More than Hizbullah

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Michel Pharaon of the March 14 block said recently that "it is in our interest to have the international community protecting Lebanon pending regaining its sovereignty." (Naharnet) I've heard this idea before. Just not from someone who holds an official political position. We have bits and pieces in the media, but these people do not speak on their own. This is how an idea gets out on the market. This is one of the best methods to measure the masses' reaction.

What exactly does it mean? Perhaps to put Lebanon under Chapter 7 of the UNSC or bring NATO troops into Lebanon. I personally do not see how either can happen under these circumstances. Not to mention that Lebanon is not Iraq, Afghanistan or Kosovo.

I'd say that those who push this idea see it as the only option to disarm Hizbullah, bring the country to a functioning condition and restore the rights of the Christians.

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About the South...

Whenever I am in Lebanon, I try to spend a few days in Bint Jbeil. Away from the city. And more importantly, with people I do not get to see or meet elsewhere. In a Christian village nearby, I sometimes see a priest for a brief conversation. It gives me a better perspective to see all the sides, aside from observing the situation on my own.

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The quest for a president

The Presidential elections were again postponed from the 11th to the 25th of March. That was to be expected in light of the political deadlock in Lebanon.

The Lebanese fail to agree among themselves, the French and Arab initiatives failed and now everyone is waiting for something to happen between the major players (and here we have two circles - Saudi Arabia - Syria and US, Israel and Iran) that influence Lebanese internal affairs.

The Lebanese have lost the momentum. All of them are to blame for that. Somehow they always rely on others. States do not have friends or allies, they have only interests, and as such it is stupid of Lebanese politicians to rely on "friends" - they have no friends period. They only have countries that use it to advance their own agenda. Now we have Iran and Syria discussing Lebanon and deciding which course of action/reaction to choose. This is madness in its purest form.

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