Friday, December 23, 2005
Make Aoun president
For God’s sake, make Michel Aoun president of Lebanon. Just do it. We can’t bank on international support for long, no matter how it appears to be in our favor. Somebody needs to make a compromise, and given our choices, Aoun has to be won over by making him feel important. That’s what he wants in return for supporting what has boiled down to a fight against Syrian terrorism and rampant Arabo-Iranian stupidity. We need to shield ourselves against potential UN failure. We cannot place all our eggs in the US and French basket. We have to weave our own unity basket.
Just give him the chair. Let him preside over things. The worst that can ensue is a political clash but the economy will move forward and Aoun will have to support the security plan, or at least help come up with one. Better that than what we had before and what we have today: a Syrian agent for a president, and a war with a terrorist regime.
Just make that compromise and make Aoun President. We need unity, even if it’s on pretend grounds. We need the Aounists in this fight. Syria will not be cowed otherwise. When they assassinated Hariri, they banked on the fragility of the Lebanese opposition. Don’t prove them right. Just make Aoun president.
I don’t want him to be my president. But I don’t want to wait for Godot either. Just make him president damnit.
Just give him the chair. Let him preside over things. The worst that can ensue is a political clash but the economy will move forward and Aoun will have to support the security plan, or at least help come up with one. Better that than what we had before and what we have today: a Syrian agent for a president, and a war with a terrorist regime.
Just make that compromise and make Aoun President. We need unity, even if it’s on pretend grounds. We need the Aounists in this fight. Syria will not be cowed otherwise. When they assassinated Hariri, they banked on the fragility of the Lebanese opposition. Don’t prove them right. Just make Aoun president.
I don’t want him to be my president. But I don’t want to wait for Godot either. Just make him president damnit.
Comments:
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I can't understand why you would want another militarist like Aoun and possibly another military gov't. Did he not say recently that Lahoud would resign only if he,Aoun was made El Presidente.
The officer class would be very happy as they could continue with their established rackets.
We can do much better than Aoun. Let us first remove Lahoud that is more than half of the battle.
Issam
The officer class would be very happy as they could continue with their established rackets.
We can do much better than Aoun. Let us first remove Lahoud that is more than half of the battle.
Issam
# posted by 
: 11:54 AM
: 11:54 AM
Time and readers will tell if this post is an exercise in frustration or a pragmatic way out of our rut. In either case, do propose a convincing alternative.
Issam, I DO NOT want him to be president. But what we want and what we can have are two different things. If it were up to me, I would pick Nassib Lahoud.
I am also for Lahoud's removal. But how is this going to happen without Aoun? Things are not moving forward on that front or on any other front for that matter. What with Hizbullah practically running the show and Syria continuing its terror campaign. Even if the "Shia" ministers return to the cabinet, and especially if a deal is brokered for their return, I don't see real progress.
Lazarus, it won't. However, what we need right now is unity against aggression. I don't expect other more convincing forms of unity to drop from the sky any time soon.
Just keep in mind Lebanon's options, the mistakes of its leaders (dead and alive) that got us here, and its geographic location.
Issam, I DO NOT want him to be president. But what we want and what we can have are two different things. If it were up to me, I would pick Nassib Lahoud.
I am also for Lahoud's removal. But how is this going to happen without Aoun? Things are not moving forward on that front or on any other front for that matter. What with Hizbullah practically running the show and Syria continuing its terror campaign. Even if the "Shia" ministers return to the cabinet, and especially if a deal is brokered for their return, I don't see real progress.
Lazarus, it won't. However, what we need right now is unity against aggression. I don't expect other more convincing forms of unity to drop from the sky any time soon.
Just keep in mind Lebanon's options, the mistakes of its leaders (dead and alive) that got us here, and its geographic location.
Aoun for president would lead to another war:: this guy is a dangerous lunatic, and should be given some rest, in some mountain landscape with birds and stuff.
The 200 aounists - the real, thinking and educated ones - had a slightly better [in quality] political thinking BEFORE the madman's return. But it's not THEM who'll make the difference.
If you want to rely on unity as a base/foundation for some future internal solidity, you should seek in the Shi3a's direction. More than 30% of lebanese population, led by a controversial BUT regular party, itself led by an INTELLIGENT and VERY pragmatic leadership.
