LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
August 18/08
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Saint Matthew 15,21-28. Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the
region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came
and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented
by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and
asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in
reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."But the woman
came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not
right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."She said,
"Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of
their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
William of Saint-Thierry (c.1085-1148), first a Benedictine, then a Cistercian
monk
Meditations, no.2 (©Cistercian Fathers
series)
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!"
Sometimes I feel you passing by, you do not stop for me but go straight on,
leaving me crying after you like the Canaanite woman... Should I draw near
again, when this occurs? Yes, surely, Lord. For the whelps that are chased with
blows from their master's house return immediately and, hanging watchfully about
the place, receive their daily bread. I come again when I am driven out; shut
out, I howl; and beaten, I implore. A dog cannot live without a man's
companionship, nor can my soul without the Lord her God.
Open to me, therefore, Lord, that I may come to you and be enlightened by you.
You dwell in your heavens, but you have made darkness your secret place, even
the dark waters amid the clouds of the air. And, as the Prophet says, "You have
set a cloud before you, so that our prayer may not pass through,"(Lam 3,44).
But, as for me, I have rotted on earth, my heart thick and earthy... Your
heavenly stars do not shine for me; the sun is darkened and the moon gives no
light. In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs I hear your mighty acts
proclaimed; out of your Gospels your words and deeds shine forth at me, and the
example of your servants strikes unceasingly upon my eyes and ears. Your
promises in Scripture, the promises your Truth has made, obtrude themselves
without cease upon my sight and battering my deafness with their din... But long
persistence in bad ways, along with very great insensibility of mind, has
hardened me. I have learned to sleep with the sunshine full on my face, and have
grown used to it. I have become accustomed to not seeing what takes place before
my eyes...
How long, O Lord, how long? How long will you defer to rend the heavens and come
down? (Ps 13[12],1; Is 64,1)... How long will you delay... so to shatter my
dullness that I may be no longer what I am... and so be turned, at least at
eventide, and hunger like a dog that runs about your city? - the city of which a
portion sojourns still on earth but the greater part rejoices already in heaven
- so that maybe I may find some who will receive my fainting soul into their
habitation?
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Do the Lebanese Deserve
Lebanon?Hussein Shobokshi 17/08/08
Lebanese Party Leaders Discuss Ties
with Syria.By Thair Abbas 17/08/09
Conservative vs. Revolutionary.By
Amir Taheri 17/08/08
Lebanon’s pro-democracy leadership
shocked by comments of UN commander W. Thomas Smith Jr. 17.08.08
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
17/08
Suleiman: Implementing Syrian
Summit Decisions Related to Inter-political Situation-Naharnet
Lebanese monitoring group: Hizbullah is violating 1701-Jerusalem
Post
SOLIDE
for International Committee to Solve Lebanese Detainees' Issue-Naharnet
Saniora: Egypt to Supply Lebanon with Electricity, Gas-Naharnet
Hand
Grenades Shake Tripoli amid Fears Violence Could Spread to Ain el-Hilweh, Bekaa-Naharnet
Lebanon’s pro-democracy leadership shocked by comments of UN commander
16 Aug 2008
By W. THOMAS SMITH JR.
Leaders of Lebanon’s pro-democracy movement are incensed over – what they
contend are – ill-informed comments made this week by Italian Army Major General
Claudio Graziano, senior commander of the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL), regarding Hezbollah’s weapons in the southernmost region of
the Lebanese state where most UNIFIL troops are positioned.
In south Lebanon – as in other regions of the country where the Iranian-backed
Shiia terrorist army holds ground and conducts paramilitary exercises –
Hezbollah has defiantly refused to disarm.
According to UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, all “militias” in
Lebanon are to be disbanded. And 1701 specifically says, “all armed groups in
Lebanon” are “required” to disarm, and “there will be no weapons or authority in
Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State.”
Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm is officially based on its argument that it is a
“resistance” force, therefore it should maintain its arms. That’s what
Hezbollah, its supporters, and apologists say. Those of us who have been deeply
involved in the development of analysis on Hezbollah understand the group’s
“clinging to its guns” actually stems from more sinister motives.
