I'm lost for words to express anguish with Lebanese politics nowadays. I was hoping the mistakes of 69 would never be repeated (i.e. surrendereing sovereignty to a militia - the PLO), but here we go again! It is 100% our responsibility; no attenuating circumstances despite the clever tricks Syria turned on us.

We'd have to wait for Mr. Hariri's proposition but no one has high hopes, or low ones. He's made a mess out of it already, and is subdued by the trio of cavemen from Dahiye - Damascus - Tehran. Hariri is a capitalist (like Siniora was), and capitalists are coward spineless whimps. Unfortunately, our president seems to be too much of a pacifist too. We have no hope unless someone carrying a big stick and a carrot comes along.

To answer you question about explosions within Hizb, I hope this whole organization blows up from the inside out (no thanks to Israel, of course). But no one can stockpile such tremendous weaponry, in unsafe conditions without risks of that, I guess.

I like your assessment of the state of affairs about Turkey; but do you realistically thought the EU would grant it membership? No way. Turkey is an oriental country; they were 'tranvestiting' (lol) into a European disguises; but you can't escape History and Geography. I'm not saying it's good news for the Arab world, it may or not be. We've had 400 years of Ottoman oppression, the Armenina genocides to know better. I also believe Erdogan has cut the wings of the army in many constitutional amendments; and the Turks are devote Muslims (the whole public opinion); without that I don't think their PM would make that sharp turn. Would the army make a coup d'etat? it could happen but I don't see it'd be as easy as before.

I see you're opposed to reform in US healthcare system, but why would you be? Do you have stock in one of the insurance companies there? I've seen the Roger Moore latest movie about healthcare in the US compared to Canada and Europe; so I know what I talk about (a little that is).

Who would stop Netanyahu from having a field-day? That's the 1,000,000 dollar question. The peace process is now gone; even Obama seems helpless. By the way, I see you're opposing the healthcare program, why would you do that? I don't have specifics about that, but I believe he's trying to introduce reforms and make it accessible and cheaper for all  US citizens. There's no wrong with that.

I hope culprits on both sides of Hamas and Israel be taken to international courts of law; genocides are unjustified whatever the reasons.

We have an interim government that's only allowed to transfer power to the new one; it doesn't have any constitutional rights for legislation. It seems we'll be stuck with it for 1 year or so. This whole thing is the doing of disloyal parties like Berri and Jumblat and Hezbollah. Lobbyists for Syria and Iran. Ultimately, it's the fault of the Lebanese, that I know; and more specifically the spineless gutless hapless helpless 14s...always afraid; always missing opportunities...always kissing up. Can't build a State with such kinds.

Turkey would have entered the EU only when Israelis acknowledge the rights of Pals in Palestine (i.e. Never). The thing is that Turkey isn't aligning itself with Syria and Iran. Turkey has to deal with other regional big players like Iran and Egypt; we, the small states, are change. Syria pretends it's a big player whereas it's not; they bluff their way into the big league, but everyone knows that Syria can impede things only, not find solutions. Sooner orr later I hope the Baath regime exhausts its damn.ed lady luck and break into pieces. By the way, Turkey had 2015 as the year to start negotiations with the EU; so by no means the process of integrating them has started. It was only a couple of days ago that Sarkozy, the French president said a resounding 'Non' to Turkey as EU member.

The GCC countries have signed a strategic pact with Turkey (to shield them from an imposing Iran). Ultimately, Turkey is a moderate Islamic state (so far), remains to be seen how deep and wide Erdogan and his Islamic party will turn out to be. They played a very shrewd game and it paid off for them. Do you think the army (whose wings were clipped) are able to do coup d'etat?

I don't believe Turkey would sweat for losing Israeli tourists; Muslim tourists would far outweigh the loss. Turkey is oriental; no matter how much Ataturk did.

Are you a fan of Roger Moore's? I also recommend you see Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. Good stuff.

NB

Do you think the explosions in the South had anything to do with the Mossad? And by the way, next time you better keep your drones out of my backyard. I await for the day when I'd have a battery of SAM 300 to shoot down Israeli warplanes/drones that breach our airspace. But I can't see it happening anytime soon.

