Iran’s Ballot Not Bullet Victory in Lebanon

The Iranian revolution that started in 1978, has claimed its first democratic victory in 2016. The upcoming presidency in Lebanon. Iran has engaged in a destructive war with Saddam’s Iraq, and waged numerous paramilitary operations in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and few covert missions in Kuwait, Saudi, Bahrain and as far away as Eastern Europe and Latin America. But never did it claim a territory except through bullets. Lebanon fell without one being fired, and the country will be consecrated an Iranian dominion through the ballot box, in the upcoming presidential elections on October 31.

The sole assured candidate in such election is former General Michel Aoun, a Christian Maronite whose allegiance is dictated by expedience. He was an ally of Bashir El Gemayel, the late Maverick president of Lebanon, and a foe of his brother Amine, another president. He was both a sworn enemy and now an avowed partner of Samir Geagea, another of Lebanon’s Christian warlords-turned-politician. He was at war with Syria under Hafez Al Assad and a partner of Syria under Bashar Al Assad. He was a patriotic Lebanese Army officer and now a staunch supporter of Hezbollah who controls a large paramilitary force outside the boundaries of any legitimate army. He is the perfect candidate for Iran, and for today’s Lebanon too.

Today’s Lebanon has been domesticated, not to use another word with same phonetics, by Iran via Hezbollah. The power of terror is too much to fathom and too great to bear by most of the political establishment in Lebanon. Politicians from cross-the-board would rather settle old scores, trump rivals, accept lucrative ministerial posts to fill-in their pockets with graft money, than defend the principles of the republic. Whilst, to justify it all, each gives extended lectures in patriotism and nationalism.

Under the pretense of unifying the Christian voice, Geagea has supported the candidacy of Aoun. In truth, he is only vying to inherit the political legacy of Aoun who is 83 years old. Geagea wants to claim dominion onto the Maronite flock hoping to preempt other Christian political clans, or families as we and the FBI call the mob, from dividing up such legacy. There is no much patriotism in this calculation though it has loads of opportunism and short-termism. Long gone are the days when Geagea vowed to fight illegitimate armed groups on Lebanon’s territory from the PLO in 1975, to the Syrian occupying army in 1978, to Hezbollah since the 1980s. All this is swept aside, and meticulously hidden in the forgotten objects’ basket, for the convenience of gaining, maybe, more sectarian power and provincial authority. A petty calculation.

Under the pretense of preserving the economy and averting a downfall of Lebanon’s financial, real estate and commercial edifices, Saad Hariri, the son of a former Prime Minister assassinated by Syria and Iran, gave his support to Aoun’s candidacy. In truth, he is bankrupt both personally and politically. A promise of being named Prime Minister in the new regime is his only hope to regain both personal and political fortunes. A young man with tons of energy but not one ounce of charisma, Hariri has been oscillating in the wind since Saudi Arabia’s young Princes have taken a different approach to his patronage of the Sunnis in Lebanon. Rejected by his patrons in Saudi, upstaged by some of his former supporters in Lebanon, and hounded by creditors everywhere, Hariri found in Aoun’s candidacy the salvation for his survival. Long gone are the days where Hariri’ slogans for freedom, truth, justice and a strong State resonated in all of his political rallies, TV and radio campaigns, and national agenda. Another pettier calculation.

The 14th of March Movement was the name bestowed upon circa 1 million people who in 2005 descended on Beirut’s main square, and forced through mass demonstrations the exit of Syria’s army from Lebanon. Ending a 30 years of Syrian military occupation took one million free and unbri...

The Iranian revolution that started in 1978, has claimed its first democratic victory in 2016. The upcoming presidency in Lebanon. Iran has engaged in a destructive war with Saddam’s Iraq, and waged numerous paramilitary operations in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and few covert missions in Kuwait, Saudi, Bahrain and as far away as Eastern Europe and Latin America. But never did it claim a territory except through bullets. Lebanon fell without one being fired, and the country will be consecrated an Iranian dominion through the ballot box, in the upcoming presidential elections on October 31.

The sole assured candidate in such election is former General Michel Aoun, a Christian Maronite whose allegiance is dictated by expedience. He was an ally of Bashir El Gemayel, the late Maverick president of Lebanon, and a foe of his brother Amine, another president. He was both a sworn enemy and now an avowed partner of Samir Geagea, another of Lebanon’s Christian warlords-turned-politician. He was at war with Syria under Hafez Al Assad and a partner of Syria under Bashar Al Assad. He was a patriotic Lebanese Army officer and now a staunch supporter of Hezbollah who controls a large paramilitary force outside the boundaries of any legitimate army. He is the perfect candidate for Iran, and for today’s Lebanon too.

Today’s Lebanon has been domesticated, not to use another word with same phonetics, by Iran via Hezbollah. The power of terror is too much to fathom and too great to bear by most of the political establishment in Lebanon. Politicians from cross-the-board would rather settle old scores, trump rivals, accept lucrative ministerial posts to fill-in their pockets with graft money, than defend the principles of the republic. Whilst, to justify it all, each gives extended lectures in patriotism and nationalism.

Under the pretense of unifying the Christian voice, Geagea has supported the candidacy of Aoun. In truth, he is only vying to inherit the political legacy of Aoun who is 83 years old. Geagea wants to claim dominion onto the Maronite flock hoping to preempt other Christian political clans, or families as we and the FBI call the mob, from dividing up such legacy. There is no much patriotism in this calculation though it has loads of opportunism and short-termism. Long gone are the days when Geagea vowed to fight illegitimate armed groups on Lebanon’s territory from the PLO in 1975, to the Syrian occupying army in 1978, to Hezbollah since the 1980s. All this is swept aside, and meticulously hidden in the forgotten objects’ basket, for the convenience of gaining, maybe, more sectarian power and provincial authority. A petty calculation.

Under the pretense of preserving the economy and averting a downfall of Lebanon’s financial, real estate and commercial edifices, Saad Hariri, the son of a former Prime Minister assassinated by Syria and Iran, gave his support to Aoun’s candidacy. In truth, he is bankrupt both personally and politically. A promise of being named Prime Minister in the new regime is his only hope to regain both personal and political fortunes. A young man with tons of energy but not one ounce of charisma, Hariri has been oscillating in the wind since Saudi Arabia’s young Princes have taken a different approach to his patronage of the Sunnis in Lebanon. Rejected by his patrons in Saudi, upstaged by some of his former supporters in Lebanon, and hounded by creditors everywhere, Hariri found in Aoun’s candidacy the salvation for his survival. Long gone are the days where Hariri’ slogans for freedom, truth, justice and a strong State resonated in all of his political rallies, TV and radio campaigns, and national agenda. Another pettier calculation.

The 14th of March Movement was the name bestowed upon circa 1 million people who in 2005 descended on Beirut’s main square, and forced through mass demonstrations the exit of Syria’s army from Lebanon. Ending a 30 years of Syrian military occupation took one million free and unbridled protesters from all confessions and political boards.

Would freeing Lebanon from Iran’s unarmed occupation take few decades more and few millions? Only patriots can answer this question, but they seem to have shrunk or even vanished in the tumult of fears, rivalries and land-grabbing politics that Lebanon has descended into.