And fresh on everyone’s minds is Hezbollah’s deadly armed-offensive launched
against the Lebanese government and its citizens in May of this year when the
government made decisions Hezbollah didn’t approve of. The result: The
government caved, granted Hezbollah all sorts of concessions – including veto
power on Lebanese government decisions (meaning Iran and Syria, Hezbollah’s
big-money benefactors, now have covert veto power in Lebanon), and now Hezbollah
has wormed its way into the Defense Ministry as a sort of “official” element of
the legitimate Lebanese military.
All of this makes one wonder what is in the drinking-water there that is causing
every legitimate military leader in Lebanon – including multinational commanders
– to cozy up to one of the most brutal terrorist organizations on earth.
Let’s not forget the words of U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff who
warned in May:
“Someone described Hezbollah like the A-team of terrorists in terms of
capabilities, in terms of range of weapons they have, in terms of internal
discipline … To be honest, they make Al Qaeda look like a minor league team.”
Nevertheless, according to the Jerusalem Post on Friday, Graziano said
“excellent cooperation” existed between UNIFIL forces and Hezbollah militiamen,
and “apart from UN troops, Lebanese soldiers and [local] hunters, no one is
armed south of the Litani River.”
This is absolutely untrue, says retired Lebanese Army Col. Charbel Barakat, a
former infantry brigade commander who today directs the office of
counterterrorism for the pro-democracy World Council of the Cedars Revolution.
“UNIFIL is getting intelligence from the Lebanese Army, and Lebanese Army
intelligence officers are collaborators with Hezbollah,” so UNIFIL’s
intelligence is distorted.
Barakat adds, “Hezbollah is not arming openly” and “UNIFIL is not allowed to
check everywhere.”
Tom Harb, secretary general of The International Lebanese Committee for UN
Security Council Resolution 1559, says he both “astonished” and “disturbed” by
Graziano’s comments.
In a letter (which we just obtained) drafted and sent this morning to the
Italian mission at the UN, all UN Security Council members, and Italian Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Harb writes:
“At a minimum, Graziano says, ‘Hezbollah is one of the parties that agree with
1701 and support 1701.’ This is factually untrue as evidenced by Hezbollah’s
armed offensive – with impunity –against the Lebanese government and citizenry
in May.
“Graziano adds, ‘UNIFIL has no commitment to the disarmament of Hezbollah … We
are a peacekeeping force, not peace enforcement.’ This is contradictory to say
the least, and proof that UNIFIL is a hollow force in Lebanon.”
Harb adds, according to the Committee’s intelligence sources, that the
leadership of Lebanon’s Army Intelligence in the south is coordinating with
UNIFIL, and that the Army is also sharing intelligence with Hezbollah chief
Hassan Nasrallah.
“Let us not forget that Nasrallah has openly stated that Hezbollah maintains its
weapons – no matter whether they are located south or north of the Litani River
– and will use them ‘anytime we [Hezbollah] wish,’” says Harb. "Therefore, there
is no indication that Hezbollah has been disarmed.”
On the contrary, according to the letter, “intelligence indicates” Hezbollah has
been conducting a massive rearming and a re-strengthening of its forces south of
the Litani River since the end of the Israeli-Hezbollah war in 2006.
“Hezbollah is also terrorizing Lebanese civilians in south Lebanon often within
eyesight and earshot of UNIFIL troops, and UNIFIL never initiates any
investigation whatsoever,” says Harb. “For instance, when Hezbollah attacked
across the country in May 2008, the organization’s fighters ransacked the
offices of the mufti of Tyre and Jabal Amel. UNIFIL did absolutely nothing to
either prevent this act or investigate it after the fact.”
According to UN mandate, UNIFIL is responsible for assisting the Lebanese armed
forces in establishing an area between the Israeli border and the Litani River
which is “free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons” other than those of
the Lebanese government and UNIFIL.
Graziano says this mandate is being followed. But such a statement seems every
bit as hollow as the so-called UN peacekeeping force under the general’s
command.
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
“W. Thomas Smith Jr. provides some of the best commentary and expert analysis
available.”
Suleiman: Implementing Syrian Summit Decisions Related to Inter-political
Situation
Naharnet/Lebanese cabinet dicussed thoroughly in its latest extraordinary
session at Baabda Palace the media situation and its negative impact on the
relations with Arab countries in general and Syria in particular.
