Wednesday, December 14, 2005
"They are not Lebanese." A caller to the Future (Hariri) TV, railed against Shi`ites and Shi`ites deputies. She finally blurted out: "They are not Lebanese." To his credit, the host, `Ali Hamadi, said: "No. They are all Lebanese." (I take this opportunity to offer `Ali (he is the uncle of Jubran Tuwayni) my condolences.) But this was the texture of some of the speeches in the Lebanese parliament today. One deputy called for "their transfer" back to Syria. Hariri Inc supporters today can't understand why some people in Lebanon dare oppose Hariri Inc, and dare not join in the Hariri movement. Some speakers in the Lebanese parliament almost declared war on Damascus. This is not the first time; Amin Gemayyel declared war on Syria in 1983 and Gen. `Awn also declared war on Syria in the late 1080s. And these explosions in Lebanon are not only murderous but very sectarian: they target Christian personalities and economic enterprises in predominantly Christian areas. It is getting very confusing, even for me, somebody who follows Lebanese developments very closely. And why George Hawi, for example? And why Ilyas Al-Murr who was a pillar of he Syrian-Lebanese security order? That made things more confusing unless he was being punished for his double delaings with the Hariri Inc. Certainly, some of the victims are influential in Lebanese public opinion making (May Shidyaq, Jubran Tuwayni, and Samir Qasir). But George Hawi was semi-retired, and continued to have ties with Syrian officials. I personally believe that there is a small group or organization formed and is operating in Lebanon; a Black April organization of sorts. An organization created to avenge the withdrawal of the Syrian troops from Lebanon. It could have been created by an element of the Syrian mukhabarat, or it could have been created by a loyal pro-Syrian group in Lebanon. The execution of the car bombing on Monday reveals a very high level of organization and (terrorist) efficiency and preparation. Do you know that Jubran Tuwayni (and his uncle `Ali Hamadi who returned with him from France) only informed one journalist of their return on Sunday night? Only one person. What makes it more alarming is that no trace and no clue and no fingerprints have been found; not in any of the murders and assassination attempts, the sketches of the Lebanese police notwithstanding. This is likely to continue; I don't see any end in sight.