The Lebanese political crisis!!! (6 Viewers)

[Rhizoid]

Congratz on the new president.

I really hope this will spell out a new era for Lebanon.

My friends/family back home told me Lebanese are buzzing with happiness and high morale all over the place. Everybody is happy, and looking forward to some fruitful changes.

Today will be his first day on the job (he was sworn in yesterday, and spent his first night in the presidential palace).

Many people are looking at this arrangement as someone biased towards the opposition (who are celebrating this like a “victory”) – they get the 1/3 plus one representation which allows them the power of veto for any policies/laws/legislations that would be passed.

The problem with this though, is that the opposition tend to bitch and disagree with just about everything and anything coming out of the mouths of someone from Future Movement, Leb Forces, PSP, Kataeb etc.

So despite this cooperation on paper, I’m afraid that these petty arguments will continue inside the parliament building. These guys just cannot see eye-to-eye.

Now Hezballah is at another critical junction. With a supposedly united Lebanon now, what’s next in line for their weapons? Well they simply are not going to give them up just like that? There’s many issues to be tackled regarding arms:

• All parties should disarm (including Hezballah)
• New strict legislations should be put into effect on qualifications/licenses that civilians must hold in order to own a gun
• A new military infrastructure must be rebuilt in order to accommodate Hezballah’s arms if/when they let go of them
• A Lebanese intelligence and law enforcement must be setup in order disarm normal civilians – the amount of guns which normal people have in Lebanon is f*cking scary…we can literally go to war in 5 minutes, peaceful houses can turn into fortresses and we’ve seen this numerous times!!

that's just the issue of arms...so much more, re: economy, unemployment, taxes, inflation.......that's the Prime Minister's role usually a rich guy with lot's of connections. Although Senioura doesn't want to take up the post again, he's the only candidate. THe other is Saad Hariri, whom I have mixed feelings about. He's not his father (RIP), he's not charismatic, he doesn't have that sense of leadership, and really I don't think he really thinks for himself as a leader. Like, what he says doesn't come naturally, you always feel it's so scripted.

His positives? - He has his father's connections/relations, he is powerful- financially, and he can go in the right direction IF the US stops trying to influence him and his supporters.

Anyway, I'm booking my ticket for July. Stripper - hoping you as well.

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Maher]

Congratz on the new president.

 

[Azzurri7]

The question should be, what will Hezbollah do when Syria and Israel sign a peace agreement soon?

Oh I think the answer is pretty easy....they're screwed.

 

[Marko]

That's why it was a horrible decision. It has been this way lately and I'm afraid we are changing this into a habit nowadays. And then elected?

There were no other choices. And it's not the first time to choose an army chief as a president.

Army chief as a president is a horrible decision anyway.

 

[Azzurri7]

Actually it was a wise decision. Electing an Army chief as a President ATM after the black days Lebanon passed through, is a good decision.

 

[Marko]

Actually it was a wise decision. Electing an Army chief as a President ATM after the black days Lebanon passed through, is a good decision.

Yes, I understand (more or less) your situation on Middle East when nations always have to be parabellum, but in some normal situation that decision won't be good.

 

[Azzurri7]

I am never with electing Army chief as a President. But sometimes the situation obliges you more or less.

Majority of the Army chief Presidents, never really impressed me.

 

[Maher]

The question should be, what will Hezbollah do when Syria and Israel sign a peace agreement soon?
Oh I think the answer is pretty easy....they're screwed.

they will not sign a peace agreement , this is just newspaper BS, since neither Syria and Israel want peace.

 

[Azzurri7]

Well, according to Syrian foreign Minister, things are moving way better and they both are welling to resolve their issues. You never know.

Assad would rather make a peace and remain in power for another decades, rather than taking him down and ending somewhere only god knows where.

 

[Maher]

Well, according to Syrian foreign Minister, things are moving way better and they both are welling to resolve their issues. You never know.

Assad would rather make a peace and remain in power for another decades, rather than taking him down and ending somewhere only god knows where.

but the question is syria must end its relations for iran for that peace , can they do that ?? i dont think so.

 

[Azzurri7]

Actually, the Syrian Iranian relatioship has been down since more than 1year now.

 

[Maher]

Actually, the Syrian Iranian relatioship has been down since more than 1year now.

from where did you get this info ??

 

[JCK]

Actually it was a wise decision. Electing an Army chief as a President ATM after the black days Lebanon passed through, is a good decision.

The black days will be over when the tents are removed from Downtown.

 

[Maher]

The black days will be over when the tents are removed from Downtown.

i think they are removed.

 

[Snoop]

Peace agreement between Israel and Syria is almost impossible to happen, I wish if it happens thou. Israel wants Syria to break his support with Iran and Hizbollah, which means betraying them, Syria will be the weakest country in the region if that happens, that's why it is not going to happen, unless Israel changes it's demands, which is also hard, they are not going to give up off Golan for nothing, when Syria isn't any threat for them..

 

[Azzurri7]

The black days will be over when the tents are removed from Downtown.

They were removed one week ago, when they had the agreement in Doha.

 

[JCK]

They were removed one week ago, when they had the agreement in Doha.

