without a government, there will be chaos.
Without an opposition, there is no democracy and a way to "positively" criticize.

What is a government and what is its job?
In its broadest sense, "to govern" means to administer or supervise, whether over a state, a set group of people, or a collection of assets.

So many times when I am on the street, or at work, or just reading news, I can't help but wonder that "all" our governments so far (the past 3 decades) haven't really made a complete job. We have ministries for a reason, and we'd be lucky to have 1 or 2 ministers who work. This topic will be elaborated in the future by mentioning some ministries, and where they went wrong.

As for the opposition, they are not doing their designated job, as mentioned above, they should criticize in a positive way in order to demand or open the eyes of the government to what is going wrong in order to improve the state of the country. However, the current government is only preventing other people from living, making a living, and making the government improve.

Certainly by above, we don't mean that the people who are in the opposition shouldn't exist, on the contrary, but their administrations should find a better way, because we all understand all sides have demands, and all people should live in their country in the way they deserve.

Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform

To read more about the document that will be presented in the "International Conference for Support to Lebanon" which will be held in Paris III on January 25, 2006, you can click here for the English version of the document, or here for the Arabic version of the document.

For more info concerning the Ministry of Finance, you can visit their website.

Lebanese Government links

It would be a nice thing to have links to all the government's websites concerning general information, ministries and governmental institutions.

For all sorts of information concerning official paper work, passport, identity card, etc... the website to check is The Lebanese Government Portal for Information & Forms: www.informs.gov.lb

• The General Directorate of General Security: www.general-security.gov.lb


• Internal Security Forces of Lebanon: www.isf.gov.lb


• Lebanese Army Official Website: www.lebarmy.gov.lb


• Civil Service Board - Government of Lebanon: www.csb.gov.lb


• Central Administration for Statisticswww.cas.gov.lb


• Official site of the President of the Lebanese Republic: www.presidency.gov.lb


• Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR): www.omsar.gov.lb


• Lebanon Under Siege: www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb


• Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport: www.beirutairport.gov.lb


• Lebanese Ministry of Tourism: www.destinationlebanon.com


• CDR Council of Development and Reconstruction: www.cdr.gov.lb


• Central Bank of Lebanon: www.bdl.gov.lb


• Lebanese Parliament: www.lp.gov.lb

Ministries:

• Ministry of Agriculture: www.agriculture.gov.lb


• Ministry of Higher Education: www.higher-edu.gov.lb


• Ministry of Finance: www.finance.gov.lb


• Ministry of Economy & Trade: www.economy.gov.lb


• Ministry of Industry: www.industry.gov.lb


• Ministry Of Telecommunications: www.mpt.gov.lb


• Ministry of Justice: www.justice.gov.lb


• Ministry of Information National News Agency: www.nna-leb.gov.lb


• Ministry of Public Works and Transport: www.public-works.gov.lb


• Ministry of Environment: www.moe.gov.lb


• Ministry of Public Health: www.public-health.gov.lb


• Ministry of Social Affairs: www.socialaffairs.gov.lb

For more, please click here.