Lebanon: Christian leader slams Hizbullah

Christian leader Samir Geagea defied Hizbullah and its supporters to prove loyalty for Lebanon before demanding a change in government, insisting that allegiance to Syria would not achieve national unity.

In a massive rally that featured tens of thousands of Christians, Geagea said it was impossible for any Lebanese faction "to act unilaterally and demand a national unity government. They have to first accept national unity and then demand a government of national unity," Geagea said at the rally in the Kisrwan stronghold of Harissa.

The rally came two days after Hizbullah held a massive demonstration in Beirut attended by hundreds of thousands to celebrate its victory in the latest war with Israel.

Geagea sent a strong warning to Hizbullah that its refusal to disarm was the main cause of recent divisions in Lebanon, reminiscent of the splits that caused the 1975 civil war. "The nation shall rise only when we find a solution to the weapons … there can not be a state competing with a statelet," he said, according to Naharnet.

He asked "are we still in need of resistance? No, we need to champion a political resistance, a resistance that relies on intellect not missiles and unity not schism…."

Indirectly referring to Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speech on Friday, Geagea said "Before demanding a national unity government they must work to achieve national unity," Geagea said. "They can not take pride in relations with Syria and at the same time claim allegiance to Lebanon."
source: Al Bawaba

Nasrallah The Republic's Guide and Aoun the Understander

 

The Republic's Guide (and Understander Aoun) Hazem Saghieh     Al-Hayat     - 18/09/06//

The Lebanese resumption of bickering (but more intense than it was before the war) presents new and dangerous facts. One of these facts is that 'fighting Israel' is no longer a rupture in history or a currency that can be exchanged in all markets. One should not expect that because he 'fights Israel' his rivals will overlook what they see as his mistakes or flaws. His supporters are only using 'fighting Israel' as a new argument for their support for him.
 
On the other hand, this means that the rift between the Lebanese can by no means be concealed by the so-called 'national Cause'. However, it also means that the case in question, and because it was frequently misused, has lost its sanctity and is no longer sufficient to install its symbol as an impeccable leader of all the Lebanese.
 
This was evident in the fact that many Lebanese believe the war brought nothing but havoc and destruction. After the war, many among them have grown more cautious and fearful that sectarian relations are edging closer toward eruption. It goes without saying that this contradicts the simple theoretical assumption that 'fighting Israel' unites everyone. This also requires extraordinary wisdom and an end to using the language of incitement and mobilization, as well as, of course, the need to keep the means of violence exclusively in the hands of the state. Continuing to have some people armed and some unarmed could be more dangerous than any time before.
 
Hezbollah, however, acts like one who sells a Syrian currency outside Syrian borders, unmindful that this currency cannot be exchanged beyond Qamishly. He believes the lie of 'national cause', and then he demands others to treat him accordingly. He wants them to honor him with the title of the infallible leader of all Lebanese, simply because he had 'fought Israel '.
 
This was at least suggested in the recent TV interview with Hassan Nasrallah, in which he insulted every one who have the least sense of personal dignity or those who have just caught the scent of freedom and democracy from afar.
 
The Hezbollah Secretary General decides intemperately and arrogantly what is permissible and what is not. He distributes medals based on his classification of people into supporters and traitors. He put an end to periods of tolerance and began a new one where he gives certificates and awards as though he is the 'Guide' (murshid) of the, until now, sinful Lebanese Republic. As for his spokesmen, they tear a strip off their critics, setting an example of their eloquent understanding of politics and the relation with the 'other'.
 
There is no doubt that Nasrallah found, and finds, several applauders, just as he found an 'understander' (not an ally!), such as Michel Aoun, who strengthens his belief of being the Republic's Supreme Leader. There is also no doubt that the pretext of 'fighting Israel' is still deceiving those who fell for it in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982 - and that they will continue to fall for it until Judgment Day.
 
But all the Lebanese are not of low intelligence, as shown by understander Michel Aoun. And, of course, they are not all aspirants to imaginary presidency, which is up for grabs at any price, as is the case with understander Aoun.
 
The Lebanese in their short history have seen many politicians whose supporters elevated them to the rank of prophets while their rivals continued their criticism-turned-slander campaigns. This is applicable to Fouad Chehab, Kamal Jumblatt, Moussa al-Sadr, Bachir Gemayel and Rafiq Hariri, who bore more than a sarcastic TV show.
 
It is also applicable to Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ayatollah Khomeini, and others who understood that the history of this country does not start from scratch and cannot be made by a false founder.
 
The characteristic of the current Republic, which was founded on freedom and was a safe haven for persecuted fugitives from dictatorial and semi-totalitarian regimes, is that it is a Republic without a 'Guide', and when it does appoint one, it will no longer be the Lebanese Republic.

President Bush Slams Hizbullah, Says he Will Make Sure 'Terrorists Have No Place' in Lebanon

U.S. President George Bush has said he and his allies are going to make sure that "terrorists" do not have a place in a "democratic" Lebanon, adding that the world faces a grave threat from Hizbullah-backer Iran.

After lauding troop contributions by France, Italy and other countries for the beefed up U.N. peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, Bush said "together, we're going to make it clear to the world that foreign forces and terrorists have no place in a free and democratic Lebanon."

"This summer's crisis in Lebanon has made it clearer than ever that the world now faces a grave threat from the radical regime in Iran. The Iranian regime arms, funds, and advises Hizbullah, which has killed more Americans than any terrorist network except al-Qaida," Bush said in a speech at the American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday.

"We know the death and suffering that Iran's sponsorship of terrorists has brought, and we can imagine how much worse it would be if Iran were allowed to acquire nuclear weapons," Bush said.

He described those who join Hizbullah as radicalized followers of the Shiite tradition.

"The enemies of liberty come from different parts of the world...Some are radicalized followers of the Sunni tradition, who swear allegiance to terrorist organizations like al-Qaida. Others are radicalized followers of the Shiite tradition, who join groups like Hizbullah and take guidance from state sponsors like Syria and Iran."

He recalled the massive demonstrations against Syrian tutelage that followed ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination last year, saying the "courageous people of Lebanon" took to the streets and drove Syrian troops out of the country.

"The Syrians withdrew their armed forces, and the Lebanese people elected a democratic government that began to reclaim their country."

But he said Hizbullah's July 12 cross-border raid came as a result of an attempt by the "enemies" of the United States to undermine Premier Saniora's government.

"Our enemies saw the transformation in Lebanon and set out to destabilize the young democracy. Hizbullah launched an unprovoked attack on Israel that undermined the democratic government in Beirut."

Bush said, however, that the world united in support for the country's democracy and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played an important role in passing the truce resolution that ended fighting between Israel and Hizbullah on August 14.

"Rice worked with the Security Council to pass Resolution 1701, which will strengthen Lebanese forces as they take control of southern Lebanon -- and stop Hizbullah from acting as a state within a state."

Bush's address to the American Legion convention was the first in a series of Iraq speeches by the U.S. president.

He cited risks in quitting Iraq and said "the security of the civilized world depends on victory in the war on terror, and that depends on victory in Iraq."

He also said that the war against Islamic militants was like the fight against Nazis and communists and that a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to that nation's conquest by America's worst enemies.

Source: Naharnet