2 weeks ago
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Ode to Mar Kahraba
While the entire world is scurrying and running about trying to come up with ideas for alternative sources of energy, the Lebanese Government is still unable to provide its citizens with continuous power even using traditional resources (oil and gas).
The electricity problem in Lebanon is a historic one, with its file being handled for a long time by some of the most corrupt parties to set foot in Lebanese Governance. Stories I heard in my early years of fuel trucks driving into Electricite du Liban and leaving without unloading a single drop of oil still resonate in my head. One would have thought the vicious cycle would break with the new reformist Minister, Alain Tabourian, but so far, this does not seem to be the case. He is a member of the Tashnaq party, a Harvard graduate, and a Board Member in several companies in the industrial and technical sectors, but thats exactly why a lot is expected.
One of the main reasons of energy waste in Lebanon is the age of the plants and equipment used in the processes. Recently, Minister Tabourian proposed the purchase of 12 new motors that work on heavy oil and could easily be transferred to natural gas when available in the future. Apparently, these motors will consume half of what we are consuming now in Lebanon (24% of the country budget). The motors will undoubtedly improve the electricity supply, but given their high cost, are they Lebanon's best investment at a time when the whole world is changing trends?
Two main issues are still being completely disregarded in our energy policy: reducing consumption, and promoting alternative energy.
Ojeil Jean-Paul of the Lebanese Green Party sent in a proposal to Minister Tabourian explaining a simple procedure he is currently trying to apply with a few of his colleagues in Montreal. In his letter Jean Paul argues that by changing the types of light bulbs used at home, a Lebanese house can reduce 80% of its energy consumption.
"80% of the residential light bulbs are incandescent lamps of (40W, 60W or 100W). We must pass a rule, banning these lamps like Canada did, and replace them with the self ballasted fluorescent lamps (9 W, 13W or 18 W). The Lebanese people will save 80% of their consumption of electricity."
He explains that this must follow strict regulations from the Government with regards to lights used.
"There are 250 000 cobra heads in Lebanon (street lights) that consume 180W each. Road lighting in Lebanon is sniffing 250 000 X 170W = 42500Kw of power per hour for 8 hours a night. Replacing the magnetic ballast in street lights by an electronic ballast with a consumption of 155W instead of 170W, will save 15W per light for a total of 3750KW per hour.
We can replace the high pressure sodium by LED street light, i.e. the 170W by a 40W LED chips, thereby saving 130W per street light for a total of 32500KW per hour.
There are now 3500 traffic lights running on conventional 100W incandescent lamps for a total consumption of 350kw. We must replace them with an 8W LED signal light approved by CLATRAN or CE or UL/CSA thereby saving 32.2KW.
The life of an incandescent lamp is 300 hours, and that of high pressure sodium is 15 000 hours, while that of the LED chip is more than 50 000 hours."
Another major electricity expense for the Lebanese house is that of heating. I've been in situations in Lebanon where I had to choose between the Water Heater and the A/C or the fridge and today that should never be the case in a country that gets as much sun light as Lebanon. In recent years, Solar Water Heaters have shown a significant growth in Lebanese markets, but the Government has yet to make a visible step to inform people and encourage them to switch to this highly sustainable and reliable heating source. The heaters cost less than 2000 $, and some countries have even subsidized their purchase and installation costs to encourage people to "reform and change" their ways.
With regards to alternative energy, Lebanon MUST pursue wind power and that is our only scientifically available hope for an Energy independent Lebanon. European countries like the Netherlands and Germany have targets of 40% as the percentage of power they want supplied through wind by the year 2020.
The current price per KWh of wind power is less than 4 cents. Lebanon should have no problem raising these funds from donors who are directly or indirectly known for encouraging alternative energy projects, and those are numerous! To produce 300 MW (20% of Lebanon's demand) from wind farms is a very realistic goal if given a political, and public will. The Government needs to break EDL monopoly over electricity, and open up the electric grid for entrepreneurs willing to take on this kind of venture.
Not that I am anti-tourism or anything, but why do all of Lebanon's big projects need to be Cedar Islands, Sannine Zenniths, and Downtown Beiruts? Both Sannine, and off-shore Damour are perfect wind farm locations with wind speeds reaching relatively high levels.
