""Response to Fatfat's response: sincerity in political speech and action"
As'ad Abu Khalil, professor of political science at the University of California, wrote in the independent pro-opposition newspaper Al Akhbar on October 2: "I would have liked my response to come the same way as the one issued by the Lebanese minister of youth and sports Ahmad Fatfat [in response] to my column: i.e. through a media office, but I have none. The minister says that I have never met him, which is correct and I claim no such honour but I didn't understand what he meant by this: is it an indirect invitation to have a cup of tea with him? Then is it a must to meet him before I can criticize him? Who said that the critic has to meet a person before criticizing him? But his statement that I don't know his attitudes or opinions is untrue. His television interviews and appearances are numerous…
"Shall we start with your attitude towards the resistance? Do you remember when you said: "the resistance is the only path towards regaining stolen rights" (Al-Mustaqbal, 27th of December, 2004,p.4), so what has happened since then for you to start talking about the benefits of "civilizational struggle"? Didn't you insist on knowing the fate of Yehya Skaff (one of the Lebanese detainees in Israel) (Al-Mustaqbal, 7th of February, 2004, p.3)? What is this sincerity which changes with the change in the identity of the foreign custodian over the country? What has happened? Was Skaff freed without us knowing about it? Were the Shab'a Farms, Kfarshouba hills, and Al-Ghajar village liberated thanks to the Lebanese Prime Minister Fu'ad Al-Sanyurah's diplomacy and tears?
"Or do you want me to refresh your memory about what you used to say concerning the American war in Iraq? Do you remember when you applauded the "operations of the Iraqi resistance against the forces of the American-British occupation?" (Asharq Al Awsat, 7th of June, 2003)? Did you repeat those words in your latest visit to Washington? Or did you change after the Syrian army left Lebanon? Did you [use] similar words when you met with Martin Indyk in the Saban center?... Did you forget that you were the one who said that "American diplomacy imported on the back of tanks and missiles will not be able to break the will of the people who will win in the end?" (Al-Mustaqbal, 5th of April, 2003, p.16). Didn't you consider back then that the Syrian attitude "expresses clearly and candidly the opinion of most of the Arabs and their emotions"?
"And you talk to me about principles? As for your attitude towards the Syrian regime, didn't you go too far in fabricating heroics? Would you please stop insulting our memories and our intelligence, O minister of Physical Athletics? Didn't you say that "cooperating with Syria is a strategic choice"? (Asharq Al Awsat, 13th of May, 2001). Didn't you, Ahmad Fatfat, call for "becoming strong allies of our sister Syria" against the "American attack"? (Al-Mustaqbal, 28th of August, 2004, p.4). That was back in 2004, minister. Will you claim that back then you were ignorant of the nature of the Syrian regime and of the actions of the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon? Or are you one of those who claim that on the 14th of March, a heavy veil was removed from their eyes that prevented them from seeing the truth for years?
"Did you forget that you attended at Tal-Abbas the "Third anniversary of the death of the Syrian president Hafiz Al-Assad"? (Asharq Al Awsat, 9th of June, 2003). Did you forget your applauding of the "stability enjoyed by Syria" in 2004 (Al-Mustaqbal, 29th of April, p.3). and you [talk] to me about sincerity, O minister? You talk about your fight against Syrian custodianship in 2000? Do you think that I was a babe in arms back then? Didn't you yourself attend the "conference for solidarity with Syria against the statements issued by General Michel Aoun in the American Congress"? Do you remember the sign in the conference calling for prosecuting Aoun for capital treason? Didn't the statement of the participants, including yourself, call for revoking his Lebanese nationality for his attacks on Syria?(Asharq Al Awsat, 26th of September, 2003)…
"The minister challenges me to give one example about a sectarian attitude of his. I will give him more than one. I will start with his infamous interview with the reporter of the "Los Angeles Times" Megan Stack. I mention Stack's name to show the minister that I know the details of the interview in which the minister spoke with the utmost sectarianism and then denied his words in the Arabic media but let us remind the readers that the "Los Angeles Times" has yet to receive a denial by him or a request for a correction. You ask for examples of your sectarianism when you're a member of the Future movement which competed against Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi in his ugly sectarian agitation!
"Weren't you a member of the Future movement's electoral list in the elections of the north, which brought Lebanese elections to an all time low with all the sectarian and religious mobilization and incitement, and you ask me for examples?... Concerning the issue of the Marjayoun Barracks (in which Lebanese security forces subordinated to the interior ministry surrendered to the Israelis without a fight and offered them tea while Fatfat was interior minister during the July 2006 war), I am surprised by your audacity in mentioning this issue. Aren't you insulting our intelligence when you support your position by using a report issued by your own ministry?
