La Lebanessa

Feb 14

2011-02-15T13:13:00.001+04:00

Yesterday was February 14th, if you thought I forgot , I didn't forget.

EGYPT WINS!

2011-02-11T20:51:00.002+04:00

Mubarak is out.
Egyptians have reclaimed their country.
What a glorious day!

Alas...

2011-02-11T01:06:00.002+04:00

Alas the asshole did not resign despite ALL of Egypt being out to see him off.
But I'm sure they will not give up the struggle, they have come too far to stop now.

Yes Egypt!

2011-02-10T20:45:00.002+04:00

It looks like it's going to happen tonight, finally. Alf Mabrook Egypt!

Sandmonkey

2011-02-03T18:43:00.003+04:00

There are reports that Sandmonkey the Egyptian Blogger has been arrested by the Mubarak Regime's security goons. I have copied and pasted his last blog post from Mustapha's Beirut Spring Blog as I can't access Sandmonkey's blog anymore since his account has been suspended.

"Egypt Right Now, by Sandmonkey

I don’t know how to start writing this. I have been battling fatigue for not sleeping properly for the past 10 days, moving from one’s friend house to another friend’s house, almost never spending a night in my home, facing a very well funded and well organized ruthless regime that views me as nothing but an annoying bug that its time to squash will come. The situation here is bleak to say the least.

It didn’t start out that way. On Tuesday Jan 25 it all started peacefully, and against all odds, we succeeded to gather hundreds of thousands and get them into Tahrir Square, despite being attacked by Anti-Riot Police who are using sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets against us. We managed to break all of their barricades and situated ourselves in Tahrir. The government responded by shutting down all cell communication in Tahrir square, a move which purpose was understood later when after midnight they went in with all of their might and attacked the protesters and evacuated the Square. The next day we were back at it again, and the day after. Then came Friday and we braved their communication blackout, their thugs, their tear gas and their bullets and we retook the square. We have been fighting to keep it ever since.

That night the government announced a military curfew, which kept getting shorter by the day, until it became from 8 am to 3 pm. People couldn’t go to work, gas was running out quickly and so were essential goods and money, since the banks were not allowed to operate and people were not able to collect their salary. The internet continued to be blocked, which affected all businesses in Egypt and will cause an economic meltdown the moment they allow the banks to operate again. We were being collectively punished for daring to say that we deserve democracy and rights, and to keep it up, they withdrew the police, and then sent them out dressed as civilians to terrorize our neighborhoods. I was shot at twice that day, one of which with a semi-automatic by a dude in a car that we the people took joy in pummeling. The government announced that all prisons were breached, and that the prisoners somehow managed to get weapons and do nothing but randomly attack people. One day we had organized thugs in uniforms firing at us and the next day they disappeared and were replaced by organized thugs without uniforms firing at us. Somehow the people never made the connection.

Despite it all, we braved it. We believed we are doing what’s right and were encouraged by all those around us who couldn’t believe what was happening to their country. What he did galvanized the people, and on Tuesday, despite shutting down all major roads leading into Cairo, we managed to get over 2 million protesters in Cairo alone and 3 million all over Egypt to come out and demand Mubarak’s departure. Those are people who stood up to the regime’s ruthlessness and anger and declared that they were free, and were refusing to live in the Mubarak dictatorship for one more day. That night, he showed up on TV, and gave a very emotional speech about how he intends to step down at the end of his term and how he wants to die in Egypt, the country he loved and served. To me, and to everyone else at the protests this wasn’t nearly enough, for we wanted him gone now. Others started asking that we give him a chance, and that change takes time and other such poppycock. Hell, some people and family members cried when they saw his speech. People felt sorry for him for failing to be our dictator for the rest of his life and inheriting us to his Son. It was an amalgam of Stockholm syndrome coupled with slave mentality in a malevolent combination that we never saw before. And the Regime capitalized on it today.

Today, they brought back the internet, and started having people calling on TV and writing on facebook on how they support Mubarak and his call for stability and peacefull change in 8 months. They hung on to the words of the newly appointed government would never harm the protesters, whom they believe to be good patriotic youth who have a few bad apples amongst them. We started getting calls asking people to stop protesting because “we got what we wanted” and “we need the country to start working again”. People were complaining that they miss their lives. That they miss going out at night, and ordering Home Delivery. That they need us to stop so they can resume whatever existence they had before all of this. All was forgiven, the past week never happened and it’s time for Unity under Mubarak’s rule right now.

To all of those people I say: NEVER! I am sorry that your lives and businesses are disrupted, but this wasn’t caused by the Protesters. The Protesters aren’t the ones who shut down the internet that has paralyzed your businesses and banks: The government did. The Protesters weren’t the ones who initiated the military curfew that limited your movement and allowed goods to disappear off market shelves and gas to disappear: The government did. The Protesters weren’t the ones who ordered the police to withdraw and claimed the prisons were breached and unleashed thugs that terrorized your neighborhoods: The government did. The same government that you wish to give a second chance to, as if 30 years of dictatorship and utter failure in every sector of government wasn’t enough for you. The Slaves were ready to forgive their master, and blame his cruelty on those who dared to defy him in order to ensure a better Egypt for all of its citizens and their children. After all, he gave us his word, and it’s not like he ever broke his promises for reform before or anything.

Then Mubarak made his move and showed them what useful idiots they all were.

You watched on TV as “Pro-Mubarak Protesters” – thugs who were paid money by NDP members by admission of High NDP officials- started attacking the peaceful unarmed protesters in Tahrir square. They attacked them with sticks, threw stones at them, brought in men riding horses and camels- in what must be the most surreal scene ever shown on TV- and carrying whips to beat up the protesters. And then the Bullets started getting fired and Molotov cocktails started getting thrown at the Anti-Mubarak Protesters as the Army standing idly by, allowing it all to happen and not doing anything about it. Dozens were killed, hundreds injured, and there was no help sent by ambulances. The Police never showed up to stop those attacking because the ones who were captured by the Anti-mubarak people had police ID’s on them. They were the police and they were there to shoot and kill people and even tried to set the Egyptian Museum on Fire. The Aim was clear: Use the clashes as pretext to ban such demonstrations under pretexts of concern for public safety and order, and to prevent disunity amongst the people of Egypt. But their plans ultimately failed, by those resilient brave souls who wouldn’t give up the ground they freed of Egypt, no matter how many live bullets or firebombs were hurled at them. They know, like we all do, that this regime no longer cares to put on a moderate mask. That they have shown their true nature. That Mubarak will never step down, and that he would rather burn Egypt to the ground than even contemplate that possibility.

In the meantime, State-owned and affiliated TV channels were showing coverage of Peaceful Mubarak Protests all over Egypt and showing recorded footage of Tahrir Square protest from the night before and claiming it’s the situation there at the moment. Hundreds of calls by public figures and actors started calling the channels saying that they are with Mubarak, and that he is our Father and we should support him on the road to democracy. A veiled girl with a blurred face went on Mehwer TV claiming to have received funding by Americans to go to the US and took courses on how to bring down the Egyptian government through protests which were taught by Jews. She claimed that AlJazeera is lying, and that the only people in Tahrir square now were Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. State TV started issuing statements on how the people arrested Israelis all over Cairo engaged in creating mayhem and causing chaos. For those of you who are counting this is an American-Israeli-Qatari-Muslim Brotherhood-Iranian-Hamas conspiracy. Imagine that. And MANY PEOPLE BOUGHT IT. I recall telling a friend of mine that the only good thing about what happened today was that it made clear to us who were the idiots amongst our friends. Now we know.