Pan-Arab daily newspaper "al-Hayat" reported that some ministers demanded
"control" on media outlets when discussing relations with Syria or
inter-Lebanese political situation. Al-Hayat, citing ministerial sources, said
other ministers, including former information minister Ghazi Aridi, argued that
putting an end to political bickering is the responsibility of the different
factions' leaders. President Suleiman, however, said that implementing the
Syrian-Lebanese Sumiit decisions is tied to media and political situation.
Suleiman said "The Damascus summit was not a passing moment but resulted from
the course of a long history of hostility and dependency." "Establishing
diplomatic ties is an essential decision," Suleiman added, noting that decrees
in Beirut and Damascus would be issued next Thursday to formally establish these
ties. Suleiman, according to al-Hayat, called for "improving political parole
and performance", asking the ministers to convey to their political leaders that
"controlling negative media output that damages our relations with Arab friendly
countries is in the interest" of Lebanon.
Premier Saniora suggested holding a meeting with media administrators to put an
end to persisting political "campaigns" without really "suppressing the freedom
of speech and press". Beirut, 17 Aug 08, 11:38
SOLIDE for International Committee to Solve Lebanese
Detainees' Issue
Naharnet/The head of the Support of Lebanese in Detention and
Exile Organization in Lebanon (SOLIDE) Ghazi Aad called for the formation of a
new committee to follow up the detainees' issue inline with international
standards. "Since 2005, the (current) Lebanese-Syrian committee has failed to
reach solutions," Aad commented in a press conference held at Gebran Khalil
Gebran Square, Downtown-Beirut "Syria has badly dealt with Lebanese issues in
general and with the detainees issue in particular. Its continuous denial
resulted in catastrophic mistakes," he added.
Aad expressed his "disappointment with Syria's attempt to come out after 30
years as the victim, while it was the party which illegally arrested Lebanese
citizens and hided their destinies and whereabouts." Responding to what Syrian
Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem had declared, Aad commented, "We have never
linked between missing persons and the detainees in Syria." Beirut, 17 Aug 08,
11:41
Saniora: Egypt to Supply Lebanon with Electricity, Gas
Naharnet/Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora said on Saturday that Egypt would
supply his energy-starved country with electricity and gas, following talks with
Egypt's President Husni Mubarak. "We are coordinating our efforts with
(Egyptian) Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and the relevant ministers in Egypt in
order to enable Egyptian electricity and gas to reach Lebanon as soon as
possible," Saniora told reporters at a joint news conference with Nazif in the
northern city of Alexandria. Siniora said energy ministers from both countries
would hold meetings over the next few days to begin drafting agreements.
Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates
the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to
power supply.
The country suffers daily power outages, including in the capital Beirut where
many businesses and apartment blocks have bought generators to tide them over
during lengthy blackouts.(AFP) Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 19:47
Hand Grenades Shake Tripoli amid Fears Violence Could
Spread to Ain el-Hilweh, Bekaa
Naharnet/Lebanese army troops carried out house raids Saturday in search for
assailants who tossed hand grenades into the northern city of Tripoli, amid
fears violence could spread to the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh and
to the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Tension continued to prevail in Tripoli after unidentified assailants tossed two
hand grenades into the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood overnight.
Two more hand grenades were tossed into the same area at dawn Saturday,
according to press reports. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, tension heightened at the Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp near the
southern port city of Sidon following reports that two Fatah members were killed
in overnight violence.
A cabinet source, on the other hand, feared that the spate of bloody violence in
Tripoli could spread to Ain el-Hilweh and the Bekaa.
He cited the infiltration of extremist groups to Tripoli, Ain el-Hilweh and to
some areas of the Bekaa as well as the flow of money and arms as good reasons to
believe so.
The source said Lebanese authorities were monitoring the flow of arms without
being able to act due to the sharp political divide.
Tripoli has been rocked by deadly violence in recent months.
14 people were killed and at least 40 wounded when a bomb blast targeting a bus
carrying mostly off-duty Lebanese army soliders went off in Tripoli on
Wednesday.
In June and July, 23 people were killed in battles between gunmen of the Sunni
Muslim neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and rivals from the mainly Alawite
community allied with Hizbullah in Jabal Mohsen.
