Comments on: Lebanon ’s Presidential Election

By: george

george — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:12:48 +0000

All right guys, no fights please I see more objectivity than irrationality in Mr. Lambs article. After all, can anyone explain to me why countries like Saudi Arabia, and other Persian Gulf countries should remain autocracies in this New Middle East being preached by the US administration, while other Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Iraq should be taught democracy, even at the point of a gun or at the risk of starting a civil war, as is already happening in Iraq. In this respect Mr. Lamb is absolutely right.

Frankly speaking, there is nothing like democracy and a new Middle East, rather there is US national interest, that currently has no regard whatsoever to the bare and fundamental principles of ethics, let alone decency. Using double standards in US foreign policy smacks of sheer hipocrisy, of course.

By: John

John — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:21:34 +0000

Take it easy, man!!!! Don’t confuse the readers of your article. If the official figures are verified, and if the lebanese recent immigrants are disregarded, 57% of the population is Muslim (Shia + Sunni) and not Shia… Beware, it’s a BIG MISTAKE. There are still CHRISTIANS IN LEBANON…….

By: Anapia

Anapia — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:08:59 +0000

Can Mr. Lamb clarify who are the local inhabitants of Lebanon, according to him, if the Phoenicians are considered also as outsiders? Can he also tell when did the Phoenicians conquered Lebanon? Anyway, apart from some confused ideas , the article contains some interesting information.

By: Gibreel Gibreel

Gibreel Gibreel — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:35:11 +0000

While I agree with certain points made by Franklin Lamb, he is clearly not an expert on Lebanon. In fact he is nothing more than an amateur playing Middle Eastern / Lebanon political analyst. He is clearly bias, which in itself is not a problem since very few journalists are truly impartial, but his facts are simply rubbish so he ends up destroying the credibility of the article.

Evidence?

1) Lamb writes: “On the one side now as then, are indigenous forces that identify with their Arab roots and that seek to assert an indigenous identity and a more nationalist ideology, and on the other side are forces that prefer close ties to the US and France as well as international alliances. Among these are some who are prepared to accept a peace treaty with Israel even before the achievement of a just solution to the Question of Palestine including the full Right of Return plus Full, Fair and Equitable compensation for Lebanon’s 430,000 Palestinians.”

The “indigenous forces that identify with their Arab roots and that seek to assert an indigenous identity and a more nationalist ideology” are presumably the Muslims, primarily the Sunni, who were still dreaming “umma al-Arabia”, which incidentally meant non-Sunni Muslims (yes that means the Shia too) would be “protected people”, just like under the Ottomans. Tell that to the Armenians.

This situation exists in Franklin Lamb’s mind. Lebanon took in Palestinian refugees and it was the Palestinians led by Arafat who declared that “the road to Jerusalem runs through Jounieh”. He then attempted to make Lebanon the new Palestine and unleashed a reign of terror and bloodshed against the Christians and Shia.

2) Lamb writes: “While many of the issues from 1982 are the same, so are many of the players such as Nabeh Berri, Salim al-Hoss, Samir Geagea, Walid Jumblatt, Amin Gemayel, Michel Aoun, the Christian and Muslim religious leaders, ambitious Generals, and the list goes on.”

Utter nonsense. In 1980 Michel Aoun was appointed head of the Defence Brigade, which was stationed along the Green Line that separated West and East Beirut. In 1982 he took command of the new 8th Brigade, a multi-confessional army unit. He was a middle ranking officer and played no role as the army had split and was in effect on the sidelines. Bashir Gemayel was head of the Phalangist party and Samir Geagea was a nobody. Amin Gemayel took was elected president after Bashir was assassinated in September 1982. Prior to that Amin took very little interest in politics.

I could go on, but Franklin Lamb has exposed himself to be a lamb chop when it comes to facts.

By: Yvesbek

Yvesbek — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:45:29 +0000

It is always reassuring to know that someone in America can see through the many mistakes made by its government when it comes to foreign policy, and especially for the Middle East.
God bless you Franklin for your “clairvoyance” in this matter.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:10:30 +0000

This article is the best article I have ever read. Couldn’t be better. Good Job Franklin and keep up the good work of providing the clear truth…

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:56:55 +0000

So in other words, the US’s leaders decide who they want and plan on installing them any way possible, even if it goes completely against the law and the will & interests of the people on all sides. Hey, they’re getting exactly the same kind of ‘democracy’ we’ve got in the US after all!