Now, just in case this isn’t clear: This protest is not one made or sustained by the Muslim Brotherhood, it’s one that had people from all social classes and religious background in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood only showed up on Tuesday, and even then they were not the majority of people there by a long shot. We tolerated them there since we won’t say no to fellow Egyptians who wanted to stand with us, but neither the Muslims Brotherhood not any of the Opposition leaders have the ability to turn out one tenth of the numbers of Protesters that were in Tahrir on Tuesday. This is a revolution without leaders. Three Million individuals choosing hope instead of fear and braving death on hourly basis to keep their dream of freedom alive. Imagine that.

The End is near. I have no illusions about this regime or its leader, and how he will pluck us and hunt us down one by one till we are over and done with and 8 months from now will pay people to stage fake protests urging him not to leave power, and he will stay “because he has to acquiesce to the voice of the people”. This is a losing battle and they have all the weapons, but we will continue fighting until we can’t. I am heading to Tahrir right now with supplies for the hundreds injured, knowing that today the attacks will intensify, because they can’t allow us to stay there come Friday, which is supposed to be the game changer. We are bringing everybody out, and we will refuse to be anything else than peaceful. If you are in Egypt, I am calling on all of you to head down to Tahrir today and Friday. It is imperative to show them that the battle for the soul of Egypt isn’t over and done with. I am calling you to bring your friends, to bring medical supplies, to go and see what Mubarak’s gurantees look like in real life. Egypt needs you. Be Heroes."

May God help him.

Update: they've let him, go a little roughed up but otherwise ok.

Obama Baby, stop listening to BiBi and listen to me

2011-02-01T12:26:00.004+04:00

OK Obama baby, it's time you cut your losses.
Hosni is clinging by his fingernails
Bibi is whispering in your ears.
Ignore them and listen to me.
It might turn out good, It might turn out bad,
But the people have spoken loud and clear,
And you don't want to go down in history as the man who stood between 80million people and their freedom.
Yalla, you know what you need to do.
You can do it, yes you can.

...and now Egypt

2011-01-28T17:30:00.002+04:00

... and now its the turn of the Egyptians. The descendants of one of the biggest counter-colonial revolutions are standing up and finding their place in history.

The citizens of the Arab world are finally waking up. Saba7 el Kheir!

Tunisia

2011-01-15T12:50:00.004+04:00

As you can see this is my first post in well over a year, reflecting my utter digust with the politics of Lebanon.

Since the situation in Lebanon will not change from now till the end of time, this post is simply to say Congratualtions to Tunisia, I am full of admiration, may the country's future be as bright and wonderful as its brave people deserve.

government (yawn)

2009-11-10T11:41:00.003+04:00

....so we apparently have a government, it only took five months.
And the result is (drumroll) : nothing changed.
Same old faces, same old names.
Why did we bother to have elections at all?
Worst of all.....who cares anymore.

Lalebanessa

P.S. If you are a female Lebanese, don't bother trying. Stick to blowing up your lips and breasts for male entertainment, don't bother your pretty little head about the important stuff, just leave it to our glorious men. Even the Gulf Arab states now have more females in their governments than the supposedly enlightened Lebanese.

Nobel What?

2009-10-09T14:02:00.004+04:00

Those of you who read this blog during the US elections already know how much I like Barak Obama, but even I thought: Nobel Peace Prize? Really? For what ?

Eid el Fitr!

2009-09-20T11:39:00.001+04:00

Kil Sinneh w' into bkheir!

Time to go on a diet to lose all that weight you put on in Ramadan ;)

What I love about Being Lebanese...

2009-09-08T12:00:00.003+04:00

Last Christmas I had delicious turkey at a Christmas Dinner thrown by Muslims, and today one of my Christian friends invited me over for Iftar at her house.

It's at times like these I remember why I love being Lebanese.

Happy Happy Happy

2009-06-08T08:58:00.005+04:00

The best things about election day:
M14 won (Yay)
No major security incidents.
Blue thumbs.
President Carter (love him).
The way Ziad Baroud's hair kept getting crazier and crazier as the day went on :)

Unbelievably, we truely are a democracy.

Well done Lebanon.

Elections Tomorrow

2009-06-06T11:37:00.002+04:00

Dear Lebanese people,

Go elect tomorrow, but please, whatever happens, whomever wins, keep it calm and civilized. Free and democratic elections mean that sometimes, you have to live with a result you don't want.

If M14 wins, Hooray,

If M8 wins, lets see what they can do. If Lebanon suddenly becomes a bastion of uncorrupted well organized, well run government as they claim they can make it, then fine by me.

If they fall flat on their faces, realise that things are easier said then done, and that they can't shift the blame onto anyone else anymore; if they start the inevitable in-fighting because they finally realise (what we have known all along) that idealistically they in fact agree on nothing, and that having Iran run the show maybe isn't all that great, then well, (and this is directed at the Aounis in particular): we told you so.

Whatever happens , we'll get through it as we've gotten through other crap before. Just as long as nobody lifts a gun in another person's face.

Der Spiegel Article

2009-05-24T13:25:00.002+04:00

....well I read it, and as much as I hate Hizballah and Hasan the Persian Slave, I still find it hard to believe this. So I'm going to withhold judgement until the tribunal (or what's left of it) comes out with something official one way or the other.
For Lebanon's sake, I really hope that this doesn't turn out to be true, because if it is, the shit is going to hit the fan BIGTIME in our dear little country.

he he he

2009-05-23T11:01:00.002+04:00

If you haven't seen it yet, here is the link.
Okab Saqr wipes the floor with Yaccoub.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWDtG_E55ls

His "Glorious" Day

2009-05-20T11:22:00.003+04:00

Hasan Persian Slave, you can take your "glorious day" and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

And That's all I have to say about that.
LL

Yesterday

2009-05-08T18:45:00.004+04:00

Yesterday was 7th May.
Did you think I forgot?
I didn't forget.
I can't believe It's already been a year.
I wonder if Hassouna ever loses any sleep over the innocents that died that day. I doubt it.
May they rest in peace.

Can't keep quiet any longer....

2009-04-25T18:53:00.004+04:00

OK I tried, I really tried, I wanted to go non-political ala sietske's blog which is such a delightful non-political blog to visit, but then I realised that
a) I have no imagination and
b) you can take the Lebanese out of the politics but you can't take the politics out of the Lebanese
So I guess it's back to the No. 1 form of Lebanese entertainment: the Politics.

Right now I'm hating on everybody, the situation is dire, it looks like the Iranians are going to win the elections unless the Saudis buy enough votes to swing it their way.

As for the individual players here is a mini description of all the key players according to me (and as always supported by no evidence whatsoever). I will begin with the person I hate the most, but the rest are in no particular order.

1. Hassan Nasrallah: Persian Slave, loyalties are first and foremost to Iran. Cannot separate religion from politics therefore cannot refuse any orders from his Wali. Hence Lebanon's needs will always come secondary to Iran's where he is concerned.

2. Walid Jumblat: the ultimate flip flopper. Doesn't believe in the words "through thick and thin" and hence you can depend on him to desert you in "the thin". Kudos to him for being the most entertaining of the lot though.

3. GeaGea: unfortunately for the "Reborn" his quest for Sainthood has been sidelined by his history as a bloody killer and warlord, and no, he never finished his medical degree, so he's not a doctor of medicine.

