Shi`ite Cleric Hani Fahs

Hani Fahs is a Shi`ite cleric from South Lebanon.  He is a political opportunist who switches allegiances as frequently as you switch socks.  He was with Arafat and with Amal and with Hizbullah and with Iran and with Saudi Arabia and Hariri as of late.  He belongs to the tradition of mercenary clerics.  Yet, I have to admit: his book "A Past that does not Pass" (Madin la yamdi) is a beautiful book that speaks about the experiences of clerics in Najaf.  It is a work of beautiful literature that I have not read in a while.  His Arabic puts him with the best of Arab adab writers in recent decades.  Highly recommended.  He is rare among clerics in having a sense of irony and sarcasm about others and about himself.  I congratulation House of Saud on this book and on his literary skills.