It is in fact very sad to see that not a single Lebanese party has raised this issue.
In that respect, down with Eight and Fourteen, and ode to the Green.
Sources:
Status and Potential of Renewable Energy Technologies in Lebanon and the Region (Green Line Association)
Green Party Rep letter to Tabourian (Green Party Lebanon)
Wind Energy in Lebanon: A win win proposition (Ya Libnan)
The electricity problem in Lebanon is a historic one, with its file being handled for a long time by some of the most corrupt parties to set foot in Lebanese Governance. Stories I heard in my early years of fuel trucks driving into Electricite du Liban and leaving without unloading a single drop of oil still resonate in my head. One would have thought the vicious cycle would break with the new reformist Minister, Alain Tabourian, but so far, this does not seem to be the case. He is a member of the Tashnaq party, a Harvard graduate, and a Board Member in several companies in the industrial and technical sectors, but thats exactly why a lot is expected.
One of the main reasons of energy waste in Lebanon is the age of the plants and equipment used in the processes. Recently, Minister Tabourian proposed the purchase of 12 new motors that work on heavy oil and could easily be transferred to natural gas when available in the future. Apparently, these motors will consume half of what we are consuming now in Lebanon (24% of the country budget). The motors will undoubtedly improve the electricity supply, but given their high cost, are they Lebanon's best investment at a time when the whole world is changing trends?
Two main issues are still being completely disregarded in our energy policy: reducing consumption, and promoting alternative energy.
Ojeil Jean-Paul of the Lebanese Green Party sent in a proposal to Minister Tabourian explaining a simple procedure he is currently trying to apply with a few of his colleagues in Montreal. In his letter Jean Paul argues that by changing the types of light bulbs used at home, a Lebanese house can reduce 80% of its energy consumption.
"80% of the residential light bulbs are incandescent lamps of (40W, 60W or 100W). We must pass a rule, banning these lamps like Canada did, and replace them with the self ballasted fluorescent lamps (9 W, 13W or 18 W). The Lebanese people will save 80% of their consumption of electricity."
He explains that this must follow strict regulations from the Government with regards to lights used.
"There are 250 000 cobra heads in Lebanon (street lights) that consume 180W each. Road lighting in Lebanon is sniffing 250 000 X 170W = 42500Kw of power per hour for 8 hours a night. Replacing the magnetic ballast in street lights by an electronic ballast with a consumption of 155W instead of 170W, will save 15W per light for a total of 3750KW per hour.
We can replace the high pressure sodium by LED street light, i.e. the 170W by a 40W LED chips, thereby saving 130W per street light for a total of 32500KW per hour.
There are now 3500 traffic lights running on conventional 100W incandescent lamps for a total consumption of 350kw. We must replace them with an 8W LED signal light approved by CLATRAN or CE or UL/CSA thereby saving 32.2KW.
The life of an incandescent lamp is 300 hours, and that of high pressure sodium is 15 000 hours, while that of the LED chip is more than 50 000 hours."
Another major electricity expense for the Lebanese house is that of heating. I've been in situations in Lebanon where I had to choose between the Water Heater and the A/C or the fridge and today that should never be the case in a country that gets as much sun light as Lebanon. In recent years, Solar Water Heaters have shown a significant growth in Lebanese markets, but the Government has yet to make a visible step to inform people and encourage them to switch to this highly sustainable and reliable heating source. The heaters cost less than 2000 $, and some countries have even subsidized their purchase and installation costs to encourage people to "reform and change" their ways.
With regards to alternative energy, Lebanon MUST pursue wind power and that is our only scientifically available hope for an Energy independent Lebanon. European countries like the Netherlands and Germany have targets of 40% as the percentage of power they want supplied through wind by the year 2020.
The current price per KWh of wind power is less than 4 cents. Lebanon should have no problem raising these funds from donors who are directly or indirectly known for encouraging alternative energy projects, and those are numerous! To produce 300 MW (20% of Lebanon's demand) from wind farms is a very realistic goal if given a political, and public will. The Government needs to break EDL monopoly over electricity, and open up the electric grid for entrepreneurs willing to take on this kind of venture.