4. Saad Harriri: his father wasn't perfect but he was a man who was respected and appreciated by those who supported him. Saad has not been able to fill those shoes. His main problem is that he forgot that the main reason we liked his father was that he had no blood on his hands, and no direct involvement in any of the shit from the civil war. Saad learned the "we're not a militia/war kind of people" lesson very quickly last May when the Iranians gave orders to attack Beirut and their slaves took it over in a single day leaving behind a few dead women and children in the course of the events. Also personal grooming advice: please shave off the Goatee we know you're backed by the Saudis but you don't have to constantly remind us of this, and lay off the hair gel it looks gross.

5. Nabih Berri: another warlord with militia that has never had an honest person in it. If you want to be corrupt/steal/a goon then the easiest way to do so is to join Amal. Musa elSader would turn over in his grave (yes folks you can't live in denial for ever). Stole most of the money going to the South and then complained that the South doesn't get enough money.

6. The Gemayel Family: relics of a bygone era

7. Aoun: Mr. Orangina. the man really should have never been let out of the asylum in the first place. A flip flopper on par with Jumblat only much less entertaining. Made a pact with the Iranians to get to presidency but it backfired dismally. Currently making sure that every member of his family gets some post somewhere so he can officially start a new political dynasty.

That's enough hate for now.

joke recieved on email :-)

2009-03-31T09:18:00.002+04:00

واحد قلولو احكي اللي بدك إياه عن ديمقراطية البلد، بلش يحكي:

وين حرية الرأي ؟؟
وين المساواة؟؟
وين مصاري الشعب ؟؟
وين أخذيني ؟؟
وين الضو ؟؟
وين انا ؟؟

Photos of old Beirut

2009-03-27T12:48:00.003+04:00

This is a photo from 1896, It's the area on the raouche near the long beach/hammam el 3askary.I can't believe that house has been here since then, I think it's called the Daouk house, and it's still there (its the pink one infront of the old black and white lighthouse). I'm told (this is word of mouth with absolutely no bakcup) that the house has about one million "inheritors" who can't agree on anything,which is why the house hasn't been sold and pulled down yet ha ha, lucky us, bickering family members is the only way we can retain our heritage.

Change of direction.....

2009-03-24T10:37:00.004+04:00

I've decided to change the direction of this blog. In the last few months I've noticed my blogging has ground down to a halt and it's mainly because I'm sick and tired of crappy Lebanese politics. The last straw is allowing 18 year old children to vote while I'm not allowed a say in my own country's politics because I'm living abroad. Anyone who remembers what idiots they were at the age of 18 raise your hands up and say Aye! The irony is that Lebanon wouldn't exist if it wasn't for expat money propping it up, and these expats don't get a say in the elections.

So I'm changing the direction of this blog so it's more personal interest and less politics. As such if you're interested in the following; photography, BSG, environment, movies/TV, science, life in general, you might be entertained, and if you're still trying to convince the "other side" that they're wrong about Lebanon, you will be sorely disappointed with the direction that this blog is taking.

LL

"Hariri tribunal begins operations in The Hague"-Naharnet

2009-03-02T08:43:00.001+04:00

and we're off.........

The Hague wants the Generals

2009-02-23T14:17:00.002+04:00

Naharnet is reporting that the Hague has asked for the transfer of the four Generals over to them.

We can go one better, we will give them another General for free, it's a good deal: five for the price of four, please take him too......please.

St. Valentine's Day.....

2009-02-14T17:55:00.005+04:00

If you are Lebanese, St. Valentine's day can mean one of many many things:

1) a day of celebration of love
2) a great day for flower sales/ restaurant bookings (florists/restaurateurs)
3) a day to mourn a massacre (M14)
4) a day to show you still care about the massacre (M14)
5) a day to check you still have the numbers to get votes in an election (M14)
6) a day to avoid watching any TV in case you see how many people don't agree with you (M8)
7) a day to criticize (salafists who think it's blasphemous to enjoy yourself in any way whatsoever/ also people who see it as big marketing propaganda joke)

Pick or combine whatever numbers you want.

As for me, as always, the morning is for Hariri.....and the evening for Habibi.

16.2.09 addendum
lets add another one shall we?
8) a day to kill someone who's political opinion differs from yours as they're passing through your street (M8 Shitheads)

Good Morning Mr. President

2009-01-20T22:10:00.002+04:00

Yes folks, President Obama has arrived.
:)

An email making the rounds....

2009-01-20T08:49:00.043+04:00

Now that things have quietened down a little in Gaza (and as usual both sides declared victory while in reality everybody lost) I would like to show these pictures doing the "email rounds". Usually, I delete any email doing "the rounds" because mostly they are so utterly stupid that you're insulted while you read them (e.g. the old Tommy Hilfiger only likes white people and Oprah kicked him off her show, or the latest gem, Adolf Eichmann tried to "save the jews" in WWII and converted to judaism during his trial , after which he was executed, cremated, his bones ground down to powder [yes in that order] and dumped at sea in a metal container).

However a few days ago I got an email that I didn't immediately delete. As usual the sender received it from "an anonymous friend" and nobody tells you who or when the photos were taken, although I know one of them is from the July 2006 war because at the time it horrified me so much (the one with the Israeli children signing love letters to Lebanese children on bombs).

I deleted the text from the email and a few of the more graphic photos that showed the faces of dead children, but I think you can still get the gist of the email: how can people who suffered so many atrocities in WWII then go and inflict suffering on someone else? Indeed humanity seems condemned to repeat its own mistakes for all time...

From The BBC

2009-01-07T11:14:00.002+04:00

From the BBC: Venezuela has ordered the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Caracas......

Venzuela? Hmmm...

How's about Jordan?

What you thought I was going to go on about Egypt?

No this time lets pick a country with a 75% Palestinian population. Hey Jordan, the Latin Americans have kicked out Shlomo, so what are you guys going to do?

Gaza: Day 4

2008-12-30T13:18:00.003+04:00

More massacres, more dead, pictures of dead children all over the news.

Where else in the world could such a thing happen and the perpetrator allowed to get away with it. No sanctions, no cutting of relations, only feeble voices of condemnation that achieve nothing. And still the civilians die, the Palestinians remain without a land, and without any human rights.

A new low for the Arabs: the Arab league won't even have an emergency meeting to put out their usual useless statement this time.

Jordan: not yet withdrawn their ambassador (but unlike the 2006 Lebanon war, I hear they're "considering it", well ta very much)

Egypt: in deep trouble as they are seen as aiding and abetting.
Nasrallah decides to be his usual condescending self and declared his own personal war on Egypt.

Nothing will ever change.
I hate the Middle East.

Gaza Massacre

2008-12-27T20:36:00.002+04:00

200 dead and counting

Fuck the Butchering Israelis.
Fuck the world for standing by and watching the Palestinians have every supposed human right stolen from them for over 60 years and still do nothing about it.
But most of all fuck the Arabs Leaders for being such useless pieces of shit that a whole arab nation is decimated off the face of the Earth while they sit around and watch.

Oh wait, I'm sure someone will now call a meeting of the fucking useless Arab League to put out some fucking useless statement.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:40:00.000+04:00

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Been on Vacation.....

2008-12-17T15:32:00.002+04:00

I've been Internet disconnected while on Vacation. So now I'm back I have to make up for it....

