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The Lebanese political crisis!!! (38 Viewers)
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and lets stay on topic.Hariri: March 14 will launch political initiative following approval of tribunal
- 2007 / 5 / 13
Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said the March 14 parliamentary coalition will launch a political initiative to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon, following the approval of an international tribunal on the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. He said initiative will include dialogue with Hizbollah and the Amal Movement to revive the country and political life.
In an interview with the Al-Arabiyah Television network, Head of the Future Bloc also vowed not to yield on the creation of the tribunal and on pursuing the legacy of the assassinated Premier for an independent, free, democratic and sovereign Lebanon. He said a political agreement could be reached, since there was broad range accord on several issues in previous discussions with House Speaker Nabih Berri. In the interview, MP Hariri reiterated support for the creation of the tribunal under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, citing political obstacles preventing its approval in Lebanon, in order to protect the Syrian regime. He questioned the fear from the tribunal in Damascus since the regime insists it is innocent.
Addressing the upcoming presidential elections, Head of the Future Bloc said the head of state should come from the March 14 coalition, and pointed out that General Michel Aoun had been leveling strong attacks against March 14 politicians. He also asked why the General should be elected if his stances are similar to those of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hizbollah and Iran. Mr. Hariri reiterated calls for a real partnership in running the country, including over questions such as war and peace, making clear that the government during the war with Israel over the summer was able to score a diplomatic victory at the UN Security Council.
Head of the Future Bloc stressed that only the Constitution can protect Lebanon, and that the leaders of the country must represent all the people and not only their sects, just as the assassinated Premier worked for a unified Lebanon. He also kept the door open for expanding the government ahead of presidential elections and said the Lebanese are capable of overcoming the political crisis.
- 2007 / 5 / 13
Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said the March 14 parliamentary coalition will launch a political initiative to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon, following the approval of an international tribunal on the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. He said initiative will include dialogue with Hizbollah and the Amal Movement to revive the country and political life.
In an interview with the Al-Arabiyah Television network, Head of the Future Bloc also vowed not to yield on the creation of the tribunal and on pursuing the legacy of the assassinated Premier for an independent, free, democratic and sovereign Lebanon. He said a political agreement could be reached, since there was broad range accord on several issues in previous discussions with House Speaker Nabih Berri. In the interview, MP Hariri reiterated support for the creation of the tribunal under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, citing political obstacles preventing its approval in Lebanon, in order to protect the Syrian regime. He questioned the fear from the tribunal in Damascus since the regime insists it is innocent.
Addressing the upcoming presidential elections, Head of the Future Bloc said the head of state should come from the March 14 coalition, and pointed out that General Michel Aoun had been leveling strong attacks against March 14 politicians. He also asked why the General should be elected if his stances are similar to those of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hizbollah and Iran. Mr. Hariri reiterated calls for a real partnership in running the country, including over questions such as war and peace, making clear that the government during the war with Israel over the summer was able to score a diplomatic victory at the UN Security Council.
Head of the Future Bloc stressed that only the Constitution can protect Lebanon, and that the leaders of the country must represent all the people and not only their sects, just as the assassinated Premier worked for a unified Lebanon. He also kept the door open for expanding the government ahead of presidential elections and said the Lebanese are capable of overcoming the political crisis.
Always good to see both sides of the story at least..............
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah: the resistance is ready to retaliate to any Israeli aggression in a much stronger way than during the last war.
In an interview with the "Qalam Rasas" program on the Dubai satellite channel, Hezbollah Secretary General al-Sayyed Nasrallah tackled the situation in Lebanon, the results of the July war and the repercussions of the Winograd report over Israeli failures in this war. His eminence ridiculed Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz who has said in the past that Israel would push the Hezbollah north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah never left the area south of the river. "I laughed when I heard Peretz saying 'We will prevent Hezbollah from returning south of the Litani River.' Did we ever leave this area?" al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked. He said that the people there defend their own villages on the border with occupied Palestine or south of the Litani River.
He added that Israel erred when it believed that its mighty air force would be able to halt daily rocket attacks on northern Israel. "Israel's assumption was that the air force would be able to annihilate the resistance within 5-6 days ahead of a diplomatic initiative between the US and others in the region," he said.
"Israel's disrespect and arrogance in Lebanon lead to its defeat … by the willingness and wisdom of the resistance," he added.
