Is Syria's Presence in Lebanon Really Needed?
NeoHuman
publicly demand that Syria pull out its forces. Part of it is fear of
offending their stronger neighbor, known as "sisterly Syria" in Arab
tradition. However, attitudes toward Syria's presence also are wrapped up
with the two countries' shared history and the tortured recovery from
Lebanon's 15-year civil war.
Some Lebanese even believe the hatreds between Christians and Muslims that
sparked the civil war in 1975 still exist and could erupt anew without the
Syrians as overseers. "We shouldn't forget where we were then and where we
are now," Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said in a recent interview,
saying the Syrians had provided much-needed stability in the country. Even
MP Nassib Lahoud, an opposition Christian legislator and former ambassador
to Washington, argues that Lebanon must find middle ground between its own
freedom and Syria's interests. "This is the most important problem we have
to address - reconciling our need for independence and sovereignty with the
need for having privileged ties to Syria - " he said. "We should have
better ties to Syria than to any country in the world."
The main questions however remain:
What value-added did Syria really provide Lebanon since the Ta'if Accord?,
and what is the difference between the Syrian and Israeli occupations of
Lebanon?
Syria's Value Added to Lebanon:
Syrian control has had many consequences for Lebanon.
Earlier the most open of the Arabic-speaking countries, Lebanon boasted
decentralized power, real democracy, rule of law, unimpeded movement, a
Hong Kong-style free market, independent schools, and an unfettered press.
Now, it seems that the Syrian appointed central government in Beirut keeps
gaining in authority, and both the 1992 and 1996 parliaments seem to be the
least representative in Lebanese history.
On the Human Rights Front
Syrian operatives routinely make arrests without warrants leading Human
Rights Watch to conclude that "the record of violations in
Syrian-controlled Lebanon has been worse than in Syria." Furthermore,
Assad's regime imposes Syrian-style standards on the school curricula,
including the requirement that Arabic and Islam be taught. This brings the
free-wheeling Lebanese economy more in line with that of statist Syria. As
for the press, long the least inhibited in the Arabic-speaking countries,
Human Rights Watch states that it "has been forced to toe a Syrian-drawn
line, leave Syrian-controlled Lebanon, or cease functioning."
On the Economic Front
It is a fact that the occupation regime of Syria, through their agent Rafik
Hariri, has only succeeded in raising taxes on an already impoverished
Lebanese population. The purchasing power for the average Lebanese has
decreased by more than forty percent in the last three years. The middle
class in the country has all but vanished. The majority of Lebanese now
live below the poverty line and in constant fear. The Lebanese unemployment
rate has been driven up to a record of thirty-five percent. Government
projects and contracts are mostly awarded to Syrian-installed officials,
their associates or Syrian companies. A large portion of the funds
allocated to these contracts end-up in the pockets of corrupt government
officials and their Syrian patrons; typically less than half actually goes
toward funding of the intended projects.
The Wall Street Journal in a front page article on July 19, 1995, quoted
Lebanese merchants as complaining that "the layer of Syrian authority that
hovers over most transactions has increased their costs to stratospheric
levels. This 'Syrian component' as one calls it, must be factored into
everything, from commissions on large public-works contracts to customs
duties." Top Government officials have been afforded their own special
pools of public money to dispense as they please without oversight. These
huge slush-funds are a major reason Lebanon's public debt has ballooned to
more than fourteen billion dollars, compared to only one billion in 1990.
Lebanon's budget deficit is currently running at more than ninety percent
of government revenues.
Syrian and Israeli occupations: A comparison
The rhetoric in Lebanon goes today: Syrians have brought much-needed
stability and prosperity to Lebanon. Without them, the people of Lebanon
would be at each other's throats. So, what is the big fuss about Syria's
presence in Lebanon?
It is a fact that while both occupations are not doing any good for
Lebanon:
1. The Syrian military occupation is much more extensive than the Israeli
occupation--covering roughly 90% of Lebanese territory and 95% of the
Lebanese population.
2. While the Israeli military occupation has engendered the virtually
unanimous condemnation of the international community, the United States
and other world powers have given their seal of approval to the Syrian
occupation of Lebanon.
3. The Israeli government officially acknowledges the sovereignty of
Lebanon. Syria, on the other hand, does not recognize Lebanese sovereignty.
Syria does not even bother to extend token diplomatic recognition to
Lebanon--you will find no Syrian embassy in Beirut and official maps
published by the Syrian government conspicuously omit the internationally
recognized border between Lebanon and Syria.
4. However disruptive the Israeli military occupation may be to civilian
life in south Lebanon, it has not altered the political system of the
country as a whole. The Syrians, on the other hand, have sought to
eliminate nearly all vestiges of Lebanon's once-renowned democratic
process.
5. The Israeli occupation is limited in scope and temporary in duration.
Even if the Israelis wanted to annex southern Lebanon (and there are no
indications that this is the case), it is quite clear that the Western
powers would block such a move. The Syrian government, on the other hand,
clearly covets most if not all of Lebanese territory and the Western powers
have demonstrated an unwillingness to check Syria's ambition.
