A Good Week For Syria

Two stories about Lebanon in the international press recently. Neither bring good news. The Economist tackles the killing of Wissam Eid, and notes the suspicious timing of the bombing:

"The timing of the attack -- two days before the Arab League was scheduled to discuss its as yet unfruitful effort to enable the election of Lebanon's army commander, General Michel Suleiman, as president -- also suggests a broader political motive. Syria and its Lebanese allies have hedged their acceptance of Mr Suleiman with conditions that would enable them to block policies advocated by the current parliamentary majority, which is led by the late Mr Hariri's son, Saad. These policies include a commitment to the Hariri tribunal."

An investigator into Hariri's assassination is killed. The opposition blocks any Arab mediation that would ensure government support for the international tribunal into Hariri's assassination. Not bad for a week's work. But wait, there's more.

Michael Young interviewed Detlev Mehlis for the Wall Street Journal, and wrote an article that is sure to warm Bashar al-Assad's heart (though I doubt this was Mr. Young's intention). European bureaucrats don't need Syrian thuggery to stall the international court at all -- they're perfectly capable of doing it by themselves. Mehlis remarks that "I haven't seen a word in [Serge Brammertz's] reports during the past two years confirming that he has moved forward" with the investigation. The tribunal, according to Mehlis, "appears to have lost the momentum it had until January 2006."

And then, with the riots yesterday -- well, it shouldn't be hard to guess the mood around here. I am busy today. There is more to write later. This will all get much worse before it gets better.

Laying Blame

Excuse me for being blunt, but this is unbelievable crap:

"With attack after attack taking out elements of Lebanon's anti-Syrian establishment, it is only natural for immediate shock and anger to point the finger at Damascus. But with Lebanon refusing to budge as proxy battle field for the region's numerous battles, there is equal weight in the Syrian counter-argument, that elements out to discredit the Asad regime are at play in Lebanon's continuing nightmare, clearly the worst since the end of the long civil war."

The people who keep peddling the "they're killing their own to discredit Syria!" line rarely give the impression that they're arguing in earnest, so it's hard to summon the energy to hit back at them. I suppose they continue with it because they're called on to say something, and it's not pleasant to admit that one is allied with murderers. Three March 14 MPs have been killed in the past year. Eid was the second ISF investigator to be targeted -- an attack in September 2006 wounded Col. Samir Shehadeh, who was also involved in the Hariri investigation. When the bomb exploded next to Captain Eid, which is the more logical conclusion: that the attack is part of some nefarious public relations scheme, or that someone wants him dead?

Who Was Wissam Eid?

In remarks following the explosion, Director-General of the Internal Security Forces Ashraf Riffi said that Captain Eid "possessed very sensitive files related to terrorist explosions that occurred in Lebanon." Captain Eid was apparently a key player into the investigations of the anti-Syrian figures assassinated in the past few years.

One report -- subsequently denied by Interior Minister Hassan al-Sabaa -- claimed that Eid was returning from a meeting with the International Investigation Committee. The IIC is investigating the recent assassinations, including the killing of former PM Rafiq Hariri in 2005. What does seem to be clear is that Eid had intimate knowledge of the investigation into Hariri's assassination.

Over at Beirut Spring, Mustapha lays blame for the attack at the feet of those trying to thwart the International Tribunal.

"The most insulting analysis one can come across is that Alqaeda is doing it. Those bearded idiots are definitely not the ones who read in today's newspaper that progress is being made in the international Tribunal, and then decided to eliminate an obscure key official in charge of sensitive data as a warning.

He was "in his 30s and had been working with the ISF for about eight years."

Explosion in Hazmieh

As of 11am, an explosion in the Beirut district of Hazmieh has reportedly killed 10 people. The bomb apparently killed Captain Wissam Eid, of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Services. More as the story develops.

Update: Al-Jazeera pushes the story ahead with more information about the neighborhood: "The explosion erupted in the the Furn al-Shebbak neighbourhood on Friday, a mainly Christian area housing several foreign embassies and homes of diplomats."

Meanwhile, NOW Lebanon reports that the victim, Eid, had been the target of an assassination attempt previously, in February 2006. Also, they have this: "Unconfirmed reports said that a high-ranking judge was killed in the explosion and that he could have been the target."

Mixed Emotions

So pro-Hezbollah figures have nothing but praise for Nasrallah's "I'm not talking about normal body parts" speech. This is not a surprise. The reaction from anti-Hezbollah people has been far more interesting. Pace Nick Blanford, in NOW Lebanon: "Nasrallah is a master of psychological manipulation, acknowledged even by the Israelis, and his words had a powerful effect in Israel."