He also said that if Israel attacked Lebanon, the resistance will defend the country despite the presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon. "When I said Hezbollah possesses more than 12 thousand missiles and then I said that we have more than 20 thousand rockets, this means that maybe we have 30 thousand or 80 thousand rockets or maybe more," his eminence said.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked if the Arab peace initiative is the proper response to Israel's defeat in Lebanon. "Does the timing of putting forth the initiative again serve Arab interests?" The Hezbollah chief said the Arabs should take advantage of the victory achieved in Lebanon, not run to the enemy as if it was the powerful and they were the weak. al-Sayyed Nasrallah criticized some Arabs for reproaching the Palestinians and Hezbollah for capturing Israeli soldiers. He asked them how they can keep silent when there are more than 10 thousand Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli jails, they forgot about.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah: the resistance is ready to retaliate to any Israeli aggression in a much stronger way than during the last war.
In an interview with the "Qalam Rasas" program on the Dubai satellite channel, Hezbollah Secretary General al-Sayyed Nasrallah tackled the situation in Lebanon, the results of the July war and the repercussions of the Winograd report over Israeli failures in this war. His eminence ridiculed Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz who has said in the past that Israel would push the Hezbollah north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah never left the area south of the river. "I laughed when I heard Peretz saying 'We will prevent Hezbollah from returning south of the Litani River.' Did we ever leave this area?" al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked. He said that the people there defend their own villages on the border with occupied Palestine or south of the Litani River.
He added that Israel erred when it believed that its mighty air force would be able to halt daily rocket attacks on northern Israel. "Israel's assumption was that the air force would be able to annihilate the resistance within 5-6 days ahead of a diplomatic initiative between the US and others in the region," he said.
"Israel's disrespect and arrogance in Lebanon lead to its defeat … by the willingness and wisdom of the resistance," he added.
He also said that if Israel attacked Lebanon, the resistance will defend the country despite the presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon. "When I said Hezbollah possesses more than 12 thousand missiles and then I said that we have more than 20 thousand rockets, this means that maybe we have 30 thousand or 80 thousand rockets or maybe more," his eminence said.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked if the Arab peace initiative is the proper response to Israel's defeat in Lebanon. "Does the timing of putting forth the initiative again serve Arab interests?" The Hezbollah chief said the Arabs should take advantage of the victory achieved in Lebanon, not run to the enemy as if it was the powerful and they were the weak. al-Sayyed Nasrallah criticized some Arabs for reproaching the Palestinians and Hezbollah for capturing Israeli soldiers. He asked them how they can keep silent when there are more than 10 thousand Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli jails, they forgot about.
Thats nothing Jack.
If you listen to his interviews you'll be more amazed. It's amazing how(in which way) he criticize Sanyoura and the way he's pushing his people more and more against our Gov.
Few days ago he had his interview, he asked people who havent recieved any money for their damaged houses to go down on the streets....does this knock any door???? Yes it does, the International Trial is few days away from starting
, like usually, he'll defend his belove Syria no matter what the situation or no matter how much it'll cost.
Sanyoura replied few days after with EVIDENCE showing that he is indeed paying for everyone that lost his house during the war. People just need to be patient.
If you listen to his interviews you'll be more amazed. It's amazing how(in which way) he criticize Sanyoura and the way he's pushing his people more and more against our Gov.
Few days ago he had his interview, he asked people who havent recieved any money for their damaged houses to go down on the streets....does this knock any door???? Yes it does, the International Trial is few days away from starting
, like usually, he'll defend his belove Syria no matter what the situation or no matter how much it'll cost.Sanyoura replied few days after with EVIDENCE showing that he is indeed paying for everyone that lost his house during the war. People just need to be patient.
U.N. Considering Establishing Tribunal to Try Hariri Killers This Week
- 2007 / 5 / 16
In response to a request from Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the United States said it planned to circulate a draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council this week to establish an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
"We expect to introduce a resolution before the end of this week," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters on Tuesday.
Saniora on Monday sent a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon asking him "as a matter of urgency to put before the Security Council our request that the special tribunal be put into effect."
Saniora's government has been locked in a bitter feud with its pro-Syrian opposition over implementing an agreement with the U.N. to set up the court to prosecute suspects in Hariri's murder and related crimes.
Hariri and 22 other people were killed in a massive bomb blast in February 2005, widely blamed on Syria, which was then forced to end nearly 30 years of military and political domination in Lebanon.
Damascus denies any links with the assassination. It has made clear it will not allow any Syrian to be tried by a court it regards as an affront to its sovereignty.
Saniora pressed for a binding Security Council resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter after House Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hizbullah ally and a key opposition leader, refused to convene parliament to ratify the tribunal.
The opposition says the U.N. would use the court for political ends.
Speaking in his capacity as U.S. envoy, Khalilzad, who chairs the 15-member Security Council this month, told reporters Tuesday that it was "important to assist the Lebanese" in setting up the tribunal.
