The statesman named Siniora

Posted on 10/1/2006
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

WHEN an idea took shape in the minds of the Lebanese Christians that Lebanon was going to be the only nation for them, other sects such as the Sunnis, the Shiites, the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox Christians and so on — which were considered ‘open’ movements at that time — didn’t give much thought to this concept. Following the start of a civil war in Lebanon on April 13, 1975, which resembled more of a clash of principles and ideologies of warring factions until Syria stepped in, the latter confiscated the freedoms of the Lebanese and deprived them of their nation. The only segment of the Lebanese which cooperated with the Syrians won the trust of this regime.

Following the assassination of former prime minister and a leading personality Rafik Al-Hariri (he was a Sunni Muslim) Lebanon saw a major shift in ideologies and Lebanon was seen as the only nation for all Lebanese. The brutal assassination of Hariri united the Lebanese Christians and Muslims. Shiites, Maronites and the Druze, however, remained loyal to their respective leaders Hassan Nasrallah, Michel Aoun and Talat Arsalan, who played a different role.
These sects wasted no time and instead of playing their democratic cards, rushed to buy time to climb the leadership ladder against the will of the Lebanese people. They used the Syrian Trojan Horse to achieve their goals, but failed to clear the hurdles. The battle in Lebanon is now being fought between the majority and the minority — the majority looked forward to an open era full of sovereignty. The destiny of the minority was in the hands of the Syrians and the Iranians until the recent Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Fouad Al-Siniora, statesman and Prime Minister of Lebanon, who is representing the majority is protecting Lebanon — a nation for all Lebanese. He represents the patriotic principles which were born following the assassination of Rafik Al-Hariri under the slogan ‘Lebanon First’ — the slogan of the Christians and Sunni Muslims in Lebanon. Siniora is fighting to defend Lebanon to establish a unified nation for all Lebanese, while Hezbollah is trying to undo Siniora’s efforts by fighting for a share in the government to ensure Damascus and Tehran are represented in the government.
This behavior is resented by the Lebanese because Hezbollah holds the identity card of Syria and Iran. Siniora who is fully aware of this silly ploy will make sure these minorities have no place in his government, especially when his government is promoting peaceful projects befitting the intentions of the international community.

Siniora is a keen politician. He is fully armed with adequate diplomacy to foil silly political maneuvers. He is confident of building a strong Lebanon with the support of the international community. e-mail: ahmedjarallah@hotmail.com