There has been tension between the two communities ever since Lebanon's
1975-1990 civil war. Alawites are an offshoot of Shiite Islam and straddle the
border into Syria whose President Bashar al-Assad is a follower of the faith.
Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 08:36
Saniora: Egypt to Supply Lebanon with Electricity, Gas
Naharnet/Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora said on Saturday
that Egypt would supply his energy-starved country with electricity and gas,
following talks with Egypt's President Husni Mubarak.
"We are coordinating our efforts with (Egyptian) Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and
the relevant ministers in Egypt in order to enable Egyptian electricity and gas
to reach Lebanon as soon as possible," Saniora told reporters at a joint news
conference with Nazif in the northern city of Alexandria.
Siniora said energy ministers from both countries would hold meetings over the
next few days to begin drafting agreements.
Electricity is a constant concern for the Lebanese government, which allocates
the third largest slice of its budget, after debt servicing and salaries, to
power supply.
The country suffers daily power outages, including in the capital Beirut where
many businesses and apartment blocks have bought generators to tide them over
during lengthy blackouts.(AFP)
Beirut, 16 Aug 08, 19:47
Do the Lebanese Deserve Lebanon?
16/08/2008
Hussein Shobokshi
With composure and focus, professionalism and obvious expertise, and within a
short period of time, Dubai Police announced that it had discovered the identity
of the assassin of Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim who was brutally murdered in a
crime that was meticulously committed. Dubai Police followed the tracks of the
killer who had settled in an Arab country after having fled Dubai an hour and a
half after the crime took place. He is now being held by the state authorities
of that country. These noticeable developments received the approval of some
politicians in Lebanon who commended Dubai’s security authorities for its
ability to track down the suspect in record time.
Antoine Zahra, member of the Lebanese Forces party commented on the matter after
having expressed his thanks to Dubai by saying that he hoped that Lebanon would
one day reach “such a level of efficiency in pursuing crimes that take place on
its territory.”
These comments raise an embarrassing issue for the Lebanese government, which
has witnessed a series of major crimes on its land whose victims, stars of both
the media and political worlds, have died, or almost died, without the
identities of any of the assassins or the criminals being revealed. It is almost
as if these incidents took place on another planet.
It is obvious that in Lebanon the state is weaker than the public; a businessman
of high standing or a religious figure has more influence and power than an
official and his systems. The state of indifference has transformed; there is
now a lack of respect amongst citizens for the Lebanese government and this
became one of the main causes of the lead up to disintegration in Lebanon and
the strengthening of a pessimistic approach towards the future.
Lebanon and its politicians do not tire of discussing democracy, liberalism,
rights and the constitution yet these same voices are eager to fuel sectarianism
and strengthen the class system and the futile concept of hereditary transfer of
power. The extent of these “self-generated” political complications in Lebanon,
which has become a key feature of it, is embarrassing and shameful.
In demonstrations, the Lebanese carry placards and posters, which correspond
with their numerous identities or sects and seldom does one see the Lebanese
flag itself. All states and governments experience crises; their situations vary
and so too do their problems. However this does not mean in any way that these
countries should not seek to escape their situations and insist upon clinging to
the very causes of these problems without plucking up the courage to solve these
issues with “unpleasant” solutions even by force.
There are major and blatant defects in the “formation” of the current Lebanese
state and it is a model that is unsustainable; the Lebanese themselves are aware
of this before anybody else. Yes the Lebanese do have unique circumstances but
it is unique circumstances that have transformed into a deadly blight elsewhere
that afflicted Iraq for example and there are many countries that could suffer
the same painful fate.
There are some within the Lebanese structure that believe that they are part of
a larger “brotherly” state and others who see that there is nothing wrong with
having close relations with “our cousins”. Meanwhile there are those who believe
that a large regional neighbor is their real backbone of support and we must not
turn a blind eye to the groups that believe that a “geographical mistake” took
place and that Lebanon’s real home is by the countries of the European Union and
not neighboring countries “of these kinds.”Lebanon’s problem is that it is a
“good idea” but its citizens are yet to grasp it. Or would it be more apt to ask
a more difficult question: Is Lebanon a good idea that its “citizens do not
deserve?”
Lebanese Party Leaders Discuss Ties with Syria
17/08/2008
By Thair Abbas
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat- Leader of the Future Bloc MP Saad al-Hariri and Leader
of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt cautiously welcomed the move of
establishing diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria.
