Region | Lebanon
Lebanese blogs: August 23
Lebanese blogs: August 23
- Gulf News Web Report
- Published: 23:34 May 3, 2009
Blog Lull & Depleted Uranium
http://urshalim.blogspot.com/
Putting the pieces together after the cease fire is taking time and effort. More than was anticipated. Hence the pause in blogging. Today Humpty Dumpty came to mind. Is any one in Beirut feeling a funny burning sensation on the face and in the eyes like me? Especially those who visit the suburbs? Could it just be the hot August weather?
Al-Akhbar [Ar] reported yesterday that a bomb hole (3m deep 10m wide) in Khiam was tested for nuclear radiation by Dr. Ibrahim Rashidi of the Lebanese University and Mohammad Kobeisi of the National Council for Scientific Research. The radiation level was very high according to both. Depleted uranium is suspected. Samples were taken for further testing to determine the type of radiation. Bernard Koushner (ex minister, France) was present according to Al-Akhbar. The article, written by Kamel Jaber, mentions suspicions of Khiam being hit by Tomahawk rockets.
A lot is going on in Lebanese politics in the aftermath of the bombing. Most are worth mentioning and/or discussing. Changes need to be made. In states-like Israel-officials are held responsible for their decisions and action. Right? At least this, should be done here too.
Manamania
http://cedarseed.livejournal.com/
Downtown Beirut reopened yesterday for the first time, but there was nobody anyway. My mom says it will be months before work picks up again - both her and my dad have been put out of work by the events, but still have bills to pay. I'm setting up a shop for her so she can at least try selling our books and postcards online in the meanwhile. They tell me not to come back yet because there's still no electricity, hardly any internet, no work and it's miserably hot. I'm not unhappy to stay here for longer while, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to return to my life as I knew it.
Security vacuum
http://www.beirutbeltway.com/beirutbeltway/
I know that the security situation in Lebanon is not exactly perfect. But frankly, I do not understand people who speak of a security vacuum until the international forces are deployed. UN's Roed-Larson conceded it would be a while before the force is fully operational. "Realistically, up to a point, you will have such a vacuum in Lebanon for the next two, three months," he said.
Oh? And what did Lebanon have for the past, I don't know, 30 years? South Lebanon has been the land-of-do-as-you-please for decades. Unless one considers the PLO, the various Israeli proxy militias and then Hezbollah security fillers, I fail to see how the next 2-3 months will be worse than the past 2-3 decades. At least there's a semblance of state authority in the area now, deploying, though ambiguously. But at least it's there.
If the concern is to keep Hezbollah from re-arming, then how about, for once, put some REAL pressure on Syria and Iran? By the time these forces deploy and Israel is satisfied with the arrangements, Iran and Assad will have dug tunnels under the border and turned Hezbollah and the other forgotten Palestinian militias into mini-armies. The Lebanese army is there now, and it says it's ready to extend the state's control over all Lebanese territory. The world should stop making it easy for the Lebanese government. Lebanon's future now looks like it hinges on these international forces, and Siniora's government sadly agrees. If the UN is serious about helping, then I know a few countries who never hesitate to send their allies expedited shipments of weapons. This is the Hariri investigation all over again. The UN passes a resolution, the US and France threaten with words, but they leave the chief investigator begging for equipment and he is denied help from those countries' intelligence services. Why not supply the Lebanese army with arms and support it logistically? Beat the Iranians at their game by arming the Lebanese army. Let the arms race begin.
I guess I continue to think that the international forces will not solve much, let alone fill a security vacuum, or stop the smuggling of weapons, especially not at the rate the UN is going. The onus should be on the Lebanese government, and everything else will create a responsibility vacuum. Let Hezbollah challenge the Lebanese army and fire a rocket under their watch. This army needs to grow up and learn how to act responsibly.
I mean what's the real issue here? Who doesn't trust the Lebanese army? And why is the world afraid of going after Syria and Iran? And what makes Israel think that some Frenchman can catch a Syrian smuggler?
Dear Mr Blair
http://mslevantine.blogspot.com/
In these times of trouble I thought you would appreciate a comforting voice. I first would like to thank you for your hospitality. I was born and raised in Beirut, studied in Paris, partied in NY and Saint Tropez and have been living in London for the past 13 years. I love it here, the succession of little villages, the cool indifference of the Brits, the freedom to believe, think, earn and spend are unique. In London, I am free to be the man I want; to love the person I want and lead the life I want. In London I'm free; and therefore I am alive.
My only issue is with my leaders, the so-called leaders of the free world. They also happen to be the best recruiting officers for the Hezbollah.
Mr Blair, the Hezbollah is not to be sniggered at. It is a worthy enemy and in the current battle for the heart and mind of the Arab people, they are winning. Why are they winning? Because the US, the UK and Israel are cooperating to produce droves of people, entire populations, who have nothing to lose. A person who has nothing to lose might as well be dead. How easy is it then to turn that person into a martyr candidate? How easy is it to convince him that the bliss of the afterlife is worth so much more then the hardships of the current one? How easy is it to convince the inhabitant of the Palestinian camp of Chatilla in Southern Beirut that to die in Iraq is nobler then the material appeal of the western society that he can see on TV but that he will never have?
As to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah, he has proven over the last month that he is an articulate leader who does what he says. So please Dear Mr Blair do not fight him with empty rhetoric and formulas such as “axis of evil'' or “terrorism''. Fight him with your mind. Fight him with the nobility of our cause.
The culture we share dear Mr Blair, me the Levantine of Muslim and Christian faith, and you, the British Prime minister, empowers the individual and respects life. Today. Now.
Hezbollah does not care for today's life. Hezbollah does not care for the rolling hills of Tuscany and the Sunset over Beirut's Raouche. Hezbollah emphasizes martyrdom. Life vs. death.
Dear Mr Blair, we need to help these people choose life. You do not fight people who have nothing to lose by trying to wipe them out. You do not try to destroy Hezbollah by bombing the hell out of Lebanon. That only makes them stronger.
You fight Hezbollah by taking away the reason for their existence. You stop Israel from acting like the bully in the playground. You push a fair and balanced UN resolution. You give the desperate people of Palestine and the destitute people of Lebanon something to lose. You give them schools. You give them hospitals. You give them jobs. You give them hope and dreams. And you don't give them rice. You let them grow it. Peacefully.
Dear Mr Blair, I beg you to do this fast because I am scared. This is not a localised conflict. This will come back to haunt us, from Beirut to London. People like myself will be the first victims of the current war. History has taught us that voices of reason and moderation are usually the first to drown in a sea of hatred.
PS: Some of my friends would argue that I should send this letter to President Bush instead. I beg to differ. Mr Blair, I believe that the United Kingdom has now the opportunity to be the voice of reason and make a difference.
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