Not that I am anti-tourism or anything, but why do all of Lebanon's big projects need to be Cedar Islands, Sannine Zenniths, and Downtown Beiruts? Both Sannine, and off-shore Damour are perfect wind farm locations with wind speeds reaching relatively high levels.
It is in fact very sad to see that not a single Lebanese party has raised this issue.
In that respect, down with Eight and Fourteen, and ode to the Green.
Sources:
Status and Potential of Renewable Energy Technologies in Lebanon and the Region (Green Line Association)
Green Party Rep letter to Tabourian (Green Party Lebanon)
Wind Energy in Lebanon: A win win proposition (Ya Libnan)
Monday, February 23, 2009
And the terror continues...
MP Walid Jumblat insisted Sunday that the "page has been turned" on the May 7 confrontations.
Dear Sir, the page may have been turned for you after the beating inflicted by your militiamen on Hezbollah when they attempted to attack the mountain, but for the rest of Lebanon, May 7 has been a continuous process that did not start on that day, nor did it end with the Doha agreement. It marks the day Hezbollah's hegemony over Lebanon solidified, and until you rid us of that hegemony, you are in no position to tell us May 7 is over.
Although the Council for the South or an organization in its place is necessary for the Southerners, it has become an Amal organization infested with Nabeeh's corrupt thugs. Reform is needed on all levels, and so is money for the South. "We have never succumbed to intimidation or extortion and we will not succumb now," Saniora vowed. But you have succumbed to blackmail and intimidation my dear Prime Minister; our leaders had done so on May 7, and now we are paying the price of setting that precedence.
How can May 7 be over when just this morning Annahar reported the assault on a First Lieutenant, Tarek al-Zein, in the Dahye area by a group of Hezbollah militia men related to the party's Head of Security in Borj al Brajneh? Al-Zein was arrested by the militia men, and his car was hammered with bullets and confiscated, so were his weapon and cell phone, and those of his driver.
How can May 7 be over when again today in Khiam, a Hezbollah stronghold, and maybe for the 15th time in the past 12 months a vehicle belonging to a member of the Lebanese Option Gathering, the only ray of light in the South and Ahmad el Assaad's party, was burnt down to ashes?
How can May 7 be over when the same blackmail and extortion methods that preceded it are still going on? For the 5th time Berri re-iterated his certainty that a National Unity Government will be produced after the Parliamentary elections. Sleiman Batrak Franjieh, went even further and labeled anyone who refuses to participate in the post-elections government "an accomplice in crime".
How can May 7 be over when "coincidentally", the day Netanyahu was named as Prime Minister of Israel, and while he was re-explaining to the public why Iran is Israel's main threat and enemy, two Katyusha rockets are fired into Israel from Southern Lebanon?
How?
All of this took place only over the weekend, and yet some leaders within the majority have the nerve to tell us May 7 is over.
Dear Sir, the page may have been turned for you after the beating inflicted by your militiamen on Hezbollah when they attempted to attack the mountain, but for the rest of Lebanon, May 7 has been a continuous process that did not start on that day, nor did it end with the Doha agreement. It marks the day Hezbollah's hegemony over Lebanon solidified, and until you rid us of that hegemony, you are in no position to tell us May 7 is over.
Although the Council for the South or an organization in its place is necessary for the Southerners, it has become an Amal organization infested with Nabeeh's corrupt thugs. Reform is needed on all levels, and so is money for the South. "We have never succumbed to intimidation or extortion and we will not succumb now," Saniora vowed. But you have succumbed to blackmail and intimidation my dear Prime Minister; our leaders had done so on May 7, and now we are paying the price of setting that precedence.
How can May 7 be over when just this morning Annahar reported the assault on a First Lieutenant, Tarek al-Zein, in the Dahye area by a group of Hezbollah militia men related to the party's Head of Security in Borj al Brajneh? Al-Zein was arrested by the militia men, and his car was hammered with bullets and confiscated, so were his weapon and cell phone, and those of his driver.
How can May 7 be over when again today in Khiam, a Hezbollah stronghold, and maybe for the 15th time in the past 12 months a vehicle belonging to a member of the Lebanese Option Gathering, the only ray of light in the South and Ahmad el Assaad's party, was burnt down to ashes?