Given all of the above, it is not surprising that the overwhelming majority
of Lebanon's population -- and not just the Christians among them --
totally rejects the Syrian occupation. As one Lebanese put it , "Syria is
at the top of the hate list in Lebanon today, much more so than Israel.
Israel is perceived of only as a military threat while Syria threatens
Lebanon's very existence.
© Copyright 1997-1999 United States Committee For A Free Lebanon.
All rights reserved.
Basil Keilani
You seem to be blaming Syria for every woe Lebanon suffers from
and state false things. Syria is not imposing that people learn Islam in
school. It is optional, religion, in public schools. You, of course, are
required to learn one history, that means if one school is learning about
Salahadin Al Ayubi, or Omar Ibn Al Khatab, and Hani Ba'al and Elissar,
then they all learn that, otherwise you can not have one viable identity
and you will have constant conflict. One reason Lebanese have fought is
because of a cultural conflict, a difference in identity and views. It is
a security problem, so it makes sense to have a unified curriculum.
As for the other things the state of Syria does, I do not approve
of many of them. Yet, it is as many members of parliament a factor that
brought stability to an unstable state. The Syrian army is not everywhere
as it used to many years ago, your report sounds outdated. Your making it
sound like the Shami Mukhabarat are harassing people day and night, which
is not the case. Your report would make more sense some years back, but
not now in 1999.
Not everything wrong in Lebanon is the fault of Syria,
just like not every solution to our problem is offered by
reading the Quran. Fanatacism is not the answer.
Basil
FREE THE LEBANESE
>You seem to be blaming Syria for every woe Lebanon suffers from
>and state false things.
yes syria behind most evil done to lebanon
>You, of course, are
>required to learn one history, that means if one school is learning about
>Salahadin Al Ayubi, or Omar Ibn Al Khatab, and Hani Ba'al and
all those you wana teach us about them and tell us they are people ,,salahadine
he was not not even omar
> and Elissar,
this from our people
>then they all learn that, otherwise you can not have one viable identity
we don't have one identity they are arabs conquerd lebanon we were lebanese
phoenicians we fought them we struggeled for our freedom since then untill now
>One reason Lebanese have fought is
>because of a cultural conflict,
we are not going to give up our identity you should try to live with it
> a difference in identity and views.
you said it we are different
>It is
>a security problem,
it is our security always in jeapordy
>o it makes sense to have a unified curriculum.
no it makes no sence to give up our identity and our sovreignty away to filthy
people like the syrians
>As for the other things the state of Syria does
fuck syria YES TO THE STATE OF LEBANON 10452KM2 LEBANON
> I do not approve
>of many of them.
WE DO NOT APPROVE OF ANY OF THEM THIEVES AND MURDERERS AND THEIR AGENT IN
LEBANON THE CURRENT LEADERS SAME SHIT MURDERERS AND THIEVES THATS WHAT WE GOT
FROM SYRIANS INFLUENSE
>Yet, it is as many members of parliament a factor that
>brought stability to an unstable state.
they drained our resources cleaned the treasury made lebanon the poorest
country in the ME
>The Syrian army is not everywhere
>as it used to many years ago
NO their leaders behind every deal made in lebanon and they get the biggest CUT
> your report sounds outdated. Your making it
>sound like the Shami Mukhabarat are harassing people day and night,
YOUR SHAMI ASSHOLE HLLBILLY UNEDUCATED PERSON ACTING KING NOW IN MY COUNTRY
BECAUSE HE HAS LARGER WEAPON
>Your report would make more sense some years back,
IT STILL THE SAME ,,,,AND YEARS BACK YOU ASSHOLE SUPPORTED THEM TOO IF IT WAS
BAD BACK THEN AND YOU KNEW IT WHY YOU SIDED WITH THEM BECAUSE YOU BAD TOO
>Not everything wrong in Lebanon is the fault of Syria,
yes every thing because of FILTHY syria
>just like not every solution to our problem is offered by
>reading the Quran.
LEAVE THE QURA'AN ON THE SIDE
> Fanatacism is not the answer.
LOOK WHO'S TALKING
>Basil
AYR BE SOURIYA BASIL>
>
Be A Man Among Men And Fight For Free Lebanon
+Live Free Or Die+
Sinelfile1
LEBANON THE 10452 KM2
Nishee
>and state false things.
In time the Alawite Dynasty's intervention in Lebanon will prove to be quite a
solver of "Lebanese problems ". This will become more and more apparent as time
goes on and the geo-politics of the region evolve according to the new order of
things.
> Syria is not imposing that people learn Islam in
>school.
Of course not. That is because the Alawites have ruled it with an iron-rod.
They are great advocates of secularism and have never been known for being
zealous about " public religion ". All the non-Sunni groups in Syria want
secularism and have wanted that from the Alawites, to the Christians, to the
Ismailis and the Druze. Syria is overwhelmingly Sunni and to have Islam taught
in Syria's schools means trouble for the non-Sunnis. It smacks too much of the
hundreds and hundreds of years of Sunni Imperialism. THAT IS NOT WHERE SYRIA IS
HEADED. BEEN THERE DONE THAT. NEVER AGAIN.
