To March 14ers: Be careful for whom you vote. History repeats itself only if YOU let it. - The Orange Room

J. Abizeid

To March 14ers: Be careful for whom you vote. History repeats itself only if YOU let it.

If you happen to be too young to remember, ask your parents and they’ll tell you: back in the seventies, Syria was invited to Lebanon by Camille Chamoun and Pierre Gemayel with US guaranties that Syria will be on the Christian’s side… We all know the rest of the story.
Syria occupied Lebanon for 29 years with the blessing of the US and Israel while the Lebanese voices were muffled until GMA stood up against them all.
Hariri’s assassination was the result of a new neo conservative agenda for the Middle East called the Road Map and Lebanon’s role in it was to absorb its Palestinian population.
Just like every other Bush venture, the road map failed along with the Iraq War. A strong alliance between Iran and Syria immerged as a consequence for such dismal failures.
Iran was called an axis of evil for a reason that has nothing to do with Lebanon nor its Christians. The new US administration is still staying the course vis-à-vis Iran. It has finally adopted Thomas Friedman concept of isolating Iran from Syria even if that meant for Syria to becoming Lebanon’s broker once again. One advantage for Israel would be for Syria to contain HA away from Iran.
Detaining the 4 Generals following the assassination of Hariri was a brilliant move to divert the attention from the real killers and put the pressure on Syria. But their release just before the June elections and shortly after Hillary Clinton’s visit to Baabda means one thing, and one thing only regardless of Syria’s role in the assassination had there ever been one: It means a clear transformation in the US foreign policy towards Syria’s role in Lebanon.
For those who believe the four Generals had something to do with the assassination, releasing them means the US has accepted Syria’s actions there.
For those who believe the Generals are innocent and their detention was a cover-up to put pressure on Syria, that also means Syria is no longer targeted by the US.
In other words, Lebanon better get ready to go back to its old Master if its people don’t realize the seriousness of their situation soon enough before they cast their votes.
History will not repeat itself if we don’t let it.
Most of the Loyalists camp leaders have been dutifully loyal to their Masters but not to their citizens. They are the same ones that served their Syrian Masters before serving the American one. Remember those are the same leaders that traded the blood and souls of their own relatives and family members by ignoring their killers so they can stay in power. How can they ever justify not finding a shred of evidence against Hariri’s killers after many years of controlling the government with every tool and resource at their disposal, and the “backing” of the world community.
Among many others, Kamal Jumblatt, Bashir Gemayel, Danny Chamoun, Rene Moawad, Pierre Amin Gemael and of course Rafik Hariri are still vivid in our memories- Not theirs!
Needless to say, GMA cared more about the victims than their own families did.
It’s time for us to realize Lebanon’s function in the region is simply a bargaining chip on a hot poker bed. Thanks to the opposition that chip became hotter than the bed itself and those who tried touching it burned their hands. Lebanon’s strategic victories achieved by its resistance made the big players return to their drawing boards. Let’s make sure they understand once and for all they can chew but they can’t swallow us.
Once again, if you don’t want history repeating itself by having Syria controlling your life all over again, don’t elect the same old dynasties that failed you miserably during the past 50 years.
You don’t have to choose between Masters. You can be your own. YES YOU CAN!

Anny

The best thing to do is for them not to vote at all.

Freethinker