Lebanon: Hariri election win

[maven]

Lebanon confirms
Supporters of 14 March coalition
Many 15 March supporters had feared a victory by long-marginalised Shias

Official results released a day after Lebanon's hotly-contested parliamentary election have confirmed the pro-Western coalition has held on to its majority.

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud confirmed that the coalition led by Saad Hariri had won 71 seats in the 128-member body, one more than four years ago.

The bloc led by militant and political movement Hezbollah won 57 seats.

Mr Baroud said voting passed off satisfactorily, despite some organisational problems.

Security has been tightened and political leaders appealed for calm throughout Lebanon, which last year witnessed pitched battles between rival factions.

A possible victory for Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, had caused jitters among Western governments, and the US had threatened to review its aid package to Lebanon.

Preliminary estimates had put turnout at more than 54% of the electorate of about 3.2 million people, a record high since the 1975-91 civil war.

The campaign was marred by mud-slinging and accusations that large numbers of expatriate Lebanese were flown home for free to cast votes.

Lebanon is a country of deeply-fragmented religious sects, and this election broadly pitted Shia Muslim supporters of Hezbollah against Sunni Muslims and Druze supporting the 14 March coalition.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/8089285.stm

[bararallu]

How much money I wonder did the Saudis pump in on this one. Eitherway nothing is changing. The Sunnis will eventually radicalize and the last of the Christians and Druse will flee.

[NewsGuy]

This is good news, although we need to remember that Hezbullah is already completely in control of South Lebanon, with extensive civil, political, and military structures in place.

This election was really about parts of Central and Northern Lebanon only.

There, too, Hezbullah has a considerable say in the Lebanese government, and more than 1/3 of Lebanon's army is actually comprised of Hezbullah troops.

[orangeblossom]

First, ON USA PACAKGE AID TO LEBANON: There was never one; never will be one. Their package aid is about 7 hummvees per years and a used plane.

So, do not worry Israel - on one hand - you are safe in getting your package aid for now. What up to 80 Billion or so I think?

But, on the other hand...do not ask why Lebanese Army can not get rid of Hezbollah - who are armed to the teeth. Remember the last Al-qaida so called uprising in a Pal camp 2 years ago. We went in with nothing...but came out victorious. We find our own guns.

In all fairness, if a war starts in Lebanon, guns just flow in. We don't rely on USA needs as Israel does.

Thanks...and that's my opinion. OB.

[maven]

First, ON USA PACAKGE AID TO LEBANON: There was never one; never will be one. Their package aid is about 7 hummvees per years and a used plane.

So, do not worry Israel - on one hand - you are safe in getting your package aid for now. What up to 80 Billion or so I think?

But, on the other hand...do not ask why Lebanese Army can not get rid of Hezbollah - who are armed to the teeth. Remember the last Al-qaida so called uprising in a Pal camp 2 years ago. We went in with nothing...but came out victorious. We find our own guns.

In all fairness, if a war starts in Lebanon, guns just flow in. We don't rely on USA needs as Israel does.

Thanks...and that's my opinion. OB.

Don't worry Orangeblossom, if Lebanon takes on Hiz'bollah Israel will supply the guns.

[orangeblossom]

ON THE ELECTIONS! IT WAS A LANDSLIDE! Please...do not label it a 'harriri' win. Sad, but once you do that YOU MAKE IT A SUNNI WIN! It took all sects. It was a revolution.

It was today, a victory of PPL WANTING to promote Lebanon; and be unified no matter what religion. THat is why so many ppl were celebrating on the streets!

Shias stuck to their clothes, except for those etiher arrested or in the Free Shia Party.

I could go on an on...but Lebanon is progressing in a Free Little America. First in Middle East!

Love it!
ob.

[bararallu]

First, ON USA PACAKGE AID TO LEBANON: There was never one; never will be one. Their package aid is about 7 hummvees per years and a used plane.

The recently acquired French equipment was used against us, or so the rumor goes.

So, do not worry Israel - on one hand - you are safe in getting your package aid for now. What up to 80 Billion or so I think?

You can keep it .

[maven]

ON THE ELECTIONS! IT WAS A LANDSLIDE! Please...do not label it a 'harriri' win. Sad, but once you do that YOU MAKE IT A SUNNI WIN! It took all sects. It was a revolution.

It was today, a victory of PPL WANTING to promote Lebanon; and be unified no matter what religion. THat is why so many ppl were celebrating on the streets!

Shias stuck to their clothes, except for those etiher arrested or in the Free Shia Party.

I could go on an on...but Lebanon is progressing in a Free Little America. First in Middle East!

Love it!
ob.

Dont blame me it was the BBC who made the title.

Lebanon should realize it should make friends with Israel, do business with Israel, dance and sing with the Israelis and resist Ayotollah Nasrullah's attempts to bring war on your country.

Hariri and all these idiots spit on Israel in public while wishing they could be as free as Israel in private. Why don't they come out and say We prefer Israel to Iran?

You know Walid jumblatt and other educated people have to crawl to the Palestinian cause all the time when they hate 'the resistance'.

Resistance to what? Israel does not want trouble with the Lebanese.