Lets start in Russia: thanks for the MiG's darlings, we finally have a real air force ....kiss kiss kiss to the Russians

Gaza: the Egyptian/Israeli blockade continues. Note how I said Egyptian/Israeli. Look at the ironies of time, if you went sixty years back and told them that the Egyptian government is taking part in a blockade against the Palestinians they'd think you were totally bonkers. But hey what's a few starving Arab citizens when you have to teach Hamas a lesson. Ah those Arabic leaders, always willing to sacrifice their citizens for any cause.

Greece: The Greeks show that they have Mediterranean blood running in their veins too...

Microsoft: too late with the patch, have already switched to FireFox (OK I admit I didn't uninstall IE , I always like to keep my options open)

And last but not least: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha shoes ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Bush ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha etc...

Secretary of State

2008-12-02T14:41:00.002+04:00

First Tilhasteezee Twice and now Hilary Clinton.....
Sigh, what did we ever do to deserve such a fate?

Two old enemies falling apart

2008-12-01T11:49:00.003+04:00

The Lebanese media has been rife recently with news of the problems in the two diametrically opposed parties, the Kataeb and the SSNP.

These lifelong enemies seem to be going through tough patches at the same time. In fact their destinies have always kind of been intertwined , whether in conception (both with Nazi flavors), their battles , assassinations and constant animosity (which leaves no room for resolution of conflict), and now it seems , in their final swan song.

One is dying because it is a private family enterprise with an unsavory history, in a time where people are (slowly) waking up from their "follow a family" stupor. The other is on its way out because in a time of growing nationalism , they refuse to reexamine their original now inapplicable principles. Add to this the takeover of the party by the less palatable elements under the pure control of the Syrians, they have become thugs and a joke rather than a party.

To tell the truth, I couldn't care less if both parties fizzle out. In fact I wish that all parties and politicians that had anything to do with the civil war would follow suit. We need new people with new ideas, new thoughts. We need people who will come to serve (rather than rule) this country, and drag us kicking and screaming, into civilization.

Obama Rules OK!

2008-11-05T09:26:00.004+04:00

Today we witnessed history in the making.

Today Barak Obama won.

Whatever might come later, let us for now just stand still and enjoy this moment when a black man has won the race for the presidency of the United States of America.

Today something has shifted, and the world is a better place.

Hassounna and Saad Meet for dinner

2008-10-28T10:45:00.004+04:00

Here we are then, pictures of a smiling Hassouna and a grinning Saad all over the news.

We're supposed to be happy about this. Everything is going to be all right now.

I just can't get myself to be so enthusiastic. Are we supposed to forget that Nasrallah ordered an attack on his country's capital a few months back using the alleged weapons of resistance to kill Lebanese men, women and children. Are we supposed to ignore the fact that he can do it again whenever he wants because he has the weapons to force any decision he likes on us when we disagree with him?

Or should we just be happy because if they're smiling it means they're not close to another civil war?

Those who are gone are gone
Those who are dead are dead
Everybody Smile for the Cameras.

P.S. : Someone close to Hassouna needs to tell him to lay off the Makhlouta, methinks we are reaching bear-like proportions here.

Americans Attack on Syrian Soil

2008-10-27T09:30:00.005+04:00

So the Americans decided to expand their operations from Iraq into Syria, which begs the question WTF? But instead of trying to figure the Americans out, lets try and guess what the Syrian response to the attack is going to be.

Now usually the Syrians just make a big hoopla and protest loudly, promise retaliation to anyone who will listen, until the story becomes old and people forget it even happened (just look at the bombing of the nuclear installation fiasco, the buzzing the presidential palace fiasco and, oh yeah, the whole Golan heights are taken but they're not doing anything about it fiasco).

Anyways, I write because the Syrians can't really retaliate directly against the Americans (or the Israelis), so that leaves just one place they can vent their frustrations: Lebanon.

Lucky us.

Obama, McCain & Bradley

2008-10-24T10:05:00.007+04:00

And now I'm reading everywhere about the "Bradley Effect" which apparently describes closet racists who are too afraid to come out and admit their true nature in public.
The "Bradley Effect" would push the polls in the opposite direction of what I will now call "The Lebanessa Effect" as described in the post below.
So it's BE vs LE.
May the best Effect win.

Obama, McCain and the "Undecided Voters"

2008-10-22T10:13:00.013+04:00

Well the US elections are up soon, and though the rest of us aren't American we are all very interested in who the next Pres. is going to be, mainly because Americans interfere so much in everybody else's business.

Anyway, this isn't about the actual candidates, but about those who(m?) the press call the "Undecided Voters". Before I go on, I must warn you dear reader, that this is a completely unscientific discourse based solely on what I think.

Now if I was the Republicans, I'd be more worried about these "Undecided Voters" than usual. Why? Because Obama is black.

To be an "Undecided Voter" usually means:
-you are not voting along party lines and you will actually decide based on each candidate's merits...
-you don't care one way or the other, you didn't even know that there was an election going on this year....

This would mean that usually, there is a 50:50 chance that the voters can go one way or the other.

This time though, things are different: the undecided voter has another characteristic
....deciding based on ideas
....didn't know there was an election on this year
and
....not racist.

Why? Because the racist voter ( and unfortunately in America, there are many) must by virtue of their racism already have sided with McCain . This I must stress is no reflection on McCain and his ideas on the matter, the poor guy is probably very un-racist himself.

Hence the conclusion we reach is that undecided voters in this election are already skewed towards the democrats (or Obama to be more precise), because the undecided pool this year does not include any racist bastards.

Ali Baba is off to Persia

2008-10-10T19:24:00.002+04:00

According to Nahar, Aoun is apparently off to Iran to meet el-presidente. All he needs now is a beard and a lisp and he'll be fully incorporated into the Hizb.

Syrians are getting ready for something

2008-10-07T11:11:00.002+04:00

So the Syrians are deploying all over the place, I wonder what for? They're telling us it's only to stop terrorists and smugglers sneaking over the border on their donkeys and such.
But don't worry, the Americans said they'll help us, just like they did in South Ossetia .....

No Comment

2008-10-02T23:33:00.001+04:00

From a BBC article on why Andorrans have the longest lifespan of any people on earth:

"Minister and government spokesman, Juli Minoves, is quietly proud of his compatriots' longevity but not particularly surprised by it.
He thinks attitude is just as important as altitude here.
He points out the almost non-existent crime levels in Andorra, that there is a single prison with about 50 inmates.
And he puts a general feeling of well-being and security partly down to seven centuries of war-free history."

Another Bomb

2008-09-29T12:04:00.002+04:00

Another Bomb in Tripoli
5 dead
5 families devastated
all we can say is RIP
all we can do is watch and weep for this country and its people

Schizophrenic Country Part II

2008-09-19T14:29:00.003+04:00

As you all may have noticed, the big bozo's have decided to get together and talk it out. In the meantime, they will pretend that the country isn't going to the dogs around their heads, and that incidents involving the citizenry using their "personal/ moqawama/ defense/ hunting/ whatever excuse you want" weapons aren't now a daily occurrence in this lawless land.

Where the fuck is the army and internal security?

How's about a law that says ANYONE caught with a weapon in public for WHATEVER reason will be arrested and put in jail .Or if they like weapons and fighting so much, why don't we just draft anyone and his weapon into the army for couple of years, hey, the army needs weapons anyways!

Well, OK, enough joking around. Nobody in this godforsaken land is going to give up any weapons as long as Hizballah has theirs, and Hizballah is never going to give up their weapons advantage of might= right, because how else can they force those who don't agree with them to do what they want? As for protecting us from the Isrealis, this begs the previously theoretical but now very valid question of "who's going to protect us from Hizballah?"