How can May 7 be over when the same blackmail and extortion methods that preceded it are still going on? For the 5th time Berri re-iterated his certainty that a National Unity Government will be produced after the Parliamentary elections. Sleiman Batrak Franjieh, went even further and labeled anyone who refuses to participate in the post-elections government "an accomplice in crime".
How can May 7 be over when "coincidentally", the day Netanyahu was named as Prime Minister of Israel, and while he was re-explaining to the public why Iran is Israel's main threat and enemy, two Katyusha rockets are fired into Israel from Southern Lebanon?
How?
All of this took place only over the weekend, and yet some leaders within the majority have the nerve to tell us May 7 is over.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Elections 2009: Why are they in jeopardy?
News in the week following the Martyrs Square rally in Beirut commemorating PM Rafik Hariri, have given rise to fears within certain Lebanese circles that different sides may be trying to meddle with the June 2009 elections.
Despite my optimism that the different Lebanese parties genuinely want the elections to happen as a census on their respective sizes, the reviews and news have instilled skepticism in my heart. Both parties seem to be convinced that they will win the elections and that's what keeps me hopeful, but below is my list of obstacles that could prevent the elections from taking place.
I:
An Israeli soldier has reportedly gone missing near the Lebanese border while doing physical exercise. This raises a very important question: what are Hezbollah's promised plans for avenging Imad Moghnieh's death and what will the consequences be on Lebanon? Could Hezbollah be willing to use such an attack as a pretext to postpone the elections or gather further support from Southern or Leftist communities.
II:
Late Thursday evening, unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade at a Lebanese Forces office in the town of Kfour in Keserwan. Hours later, two grenades were also found near the Phalange party's bureau in Dbayeh. This comes only 5 days after another Lebanese Forces office in Sen el Fil was also targeted by a hand grenade. In reaction to the attacks, Samir Geagea claimed it was "an attempt to drag the Lebanese Forces, its friends and allies into specific reactions,", yet he refused to directly point any fingers.
III:
It has only been a week since the separate attacks on March 14 supporters took place in different areas of Lebanon as they were returning to their homes from the Hariri rally. Lutfi Zeineddin, a PSP member, was stabbed to death in the attacks. Arguably, these acts are not intentional and are similar to the separate attacks by certain March 14 supporters during the opposition close-to-two-year protest. The difference is, back then, the incidents occurring on both sides culminated into an organized and orchestrated attack by opposition militiamen on Beirut and Mount Lebanon which led to the death of 82 people and the Doha Agreement which granted the opposition temporary veto power. Opposition members still take pride in the events of May 7 2008 till this day. So far March 14 supporters have been smart enough to show no retaliation, and they, luckily, do not have the capabilities of inflicting a May 7 style vengeance on the opposition.
IV:
It is being reported on Al-Siyassah and some Lebanese blogs that the recent attacks on Middle East Airlines employees are related to the International Tribunal. This past week, Joseph Sader, an MEA IT Department executive was kidnapped and pilot Ghassan Miqdad was found shot-dead in Ouzai. Hezbollah-related news outlets such as Ad-Diyar are suggesting that Sader was an Israeli spy who was handed over to the Lebanese army, a claim the military command has denied. Many stories are surfacing about the attacks, but what is certain is that they occured in an area dominated by Hezbollah's internal security and the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese Airport Security. This also raises the question a lot of Lebanese have been avoiding since the Hariri assassination. It is the scenario that cannot be spoken off, and possibly the Lebanese peoples' worst nightmare. Hezbollah's possible involvement in the Hariri assassination would open the gates of hell on Lebanon as it could almost inevitably lead to the Lebanese people fighting it out, again.
V:
Netanyahu was named as Israel's new Prime Minister, while the supposedly less extremist Tsipi Livni will refuse to join a Likud-run Government, and a Zionist fanatic, Lieberman, has high chances of securing a Government seat. This could set an all-time low for peace-making in Israel. Netanyahu has repeatedly said during his campaign, and today after his nomination, that one of his main goals is to curb Iran's threat, whether its coming from the latter's nuclear program, or its "proxies" in Lebanon and Palestine. Considering the 1996 experience with Netanyahu, the Lebanese need to be very cautious of the possible intentions of the man. Another attempt to militarily uproot Hezbollah could have very catastrophic repercussions on Lebanon. The Obama administration will try to avoid this at all costs, which could lead to an attempt to make sure a Hezbollah-dominated Lebanon is off the table. Lebanon is set to become a member in the Security Council in a few months, and if the West feels the risk of a Hezbollah victory is too high, they may find an interest in sabotaging the elections to avoid a scenario similar to Gaza.