"Are you kidding, minister? Do you want us to trust an investigation issued by the ministry of interior under you?... This is where corruption in Lebanon has taken us with each ministry punishing itself… Let me tell you, minister Fatfat, that credibility and sincerity "can't be bought". Maybe your friends in the Al-Hariri movement can remind you [it should be you should remind your comrades in the Hariri movement] that there are some things and some people that can't be bought. Then remind them of that while they are shopping for people during the electoral season." - Al Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon"
"Shall we start with your attitude towards the resistance? Do you remember when you said: "the resistance is the only path towards regaining stolen rights" (Al-Mustaqbal, 27th of December, 2004,p.4), so what has happened since then for you to start talking about the benefits of "civilizational struggle"? Didn't you insist on knowing the fate of Yehya Skaff (one of the Lebanese detainees in Israel) (Al-Mustaqbal, 7th of February, 2004, p.3)? What is this sincerity which changes with the change in the identity of the foreign custodian over the country? What has happened? Was Skaff freed without us knowing about it? Were the Shab'a Farms, Kfarshouba hills, and Al-Ghajar village liberated thanks to the Lebanese Prime Minister Fu'ad Al-Sanyurah's diplomacy and tears?
"Or do you want me to refresh your memory about what you used to say concerning the American war in Iraq? Do you remember when you applauded the "operations of the Iraqi resistance against the forces of the American-British occupation?" (Asharq Al Awsat, 7th of June, 2003)? Did you repeat those words in your latest visit to Washington? Or did you change after the Syrian army left Lebanon? Did you [use] similar words when you met with Martin Indyk in the Saban center?... Did you forget that you were the one who said that "American diplomacy imported on the back of tanks and missiles will not be able to break the will of the people who will win in the end?" (Al-Mustaqbal, 5th of April, 2003, p.16). Didn't you consider back then that the Syrian attitude "expresses clearly and candidly the opinion of most of the Arabs and their emotions"?
"And you talk to me about principles? As for your attitude towards the Syrian regime, didn't you go too far in fabricating heroics? Would you please stop insulting our memories and our intelligence, O minister of Physical Athletics? Didn't you say that "cooperating with Syria is a strategic choice"? (Asharq Al Awsat, 13th of May, 2001). Didn't you, Ahmad Fatfat, call for "becoming strong allies of our sister Syria" against the "American attack"? (Al-Mustaqbal, 28th of August, 2004, p.4). That was back in 2004, minister. Will you claim that back then you were ignorant of the nature of the Syrian regime and of the actions of the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon? Or are you one of those who claim that on the 14th of March, a heavy veil was removed from their eyes that prevented them from seeing the truth for years?
"Did you forget that you attended at Tal-Abbas the "Third anniversary of the death of the Syrian president Hafiz Al-Assad"? (Asharq Al Awsat, 9th of June, 2003). Did you forget your applauding of the "stability enjoyed by Syria" in 2004 (Al-Mustaqbal, 29th of April, p.3). and you [talk] to me about sincerity, O minister? You talk about your fight against Syrian custodianship in 2000? Do you think that I was a babe in arms back then? Didn't you yourself attend the "conference for solidarity with Syria against the statements issued by General Michel Aoun in the American Congress"? Do you remember the sign in the conference calling for prosecuting Aoun for capital treason? Didn't the statement of the participants, including yourself, call for revoking his Lebanese nationality for his attacks on Syria?(Asharq Al Awsat, 26th of September, 2003)…
"The minister challenges me to give one example about a sectarian attitude of his. I will give him more than one. I will start with his infamous interview with the reporter of the "Los Angeles Times" Megan Stack. I mention Stack's name to show the minister that I know the details of the interview in which the minister spoke with the utmost sectarianism and then denied his words in the Arabic media but let us remind the readers that the "Los Angeles Times" has yet to receive a denial by him or a request for a correction. You ask for examples of your sectarianism when you're a member of the Future movement which competed against Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi in his ugly sectarian agitation!
"Weren't you a member of the Future movement's electoral list in the elections of the north, which brought Lebanese elections to an all time low with all the sectarian and religious mobilization and incitement, and you ask me for examples?... Concerning the issue of the Marjayoun Barracks (in which Lebanese security forces subordinated to the interior ministry surrendered to the Israelis without a fight and offered them tea while Fatfat was interior minister during the July 2006 war), I am surprised by your audacity in mentioning this issue. Aren't you insulting our intelligence when you support your position by using a report issued by your own ministry?
"Are you kidding, minister? Do you want us to trust an investigation issued by the ministry of interior under you?... This is where corruption in Lebanon has taken us with each ministry punishing itself… Let me tell you, minister Fatfat, that credibility and sincerity "can't be bought". Maybe your friends in the Al-Hariri movement can remind you [it should be you should remind your comrades in the Hariri movement] that there are some things and some people that can't be bought. Then remind them of that while they are shopping for people during the electoral season." - Al Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon"