So the conclusion is folks: more crappy times ahead,and no solution on the horizon.

Murder Mystery

2008-09-13T10:45:00.002+04:00

Let's see if I got this straight: the bomb that killed Aridi is the same type that was used to kill Hawi, Kassir and maim Chidiac.
So the first M8 member targeted may have been killed by the same people previously dispatching anti-syrian voices probably all the way back to Harriri.
Now which person do we know who is a staunch pro-syrian lackey but is currently on the outs with his previous buddy Arslan?
I don't think we need to call in Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out.

Ramadan is here

2008-09-01T09:10:00.001+04:00

Kil Sineh w-into Bkheir!

Killer handed over

2008-08-30T09:33:00.002+04:00

Having originally claimed that someone sneaked in from Israel into Iqlim- al- Tuffah, shot at the army helicpoter and killed the pilot, Hizballah now hand over the real rather than the fabricated killer.
We assume he will be walking free again within the week.

The rope is unravelling

2008-08-28T20:45:00.002+04:00

It's falling apart, a little bit unravels here, a little there, till there is nothing holding this country together anymore. The problem is when one faction is above the law, then all the other factions try to achieve the same status.

You hear the news, none of it pushes the country over the edge, yet, but the incidents are increasing, the lawlessness getting more and more obvious, the fighting in Tripoli, the fighting in Baalbeck, Ras el nabe3,Kaskas, and now the killing of an army captain in a helicopter over Hizballah territory.

Again I won't play the who did it guessing game.
Who did it in this country depends on who you support politically, so I know who I think did it and you know who you think did it. The end is still the same, a soldier was murdered flying over airspace in his own country.

I really need to remove the little spiel in my sidebar, I don't think I'm very hopeful anymore. I think we are going to suffer a great deal inflicted internally and from the outside before any real order is restored, if it is ever restored.

But hey, at least they let us have this summer.....

...and its frozen

2008-08-20T10:35:00.004+04:00

The Salafis have frozen their memorandum with the Hizbos. Well that didn't last long...

So again lets pray: please please please, send us our own Ataturk.

Hizballah and Salafists sign memorandum of understanding

2008-08-19T16:48:00.003+04:00

....or backwards fundamentalist maniacs of Lebanon unite!

Let the rest of us all put our hands together and ask God Almighty to send us our own Ataturk to turn Lebanon into a secular country as soon as possible please please please.

On Borders and Embassies

2008-08-15T11:47:00.005+04:00

So the Syrians have given up trying to assimilate us into the Collective and have decided to grace us with an embassy. The border is also going to be demarcated in all places except the one that really counts, so that the Hizbos and the Israelis can continue their war games unimpeded by a line on a map.
Before you despair my fellow Lebanese let me give you some words of wisdom: we are negotiating from a point of weakness and though the results may not be complete,it's a beginning. Lets grab what we can get for now and later, bit by bit, maneuver for more.

Another Bomb

2008-08-14T11:17:00.005+04:00

I'm not going to sit here and guess at who did this, judging by the previous results of investigations into the bombing and killings, we'll probably never know anyway.
Whoever did this the result is the same: dead people, devastated families. RIP.

OLYMPICS VS PARLIMENT

2008-08-10T22:37:00.003+04:00

For those of you who haven't tuned out of the farce yet, I urge you to switch from watching the useless parliamentarians and their debates, and start watching the magnificent Olympics.
This is what the rest of the world is doing while our politicians babble on, you'll enjoy the Olympics much more, I promise.

Diagnosis: Schizophrenia

2008-07-17T16:41:00.002+04:00

Yes folks, I have now fully diagnosed the Lebanese condition. I've reached the conclusion that we are all suffering from an acute attack of schizophrenia.

Here we are all sitting at home watching the prisoner release on TV, should we be happy that samir kuntar is finally out of Isreali Jails after thirty years, and that his 70 year old mother got to see him, or should we be a little more subdued at the fact that he may have actually killed a four year old child and is therefore a criminal rather than a war hero? Should we believe what the Israelis said about him or is this just more Israeli propaganda? Should we celebrate his return or mourn the 1500 people who died to get him here?

What do we think about the fact that Saad was kissing the released hizballah members when other hizballah members were attacking Beirut and shelling the mountains just a few weeks ago, and in all probability if these four were not in Isreali jails they would have taken part in the attack? Should we be happy that one of the realeased prisoners got to see his son for the first time or should I start worrying about how he's going to raise this son to be Loyal to Al wali al Faqih first, Lebanon second?

Should we be happy that Hizballah held the upper hand and didn't tell the Isrealis if the soldiers were dead or alive, or should we think it would have been a little more humane of them to tell the families that they were dead? Should we even be caring what these Isreali families which have repeatedly sent its soldiers to kill our children feel, or are we becoming too insensetive if we don't?

And after all the hugs and kisses and (white suits) should we be happy that we are (at least temporarily) at a calm point or should we already be worrying about the next war?

I think I'm going to stop now before my brain splits in two.

Non political good news for a change

2008-06-25T19:45:00.003+04:00

From Naharnet
"First Solar Car in Arab Region Made by Lebanese TeamA team of fourth-year engineering students and their professor have successfully built the first solar-powered vehicle in the Arab region, the American University of Beirut announced Wednesday.The team named their car Apollo's Chariot, in reference to the Greek god of the sun, the AUB press release said.It said the steel-and-fiberglass, one-seater vehicle measures 5.5 meters in length and 2 meters in width. It weighs about 700 kilograms, or almost double the weight of an average sedan. Led by Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Daniel Asmar, the team of Elie Maalouf, Amin Kanafani, Ahmed Hammoud, and Rawad el-Jurdi, took almost nine months of dedicated work to build the "Chariot," AUB said.It said that with its aerodynamic design, the futuristic-looking vehicle glides over the road quietly. "It looks like a rocket, but moves like a swan," said Kanafani. "We actually built a car that runs on a new kind of energy. It's almost like magic!"Professor Asmar admits, however, that solar-powered vehicles are still years from becoming commercially available. Right now, building one that can be safely driven on the streets would cost more than a million dollars. Nevertheless, they are important for research purposes.Apollo's Chariot cost about $25,000, the press release said. It said that through 36 small and eight large photovoltaic cells, the car converts solar energy into 1000 watts of power. The components of the car include the cells and batteries, which capture and store the solar energy, and a DC (direct current) motor which converts energy from the batteries into a uniform source of energy. A maximum power point tracker device also maximizes the amount of power delivered from the cells."

This, they achieved despite a year full of conflict and crap.

I wonder at the heights we would achieve as a nation if only we had a little peace, and with it the peace of mind that would allow us to create and advance.

Popeye where art thou?

2008-06-18T19:57:00.002+04:00

Apparently Olive Oyl was attacked by Brutus in Nabatieh, she called around desperately but Popeye was no where to be found.
Don't worry, she escaped the goons and went back to Awkar unharmed.

Aoun is freaking out (again)

2008-06-16T09:00:00.003+04:00

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&72BC2A485D113A58C225746900228926

Is it just me or is Aoun having a conniption now that he realises that El-Presidente is to be his new competition as a viable christian leader in this country? Now when Aounites want to jump the boat, they have somewhere to land.

Waiting waiting waiting...