The liberal Israeli daily Haaretz also got into the act, publishing an article that claims Hezbollah's omnipotence in everything from welfare services to -- I kid you not -- managing organic food markets:

"Hezbollah is the only real political party in Lebanon. The state does not exist: The public schools are terrible, and anyone who wants a decent education goes to private schools. There is zero health insurance. The other political parties exist on paper. In fact, these are one-family parties. Hezbollah, however, is everywhere; it provides education and welfare. Non-religious people also enjoy its services.

Me, I'm not so sure. To me, Nasrallah's remarks only made it more likely that Israel will decide that it is impossible to reach any sort of understanding with Hezbollah, and that their only option is to wipe them off the map. I can see a normal, non-Hezbollah Lebanese supporting "resistance" to liberate Lebanese territory. But a never-ending state of war against a technologically superior enemy, complete with the most grotesque rhetoric imaginable? Are FPM supporters comfortable with Aoun mounting a podium to brag about "a semi-complete body from the chest to the pelvis?" This was a misstep by Nasrallah. Some people just haven't realized it yet.

Hezbollah - Kataeb Spat Gets Ugly

As a general rule, Hassan Nasrallah is exempt from the sort of scorched-earth rhetoric that rival politicians hurl at each other. March 14 leaders will gleefully spend all day bashing Aoun, Franjieh, and Berri. But everyone becomes a little more circumspect when dealing with the Hezbollah chief. There is a tendency to lapse into the passive voice. Of course, this has nothing at all to do with the fact that Nasrallah has a private army at his disposal.

After Nasrallah's perverse remarks about the various Israeli body parts in his possession, here was Amin Gemayel's response: "We regret some of the terminology and some images that many Lebanese found disgusting in Sayyed Nasrallah's speech." Not exactly going for the jugular, is he?

Nevertheless, Gemayel's criticism caused Hezbollah to reach deep into their bag of tricks for a response. Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah delivered the blow: "We believed that the emotions and inclinations of his Excellency (Gemayel) have died with time and that he no longer had feelings for enemy leaders." Fadlallah is making a not-too-veiled reference to the Phalange's alliance with Israel during the civil war. Generally, these ghosts remain further under the surface. Resurrecting old disputes carries the risk of a return to open sectarian conflict.

But, after all, the Sayyed's honor must be preserved. No matter the cost. If you think this is the logic of a group that has reconciled itself to the democratic process, you're deluding yourself.

P.S. Every once and a while, some creative Lebanese will put together a piece of satire like this one, poking well-deserved fun at Lebanon's political class (Hat Tip: Sietske). The short-lived Douma game was another. If you get to looking at the various characters in both examples, you'll discover one key player was missing -- the good Sayyed. Again, this has nothing to do with the fact that Nasrallah has a private army at his disposal.

Middle Eastern Bagpipes!

Remarkz was wondering why the typically Scottish bagpipes were popping up at Palestinian and Hezbollah rallies. The only answer I could come up with was some sort of historical identification with the Scottish fight for independence against the English -- but that seemed to be stretching plausibility. And then I read what commenter "mo" had to say:

the myth that the bagpipes are of Scottish origin is as old as it is wrong. The Scots were introduced to the bagpipe by the Romans, who in turn were introduced to it in the Middle East. In fact, the bagpipe, whose origins can probably never be accurately placed, is believed to have been first used (invented?) in either Iraq or Syria.

Therefore the Arab claim to the bagpipes is far older and more apt than the clansman of the highlands and not so wrong for a Palestinian demonstration or Hizballah video. :)

Well, cool! Hummus, debka, and now bagpipes -- what's not to like about this part of the world?

(Facebook) Criminals Brought To Justice

There are, I suppose, good reasons to avoid sarcasm as a rhetorical device. It is not useful in bringing those who disagree around to your point of view. There also exists the practical difficulty of sarcasm being hard to impart with the written word. However, let me point out that it has been 1,069 days since the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and it is unlikely that today will be the day his killers are brought to justice. The same can be said regarding the cases of, for example, Gebran Tueni, Samir Kassir, Pierre Gemayel, Walid Eido, Antoine Ghanem, the victims of this week's attack in Dawra-Karantina, and the other politicians and civilians targeted in recent years. Despite all this, you will be happy to know that the rule of law has finally returned to Lebanon:

"Four Lebanese university students have been jailed for a week for making crude remarks on the Facebook social networking site about the singing talents of a woman they met at a party, media reports said on Thursday.

...

The four were charged with slander and 'violating public morality' and were ordered to be held in preventive detention despite objections by human-rights groups."

Free speech includes the right to criticize others. It even includes the right to make stupid, petty attacks on one's classmates. In societies which do not treat its citizens like infants, the authorities assume that people can judge minor gossip for what it is, and draw their own conclusions about those who spread it. They also assume that those on the receiving end have thick enough skin to respond with a comment of their own, rather than requiring the protection of rifle-wielding policemen. Forgive me if, at the moment, the only feeling I can conjure up towards the Lebanese justice system is one of contempt.

