LEBANONESQUE

Impressions, views, and steam-blowing by a lonesome cowboy.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Israel Retaliates: Saniora Do Your Job

Katyusha's fired over north Israel. Israel bombs Palestinians in Naameh. Palestinian groups and Hezballah deny firing on Israel.

What next? The US, EU and UN will urge caution on all sides? The suspense is killing me.

I just want to focus on one simple aspect, but that aspect pervades the whole (failed) approach to the problem.

Here is what PM Saniora said after the Israeli attack.
From the Daily Star:

Siniora urged the Palestinians in Lebanon to "condemn the rocket attack clearly and strongly and be the more rational party so as to deny the enemies of Lebanon and the Palestinian cause an excuse to harm the interests of Lebanon and those of the Palestinians."

Mr. PM, as a Lebanese citizen, presumably under the protection of your government, I really really don't care what the Palestinians or Hezballah have to say about this matter.

I care to know what happened, who did it, and how YOU SIR are going to stop them NOW and in the FUTURE. I do not believe it is your job to beg or coddle law-breaking foreigners in Lebanon to do the RIGHT thing.

"Condemning" and "urging"? Hell I can do that. Anybody can do that. You, Mr. Saniora, are the head of the government: the executive branch (to execute = to act).

I also believe that if you do not know by now that Palestinians in Lebanon have an agenda different from yours and your constituents', Mr. Saniora your are a helpless romantic who has no place running a government. Of course, this also applies to all others who have and keep uttering similar words in similar circumstances.

I will just note that the events remain the same, the (lame) response remains the same, expect the cycle to remain the same.

How about just applying the LAW for once, and see what happens. No more begging, no more analysis. Why are "they" doing it? Why now? Why seven rockets not five? I dare say most Lebanese do not care. They want security for life and property: the FIRST job of government.

Naameh is not a Palestinian camp. Naameh is not a Hezballah base. Setting aside the legality of weapons in the afore mentioned, why are there non-Lebanese non legal weapons in Naameh? Confiscate those weapons and arrest/deport their carriers. Someone correct me, isn't that the law?

To Saniora and others in the executive: apply the laws, all of them, or go. Applying the law is your only job. Stop deluding yourself and the rest us. What you are saying and (not) doing, we have tried for over 30 years. Trust me, IT DOES NOT WORK.

5 Comments:

  • At 12/29/05, 5:09 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    You're right in feeling frustrated by the seniora govt, but it's easy to ask/demand it to do what you asked/demanded. But it's not that easy. Going public and attacking the (armed) palestinians and trying to confiscate their weapons by force will only dangerously escalate things. Politics is not and should not be always show and drama.

     
  • At 12/29/05, 8:08 AM, Blogger JoseyWales said…

    I don't disagree with the previous posters. An official has to be more careful and measured than a mere blogger.

    BUT, the words and attitudes of the past 50 years have failed us and have set the stage for further failure. These words give your opponents the high ground.

    Letting the opponents of the Lebanese society/state/culture frame the debate, YOU LOSE EVERYTIME.

    Also why do we have to move cautiously on protecting Nazem Khoury, or on prosecuting the Cotonou air crash??? Damn it start somewhere! SOMEWHERE.

    Your arguments we heard in 69 with the Cairo accord, when the 4 judges in Sidon were killed. Even now with the Hariri investigation and Syrian relations.

    I do not have all the answers but
    YOU CANNOT REBUILD A COUNTRY BY MOVING ON EGGSHELLS.

     
  • At 12/30/05, 10:36 AM, Blogger Yazan said…

    I'd have to agree with the post... and then again, It IS not as simple as u put it!!
    Nevermind that Seniora [I think] doesn't have the guns to deal with both Palestinians and Hizbulla, I don't think that France nor the US, nor Israel for that matter is prepared or willing to handle months of of disorder and almost-civil-war in Lebanon.. [IT IS gonna take months!!!]

    on another note, Merry Christmas!

     
  • At 12/30/05, 9:13 PM, Blogger JoseyWales said…

    Thx Bumper and Happy New Year to you and all my readers.

     
  • At 12/31/05, 2:29 PM, Blogger Jason Pappas said…

    Bravo!

     

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