2008-06-13T11:07:00.008+04:00

We are still waiting for the new government.
Interestingly some "politicians" have come out and admitted that they don't want the "hard ministries" because it would be too much work for them. Only in Lebanon.

In the meantime, George Bush has appointed Olive Oyl as the new US Ambassador to Lebanon. We are now eagerly awaiting for Popeye to make an appearance.

I think the Qataris are just now realising what they got themselves into...

2008-06-05T20:30:00.003+04:00

Poor Qataris.
What did they do to deserve this?
They were living in peace, building their country into a modern nation, enjoying their lives.
Now they get a phone call a minute: come and solve this problem, come solve that problem, so and so is bothering me, so and so is taking all the goodies, so and so isn't sticking to the agreement.....

Didn't they know "Qadi el-awlad shanaq 7alo?"

Obama Obama Obama

2008-06-04T11:56:00.003+04:00

Well Obama clinched it. Hilary must be mucho pissed, she thought she had it in the bag, where did this guy come from to steal away her nomination?

ha ha ha on Hilary

If you're wondering why women didn't vote for you I think it's because you let your husband off too easy when he cheated :P

So now it's Obama vs McCain. Who will win? Polls say Obama for now, but polls can change. Also if he asks Hilary to run for VP how would that alter the polls?

From my non-american point of view, what is important to me is the effect on the situation over here. Ofcourse, there is no such thing as who is better for us, there is only a "who is the lesser of two evils" as they will always support the Isreali position unconditionally whatever happens, we will be the afterthought.

An intersting question: I wonder who black Republicans will be voting for?

That was then this is now....

2008-06-01T15:27:00.002+04:00

Last time there was a prisoner exchange I was glued to the TV tears of happiness streaming down my face.

This time, well this time it's different.

I haven't watched any of it on TV , I'm sure I'll see it on the evening news. Though I'm happy for the guy and his family that he is being released, it all feels so distant.

I know the reason for this: in the back of mind, I keep wondering about the next time there is an attack on Beirut, on my family, on my neighbourhood, as a member of Hizballah,will he be one of those masked men with their guns, coming to kill?

Sanioura to stick around for a little while longer

2008-05-28T12:39:00.002+04:00

Apparently he's not retiring any time soon, so may sad little farewell note to him was a little premature.

If the Doha agreement is to be believed and Saad has been allowed to choose the PM, the statement from M14 yesterday night was the Habeebna el-Sanioura will be coming back.

I wonder what they will call him now on el-Manar? I suggest their newscasters now say: His Excellency Sanioura "the Prime Minister who heads the legitimate government after being the non-legitimate head of the non-legitimate government for a little while when he was being a zionist american collaborator but now he isn't any more."

LL

PS
Ofcourse if Hassouna doesn't like having Sanioura as the PM, he can always send in a few of his goons to kill a few more Beirutees to "correct" the issue.

El Presidente

2008-05-26T08:46:00.002+04:00

Well we finally have us a new Pres, I'll hold off on judgement till we see khairo min sharro. I'm a little inclined to be negative (e.g. decision to stand by and let hizbo goons kill citizens) but his speech wasn't too bad, and at least he wasn't wearing a white suit.

Anyway, LBC did an interview with his mum and I really liked her, so that's always a good sign.

Who will he pick?

2008-05-25T09:11:00.003+04:00

There are rumors going around that Saad will pick himself for prime minister. Although that will be a funny "fuck you" to all the M8 supporters and would make me chortle for a few minutes, I think it would be a grievous mistake. He does not have the experience to carry off this role. He is way too young they would eat him alive.
So Saad if by any chance you are taking a break form Parliament today and you happen to land at this blog, my suggestion would be 3amto Bahia: let's have our (and the Arab world's) first female prime minister.

LL

PS. once Sanioura has retired, he too might have more time to surf the Internet, so in case he also lands on this blog, I would like to tell him that herein lies a woman who appreciated all he did in what has been a very difficult few years. He never stooped as low as they did and always steered a careful line in all the dirt, never a bad word. If he made one mistake it was that he was too clean for Lebanese politics. Bye Bye Sanioura, go enjoy your retirement you fully deserve it.

Well the shitheads have reached a deal

2008-05-21T10:52:00.004+04:00

Well the shitheads have reached a deal now, and we should all rejoice.
Pity they couldn't have come to this a few years and many lost innocent lives ago.

Unfortunately I think this is far from over, because in the end this is fight not between sects, or leaders, or even Iran and America. This in fact is a simple fight between two visions for a country: one that has had enough of wars and deaths and tragedy and destruction, and one that continues to believe that continuous war and struggle is the only way to fulfill an existence.

In the end, something's gotta give.

An empty victory

2008-05-15T10:23:00.006+04:00

Despite what their followers think, the higher ups in Hizballah should by now be realizing what a huge mistake the 2008 Ishtiah of Beirut and the Jabal was for them.

They have lost all credibility as a resistance movement, their weapons are now tarnished with the blood of their own people, the hate they have generated towards them (and unfortunately towards the shiite community a whole) is immense. Worst of all for them , their old "weapons will never be tuned inwards" adage cannot ever be used again as an excuse.

In fact Hizballah fulfilled ALL that was predicted would happen by them. They showed their true self, what those of us who have argued against them always have known, that they are a fundamentalist , backwards bunch of goons and like any other thugs they do not know how to solve anything without the use of force.

The funny thing is, they didn't need to do anything. I mean who the fuck would have dared take down their phone network whatever the government decreed? But the story goes beyond the network or even that idiot at the airport. This has long been a plan, and they were waiting for any excuse to enact it, to what end, only time will tell.

And for this 65 Lebanese died.

Massacres

2008-05-13T09:29:00.002+04:00

Well as expected in a civil war, the uncivil take to the streets, and once that happens, every psychopath has the right to "party" any which way he likes.
Starting with the killings of innocent unarmed men women and children in Beirut by the Iranian militias, through to the executions in halba, via the bombing of innocent civilians and of executions in the mountains.

I wonder who these people are who are capable of doing this and live amongst us in normal life. Are they your next door neighbour? The butcher? The baker? The candlestick maker?
Damn the all.

I feel sorry for the shiites. The regular ones who are like us and have never lifted a finger against anybody. They have been dragged into this by Hassan bin Faris and co. Now everybody hates them because they have been lumped with him and his Persian traitors.

As for Beirut, I am paradoxically happy that we did not fight back. You may think is she crazy? They were overtaken in 2 days and she feels proud? Yes I do. It showed me beyond doubt that us beirutees are not people of war, we are people of the pen not the sword, we are people of love not hate, we are people of civilization not backwardness. So yes I am proud to know to which kind of people I belong.

Having said that I am also proud of the Jabal Druze for fighting to protect their homes, or as they are now being called by the online community as per an article going round the sites the new "300".

Finally a word to the Lebanese Christians. I am so proud of you. You have shown an immense sense of growing up and learning from past mistakes. Not one bullet fired in the Christian areas of Lebanon. Keep it this way please. And pray for us that one day God will rid us of Hasan bin Faris and we will be secure in our homes too.

Support Freedom Of Speech in Lebanon

2008-05-10T16:58:00.002+04:00

Say no to forcible closure of Media Outlet whatever your affiliation.

With thanks to Mustapha at BeirutSpring for the banner.

Never make a good man angry...

2008-05-10T16:16:00.003+04:00

See they were expecting his resignation speech.

Boy were they disappointed, the man came out blazing (in his usual quiet and composed way). I've always thought Sanioura was a good man, perhaps at times too good for Lebanese Politics more used to its dirty wiley politicians. Today however they got a good man angry.