Explosion In Dawra-Karantina

An car bomb targeting a US embassy car exploded in northern Beirut today, killing four Lebanese civilians standing nearby. Nobody in the car appears to have been killed. Naharnet has the most plausible explanation for this so far:

"A Lebanese security source told Naharnet the booby-trapped car, parked on the seafront road across the industrial neighborhood, was detonated as the U.S. Embassy's bullet proof Sports Utility Vehicle drove by it.

Another car, a BMW, was trying to overtake the U.S. Embassy vehicle and 'took the brunt of the blast. The two people in the BMW, the driver and the person sitting next to him, were killed,' the source said."

CNN also reported on this story. In NOW Lebanon, Marwan Hamadeh compared this attack to assassinations of foreign diplomats during the eighties.

More, obviously, as the story develops.

Update: Courtesy of Blacksmiths of Lebanon, blogger Harry Doornbos has a video of the scene, moments after the attack.

The U.S Embassy released a statement, which expressed their condolences to the families of those killed and announced the cancelation of Ambassador Feltman's farewell dinner. An excerpt reads:

"The Embassy is outraged that there are still those who work to undermine Lebanon's stability through murder and intimidation. The Lebanese people deserve to live in peace and security in an independent and united Lebanon. Crimes like the Dora attack will not weaken the international partnership working to support and strengthen Lebanon's independence and democracy."

Censorship Is Contagious

Here's news about Lebanon that I've only seen in the Israeli press. Lebanese authorities have pressured the Daily Star into not printing an advertisement from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, calling on the United Nations General Assembly to designate suicide bombing as a crime against humanity. The Jerusalem Post has the story:

The Lebanese government has apparently blocked the Beirut-based Daily Star from running the Simon Wiesenthal Center's advertisement, which calls for the United Nations General Assembly to convene a special session on suicide terror.

The Editor-in-Chief of the Lebanese newspaper, Hanna Anbar, initially expressed his support for the ad but later indicated that the newspaper was barred by 'security authorities' from running the full-page advertisement. Three other Arab publications, Saudi Arabia's Arab News, the London-based Al-Sharq al Awsat, and Lebanon's Dar Al-Hayat never responded to the Wiesenthal Center's repeated attempts to place the ad.

I suppose that the bureaucrats who spend their time blocking these ads believe that they are wielding power to protect the Palestinian resistance, and the tactics it sometimes employs. They think they are striking their own blow against the Zionists, but the truth is precisely the opposite. By preventing such an innocuous an ad from appearing, they are admitting to a severe weakness. Instead of dealing with the issue directly, their only response is to shut off debate within the Arab world.

Anyway, here's the ad. Judge the danger that this poses to the Lebanese nation for yourself.

You Stay Classy, Lebanese Forces

Wow. Someone in the Lebanese Forces decided that it would be a great idea to give its opponents, who claim that it is a quasi-military organization whose support for democratic values only runs skin deep, extra ammunition. The popular LF blog Ouwet Front recently got an e-mail from the "Technical Manager" of the Official LF site, demanding that they shut down and be subsumed into one unified, Borg-like main site. When Ouwet refused, this is what the would-be censor had to say.

"IT IS A DIRECT ORDER FROM DR. GEAGEA. It is either you follow up the Lebanese Forces and its leader Dr. Geagea or you open another party on your own."

Well, that's not going to help Mr. Geagea argue that this was one bad apple acting on his own. The censor goes on to clarify that "[i]t is not a matter of military orders or not it is only to use all power in one place." How nice that the LF decided to provide this glimpse into its governing philosophy.

Worst. Interview. Ever.

Many congratulations to the LA Times for discovering that there are American-style universities in the Middle East. The newspaper took the time to interview the Lebanese American University President Joseph G. Jabbra. They did not take the time to assign the interview to anybody who knew anything about Lebanon. Questions include:

• "Is anybody calling women of the college -- women either shouldn't be allowed at the college or they should have to wear a veil at the college?"
• "Anything with 'American' in its title is thought, at least over here, to have a target attached to it these days...How does that play out on the campus?"
• "Lebanese all think Americans are dumb."

No, that last one is not a question. For the life of me, I have no idea why the interviewer decided to dispense that little pearl of wisdom. The average LA Times editor or Californian, who knows nothing about "American" universities in the Middle East, wouldn't know anything more about LAU after reading this piece. In fact, they would know less.

PS: Yes, the election has been postponed again. I have a sneaking, unproven suspicion that Al-Jazeera is simply recycling old articles on this subject, with slight alterations in the quotations. Regardless, anyone who didn't see this coming hasn't been paying attention.