VI:
In other news, the ICG reported that the Palestinian situation in Lebanon is a ticking time bomb. This brings to light another factor that could again be used to instigate strife in Lebanon ahead of the elections. Other than being a settlement for one of the poorest, most rights-denied communities in the Middle East, the Palestinian camps are a starting point that could be used by many different sides to pose a threat to Lebanon's stability. The military bases of pro-Syrian Palestinian parties outside the camps can pose a main threat, especially if they feel that March 14 is going to push for their disarmament after the elections, as per the 2006 Dialogue Decisions. The division between Hamas and Fateh is growing and PLO Representative in Lebanon Sultan Abul Aineyn was very blunt about it in his press conference two weeks ago; the chances of a confrontation spilling out in Lebanon are not impossible. Another gateway for chaos could be terrorist groups similar to the Fateh el Islam gang, whether they were operating under Syrian instructions or Saudi funding.
VII:
The visions for the future of Lebanon are conflicting in every possible way. The current opposition is fiercely holding on to a Unity Government even after the elections, while the majority is vehemently rejecting the notion. The current bickering in the Government proves how much of a failure the Veto power formula is. After taking about year to agree on a President, two years to agree on the formula of the Government, another three months to agree on the specific ministers in the Government, it has now taken 7 months, and the Government's budget is yet to be agreed upon. I see it very unlikely that the opposition is willing to give up that power, regardless of the price it has to pay.
Despite my optimism that the different Lebanese parties genuinely want the elections to happen as a census on their respective sizes, the reviews and news have instilled skepticism in my heart. Both parties seem to be convinced that they will win the elections and that's what keeps me hopeful, but below is my list of obstacles that could prevent the elections from taking place.
I:
An Israeli soldier has reportedly gone missing near the Lebanese border while doing physical exercise. This raises a very important question: what are Hezbollah's promised plans for avenging Imad Moghnieh's death and what will the consequences be on Lebanon? Could Hezbollah be willing to use such an attack as a pretext to postpone the elections or gather further support from Southern or Leftist communities.
II:
Late Thursday evening, unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade at a Lebanese Forces office in the town of Kfour in Keserwan. Hours later, two grenades were also found near the Phalange party's bureau in Dbayeh. This comes only 5 days after another Lebanese Forces office in Sen el Fil was also targeted by a hand grenade. In reaction to the attacks, Samir Geagea claimed it was "an attempt to drag the Lebanese Forces, its friends and allies into specific reactions,", yet he refused to directly point any fingers.
III:
It has only been a week since the separate attacks on March 14 supporters took place in different areas of Lebanon as they were returning to their homes from the Hariri rally. Lutfi Zeineddin, a PSP member, was stabbed to death in the attacks. Arguably, these acts are not intentional and are similar to the separate attacks by certain March 14 supporters during the opposition close-to-two-year protest. The difference is, back then, the incidents occurring on both sides culminated into an organized and orchestrated attack by opposition militiamen on Beirut and Mount Lebanon which led to the death of 82 people and the Doha Agreement which granted the opposition temporary veto power. Opposition members still take pride in the events of May 7 2008 till this day. So far March 14 supporters have been smart enough to show no retaliation, and they, luckily, do not have the capabilities of inflicting a May 7 style vengeance on the opposition.
IV:
It is being reported on Al-Siyassah and some Lebanese blogs that the recent attacks on Middle East Airlines employees are related to the International Tribunal. This past week, Joseph Sader, an MEA IT Department executive was kidnapped and pilot Ghassan Miqdad was found shot-dead in Ouzai. Hezbollah-related news outlets such as Ad-Diyar are suggesting that Sader was an Israeli spy who was handed over to the Lebanese army, a claim the military command has denied. Many stories are surfacing about the attacks, but what is certain is that they occured in an area dominated by Hezbollah's internal security and the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese Airport Security. This also raises the question a lot of Lebanese have been avoiding since the Hariri assassination. It is the scenario that cannot be spoken off, and possibly the Lebanese peoples' worst nightmare. Hezbollah's possible involvement in the Hariri assassination would open the gates of hell on Lebanon as it could almost inevitably lead to the Lebanese people fighting it out, again.