In statements made to Asharq Al-Awsat, however, both leaders severely criticized
Syria's refusal to demarcate the border at the Shaba Farms. Al-Hariri said,
"Syria helps Israel to continue the occupation of the Shaba Farms." For his
part, Jumblatt noted, "The Lebanese-Syrian summit did not confirm the Lebanese
identity of these farms." He proposed that "a joint Lebanese-Syrian document be
sent to the United Nations, declaring that the farms are Lebanese." While
Al-Hariri called for establishing diplomatic exchange "as soon as possible",
Jumblatt said that this step "may be a positive beginning for the relations
between the two countries."
Al-Hariri also stated that the, "Establishment of diplomatic relations [between
Lebanon and Syria] has been one of the demands that were made by the 14 March
[Group] since the beginning of the independence uprising following the
assassination of [former] Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri on 14 February 2005."
"We welcomed all declarations of intent regarding these demands. The latest
declaration came in that [joint Lebanese-Syrian] communiqué. However, we expect
serious implementation by fixing a firm and clear date for establishing these
relations. For our part, we will ask the Lebanese Government to start from today
to take all the measures to establish these relations as soon as possible."
Al-Hariri added.
Al-Hariri expressed discomfort with Syria's refusal to demarcate the border at
the Shaba Farms, saying that, "We are not surprised to see the state, which
negotiates with Israel in Turkey disregarding all Arab resolutions, helping the
Israeli occupation forces to remain in the Shaba Farms by rejecting the
demarcation of the border there." "Anyway, in order for the Syrian Government to
prove its seriousness in dealing with this issue, we suggest that the
demarcation of the borders between us begin from the Al-Masna [border] point to
the north and south simultaneously." he added.
Al-Hariri went on to sat that the aim is to resolve all border problems,
including the smuggling of weapons, terrorists, and illegal military centers
that use the border as their bases. In particular, the Shaba Farms border should
be demarcated from the farthest point in the north to the southern most edge.
For his part, Jumblatt described the move of establishing diplomatic relations
as "a positive beginning in [the fulfillment of] the long list of demands that
were agreed upon at the negotiating table."
"This move may establish the required relations according to the Al-Taif
agreement, which called for distinguished relations. However, the two states
must recognize each other and not interfere in each other's internal affairs."
Jumblatt told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Jumblatt emphasized that, "The Al-Taif agreement should always be the starting
point because the Doha agreement asserted it. This agreement should be
implemented to the letter. In other words, the state's authority should be
extended to all Lebanese territories, the truce agreement should be enforced,
and the [Hezbollah] weapons issue should be resolved through the defense plan."
He pointed out that this plan can be implemented only through dialogue.
Jumblatt continued that the, "Establishment of diplomatic relations resolves the
second issue that was agreed upon during the national dialogue. The first issue
is the international tribunal (that deals with the assassination of former Prime
Minister Al-Hariri) and the third one is the border issue."
"I remember that (Hezbollah Secretary General) Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah used the
phrase ' delineation and then demarcation' to avoid causing concerns for Syria."
Jumblatt told Asharq Al-Awsat.
"Delineation or demarcation [of the border] does not cancel the Lebanese
identity of the Shab'a Farms. The Syrian and Lebanese governments should sign
and send to the United Nations a joint document recognizing the Lebanese
identity of the Shaba Farms in order to confirm that the farms belong to
Lebanon." He added.
Jumblatt noted that, "Up until now, the issue of the farms has not been settled,
and the latest meeting (between the Syrian and Lebanese presidents) did not
confirm the Lebanese identity of the Shaba Farms."
Conservative vs. Revolutionary
15/08/2008
By Amir Taheri
A couple of weeks ago, I argued that it was unfair to describe President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad of the Islamic Republic as a conservative because, in reality, he is
a radical revolutionary. However, I did not mean to say that his rivals within
the Khomeinist establishment could be regarded as conservatives in the
mainstream meaning of the term.
Nevertheless, the article provoked a great deal of controversy, drawing
criticism from both the mullahs who dislike Ahmadinejad and Iranian democrats
who dislike the Khomeinist regime as a whole. To complicate matters further I
also drew fire from the remnants of the Iranian left with claims that describing
Ahmadinejad as a revolutionary was almost sacrilegious.