Did they clean their crap after them or is that up to the government?

 

[Azzurri7]

Did they clean their crap after them or is that up to the government?

They took everything with them, even their crap.

 

[rounder]

The funny thing is that Syria have just as much hate for Israel as Hezbollah does but they're too cowardly to actually go to war with them. They would rather supply Hezbollah with some arms and let them do the dirty work.

Anyway, we finally have a president so congrats to everybody and lets hope he stays away from the States and Syria although that is very difficult to imagine.
I think it was the right decision considering the alternatives. We'll just have to wait and see if he can do some good for this country.

 

[Azzurri7]

Suleiman: Inaugural address ranges far and wide

"I swear by Almighty God to observe the laws of the Lebanese nation and maintain the independence of Lebanon and its territorial integrity," President Michel Suleiman declared Sunday, taking an oath of office that ended a six-month presidential vacuum.

After calling for a moment of silence in honor of those who have died for Lebanon, Suleiman delivered his inaugural address, laying out the governing vision for the coming six years of his term.

Suleiman spoke of strengthening Lebanon's constitutional institutions, minimizing incendiary political rhetoric, preserving the rights of diaspora Lebanese and pursuing constructive and balanced relations with Syria.

"One of the more dangerous developments of the last few years has been the basing of political discourse on the rhetoric of treason," he said, underlining the political divisions that have paralyzed Lebanon since the summer war with Israel.

Suleiman stressed the importance of balanced development, which he described as "a pillar of state integrity," adding that this could be achieved through "more thorough administrative decentralization at all levels in addressing the social, economic and cultural imbalances" between various regions of the country.

"Emerging from our state of stagnation and stimulating the economic cycle requires security and political stability, as well as the state's encouragement of competitive production," added Suleiman. "

The president touched upon the rights of the diaspora, linking the issue to the controversial debate over citizenship in Lebanon, saying that "Lebanese abroad have more of a right to citizenship than others."

In discussing foreign policy, Suleiman expressed his belief that Lebanon should "respect all United Nations decisions" and stressed the importance of following through with "the international tribunal pertaining to the assassination of [former Prime Minister] Rafik Hariri."

The manner in which the Hariri tribunal is pursued remains a controversial issue, and much of the dispute has to do with the country's role in the region and its relations with its neighbors. Suleiman tackled these issues in his speech, steering the careful course that marked his tenure as Lebanese Armed Forces commander.

The new president said a strong defense strategy is "necessitated by Israeli aggression," calling for a composed dialogue aimed at creating such a strategy, which he said should "utilize the capabilities of the resistance."

Suleiman added that Lebanese-Syrian relations should be "brotherly," with mutual respect for the "boundaries of each sovereign country."

Suleiman also argued that "the Palestinian struggle cannot be used as a pretext" for terrorism and that "the gun should never be aimed inward, but should always point toward our enemies."

President Suleiman, coming to office amid a long-running political stalemate in Lebanon and on the tail of deadly clashes between feuding rival parties, also noted that the Lebanese "have paid a high price for this unity ... Let us strive to preserve it."

World leaders welcome Lebanese election

WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush led the international community on Sunday in hailing the election of Michel Suleiman as Lebanon's new president as a first step in reuniting the divided nation.

"I am confident that Lebanon has chosen a leader committed to protecting its sovereignty, extending the government's authority over all of Lebanon, and upholding Lebanon's international obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions," Bush said.

"We look forward to working with president Suleiman in pursuit of our common values of freedom and independence."

Suleiman, Lebanon's army chief for the past 10 years, was sworn in on Sunday after a parliamentary vote that many hope will turn the page on an 18-month political feud that threatened to plunge the nation back into civil war.

The vote was held just days after the government and the opposition agreed to a deal after talks in Doha to end the political crisis. Bush said he was "hopeful that the Doha agreement, which paved the way for this election, will usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese."

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the election was "an important step forward for Lebanon" and pledged his government's support for the new president.

"We will continue to support Lebanon's stability, integrity and independence, and we look forward to president Suleiman working with a unity government to bring Lebanon out of its current fragility," he said in a statement.

German President Horst Koehler said he welcomed "this bold step" toward resolving Lebanon's political crisis and wished Suleiman luck in his new role. "I wish you lots of success, the necessary strength and good luck for the big challenges that lie ahead of you," he said in a statement.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged full support for Suleiman and said he hoped the election would allow Lebanon to take a significant step forward and "confront the challenges that await." His Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner applauded Suleiman as "courageous" in calling for the UN tribunal being set up to try suspects the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to continue its work.

He applauded Suleiman's election but said he had hoped it would have gone more smoothly adding he preferred "democracy without weapons," in reference to the gun battles which gripped the country in the run-up to the vote.

Jordan's King Abdullah II said the vote was a "positive step for the people of Lebanon and for national unity," according to a statement from the royal palace. "Jordan stands alongside the Lebanese in their desire and their efforts to preserve their independence and their stability," he said.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI congratulated Suleiman. "Thanks to your wisdom, your skills and human qualities, you are going to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly people of Lebanon in strengthening national unity," he said.