V:
Netanyahu was named as Israel's new Prime Minister, while the supposedly less extremist Tsipi Livni will refuse to join a Likud-run Government, and a Zionist fanatic, Lieberman, has high chances of securing a Government seat. This could set an all-time low for peace-making in Israel. Netanyahu has repeatedly said during his campaign, and today after his nomination, that one of his main goals is to curb Iran's threat, whether its coming from the latter's nuclear program, or its "proxies" in Lebanon and Palestine. Considering the 1996 experience with Netanyahu, the Lebanese need to be very cautious of the possible intentions of the man. Another attempt to militarily uproot Hezbollah could have very catastrophic repercussions on Lebanon. The Obama administration will try to avoid this at all costs, which could lead to an attempt to make sure a Hezbollah-dominated Lebanon is off the table. Lebanon is set to become a member in the Security Council in a few months, and if the West feels the risk of a Hezbollah victory is too high, they may find an interest in sabotaging the elections to avoid a scenario similar to Gaza.
VI:
In other news, the ICG reported that the Palestinian situation in Lebanon is a ticking time bomb. This brings to light another factor that could again be used to instigate strife in Lebanon ahead of the elections. Other than being a settlement for one of the poorest, most rights-denied communities in the Middle East, the Palestinian camps are a starting point that could be used by many different sides to pose a threat to Lebanon's stability. The military bases of pro-Syrian Palestinian parties outside the camps can pose a main threat, especially if they feel that March 14 is going to push for their disarmament after the elections, as per the 2006 Dialogue Decisions. The division between Hamas and Fateh is growing and PLO Representative in Lebanon Sultan Abul Aineyn was very blunt about it in his press conference two weeks ago; the chances of a confrontation spilling out in Lebanon are not impossible. Another gateway for chaos could be terrorist groups similar to the Fateh el Islam gang, whether they were operating under Syrian instructions or Saudi funding.
VII:
The visions for the future of Lebanon are conflicting in every possible way. The current opposition is fiercely holding on to a Unity Government even after the elections, while the majority is vehemently rejecting the notion. The current bickering in the Government proves how much of a failure the Veto power formula is. After taking about year to agree on a President, two years to agree on the formula of the Government, another three months to agree on the specific ministers in the Government, it has now taken 7 months, and the Government's budget is yet to be agreed upon. I see it very unlikely that the opposition is willing to give up that power, regardless of the price it has to pay.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Hezbollah/Amal - Ep 1: Feb 17 2009
Veto Power vs. Majority Rule
The past few weeks have shown a deep rift between the intentions of the different sides of the Lebanese political system for the post-2009 elections period. While March 14 leaders such as Saad Hariri have emphasized that they "Won't Take Part in New Government if March 8 Wins Elections", March 8 politicians have emphasized the opposite. After Nabeeh Berri and a bunch of his party members stressed the need for a "national unity government" after the elections, that would grant the resulting minority a similar power sharing structure to the one that resulted from the Doha Accord, Hassan Nasrallah of the Party of God came out with a similar statement.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Monday offered the March 14 alliance a veto powered share in the forthcoming cabinet if his March 8 coalition won the parliamentary elections.
"If they rejected it, we would rule with a national approach," he told a crowd marking the first anniversary of Imad Mughniyeh's killing by a car bomb explosion in Damascus.
Nasrallah went further and explained that pre-Doha Lebanon was ruled by one sect, that "Lebanon cannot be ruled like Switzerland", and that any ruling team would have to include members of all the different confession based parties. What the Lebanese need to decide is whether they want a democracy similar to the democracies of the civilized world, or a tribal country run by agreements between Abu Janzir, Abu Kerbaj, and Abu Saroukh.
In the same speech, Nasrallah declared that Rafik Hariri was a great man, and that his memory should be an event "that brings all the Lebanese together as one", but "unfortunately this is not the case". He does not say why this is not the case. For those of you who forgot, it was Nasrallah himself who called for the miserable March 8 demonstration which thanked those who are perceived by the majority of the Lebanese and the world as the killers of the late Hariri.