What should be known - and solved - is:: what do they fear, before trying to know what do they want.
Aoun:: INSA!
The 200 aounists - the real, thinking and educated ones - had a slightly better [in quality] political thinking BEFORE the madman's return. But it's not THEM who'll make the difference.
If you want to rely on unity as a base/foundation for some future internal solidity, you should seek in the Shi3a's direction. More than 30% of lebanese population, led by a controversial BUT regular party, itself led by an INTELLIGENT and VERY pragmatic leadership.
What should be known - and solved - is:: what do they fear, before trying to know what do they want.
Aoun:: INSA!
Vox,
I am with the gist of Kais' post and your opinion.
Nassib would be another weakling unable to stand up to Syrian aggression and to Arab League destructive hypocrisy.
Another plus: Aoun has some popular shia support, may those shia (in power) can give Hezbo/Amal a run for their money in the longer run.
I am with the gist of Kais' post and your opinion.
Nassib would be another weakling unable to stand up to Syrian aggression and to Arab League destructive hypocrisy.
Another plus: Aoun has some popular shia support, may those shia (in power) can give Hezbo/Amal a run for their money in the longer run.
I don't think this is an exercise in frustration - this is something that should actually be given serious thought to. In addition, the FPM is a (relatively) politically mature party (ignoring for now Aoun's maverick nature). Currently, I don't have an alternative - but if you know an option is not great, do you still go for it knowing the possible ramifications of taking that choice?
According to Aoun's last interview - he doesn't really care about the presidency. However, assuming that he is chosen to be president, and Lahoud is removed, etc., how long will apparently gained unity last? True, all I have to judge on this is his past behavior and current stances (on several topics), but it seems that after the first few speeches, meetings, handshakes, something else will creep up and create a crack in the opposition. I'm not sure if unity against aggression is the issue now, since I doubt (hopefully doubt?) anyone is with aggression.
According to Aoun's last interview - he doesn't really care about the presidency. However, assuming that he is chosen to be president, and Lahoud is removed, etc., how long will apparently gained unity last? True, all I have to judge on this is his past behavior and current stances (on several topics), but it seems that after the first few speeches, meetings, handshakes, something else will creep up and create a crack in the opposition. I'm not sure if unity against aggression is the issue now, since I doubt (hopefully doubt?) anyone is with aggression.
Yes, let him be president. He will burn himself, and after 6 years he will be in the same situation as Lahoud is today. Remember how popular Lahoud was back in 98? The country can afford 6 years of political bickering and still get things moving (although at a lesser pace than ideally); anything is better than the current sectarian war-like climate.
# posted by : 7:16 PM
: 7:16 PM
anonymous above, to speak like a stereotyped Hollywoodian hero : 'time is a luxury that we don't have'
# posted by : 3:07 AM
: 3:07 AM
"Better that than what we had before and what we have today: a Syrian agent for a president"
Come on now Kais, Aoun sold his soul to the devil to return to Lebanon. He cut a deal with the very forces he defied. His actions since his return speak volumes. This man is not what Lebanon needs. Lebanon needs a leader who is not a criminal from the days of the civil war, rather someone with a relatively clean slate who can give the country a fresh start. Nassib Lahoud is a good example.
The last thing we need is a polarizing figure like Aoun to come in and move us all backwards. Plus I hear the guy is bipolar and takes medication to control that. Can we handle the reprecussions of tsunamichel not finding his pills one morning? I think not.
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Come on now Kais, Aoun sold his soul to the devil to return to Lebanon. He cut a deal with the very forces he defied. His actions since his return speak volumes. This man is not what Lebanon needs. Lebanon needs a leader who is not a criminal from the days of the civil war, rather someone with a relatively clean slate who can give the country a fresh start. Nassib Lahoud is a good example.
The last thing we need is a polarizing figure like Aoun to come in and move us all backwards. Plus I hear the guy is bipolar and takes medication to control that. Can we handle the reprecussions of tsunamichel not finding his pills one morning? I think not.
# posted by : 7:01 AM
: 7:01 AM << Home