The Divide

While the lights go off in celebration of President Bush's visit to Jerusalem, some folks in Lebanon begin planning protests if the American President decides to add Beirut to his list of destinations. Personally, I don't see how his presence would serve to advance his goals. With March 14 likely to be engaged in negotiations surrounding the Arab League initiative, the last thing the Siniora government needs is to be painted as a puppet of the American government.

For the past seven years, the Bush Administration and Israel have acted in virtual lock-step. However, Haaretz has a perceptive editorial about the sole issue where there's space between the two countries' positions:

"When President George W. Bush arrives in Israel in the next few days, it is possible that Syria will be a major topic and not just the Palestinians and Iran. Damascus is one issue which Washington and Jerusalem view very differently. Those in Israel pressing for a revived Syria peace track have failed to identify the problem with the U.S.; nor do they realize that the solution to this policy difference between the two friends may be found in Beirut.

Giuseppe di Lampedusa's "The Leopard"

(Fair warning: the only relation of the following 600-plus words to Lebanon is tangential. If that is not your cup of tea, feel free to move on)

We all began as something else. Lebanon, of course, was not always the Lebanon we know today. France was not always France. And Italy was only willed into existence in 1860, with the unification of the various kingdoms of the Italian peninsula. The Risorgimento was led by the state of Piedmont, ruled from the northern city of Turin by King Victor Emmanuel II and his Prime Minister Cavour.

It did not occur without bloodshed. In May 1860, the Piedmontese Garibaldi, without Cavour's blessing, sailed to Sicily to capture the southern island from the "Kingdom of the Two Sicilies," comprising Sicily and Naples. The Garibaldini routed the loyalists in Sicily and, gathering momentum and volunteers, swept north and marched into Naples. With the final military defeat of the Bourbon monarchies, the "liberated" kingdoms agreed to join the new Italian state. Italy was born. These are the people and events that Giuseppe di Lampedusa's The Leopard tackles.

But the book is broader than 19th century Italian political developments. The Leopard tells the story of the twilight years of the old Sicilian aristocracy, and their eventual replacement by a new liberal, merchant class. The protagonist is Don Fabrizio, the Prince of Salina, who is forced to grapple with the gradual deterioration of his authority and his wealth -- despite losing long ago any ethical attachment to the ancien regime's cause. He is resolutely anti-heroic: "Poor Prince Fabrizio lived in perpetual discontent under his Jovelike frown," writes Lampedusa, "watching the ruin of his own class and his own inheritance without ever making, still less wanting to make, any move toward saving it."

The book's great insight surrounds the constants in revolutionary situations. Lampedusa's Sicily is caught in a constant cycle of decay and regeneration: the old ruling class becomes decadent and anachronistic, and is superseded by a new class -- which is eventually domesticated and corrupted by creature comforts. Old rulers are pushed aside by younger, more vital upstarts. Passion cools into loveless marriages. At the end of all the grand events and lofty sentiments, As the rest of the world moves forward, Sicily remains essentially unaltered.

"In Sicily it doesn't matter whether things are done well or done badly; the sin which we Sicilians never forgive is simply that of 'doing' at all. We are old, Chevalley, very old. For more than twenty-five centuries we’ve been bearing the weight of a superb and heterogeneous civilization, all from outside, none made by ourselves, none that we could call our own. We're as white as you are, Chevalley, and as the Queen of England; and yet for two thousand and five hundred years we’ve been a colony. I don't say that in complaint; it's our fault. But even so we're worn out and exhausted.

...

"This violence of landscape, this cruelty of climate, this continual tension in everything, and these monuments, even, of the past, magnificent yet incomprehensible because not built by us and yet standing around like lovely mute ghosts; all those rulers who landed by main force from every direction, who were at once obeyed, soon detested, and always misunderstood, their only expressions works of art we couldn’t understand and taxes which we understood only too well and which they spent elsewhere: all these things have formed our character, which is thus conditioned by events outside our control as well as by a terrifying insularity of mind."

The Leopard reads like an extended obituary -- but what a magnificent funeral. It is a description of a society frozen in place, as the world rushes ahead without it. Lampedusa is solely concerned with his small corner of southern Italy, but may I suggest that there are those in other societies -- perhaps other Mediterranean societies -- which his words could speak to. In a letter describing the characters and setting of his novel, Lampedusa writes, "Sicily is Sicily -- 1860, earlier, forever." For better or worse.

The Obvious Comparison

"It's therefore likely that Bhutto's assassination will join that of former Lebanese PM Rafiq al-Hariri as an "unsolved mystery." (We're now on our third U.N. special investigator in the Hariri case, with very few little to show for it.)" -Foreign Policy Passport

That is just depressing on too many levels for me to get into right now...