Lebanon’s Silence of the Lambs

Lebanon’s newly elected President has made, when speaking to an Egyptian TV channel last week, the most explicit statements in support of Hezbollah as a surrogate army of Lebanon. The President, being the supreme commander of the armed forces, said that Lebanon’s army was weak and not ready to confront the threats posed (ISIS and Israel). Thus, Hezbollah has been officially anointed as the parallel army of the country as is already the case with the Revolutionary Guards in Iran and the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq. Such statements from Gen. Aoun, a President in his first 100 days in office, were not surprising one bit. Gen. Aoun has entered into a protocol with Hezbollah in 2006, pursuant to which he would give Hezbollah political cover and Hezbollah would provide him with political muscle. The cover that Hezbollah needed was against the 14th of March movement, a coalition of Christian and Muslim leaders opposed to the “Axis of Evil” represented by Iran and Syria. That movement was aligned with the more moderate Arab countries, and, by definition, closer to the US and EU. By having Gen. Aoun –a Christian Maronite- as an ally, Hezbollah has optically deflected the attention from a fierce Sunni-Shia rivalry, without relenting the pressure. In exchange, Gen. Aoun received all the support he could dream of from his newly found ally. Votes in the parliamentary elections that occurred in mixed districts (where Shia voters hold sway), ministerial posts, and the boycott of the presidential elections. The electoral boycott went on for more than two years till Gen. Aoun, as a sole candidate, was accepted albeit coercively, by all other components of Lebanon’s political establishment. As noted earlier, trading favors between allies (irrespective of the rhyme or reason for such an alliance) is a natural course of action.

What was surprising in the aftermath of the fiery statements of the President of the Republic –in which he praised a mono-religious paramilitary group and demeaned the country’s multi-religious army- was the silence of the lambs. Almost all of the political leaders of the former 14th of March movement, their baritones and even their allied media outlets went mum, and still are basking in a gaze of speechless stupor. For more than a decade said politicians made it their chief business to proclaim the sovereignty of the country, above all else, and the monopoly of force in the hands of the government, at the exclusion of all. The price paid by the March 14 Movement was steep. The assassinations of PM Hariri, of Minister Fleihan, of MP, Minister and Christian leader Pierre Gemayel, of MP and journalist Gibran Tueini, of journalist Samir Kassir, and the list is long and bloodied.

But what a difference a 100 days make. At present, the politicos of such a defunct movement are in government, secured in cushy positions and assured of seats at the upcoming parliamentary elections, whilst the government concocts a law that is based on super-gerrymandering. The manipulation of political boundaries of districts and provinces in Lebanon is ongoing, publicly, unashamedly and in a manner where parties are confident of the upcoming results. Apart from ‘political bribes’ the politicos of the erstwhile nationalist movement have also been –allegedly- basking in the spoils of the public coffers including, but not limited to, the division of proceeds from future gas revenues, after the government hastily enacted decrees for gas exploration.

What would a politician ask for more? Government positions, parliamentary seats, and financial rewards (they hate the word bribe or graft), whilst only giving in exchange national sovereignty, personal integrity and political consistency. Whether Iran or Syria or Hezbollah take over the defenses of Lebanon, what could a mere politician do, except to clap and walk away from his or her responsibilities and let the devil take the hind most.

Voltaire once said: “Politics is a means for unscrupulo...

Lebanon’s newly elected President has made, when speaking to an Egyptian TV channel last week, the most explicit statements in support of Hezbollah as a surrogate army of Lebanon. The President, being the supreme commander of the armed forces, said that Lebanon’s army was weak and not ready to confront the threats posed (ISIS and Israel). Thus, Hezbollah has been officially anointed as the parallel army of the country as is already the case with the Revolutionary Guards in Iran and the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq. Such statements from Gen. Aoun, a President in his first 100 days in office, were not surprising one bit. Gen. Aoun has entered into a protocol with Hezbollah in 2006, pursuant to which he would give Hezbollah political cover and Hezbollah would provide him with political muscle. The cover that Hezbollah needed was against the 14th of March movement, a coalition of Christian and Muslim leaders opposed to the “Axis of Evil” represented by Iran and Syria. That movement was aligned with the more moderate Arab countries, and, by definition, closer to the US and EU. By having Gen. Aoun –a Christian Maronite- as an ally, Hezbollah has optically deflected the attention from a fierce Sunni-Shia rivalry, without relenting the pressure. In exchange, Gen. Aoun received all the support he could dream of from his newly found ally. Votes in the parliamentary elections that occurred in mixed districts (where Shia voters hold sway), ministerial posts, and the boycott of the presidential elections. The electoral boycott went on for more than two years till Gen. Aoun, as a sole candidate, was accepted albeit coercively, by all other components of Lebanon’s political establishment. As noted earlier, trading favors between allies (irrespective of the rhyme or reason for such an alliance) is a natural course of action.

What was surprising in the aftermath of the fiery statements of the President of the Republic –in which he praised a mono-religious paramilitary group and demeaned the country’s multi-religious army- was the silence of the lambs. Almost all of the political leaders of the former 14th of March movement, their baritones and even their allied media outlets went mum, and still are basking in a gaze of speechless stupor. For more than a decade said politicians made it their chief business to proclaim the sovereignty of the country, above all else, and the monopoly of force in the hands of the government, at the exclusion of all. The price paid by the March 14 Movement was steep. The assassinations of PM Hariri, of Minister Fleihan, of MP, Minister and Christian leader Pierre Gemayel, of MP and journalist Gibran Tueini, of journalist Samir Kassir, and the list is long and bloodied.

But what a difference a 100 days make. At present, the politicos of such a defunct movement are in government, secured in cushy positions and assured of seats at the upcoming parliamentary elections, whilst the government concocts a law that is based on super-gerrymandering. The manipulation of political boundaries of districts and provinces in Lebanon is ongoing, publicly, unashamedly and in a manner where parties are confident of the upcoming results. Apart from ‘political bribes’ the politicos of the erstwhile nationalist movement have also been –allegedly- basking in the spoils of the public coffers including, but not limited to, the division of proceeds from future gas revenues, after the government hastily enacted decrees for gas exploration.

What would a politician ask for more? Government positions, parliamentary seats, and financial rewards (they hate the word bribe or graft), whilst only giving in exchange national sovereignty, personal integrity and political consistency. Whether Iran or Syria or Hezbollah take over the defenses of Lebanon, what could a mere politician do, except to clap and walk away from his or her responsibilities and let the devil take the hind most.

Voltaire once said: “Politics is a means for unscrupulous people to govern people with short memories”

Thankfully, Lebanon’s nationalists are not all politicians, and not all of Lebanon’s politicians are nationalists. One only hopes that the fight for Lebanon’s sovereignty and true independence will continue but with different combatants and leaders. A lamb is docile, gentile, meek and when scared it often suppresses its plaintive, drawn-out noise. Hardly a quality for leadership even without scruples, or over people with short memories. A good riddance, indeed.