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(Part 1)  By: Pierre Rafoul (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) Lately the notorious "Taef Accord" has been the focus of attention in numerous political commentaries and round table conferences. It has been described as the "accord of submission" that has no future, no matter what reviving and resuscitating means are applied to make it workable. This accord is hopeless because it was imposed on the people of Lebanon through a foreign will, and was born on a non-Lebanese land. It did not address the Lebanese ambitions, nor their free will or aspirations. It is very helpful to remember what happened nine years ago, and recall with pride the opposing patriotic stance taken by General Michel Aoun and by the people of Lebanon. It is also enlightening to look thoroughly at the treacherous stance adopted by the Parliamentary members (MP's) to identify clearly Aoun's credibility and the treason of the opportunistic MP's. On September 13, 1989 General Aoun met at the Baabda Palace with Lebanon's MP's. The meeting was quiet and pleasant and the Palace General Manager judge Joseph Jraisaty recorded the meeting minutes. General Aoun and the MP's discussed an extensive agenda related to the upcoming "Taef" conference and accord. They unanimously agreed on the following: 1- To focus on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon. 2- To abstain from discussing any Lebanese domestic issues. 3- To refuse any presidential election outside Lebanon. 4- To study the proposed "Taef accord" and ratify it in Lebanon. The MP's stated openly that any issues or proposed agreements discussed at the upcoming "Taef" conference would not receive any final ratification before consulting and coordinating with Genral Aoun. During the meeting, General Aoun cautioned the MP's firmly, from accepting an imposed status quo of any kind. He also warned them against accepting any agreement; they oppose because of embarrassment. He said to them: " If I went to "Al-Taef" and King Fahed asked me to accept a certain agreement for his own sake, and on his own personal responsibility, I may feel embarrassed and agree". MP Okaset Bakous angrily replied: "General Aoun, we are not that stupid". At the end of the meeting, General Aoun addressed the MP's: "In this meeting we discussed extremely important and vital issues, but now I am going to ask you some thing that might surprise you. Lebanon is on the verge of collapsing; our current situation is like that of Lazarus in the grave. Only a miracle could save us, I ask you to pray to be successful and honest in your mission ". The MP's left Baabda Palace happily with smiling faces. On their way out, they took turns in front of the media cameras confirming their free decision making process, vowing not to abandon their national dignity or compromise Lebanon's soil. All the MP's rhetoric bragging on nobility, devotion, dignity and nationalism vanished in the air when in Saudi Arabia. All their defenses crashed down, and could not resist the temptation of the Saudi hard currency and the American Dollars. Money is said, turns heads, changes men, colors stances and exposes real affiliations. Our MP's acted at Al-Taef City, like slaves. They looked out for their own interests rather than Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. They betrayed their country and fellow citizens, like Judas, when he accepted thirty pieces of silver. Although they have attempted to justify their treason, the Lebanese people will never forgive them and history shall curse them till the resurrection day. At Al-Taef City, they committed the crime of falling into temptation, sold Lebanon and degraded its dignity. Long Live Free Lebanon Australia. November 27, 1998 |