Let me first deal with this last charge because it is easier to refute.
There was a time when the term "revolution" had a certain romantic aura,
especially in rich and conservative Western societies. In the 1960s, when we
were students, a part of the Western youth smoked hashish and wore T-shirts
decorated with the image of 'Che' Guevara, an Argentine-born adventurer and
killer, who roamed Latin America and Africa killing people he did not agree
with.
As far as I am concerned, however, the term revolution is neither romantic nor
sacrosanct. For I regard revolutions as moments of madness in human history. If
you kill one man, you are a murderer. If you raise one fire, you are an
arsonist. If you rob one bank, you are a thief. However, if thousands of people
do those things together they become revolutionaries, because crimes, committed
collectively, are dignified as revolution. Revolution is about killing people in
large numbers. It is about destruction and looting. It is about locking up
hundreds of thousands of people and forcing millions out of their homes. Every
revolution generates war, mass poverty, oppression, and terror.
There are no good revolutions. All revolutions, though they may be products of
historical necessity, are ultimately evil. Men who have an ounce of decency and
humanity left in them cannot survive within revolutionary elite for long. Think
of Danton in France or Kamenev in Russia or our own clueless Mehdi Bazargan in
Iran. They were too decent to remain at the centre of the revolutions they had
helped bring about. The quintessential revolutionary is someone like
Robespierre, Stalin, Hitler, Kim Il-sung, Lin Biao, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot and
Ruhallah Khomeini.
Thus, when I described Ahmadinejad as a revolutionary I was not paying him a
compliment. All I wanted to point out was that he is a more legitimate product
and representative of Khomeini's revolution than a wily businessman like Hashemi
Rafsanjani or a confused mullah like Khatami.
Some readers have asked what I actually meant by conservative. In the context of
the Khomeinist regime, mullahs like Rafsanjani and Khatami may be regarded as
conservatives in the sense that, fearing the loss of power and privileges, they
do not support any major structural change in the system. They dislike
Ahmadinejad because he threatens their power and privileges by advocating
policies that could lead to structural changes in favour of military-security
elements to the detriment of the clergy.
In the broader political sense, however, neither Rafsanjani nor Khatami could be
described as conservative.
A genuine conservative is opposed to all revolutions, denying the legitimacy,
though obviously not the reality, even of those that have already happened in
history. Neither Rafsanjani nor Khatami, however, would be prepared to do what
Boris Yeltsin had the courage to do: that is to declare the revolution as a
national historical tragedy and invite the people to move beyond it.
A genuine conservative is bestowed with the gift of what one might call
strategic patience. He knows that change brought about by violence and terror is
always worse than no change at all.
Supporting reform rather than radical social and political surgery, the true
conservative wants to preserve what is worth keeping and gradually abandoning
what is no longer useful, relevant or dignified.
While revolutionaries are pessimists, in the sense that they cannot trust human
beings to have the intelligence or the will to look after their own affairs, a
genuine conservative is an optimist. He trusts people to discover their own best
interests and choose the wisest way to organise their individual and collective
affairs. The key point is to keep the people informed, providing them with as
many of the elements as needed for making their own judgment. A genuine
conservative wants a relatively weak state alongside a very powerful society.
For the conservative, the best economic policy is one that encourages individual
enterprise, private property and free trade. He is against handouts and
subsidies. He knows that giving a hungry man a fish would feed him for a day
while teaching him how to fish could keep his table replenished for a lifetime.
The conservative is also against high taxes. Because he wants a small government
with a few limited but vital tasks, he opposes putting a large chunk of national
wealth under state control.
The conservative attaches great importance to allowing, and helping, the
individual to make his voice heard. For him, freedom of expression is the
baseline of all liberties. This is why he rejects political correctness, which
is hypocrisy disguised as multicultural decorum.
While the revolutionary dreams of world conquest and tries to "export" his
ideology, the conservative is all for diversity within the human family. The
revolutionary's dream of expansion always leads to war. The conservative's
recognition of the rights of all peoples to manage their own affairs as they see
fit, on the other hand, could promote peace.
As always in human affairs, the ultimate difference is between war and peace.