This week we’ve seen the inertia from the different pro and anti government movements in Lebanon carry the people dangerously beyond the control of their movement’s leaders and very close to the point of no return. The general strike called by Hezbollah and Michel Aoun for Tuesday went far beyond a simple strike and turned into an all out riot. Generally, when a people revolt to overthrow their government in order to benefit their country they don’t actively participate in that country’s destruction. That, unfortunately, wasn’t the case for Lebanon. People took to the streets to block roads and burn tires as promised but they went beyond that and outside of Beirut to do it. There are many ways to overthrow the government without tearing down your country and turning it into the slums the thugs come from. One has to question whether the opposition is trying, as they say, to benefit Lebanon or to reduce it to a 3rd world poverty infested pit.
Yesterday, the AMAL and al Mustaqbal movements at the Beirut Arab University clashed. At least three were killed and dozens injured as they spilled onto the streets igniting the whole country to light up again in conflict between Hezbollah/Aoun supporters and 14 March. There were snipers throughout the country taking rooftops including two that were captured. One Lebanese, the other; a Syrian. Many people are saying others would benefit from the chaos in Lebanon. It would seem some may already be. Israel, as well, will not pass up the opportunity to make up for it’s defeat in the July War and wrest control from Syrian and Iranian influences in Lebanon either. While the people on the streets pay attention to the latest clashes, other countries are plotting for the right time to “intervene” in order to provide security and stability while leave over 1000 or more dead.
There is still time to move back from the current situation but at any time any one in Lebanon, regardless of what the so-called leaders of the different movements say, can spark a new civil war. Nasrallah, Hariri, Aoun, Geagea; none would be able to pull Lebanon back then. Is this the Lebanon Hezbollah has vowed to protect? Is this the Lebanon they’ve been the resistance for? Is this the organization Rafiq al Hariri argued should keep their arms? Lebanon is on the path of self destruction and the “leaders” responsible for the lives and welfare of the people are comprised of a self-appointed messiah, a delusional disgraced general, and Soleiman Franjieh, Bachar al Assad’s Lebanese pet. If this is the future of Lebanon, then Lebanon has no future.
