From Beirut to the Beltway

With Lebanese sea life (and soon humans) feasting on poisonous medical waste and other trash from Sidon (floating soon to a beach near you), politicians in the capital Beirut have called an extraordinary session to deal with the pressing issue of …where the four murder suspects should be held, at the ISF headquarters or defense ministry jail.

The Daily Star reported Tuesday that

tons of collapsed garbage could be seen just off the coast swaying in the waters both north and south of this southern port town, with waves washing the rotting waste onto the shores of the public beach. Trash collectors were dispatched to remove the myriad of nylon bags, soda cans, serums and syringes scattered along the shoreline.

Out at sea, however, floating masses of solid waste were spread over large areas, blocking local fisherman from being able to make their living. For those fishermen who attempted to cut their way through the murky waters, they soon found themselves in need of assistance as the debris wrapped itself around the boats' propellers, shutting down the engines.

Lebanese cabinet and environment ministry reaction: Complete disregard.

Why are ALL the ministers engaged in this Lahoud/ex-security officials business?

Why aren’t the ministers doing their jobs?

So far, the cabinet proved that it is very far from being forward-looking or focused on the livelihood of Lebanese citizens. The ministers are busy being politicians, waiting to be talked into sharing a room with Lahoud by Hizbullah, forgetting their jobs of safeguarding the interests of citizens regardless of who's in the room, neglecting an environmental disaster with dire consequences for ALL Lebanese. That's all Lebanese regardless of their religion, sect, class or how much more stupid they want to appear defending an incompetent president and his four terrorists.

Shame.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star said Fouad Siniora has expressed the country's "keenness on implementing the principles of good governance and a separation of powers.. adding Lebanon will soon bear witness to true reforms that will pave the way for the establishment of democracy and freedom. "

Addressing a group of Arab central banks governors, he said "The Lebanese have once again confirmed they are up to the challenges and able to overcome the sufferings of the past and carry on the march toward the establishment of democracy and the consolidation of national accord and reconciliation."

Really? I couldn't tell. In fact, I can hear a Syrian snickering at how former staunch enemies of Syria are now rallying behind Syria's symbols in Lebanon. "I told you their insecurities, hatred for anything remotely Arab/Islamic, their imagined uniqueness and willingness to sleep in the arms of dictator than acknowledge their compatriots' different interests let alone economic needs-- all these are proof that the killing of Hariri can only unite Lebanese for so long, sooner or later this group will realize they can't live without Syria." The snickering Syrian who planned Hariri's assassination continues: "Look at how easy we converted Aoun from a US neo-con tool into a pro-Syrian presidential aspirant." "Those Lebanese will never learn," the Syrian killer said.

Sigh...