Allah y7meeh min wasakhiton.

Hizballah silences freedom of the press: or how to turn Lebanon into Iran

2008-05-10T12:08:00.003+04:00

I would be lying if I said that I was an avid watcher of Future Media in any of its guises, I've never been a fan of "Mouthpiece TV's" even if they belonged to my side.

However the shutting down of the Future Media offices (and the student grant offices which laughingly a major Hizballah MP and ingrate used to get money for his education), just goes to show you how Iranistan is going to behave: no freedom of press because this is how Mother Iran (and Sister Syria ofcourse) works.

Can you all Hizbiranians go live in your beloved country of Persia and leave us Lebanese alone? We want to be Lebanese not Iranian, thanks.

A message to all who support Aoun

2008-05-09T14:31:00.002+04:00

This is a message only to all those Aoun supporters. Congratulations, now you finally see the true face of your Asshole Allies Hizballah. The "guns will never be lifted against a Lebanese" scenario that is well and truely blasted to oblivion. we kept telling you what they were and you kept refusing to believe us.

You are all traitors to Lebanon you bunch of shithead Iranian and Syrian supporters. And in case you fucking Aouni's don't think this has anything to do with Syria then I suggest you take a detour to Mustaphas' Beirut Spring blog and see which asshole's pictures are now hanging in the burnt out offices of al-mustaqbal station. Go lick Syrian and Iranian butts you and your fucking Persian allies you traitors of Lebanon.

And don't worry about us Beiruties, we've had shitheads like you here before and they all left while Beirut will always remain.

Fuck Off and Good bye.

I wasn't going to comment

2008-05-08T17:58:00.002+04:00

I really wasn't , there's nothing to say.
I would just like to ask for the wrath of God to fall upon the head of every Lebanese who fires a weapon and is not currently in our Lebanese Army.
This will be my prayer for tonight.
Let's see if we still have a country tomorrow.

The Sinking of HMS Aoun

2008-05-06T20:04:00.005+04:00

I haven't posted in so long because I'm sick and tired of the whole situation. However after the last few days fiasco's and with apologies to Aoun supporters everywhere for the harsh language, I felt I had to say something: I think Aoun is prostituting himself for the sake of his love relationship with Hizballah.

For the sake of Hassouna, Aoun has actually reached the point where he has had to publicy agree that:
It's OK for an entity to have their own private communications network in a country with which to operate outside the rule of law and government (up to Byblos no less- in case of attack from where? Cyprus?)
It's OK for an entity to monitor the country's international airport with the complicity of the head of security at the airport.
It's OK for an entity to kidnap a foreign dignitary and interrogate him "just in case he's Israeli" (so now they can detain anyone-you know- "just in case")

The country is slipping into oblivion, being dragged there by the Maniacal fundamentalist religious ruling party in Iran, their puppets hizballah and the latter's little toy Aouni, who is too dimwitted or self involved to see what is being done to him.

I do not and would not claim that the M14 have some sort of moratorium on what direction the country should be taken, however despite all their corruption, their dirty histories, and their many inadequacies, at least they are aiming a move away from the continuous wars and destabilization that Hizballah relish, and is their main raison d'etre. What would hassoun do if he didn't have a war to play with, count the hairs on his beard?

Persopolis Unbanned

2008-03-28T00:05:00.002+04:00

Persopolis has been un-banned
One thing fixed.

5 million or so other issues still awaiting fixing.

It's official: 'Persepolis' won't screen in Lebanon-Dailystar Online Edition

2008-03-27T12:38:00.002+04:00

WTF???????
Is this how low we've sunk?
The Iranians control their proxies in Lebanon so well, that we are not allowed to watch movies that describe Iranian life and atrocities now. Why don't they just change the name of the country to Lebiran or Iranon or whatever.....
To all those March 8'ers talking about diginity all the time, where is the dignity in the Persians controlling you? 3abed Mahkoom is what you are now, whether you like it or not.

Shooting Fish in a Barrel

2008-03-02T08:57:00.002+04:00

For those of you who live on another planet, just to let you know the Israelis are out on one of their butchering sprees in Gaza. 54 killed and counting, amongst them 7 children. Of course all the borders in and out of Gaza are closed so there's no escape from the prison, hence the title of this post.

In other news, the Americans have sent their ship to cruise our coast, and the Lebanese await the repercussions of a canceled or failed Arabic Summit in Damascus. We also seem to be waiting for some sort of war, whether civil (from the inside) or uncivil (from the outside) is yet to be decided.

The man has finally lost it...

2008-02-23T00:57:00.002+04:00

Somebody should tend to Hassan, I think all that time spent hiding in the tunnels has given him a severe case of cabin fever.
His latest suggestion today is to hold competing rallies to see who's is bigger. I think he was really serious about it. He's gone completely insane.
I tell you he needs to spend more time out in the sun, a little vitamin D would do him wonders.

Time for Curfew?

2008-02-17T10:47:00.003+04:00

Every few days, idiots from both sides get overtaken by their testosterone and start fighting. These young men, most of whom were too young to remember the civil war, should be put on a leash. If their parents don't know how to control them, then the law should control them.
I suggest a curfew for all males under the age of 18 after 9pm, unless accompanied by an adult.
These imbeciles should be kept at home by force, since apparently they understand no other language.

By the Way

2008-02-15T12:11:00.002+04:00

Is it just me or is Saad finally starting to improve in the public speaking department?

A Nation Mourns

2008-02-14T17:57:00.002+04:00

One side remembers its fallen martyrs three years on, the other their newly assasinated victim.
It seems we are constantly trying to outdo each other, even in mourning.

Lebanon Loses

2008-02-03T09:26:00.000+04:00

7 Lebanese die in riots: Lebanon loses
Army may be implicated:Lebanon loses
Neighberhoud snipers may be implicated: Lebanon loses
Fatah al Islam snipers may be implicated: Lebanon loses
Syrian mokhabarat snipers may be implicated: Lebanon loses
More intersectarian hatred generated: Lebanon loses
Soldiers targeted after Sunday: Lebanon loses
Back to zero on president : Lebanon loses
Instability: Lebanon loses
Instability: Syrian Regime wins
Instability: Syrian Regime regains foothold
Instability: Syrian Regime rules agian
Syrian Regime rules again: LEBANON LOSES

It's all falling apart

2008-01-27T21:36:00.001+04:00

All hell has broken loose on the streets tonight. Already one person has been killed in confrontations between the army and the protesters.
I hope the M8 leaders who send these men to the street in the guise of "electricity protests" and think we're too stupid to recognise their political manoeuvrings, know they now have the blood of their own men on their hands.
They keep pushing and pushing a country on the brink. It's like they want a civil war. Bashar and his brother-in-law are smiling in their dreams tonight.

Another Explosion

2008-01-25T21:09:00.000+04:00

Another explosion, more people dead. The ISF officer targeted apparently had been targeted twice before. He is involved in investigations of previous explosions and had previously been targeted while investigating the telephone calls in the Harriri case.

May those who died rest in peace.

I just don't know how there's any hope for this country any more.

Palestinains Escape From Concentration Camp

2008-01-23T14:59:00.000+04:00

The wall came down and thousands crossed into Egypt.
Kinda brings a smile to your face :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7204029.stm

Oscar Nominations and the Irony of The Day

2008-01-23T10:50:00.000+04:00

Nadine Labaki's "Caramel" (sikkar baneit) doesn't get nominated, but Leabnon gets a look in at the Oscars from the Israeli side in the form of the movie "Beaufort" (kal3at shkief). I hope they lose, that way they get beaten twice at Beaufort ha ha.