>One reason Lebanese have fought is
>because of a cultural conflict, a difference in identity and views.
Right. You see in Lebanon there was an attempt to create a pluralistic society
and nation. One that was non-Arab and Arab yet with its own ' flavor '. One
that was Christian and Moslem yet neiter one. In Syria since the mid-60's and
much more so since 1970 there has been a wonderful Alawite Dynasty that has
arisen and is not too concerned with repeating the silly mistakes of the
Christians of Lebanon. The Alawites are much to pragmatic and realistic to fall
for the false hopes that the Christians of Lebanon had which were to bring
democracy and egality to region of the world dominated by Sunni Arabo-Islamism
(the Caliphate). The Alawites had much too much sense.
>It is
>a security problem, so it makes sense to have a unified curriculum.
It also makes sense to annhilate Sunni Arab resistance and arrogance towards
non-Sunnis especially towards the Alawites. Had Lebanon's Christians did to
Tripoli and West Beirut what the Alawites did to Homs and Hama, there would
never have been the 'civil war' of 1958 nor the 'civil war' that started in
1975. Our Christian leaders " mish kharj il-7ikim bil shar' il-awsat " (they
are not fit for ruling in the Middle East). They think they are in Europe
where secularism, democracy, pluralism etc., have deep roots.
>As for the other things the state of Syria does, I do not approve
>of many of them.
No concern of theirs. The last person they care about is a Sunni Arab
Palestinian living in Canada. Let's be real here.
>Your making it
>sound like the Shami Mukhabarat are harassing people day and night, which
>is not the case.
Why would they have to do that? The Alawites fixed Syria up real good in the
1970's and 1980's. They put the Sunni Arabs in their place and now they sit
like little disciplined children with their hands folded and mouths shut. There
is no need for harsh measures anymore.
>Your report would make more sense some years back, but
>not now in 1999.
>
>
God bless every last Alawite ruler. May they reign forever. What other group in
the Middle East could get a Sunni Arab to clean up after them? It used to be
that the Alawites were servants for the Sunni Arabs now the Sunni Arabs are not
only servants for the Alawites they are their shoe-shine boys and they are
happy to be so. God, had only Camille Chamoun or Slayman Franjiyeh practiced
the policies of the Alawites. Shou kan 3a balna hula'? Instead we got decades
of idiotic corrupt Christians leaders who had it all backwards.
>Not everything wrong in Lebanon is the fault of Syria,
In time the Alawites are going to " right " much of the wrong in Lebanon. Mark
my words. From Tripoli on down to Sidon.
>just like not every solution to our problem is offered by
>reading the Quran
It creates as many problems as it solves.
>Fanatacism is not the answer.
Your right. Sunni Arabist/Islamist hysteria and fanatism are not the answer.
The Alawites understood all too clearly escpecially after the international
Sunni Arabo-Islamist agenda brought Syria and Egypt together to form the United
Arab Republic. Once that Arabist insanity collapsed the Alawites swore " Never
again ! ". And within a year they had seized the Syrian military. Within
another 3 years they had grabbed most of the regime and by 1970 they had all of
Syria FIRMLY in their just and rightful grip. And God bless them for it. Had
Syria not been run by Alawites in the mid-1970's Lebano would have been overrun
with Sunni Arabs from Palestine, Tripoli-Busta-Sidon AND SYRIA !! The fate of
non-Arab Christians, Druze and Shiites would have been sealed to a very, very
bad fate! But luckily, the Alawites were as coy, bold and as brilliant as they
were, that they, a 10% minority in Syria, could rise up in a generation to rule
all of Syria FIRMLY and without question.
God bless them. Had we been left to the insane, corrupt and shortsighted
Christian leaders of Lebanon, all of Lebanon would be part of the Caliphate.
And that is SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
Nishee
Liz "Duchess"
----- Original Message -----
From: NeoHuman <neoh...@spam.com>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 8:00 PM
Subject: Is Syria's Presence in Lebanon Really Needed?
> In private, many Lebanese today grumble about Syria's domination. But few
> publicly demand that Syria pull out its forces. Part of it is fear of
> offending their stronger neighbor, known as "sisterly Syria" in Arab
> tradition.
Sisterly syria? An over bearing sibling we can't wait to move out and get
away from, far away from.
An acquantiance? They are far too to involved in our lives.
A lover? They don't know how to seduce, only conquer and rape. There is
not tenderness, love, equality or respect.
Rejected suiter? They don't know how to take "no" for an answer
Obsessed stalker? Armed and dangerous. Lock your doors and windows. Stay
away from.
Parent? They don't know how to let go.
Friend and neighbor? They don't know there are limits and we need our
privacy and independence.
Advisor and mentor? They tell us how and what to do, not advise and assist.
They dictate, dominate, demoralize.....
Hungry predator? They found us weak and vulnerable and now feed on our
sustainance, consume us.