Friday, February 10, 2006

Al-Amn Al-Markazi. How did the Hariri camp deal with the state after its parliamentary victory? Well, given its history of sectarian agitation and mobilization, it did not feel that it can rely on state institutions. So the Hariri camp simply established a separate (Hariri staffed) Sunni intelligence service within the Security Forces, called Al-Amn Al-Markazi (Central Intelligence). Also, Ad-Diyar has reported Sunni-Shi`ite frictions in the Lebanese armed forces. I am told that the percentage of Shi`ites in the Lebanese army (the volunteers) is well above 50%.