"We cannot let the Lebanese down. It's imperative that we move forward...for the long-term stability of Lebanon," he added.
Diplomats said the text would be sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, which along with Russia and China, are veto-wielding members of the Council.
The key question is whether Russia, an ally of Syria, would support such a draft.
Early this month, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned the Lebanese that they should not expect the Security Council to sort out every problem.
"The people of Lebanon cannot be looking to the Security Council to solve all their problems," he then said. "We feel there's still time for the parties in Lebanon to come to agreement on the special tribunal.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah Tuesday warned of "discord" if the U.N. imposes the tribunal.
"I warn the Security Council and the United Nations that international institutions should not be the means to sow divisions and discord," Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar told reporters.
Nothing new ehhhh??
"The United Nations will be held responsible for any Security Council resolution that pushes Lebanon into discord, and we warn against such a decision," he added.
Damascus denies any links with the assassination. It has made clear it will not allow any Syrian to be tried by a court it regards as an affront to its sovereignty.
- 2007 / 5 / 16
In response to a request from Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the United States said it planned to circulate a draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council this week to establish an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
"We expect to introduce a resolution before the end of this week," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters on Tuesday.
Saniora on Monday sent a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon asking him "as a matter of urgency to put before the Security Council our request that the special tribunal be put into effect."
Saniora's government has been locked in a bitter feud with its pro-Syrian opposition over implementing an agreement with the U.N. to set up the court to prosecute suspects in Hariri's murder and related crimes.
Hariri and 22 other people were killed in a massive bomb blast in February 2005, widely blamed on Syria, which was then forced to end nearly 30 years of military and political domination in Lebanon.
Damascus denies any links with the assassination. It has made clear it will not allow any Syrian to be tried by a court it regards as an affront to its sovereignty.
Saniora pressed for a binding Security Council resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter after House Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hizbullah ally and a key opposition leader, refused to convene parliament to ratify the tribunal.
The opposition says the U.N. would use the court for political ends.
Speaking in his capacity as U.S. envoy, Khalilzad, who chairs the 15-member Security Council this month, told reporters Tuesday that it was "important to assist the Lebanese" in setting up the tribunal.
"We cannot let the Lebanese down. It's imperative that we move forward...for the long-term stability of Lebanon," he added.
Diplomats said the text would be sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, which along with Russia and China, are veto-wielding members of the Council.
The key question is whether Russia, an ally of Syria, would support such a draft.
Early this month, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned the Lebanese that they should not expect the Security Council to sort out every problem.
"The people of Lebanon cannot be looking to the Security Council to solve all their problems," he then said. "We feel there's still time for the parties in Lebanon to come to agreement on the special tribunal.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah Tuesday warned of "discord" if the U.N. imposes the tribunal.
"I warn the Security Council and the United Nations that international institutions should not be the means to sow divisions and discord," Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar told reporters.
Nothing new ehhhh??"The United Nations will be held responsible for any Security Council resolution that pushes Lebanon into discord, and we warn against such a decision," he added.
Damascus denies any links with the assassination. It has made clear it will not allow any Syrian to be tried by a court it regards as an affront to its sovereignty.
Always good to see both sides of the story at least..............
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah: the resistance is ready to retaliate to any Israeli aggression in a much stronger way than during the last war.
In an interview with the "Qalam Rasas" program on the Dubai satellite channel, Hezbollah Secretary General al-Sayyed Nasrallah tackled the situation in Lebanon, the results of the July war and the repercussions of the Winograd report over Israeli failures in this war. His eminence ridiculed Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz who has said in the past that Israel would push the Hezbollah north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah never left the area south of the river. "I laughed when I heard Peretz saying 'We will prevent Hezbollah from returning south of the Litani River.' Did we ever leave this area?" al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked. He said that the people there defend their own villages on the border with occupied Palestine or south of the Litani River.
He added that Israel erred when it believed that its mighty air force would be able to halt daily rocket attacks on northern Israel. "Israel's assumption was that the air force would be able to annihilate the resistance within 5-6 days ahead of a diplomatic initiative between the US and others in the region," he said.
"Israel's disrespect and arrogance in Lebanon lead to its defeat … by the willingness and wisdom of the resistance," he added.