Who's Blocking the Arab initiative?

2008-01-22T13:43:00.000+04:00

In the never ending story that is the politics in this country, a nice clue about who is blocking Amr Moussa et co. finally came to us from the mouth of the Syrian arse-lick Nasser Qandil who accused Moussa of being biased towards M14. What, didn't Qandil's team like a proposal that didn't give them absolutely everything?

As for the "protesters" against the electricity cuts, I'd like to remind everyone that the minister of electricity who deserted his post (but still attends when he feels like it) is M8. Why don't they all go and protest outside his house and burn rubbish in the streets of his neighbourhood?

and as an addendum, Kouchner definitely stopped being diplomatic and layed the blame on one side, after all he did promise us earlier that if no deal was struck, he was going to tell......
http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&3DFB8C80967D8733C22573D8001F140D

let us never forget those who were murdered by the hand of evil

2008-01-16T11:25:00.000+04:00

from Naharnet Newsdesk:

"The bodies of the three victims of the bombing in Karantina were identified as: Joseph al-Khoury, a Sin el-Fil resident and owner of the Fiat car that took the brunt of the attack, Fouad Kamal al-Abssi from Tripoli, and Ghassan Hussein al-Mohammed, a Syrian."

May they rest in peace.

Falling Behind

2008-01-08T09:57:00.000+04:00

Because of countless wars, hero-complexes, corruption and sectarian idiots we have fallen so far behind that there may be no chance for recovery.
The rich Arab countries used to need us as a conduit to the west. That put us as a unique position, a gateway between one culture and another.
Well they don't need us any more. They have more money, better education, better banking systems, better infrastructure, better international connections, more beautiful cities, improving cultural awareness, and all in all a generally better outlook on the future than we do.
But hey, Lebanese women can wear short skirts, and Lebanese men are so cool, and that's really all that matters. Right?

New Year's Resolutions.

2008-01-02T11:23:00.000+04:00

I hate New Year's Resolutions. If there is something logical to be done, I don't see why we have to wait till January 1st to do it.
Having said this, I am now about to make my first New Year's Resolution ever.
I resolve to blog about other things than Lebanese politics. Posting the photos in the last few weeks has made me feel good, and I have realised that there alot more interesting (and yes, occasionally happy) things going on around the world that I'd like to talk about. Ofourse this doesn't mean that I will stop critisizing the Lebanese politicians when they annoy me, 'cause let's face it Lebanses politicians are never going to go away.
So wish me luck, Happy New Year and hope you enjoy!
LaLebanessa

PS I apologise for any spelling mistakes, my spellcheck thingy has disappeared and my spelling has always been atrocious.

Another two weeks with no president, so here's another photo.

2007-12-29T18:43:00.001+04:00

Benazir Bhutto

2007-12-28T09:34:00.000+04:00

What kind of person would blow himself up amongst his own people? What kind of person thinks that human life of his co-citizens is so worthless that if can be eliminated as a byproduct of making a point, or removing a certain target?
How did this man reach this level of inhumanity, and still be convinced that what he is doing is good and holy? Did he think of all the widows and orphans he has created? Did he think of what is to happen to them now? How do they manage to brainwash them to this point?
I do not know enough about Benazir Bhutto to reflect on her life, but I need to know nothing about her to know that her death was the work of evil.

Season's Greetings

2007-12-19T13:39:00.000+04:00

In this time of difficulty we should take the time out to enjoy what little cause for celebration we have left.
So Eid Mubarak, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all .

Another Photo Break

2007-12-19T13:18:00.000+04:00

Explosion

2007-12-12T23:09:00.001+04:00

My condolences to the families of all the victims and to our Army for its loss.
We sit and weep for this country.

What still no president? Another postponement of the elections? Escalating rhetoric from both sides? OK, back to posting pretty pictures.

2007-12-12T09:16:00.000+04:00

A Zen Interlude because I'm sick of Lebanese Politics

2007-12-06T11:17:00.000+04:00

The One Good Thing

2007-11-25T14:20:00.001+04:00

The one good thing that came out of last Friday's fiasco is that we finally got rid of that nincompoop Lahoud. He left at midnight, and the celebratory fireworks immediately started in Beirut. We all can now breathe a sigh of relief for this small mercy: raw7a bala raj3a. The extension of his term was the igniting cause for the murder and mayhem, if he had any dignity, he would have resigned the day after that first assassination. M14 should have been allowed to depose him when they had the momentum but they were stopped by someone who should have known better, and it's no use crying over spilled milk now. Let's just mop up and move on.

Anyway, we can now relegate him to the bowels of history where he belongs.

Neswpaper Headline 10 yrs from now:

2007-11-23T16:53:00.000+04:00

11.23.2017 : Berri postpones presidential elections for the 1000'th time, Lebanon enters Guinness Book of Records for prestigious achievement.

Zhikna baka, tfoo 3ala hal araf.

One more day to go....

2007-11-22T11:02:00.000+04:00

Poor old Kouchner has spent more time in Lebanon this past month than in France. I wonder if he realised when they handed him the ministry that the "foreign" part was going to be exclusive to only one foreign country. He probably left a few days ago pretty sure that the problem had been solved, only to find that he had to return because he had trusted that the idiots that had to get together to vote for a president and save the country would actually go ahead and do so.

I hear that Spanish foreign minister is coming today. Spain, we didn't know you cared! Amr Moussa just left, I'm not sure why he came here in the first place since the Arab League are famous at achieving nothing. They do like to get together from time to time though where they talk a lot and fight a lot and embarrass themselves as well as inevitably achieve nothing. Who else, oh yeah, the Russians met with Saad in Moscow and then put out a hilarious statement that there shouldn't be any foreign interference in the elections , I mean ha ha ha, joke of the century. I like their deputy foreign minister's name: Alexander Sultanov, isn't that just the cutest? The Americans seem to be keeping a low profile these days, if you don't count Feltman met this and Feltman met that, but we're so used to Feltman interfering now that we count him as one of ours rather than one of their's.
The Iranian machinations always come out at the last minute via their Lebanese spokesman Nasrallah, usually to trample upon any glimmer of hope we have. Incidentally, our best clue for this "glimmer of hope" for a solution seems to be the fact that the Syrians have finally been invited to Annapolis (and I'll eat my hat if anything actually gets solved there).

In this last day before all shit hits the fan, or before a new beginning for the country, let us reflect on how annoyed we all are when we see footage and pictures of Parliament members from rival groups schmoozing, smiling, chatting and joking with each other as if nothing is happening, while we citizens of this country are dying a thousand deaths every day due to worry. I hate them all, each and every one of them, is that OK?

From Naharnet Newsdesk

2007-11-17T10:36:00.000+04:00

Article From Naharnet newsdesk today:

Aoun Threatens to Block Two-Third Quorum if President Has No Popular Backing Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun threatened to block a two-third quorum to elect a new head of state for Lebanon if the president-to-be did not enjoy popular backing.
"We will not support any president, not even if elected by a two-third quorum, if he does not enjoy popular support," Aoun told reporters after a meeting of his Change and Reform Bloc.

This is just too hilarious, what they actually meant to say was : Aoun Threatens to block even a 100% Quorum if the president elected is not himself.