Aoun ridicules Christian leaders in debate with USJ students
Former army chief condemns status quo
Nayla Assaf - Daily Star staff   (27.2.02)
General Michel Aoun ridiculed the Christian opposition on Tuesday for failing to change the status quo in the country, claiming Lebanon was “handed” to Syria in exchange for its participation in the US-led 1990 anti-Iraq coalition. Speaking in a telephone debate from his exile in Paris to students cramming the St.  Joseph University assembly hall, the maverick former army commander addressed the post-Sept. 11 changes on the international arena, claiming the world had plunged into a “clash of civilizations.” “Many countries have been sacrificed on the alter of economic interests or geo-political alliances. This is the fate of Lebanon, which was handed to Syria in exchange for its participation in the coalition against Iraq,” Aoun opined. Asked specifically about his views on Hizbullah, he stopped short of endorsing US claims that it was a terrorist group, but argued that “some of the acts attributed to Hizbullah, did correspond to terrorism.” “During the fight for the liberation of the South, we all backed Hizbullah … But now, (it) is only dancing to the tunes of Syria,” said Aoun.
“Hizbullah is the result of regimes that sponsor terrorism, such as Syria, which has sponsored terrorism since the 1960s,” he said. He reiterated his call for ending Syrian influence in the country, adding that the opposition was too weak to initiate change that is required “to salvage Lebanon from Syrian captivity.” He rejected claims that the Shebaa Farms were Lebanese land, saying the stretch was Syrian, even though individual property owners there may be Lebanese. Aoun singled out for attack the Qornet Shehwan Gathering of Christian politicians, claiming they “go crying before the rulers,” instead of  taking steps that pile up pressure for  change. The hall was packed with about double its 150-person capacity, and the university students dwelled heavily on his stands vis-a-vis Hizbullah and the Syrian presence. Asked why he has not tried to appeal to Muslims to widen his base of support, which is currently limited to right-wing Christians, Aoun said: “My political debate is patriotic, not sectarian.” But he added that while the Syrians tolerated Christian opposition to their presence, they regarded Muslims as their allies and would not put up with perceptions of treason.