It saddens me to admit it; but there's no sense or logic prevailing in Lebanon nowadays. And that's exactly what Syria managed to implement through its pawns like Berri. Imagine, that Mr. Berri, the Speaker of the House, is the 1st person who makes an absolute mokery of the Constitution. There's no exaggeration here; Mr. Berri has committed every single breach of Constitution. The Syrian plot was to implant its proxies in all joints of our governmental system to cripple it and make us needy of their interventions on daily basis. The Syrian proxies are militiamen with absolutely no pedigrees; rather the opposite: thugs and thieves and looters are appointed in key, mid and low-level positions; lest not forget their embezzelments of the national treasury like the electricity power plants etc etc. It's a tragedy, a real tragedy and a shame. This is the real plague that's eating our system from the inside out. I almost don't recognize Lebanon, even that of 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, we have a lot of capabilities in the private sector but no one springs to my mind in the public sector. I'm not sure you're familiar with ex-President Bashir Gemayel, who was assassinated in 82. We need someone of his caliber; fair but tough even ruthless when need be. What's happening is unbelievable, even to me as Lebanese.

You got it all mixed about Turkey and the EU. No one seriously would like to grant it membership; least of all the Asutrians and French. Germany too. Maybe only the UK (US ally) is indifferent; afterall the British are indifferent to the main continent itself!

Why is it allowed for Turkey to hold drills with Israel and deny it for Syria?! Joint-drills doesn't entail forming an axis. It was the little dictator of Aleppo who called to form an axis, not the Turks. The Syrian butcher wants membership get into the big boys club; just like a toad who inflated himself until it blew apart. Hope the Baath meets the same fate (but I'm not counting my chicken yet).

I agree about the Turkish army; Erdogan had them sitting on their hands.

It'd be good to use the SAM300s on your airplanes instead of using them as darts on my dartboard with MT's portrait as bull eye! lol

NB

I made a mistake when I referred to Roger Moore documentaries, I meant Michael Moore.

Firstly, not that I can't find a source to quote from; it's just I don't need to.

Secondly, we all know that statistics in Lebanon are cheated; customized to what you want to hear. We all remember the 'most reliable' statistics center of Mr. Kamal Feghali, who kept jumping from one TV station to another predicting a landslide win for the cavemen; and that's only one example.

Thirdly, I gave you the most reliable statistic of all. If using all their terror and assassinations and intimidation, all the cavemne put together (including Aoun and Hezbollah and Kwami Sermeyeh and Amal and Arslan); altogether they got 44% of the votes; imagine without the billions of Iranian dollars and assassations what would have happened: in a simple maths; divide 44% by 2 = 22% (best case scenario), but the most logical is to divided 44% by 3 = 15% for all that heap of...

You don't need statistics all the time to justify something. It's good to use common sense from time to time, should do it. (unless of course, you don't have any - which is your case; the case of a disloyal citizen who sides with militias againts the government; and sides with foreign countries against his own).

Fourth, I'm glad I make a trivial mistake every now and then, to make you happy (i.e. the Roger / Michael Moore stuff). Enjoy! and "Jaban" is written as "Jaben".

Fifth, what about the Hamah massacre when the Baath killed 20,000 in the 80s? Does that count; or the 100,000 Lebanese martyrs killed during Syria's occupation of Lebanon (out of 200,000 people who died during the war).

Do us all a favor and feel some shame of the 8s; how can you keep defending outlaws; thugs and thieves, this I don't understand.

Sixth, Lebanese are not s; only you and your ilk are; and unfortunately you have arms in your hands; and you know how the saying goes: "weapons in the hands of a do$#%* can kill" (literal translation).

NB

Why did you say nothing about the proofs I gave you about attacks on Christian neighbourhoods (i.e. attacks after Charbel Khalil program; Joseph Sader and other). Why are so much of a coward, you disregard facts that prove your twisted mind and misplaced loyalties? At least try to be a man, and admit a mistake.