Between a confession based democracy that sets the way to secularism through professionals such as Ziad Baroud, and tribal dictatorships that are trying to set veto power as a basis for Lebanese political life through crooks like Nabeeh Berri, the choice is yours.
The past few weeks have shown a deep rift between the intentions of the different sides of the Lebanese political system for the post-2009 elections period. While March 14 leaders such as Saad Hariri have emphasized that they "Won't Take Part in New Government if March 8 Wins Elections", March 8 politicians have emphasized the opposite. After Nabeeh Berri and a bunch of his party members stressed the need for a "national unity government" after the elections, that would grant the resulting minority a similar power sharing structure to the one that resulted from the Doha Accord, Hassan Nasrallah of the Party of God came out with a similar statement.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Monday offered the March 14 alliance a veto powered share in the forthcoming cabinet if his March 8 coalition won the parliamentary elections.
"If they rejected it, we would rule with a national approach," he told a crowd marking the first anniversary of Imad Mughniyeh's killing by a car bomb explosion in Damascus.
Nasrallah went further and explained that pre-Doha Lebanon was ruled by one sect, that "Lebanon cannot be ruled like Switzerland", and that any ruling team would have to include members of all the different confession based parties. What the Lebanese need to decide is whether they want a democracy similar to the democracies of the civilized world, or a tribal country run by agreements between Abu Janzir, Abu Kerbaj, and Abu Saroukh.
In the same speech, Nasrallah declared that Rafik Hariri was a great man, and that his memory should be an event "that brings all the Lebanese together as one", but "unfortunately this is not the case". He does not say why this is not the case. For those of you who forgot, it was Nasrallah himself who called for the miserable March 8 demonstration which thanked those who are perceived by the majority of the Lebanese and the world as the killers of the late Hariri.
Between a confession based democracy that sets the way to secularism through professionals such as Ziad Baroud, and tribal dictatorships that are trying to set veto power as a basis for Lebanese political life through crooks like Nabeeh Berri, the choice is yours.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Free Patriotic Movement - Ep.1: Feb 16 2009:
Two Day Elections
"My experience tells me the elections cannot be held in one day. Our MPs and ministers should ask the interior and defense ministers to guarantee that," Aoun said.
Of course General Aoun's experience in elections is extremely valuable. Between trusting the opinion of the Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform and other Election and Law professionals, which set one day elections as a main condition for fairness, and taking that of a retired Army General who only participated in one parliamentary election in his entire life, the choice is yours.
"My experience tells me the elections cannot be held in one day. Our MPs and ministers should ask the interior and defense ministers to guarantee that," Aoun said.
Of course General Aoun's experience in elections is extremely valuable. Between trusting the opinion of the Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform and other Election and Law professionals, which set one day elections as a main condition for fairness, and taking that of a retired Army General who only participated in one parliamentary election in his entire life, the choice is yours.
"Aoun was referring to the death of one person and the wounding of 30 others in serial attacks by March 8 partisans against people who took part in the Martyrs Square mass rally marking the fourth anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination.
"Those who join caravans should be polite and should refrain from provoking citizens in residential districts," Aoun added."
Those who join caravans should refrain from provoking citizens in residential districts. Where were those words during the continuous blockade on Downtown Beirut, the protests, the strike, and the burning tires that went on from December 2006 to May 2008? Between the reaction which called for constraint in the aftermath of the killing of a Government loyalist after the Feb 14 2009 rally, and the angry speeches in the aftermath of a similar event in the period of the opposition protest -Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's infamous "We will no longer be killed in the streets" in his justification of the May 7 2008 attacks- the choice is yours.
Meanwhile....
Addressing Sfeir, Abu Jamra said: "Leave politics for politicians."
Although Abu Jamra's statement is true and must be applied, but not on his terms. Cut the hypocrisy. The first religious cleric that would have to resign from politics (or religion-whichever he feels is more important) would be Mr. Abu Jamra's main ally and backer. The same man, after being shown on a comic television show, sent his hooligans to trash and looter the LBCI buildings (on the grounds that he is a man of religion) must specify: is he a Sayyed or a politician? Between those who play their roles to the best of their abilities, and those who want to play every role available and then penalize people for voicing their criticisms, the choice is yours.
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