The wave of criticism directed against former Army Commander General Michel Aoun continued on Tuesday, following his anti-Syria testimony in Washington last week. Aoun urged the United States in Congress last Wednesday to intervene and terminate Syriaâs tutelage over Lebanon, accusing Damascus of providing shelter to terrorists. Parliamentâs Foreign Affairs Committee said that holding any independent and sovereign country accountable outside the framework of the United Nations Security Council was âa first-degree legal heresy ⊠and an interference in domestic affairs.â
| Does that statement make any sense?... Didn't think so...I like the part about "first-degree legal heresy," though. It brings to mind stakes and tumbrels and torches in the night, hooded â or perhaps beturbanned â Grand Inquisitors... |
The committee also said Syriaâs presence here was a factor for stability and contributed to the liberation of south Lebanese from the Israeli occupation.
| Syria's presence was a factor in introducing Lebanon's stability. It's been 12 years now, if I recall correctly. If the Syrians leave and Lebanon collapses into anarchy again, perhaps there's no hope for the place... |
Separately, a meeting held Tuesday at the Phalange Party headquarters discussed ways to confront Aounâs testimony. Participants issued a statement saying the testimony harmed national unity.
| Meaning they don't want the Syrians to beat them up... |
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Waed Party, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Baath Party, the Lebanese Democratic Party, the Tashnaq, Ramgavar and Hentchak Parties, the Lebanese National Front, the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange Party.
| It's always good to have National Socialists and Baathists at your meetings. Do Lebanese Phalangists wear those Franco hats? |
Participants urged Aounâs supporters to knuckle under remain in permanent contact with all the Lebanese, to serve the interests of the Christians and all the people in the country. They also urged Aounâs supporters not to âsearch for illusory victoriesâ and to abstain from slogans that contradict national unity, adding that Aoun has participated in a campaign led by a group loyal to Zionism more so than to the United States.
| I thought the two were identical? Or maybe that's just to the National Socialists... |
The committee also warned of the necessity of staying aware of the dangers that could result from maintaining such political orientation and stressed the âimportance of solidarity in the face of attempts to take the country back to the dark days.â Islamic and national parties in the Western Bekaa and other related groups, called for prosecuting Aoun on charges of collaborating with Israel.
"He must be killed!... Ahmed, write me a fatwah!... Mahmoud! Bring up the tumbrels!"
"Can't we just car bomb him, effendi?" |
A Tuesday statement, issued after a meeting held at the office of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Jib Jinnin, described Aounâs testimony as âfalseâ and accused him of being related to Zionism and its followers in the United States. |