He also said that if Israel attacked Lebanon, the resistance will defend the country despite the presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon. "When I said Hezbollah possesses more than 12 thousand missiles and then I said that we have more than 20 thousand rockets, this means that maybe we have 30 thousand or 80 thousand rockets or maybe more," his eminence said.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked if the Arab peace initiative is the proper response to Israel's defeat in Lebanon. "Does the timing of putting forth the initiative again serve Arab interests?" The Hezbollah chief said the Arabs should take advantage of the victory achieved in Lebanon, not run to the enemy as if it was the powerful and they were the weak. al-Sayyed Nasrallah criticized some Arabs for reproaching the Palestinians and Hezbollah for capturing Israeli soldiers. He asked them how they can keep silent when there are more than 10 thousand Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli jails, they forgot about.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah: the resistance is ready to retaliate to any Israeli aggression in a much stronger way than during the last war.
In an interview with the "Qalam Rasas" program on the Dubai satellite channel, Hezbollah Secretary General al-Sayyed Nasrallah tackled the situation in Lebanon, the results of the July war and the repercussions of the Winograd report over Israeli failures in this war. His eminence ridiculed Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz who has said in the past that Israel would push the Hezbollah north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah never left the area south of the river. "I laughed when I heard Peretz saying 'We will prevent Hezbollah from returning south of the Litani River.' Did we ever leave this area?" al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked. He said that the people there defend their own villages on the border with occupied Palestine or south of the Litani River.
He added that Israel erred when it believed that its mighty air force would be able to halt daily rocket attacks on northern Israel. "Israel's assumption was that the air force would be able to annihilate the resistance within 5-6 days ahead of a diplomatic initiative between the US and others in the region," he said.
"Israel's disrespect and arrogance in Lebanon lead to its defeat … by the willingness and wisdom of the resistance," he added.
He also said that if Israel attacked Lebanon, the resistance will defend the country despite the presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon. "When I said Hezbollah possesses more than 12 thousand missiles and then I said that we have more than 20 thousand rockets, this means that maybe we have 30 thousand or 80 thousand rockets or maybe more," his eminence said.
Al-Sayyed Nasrallah asked if the Arab peace initiative is the proper response to Israel's defeat in Lebanon. "Does the timing of putting forth the initiative again serve Arab interests?" The Hezbollah chief said the Arabs should take advantage of the victory achieved in Lebanon, not run to the enemy as if it was the powerful and they were the weak. al-Sayyed Nasrallah criticized some Arabs for reproaching the Palestinians and Hezbollah for capturing Israeli soldiers. He asked them how they can keep silent when there are more than 10 thousand Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli jails, they forgot about.
We should probably add this title....
".....people wonder why Lebanese are against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and against Syrian regime"
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Battles Rage Between Lebanese Army, Fatah al-Islam in North Lebanon...
The Lebanese army engaged in deadly fighting with Fatah al-Islam militants in the northern port city of Tripoli and the adjacent Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared Sunday, officials said.
11 Lebanese soldiers and 16 Fatah al-Islam militants were killed in the fierce fighting, which involved tank and grenade fire, Internal Security Forces chief Gen. Ashraf Rifi told Agence France Presse.
LBCI TV station said seven gunmen were also killed when Lebanese soldiers launched an assault at noon on Abdo building in Tripoli's Miatain street where the militants were hiding. It said a fighter was arrested during the clashes.
The fighting between army troops surrounding the camp and gunmen from the terrorist group began at dawn after a gunbattle raged in a Tripoli neighborhood.
Witnesses said Fatah al-Islam militants seized Lebanese army positions at the entrance to the camp. They also opened fire on roads leading to the city and ambushed a military unit, the security officials said.
The army brought reinforcements and was firing on Fatah al-Islam positions. Black and white smoke billowed from the camp.
LBCI said more than 17 injured people, including children, were trapped inside the camp.
In Beirut, legislator Saad Hariri issued an appeal for calm and called for the population of Tripoli to cooperate with the Lebanese army.
Premier Fouad Saniora described the assault on the army as a crime against national stability and the spiritual leader of the Sunnis in Lebanon Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani urged the Lebanese not to get involved in the attempt to sow civil strife.
The northern city was shuttered and roads were deserted. Scores of troops armed with automatic rifles and rocket launchers had taken positions on city streets and the army was bringing reinforcements from other regions with 10 armored vehicles headed to Tripoli from the south.
The clashes in Nahr al-Bared started shortly after police raided a militant-occupied apartment in Tripoli. The police were looking for suspects in a bank robbery a day earlier in Amioun in which gunmen made off with $125,000 in cash.
A security source told Naharnet on Saturday that the escape car of four gunmen, who had robbed the Mediterranean Bank branch, has been identified as one of the vehicles used by Fatah al-Islam.
The source noted that members of the group had robbed two banks in Tripoli and the southern coastal village of Gaziyeh earlier this year to finance terrorist attacks in Lebanon.
It was the worst fighting in Lebanon's second-largest city in more than two decades, security officials.