Northern Lebanese are more Israeli in their wish for freedom of thought than Arab in my opinion. I could be wrong, what do you think?

oops! She's run away!

[NewsGuy]

Hi Orange, long time no see.

Good to see you again, and congratulations on the elections.

First, ON USA PACAKGE AID TO LEBANON: There was never one; never will be one.

[...]

But, on the other hand...do not ask why Lebanese Army can not get rid of Hezbollah - who are armed to the teeth. Remember the last Al-qaida so called uprising in a Pal camp 2 years ago. We went in with nothing...but came out victorious. We find our own guns.

If 1/3 of the Lebanese army would not be comprised of Hezbullah terrorists, or, if Lebanon would make peace with Israel, the US would be more than glad to help Lebanon's economy.

ON THE ELECTIONS! IT WAS A LANDSLIDE! Please...do not label it a 'harriri' win. Sad, but once you do that YOU MAKE IT A SUNNI WIN! It took all sects. It was a revolution.

It was today, a victory of PPL WANTING to promote Lebanon; and be unified no matter what religion. THat is why so many ppl were celebrating on the streets!

Shias stuck to their clothes, except for those etiher arrested or in the Free Shia Party.

I could go on an on...but Lebanon is progressing in a Free Little America. First in Middle East!

Love it!
ob.

I thought that many Lebanese Christians who follow General Aoun, for some reason voted with Hezbullah, no?

Also, I am not aware of any democracy that does not reach out to make peace with its neighbors. When do you think that Hariri will do the same? At that time, I would start to consider Lebanon a free country.

Unfortunately, Hariri cannot act like a free democratic president, because he knows that he is just one step away from being bombed to pieces by either the Syrians, Iranians or the Shiites living in Iranian-controlled S. Lebanon. Too bad, really.

[orangeblossom]

Thanks for the welcome.....sorry not on lately' working long, long hours. Got hit with this recession badly...so just making bills. UGH...I miss my money; and everyday...I remember the story of Job. I do get your messages emailed to my phone, and read them during the time I can sit. It is just too hard to respond.

Anyhoo....about General Michael Aoun. The answer about the Christians following him is like I always said.....MORE hype in the dailies, than in reality.

over 50% Christains voted anti-Aoun.

Hezbollah members got elected, but by shia 99%. Those Christians who did so...we I hope you get the low numbers.

Now, here is the irony...while Nasrallah states he will not contest the elections, franghieh, all those bad guys, pro-syrian not contesting....Aoun is contesting. IN FACT...AnNahar make a joke about it this morning: "Aoun gives new committees their first job in office...contesting their election." - ok, something like that...I have to read quick

If you go to Naharnet..and read articles about Aoun.., then scroll down to reader comments below the stories...you will find what ALL lebanese, including Christians think of him.

He lost, and he is gone. He made his bet with the devil, and ppl have made jokes, that France has closed their doors for him to return. He will linger for a bit, but die slowly in politics.

As for peace with Israel...we'll let's be honest. It will not happen while Hezbollah is in government.

If you want to 'understand' why Hezbollah is there, then read about it. Find books on the war. In honesty, when we Lebanese would rather PREFER peace with Israel...the West changed our country. And, it is a slow fight back to being the Paris of the Middle East. I do not see it.

All I can tell you, is that we are very happy with this election. Next step: figthing the veto power......the opposition can not maintain that...at all. Then disarment of Hezbollah.

You will hear a lot in time to come. But, we are working on it.

[MGB8]

I congratulate the Lebanese for re-declaring their independence from Syria and Iran. It's more than I hoped for. I pray for peace and prosperity in the land of the cedars.

[orangeblossom]

OK....here is Lebanese fun: We have friends all mixed....but I sent those I (well one shocked me on Facebook as an Aounie supporter), this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z0HP...C6098F&index=4

I titled it...gooodbye Aoun.

If you understand Lebanese...you get the humor, but slap in the face. HAHAHHAHAHAHH!

Luv ya....OB...hey, I am just across the border...let's hook up for coffee! hahahhaha.

[Yala]

I congratulate the Lebanese for re-declaring their independence from Syria and Iran.

Oh please, like it's that easy. But I applaud them for trying.

[bararallu]

Lebanon should be renamed Rock_meets_hardplace.

[dayag]

The tail is wagging the dog in Lebanon yet again.
from the Jerusalem Post:

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said Thursday he is abandoning efforts to form a new government after the Hizbullah-led parliament minority rejected his list for a national unity cabinet...

Hariri has unsuccessfully tried to form a government since his bloc's victory in the parliament elections, but disputes over the distribution of top ministries have gotten in the way. After making no headway with rival factions, he named his own picks for the cabinet posts.

Hizbullah and its allies denounced this, saying they must be allowed to name their own members in the unity cabinet, which is to be made up of rival Lebanese factions.

Hariri said Thursday the conditions set by the Hizbullah-led bloc sought to undermine the entire election, which his Western-backed coalition had clearly won.

The only thing the rival factions agreed on during the negotiations over the cabinet makeup was a government formula. It gave Hariri's parliament majority 15 seats, the Hizbullah-led minority 10 seats, while Suleiman would pick the remaining five government members, likely from among independent politicians...

source: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull