LF and Kataeb recruiting: is it a zero-sum game?

[Bala Habal]

The Kataeb and LF have traditionally always had the same popular base, considering that one was just the military arm of the other. Today they operate as separate political parties, with historically antagonistic leaders, yet they appeal to the same mindset and draw from coinciding bases.

1. Are they in conflict? Does a recruiting victory for one come at the expense of the other? Is there any jealousy or animosity between the activists in the two parties?

2. How do people who are sympathetic to the two parties' ideas choose which one they are affiliated with? Perhaps some of their supporters on here can tell us: what made you choose Kataeb over LF or vice-versa?

3. Seeing as they are competing for the limited share of March 14 Christians in power, how do the two parties agree on how to split it? What binds them together when each has something to gain from the other's setbacks?

4. Can the LF's recent "crusade" about the rosary and music video be seen from the point of view of trying to one-up the Kataeb when it comes to who is more hostile to Shia Muslims, as well as their eternal Jihad against FPM?

I'm grateful to anyone who can shed the light on these and other relevant questions.

Thanks!

[hannaalsayssa]

now they both opearte under one roof
sa3doun rouf
i give it to u ya sa3do , u did something that we thought imossible to accomplish..
joined sg and kataeb by the hip.
as for supporters, i guess they ae interwined and they share the same base now a days.
with small minute diffrences, mabe some old kataeb hate sg, bass the younger ones ususlly like him.
i think sg is swallowing many of the old names 14feb, starting from micho, harb supporters,kataeb, chamoun and co..
he will keep their leaders 4 some time, but eventually he will inherit all.
they all know that , bass they have a bigger enemy for now

GENERAL

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Bala Habal

1. Are they in conflict? Does a recruiting victory for one come at the expense of the other? Is there any jealousy or animosity between the activists in the two parties?

LF and Kataeb are like brothers, sure there is some competition between the two but in the end they are like one when it comes to protecting the Christian cause.

Originally Posted by Bala Habal

2. How do people who are sympathetic to the two parties' ideas choose which one they are affiliated with? Perhaps some of their supporters on here can tell us: what made you choose Kataeb over LF or vice-versa?

There is no fundamental difference between the two, in fact the separation happened during the civil war due to personal rivalry on a high level and not because of ideological matters. There hasn't been a merger since and both parties have chosen to continue working democratically as two separate entities.

[Dark Angel]

After Bashir's assassination and his project of building a country instead of a farm failed, his successors built two farms instead of one.

[mickey117]

LFers love Kataeb, however most Kataebs hate LF, That's what I've been witnessing..

[J_Raad1450]

Geagea and his wife are in charge if the so called lebanese forces
Amin Gemayal and his family are in charge of the so called Kataeb party

I believe it is a zero sum game between the two parties. Kataeb and geagea recruiters fit the same profile. Both parties appeal to the same people...

[Abou Sandal]

The more radical you are,the more you win.That's the race between LF and Kataeb.

Now one might think:Hey,it's too easy,LF will obviously win ultimately.They are crazy lunatics.

But no.This is not enough.Kataeb invented a higher dimension for distinction against LF:Snobism.

Here is how it works:Imagine a racist who sees all kind of humans inferior to him.Wow that's quiet extremist,you might think.Who can beat this?

Well, there is even worse:There is the one who considers himself the most refined and classy among the racists,thus snobs them all and views them as inferiors.

Just like someone in Germany of the thirties,who considered himself of a race,superior to Hitler's Aryan race.

Yeap,which is why Kataebists often denigrate LFers and their low standards and manners,describing them as stupid "bulldogs",or "bodyguards",while describing themselves as the "Elite" (Understand:"masters")

Yalla...Waiting for the next battle,and let's test once again,Darwin's theories.

[Thinkrebel]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

LF and Kataeb are like brothers, sure there is some competition between the two but in the end they are like one when it comes to protecting the Christian cause.



There is no fundamental difference between the two, in fact the separation happened during the civil war due to personal rivalry on a high level and not because of ideological matters. There hasn't been a merger since and both parties have chosen to continue working democratically as two separate entities.

Democraticlly? since when kataebs and LF r democratic? its a family owned corporation...lol

[hannaalsayssa]

but who is the master and the bodyguard
u know most hitler people were jockey sniffers
so i wonder between sg and kataeb
who is who

[Bala Habal]

Originally Posted by J_Raad1450

Geagea and his wife are in charge if the so called lebanese forces
Amin Gemayal and his family are in charge of the so called Kataeb party

I believe it is a zero sum game between the two parties. Kataeb and geagea recruiters fit the same profile. Both parties appeal to the same people...

You are right in that the LF does appear to be a one-man show as far as all real decision making is concerned, while the Kataeb are a family business. How can it pass in 2008 that Amin Gemayel takes over his father's party, tries to get his dauphin elected in the Metn, and his nephew in Beirut, and yet their fans claim that it is a serious political party? It wouldn't be so bad if the two youngsters had any sort of qualifications, but they just seem like whiny spoiled brats with an exaggerated sense of entitlement and grandiose self-importance.

Could it be that the two parties are not in conflict because they recruit largely in different areas? (e.g. Kataeb in Metn, Geagea in the North, etc)