Monday, January 08, 2007
Between Michel `Awn and Hizbullah: there is no question that `Awn is much more intelligent in his reading of the Lebanese political situation. Hizbullah (especially in that recent speech by deputy secretary-general, Na`im Qasim) still naively and foolishly assumes that Hariri Inc is "neutral" and that mini-Hariri can be distanced from Ja`ja` (pronounced Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent) and Jumblat. `Awn on the other hand knows that the Hariri dynasty (and what it represents in terms of external political and financial links) is at the center of the ruling group. I also like that `Awn does not refrain--unlike Hizbullah--from criticizing Rafiq Hariri himself.