At one point, TV footage showed an army helicopter pursuing a militant vehicle in north Lebanon's Balamand area. LBCI said the region was completely deserted.
In April, a Lebanese soldier was killed in a shootout with Fatah al-Islam gunmen at the edge of Nahr al-Bared, a camp of 30,000 refugees.
Police had also arrested a number of Fatah al-Islam members in connection with the twin bus bombings in the town of Ein Alaq on Feb. 13 which killed and wounded at least 20 people.
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I want to salut our Lebanese Army, and may the soldiers that were shot today to RIP.
All Lebanese leaders did back-up the Lebanese Army for what they've done today morning except for Hezbollah. nothing new eh??
".....people wonder why Lebanese are against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and against Syrian regime"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battles Rage Between Lebanese Army, Fatah al-Islam in North Lebanon...
The Lebanese army engaged in deadly fighting with Fatah al-Islam militants in the northern port city of Tripoli and the adjacent Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared Sunday, officials said.
11 Lebanese soldiers and 16 Fatah al-Islam militants were killed in the fierce fighting, which involved tank and grenade fire, Internal Security Forces chief Gen. Ashraf Rifi told Agence France Presse.
LBCI TV station said seven gunmen were also killed when Lebanese soldiers launched an assault at noon on Abdo building in Tripoli's Miatain street where the militants were hiding. It said a fighter was arrested during the clashes.
The fighting between army troops surrounding the camp and gunmen from the terrorist group began at dawn after a gunbattle raged in a Tripoli neighborhood.
Witnesses said Fatah al-Islam militants seized Lebanese army positions at the entrance to the camp. They also opened fire on roads leading to the city and ambushed a military unit, the security officials said.
The army brought reinforcements and was firing on Fatah al-Islam positions. Black and white smoke billowed from the camp.
LBCI said more than 17 injured people, including children, were trapped inside the camp.
In Beirut, legislator Saad Hariri issued an appeal for calm and called for the population of Tripoli to cooperate with the Lebanese army.
Premier Fouad Saniora described the assault on the army as a crime against national stability and the spiritual leader of the Sunnis in Lebanon Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani urged the Lebanese not to get involved in the attempt to sow civil strife.
The northern city was shuttered and roads were deserted. Scores of troops armed with automatic rifles and rocket launchers had taken positions on city streets and the army was bringing reinforcements from other regions with 10 armored vehicles headed to Tripoli from the south.
The clashes in Nahr al-Bared started shortly after police raided a militant-occupied apartment in Tripoli. The police were looking for suspects in a bank robbery a day earlier in Amioun in which gunmen made off with $125,000 in cash.
A security source told Naharnet on Saturday that the escape car of four gunmen, who had robbed the Mediterranean Bank branch, has been identified as one of the vehicles used by Fatah al-Islam.
The source noted that members of the group had robbed two banks in Tripoli and the southern coastal village of Gaziyeh earlier this year to finance terrorist attacks in Lebanon.
It was the worst fighting in Lebanon's second-largest city in more than two decades, security officials.
At one point, TV footage showed an army helicopter pursuing a militant vehicle in north Lebanon's Balamand area. LBCI said the region was completely deserted.
In April, a Lebanese soldier was killed in a shootout with Fatah al-Islam gunmen at the edge of Nahr al-Bared, a camp of 30,000 refugees.
Police had also arrested a number of Fatah al-Islam members in connection with the twin bus bombings in the town of Ein Alaq on Feb. 13 which killed and wounded at least 20 people.
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I want to salut our Lebanese Army, and may the soldiers that were shot today to RIP.
All Lebanese leaders did back-up the Lebanese Army for what they've done today morning except for Hezbollah. nothing new eh??
Aoun is just being part of the Political game in Lebanon, he is doing all these to become president, I don't think he had much options left that's why he is on Hezobllah's side.
you agree with this or not, but this is how it goes with politicians, he is no Syria lover, nor Hezbollah's. I still remember from the live conferences he did from france at our university, how he was against all these. Yeah he didn't change 180 degrees, he is just playing his own game to gain power, if he chose the other side nothing would be changed anyway, same things would happen except him being less "popular"..
Junblat is no different than him, he goes with the wind wherever it takes him.
you agree with this or not, but this is how it goes with politicians, he is no Syria lover, nor Hezbollah's. I still remember from the live conferences he did from france at our university, how he was against all these. Yeah he didn't change 180 degrees, he is just playing his own game to gain power, if he chose the other side nothing would be changed anyway, same things would happen except him being less "popular"..
Junblat is no different than him, he goes with the wind wherever it takes him.
