Lebanon Update 10

Western Beirut:

The population of western Beirut has tripled over the past seven days, going from 500,000 to close to 1.5 million people. West Beirut is predominantly Sunni and it is now becoming home, for the duration of this crisis to many many Shi'as from al-Dhahiyyeh (southern Suburb of Beirut) and Southern Lebanon who are escaping the targeted areas. This was reported to me by a friend who is in Western Beirut now.

Maronite Zeal and Shia Zeal:

In an interview with al-Jazeera TV years ago, the late Georges Hawi, the General Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party said, I paraphrase, the last Civil War was a result of Maronite zeal, but the next one can be because of Shia or Sunni zeal.

More than 150,000 people were killed in the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). Those who caused these deaths are now and have been since the end of the war, part of the Lebanese government or at least have not been penalized for their crimes. Some of the men in the Lebanese political class are war criminals, most have Lebanese blood on their hands, all have worked for Syria, Israel and others. So it is no surprise that Hassan Nasrallah works for Iran, that seems to be the traditional prerequisite.

Here are some names that should be at the Hague:

1- General Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces
2- Dr. Samir Geagea, Lebanese Forces
3- Nabih Berri, AMAL
4- Walid Jumblat, Progressive Socialist Party, PSP

The above four warlords are not only in Lebanon, but are powerful and Michel Aoun wants to become the president of Lebanon.

There are more:

Phalnge warlords worked closely with Israel and cheered the Israeli occupation of Lebanon while never shutting up about the independence of Lebanon. It was not their Christianity or self-hatred as Arabs that led them to slaughter Palestinians and Lebanese during the war, it was simply greed because Michel Aoun is responsible for the Syrian presence in Lebanon which ended just last year. Syria's allies in Beirut have always been from the elite maronite class, even today, President Emile Lahud, a Maronite is a close friend of Syria's.

Nothing was done against the warlords of the civil war. Elie Hobeika, who is responsible for carrying out, among other atrocities, the Sabra and Shatila massacres which took the lives of some 700 Palestinian refugees in the outskirts of Beirut, was named, after the war, Minister of Displaced Persons. He also served as Minister of the Disabled. The irony is that Hobeika had played a major role in displacing and handicapping the people of Lebanon.

The truth ought to be told about Lebanon, this society needs a truth and reconciliation commission more than anything else.

It is a pity that a society this cultured, this sophisticated should have politicians who follow their fathers' footsteps to enter the political scene. Bachir Gemayel, Amin Gemayel and other neo-Gemayels are deified by some Maronites because of Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the Phalange. Walid Jumblatt, the son of the Druze leader, Kamal Jumblatt is referred to by the Druze as al-Walid, "The Walid." And even Sa'ad Hariri entered Lebanese politics immediately after his father's assassination in February of last year.

Lebanon deserves better than these clowns and criminals, so at a time when all the focus is on Hassan Nasrallah, we should be looking at other Lebanese politicians who are equally guilty.