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PART 1  (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) During General Aoun's historical visit to Australia last year, a Lebanese citizen, a friend of mine, living in Sidney, approached me and whispered in my ears: "I thought Aoun was a pompous and conceited leader, but to my surprise, I found him to be extremely humble, humane, authentic and down to earth in his behavior. He added: His closeness to people makes you love him, His concepts are extremely conceivable and logical, His argument is strong and makes you respect his analytical predictions and admire whatever he says. He is the brave, educated leader whom the Lebanese people have been waiting for years, to save them from the conspiracy and open their eyes to the truth. The truth that has been shadowed by collaborators, puppet officials, mercenary media men, opportunists and all those betraying Lebanon and its people for their own interests. Since then, my friend has been calling me regularly whenever he reads any of Aoun's articles, or listens to any of his speeches. He calls to express his admiration and to remind me of his positive impressions after he met the leader. Last week my friend was fascinated by Aoun's article (published in The Middle Herald) under the title, "Waiting Is a Sickening State". Aoun in his article differentiated clearly between an empty, aimless waiting, where there is no effort or courage involved, and waiting that is hope-filled, patriotic, with genuine handwork involved in the aim of achieving the final goals. The zeal of my friend made me go back to the book I published under the title "Aoun, a Lebanese Awakening State", and chose from its contents some opinions focusing on my friend's observations. Michel Aoun was one of the few Lebanese Army officers who were accepted to the Military Academy without any mediation from influential politicians. Aoun said in this regard: "After I wrote the Military Academy entrance test, the Mayor of Haret Hrayek, (a suburb in South Beirut, Aoun's home town) visited my father and asked him in my presence why he does not call on Mr. Henry Traboulsi to talk to the Academy and ensure my acceptance? My father declined from doing so, and looked at me to hear my opinion in the presence of the Mayor. I said "dad, in case you did ask Mr. Traboulsy to mediate and as a result of his mediation I was accepted, don't you think I will be for the rest of my life a hostage to his favor; at the same time I shall never know the reality of my success: was it because of my qualifications and aptitude or because of the mediation, I refuse to be accepted as a result of mediation". Late Colonel Khalil Kenaan, a close friend to Aoun, described him by saying: " General Aoun is one of the few Lebanese Army officers who were very successful in their military higher studies in France. It is a rule that officers who do well abroad are good ones. Aoun was never an opportunist or a coaxer. He was, and still is, a brave, honest, humble, intelligent, patriotic and open minded man. He is a straightforward man in his attitudes, always seeks the truth and never, ever compromises his beliefs or convictions". From his day one, at the Military Academy, Aoun refused to accept the traditional concept that a soldier is a slave, and an officer is a God. He believed the military life is an interacting process between subordinates and their seniors and between soldiers and officers based on loyalty and on the respect of the subordinate to his superior. At the same time he believed it is based also on the superior's understanding to his subordinate and on a genuine will for help and support. Aoun stressed the fact that, a relationship based on fear between subordinates and superiors does not build an effective and strong army, but bodyguards and appeasers. Mr. Fayek Khoury, Aoun's friend for thirty years, said: " Michel Aoun's relationship with his friends was extremely good. We were like brothers with each other and Aoun was very proud of his past and his family. He always said proudly and openly:'"I am the son of Naiem Aoun the farmer." Aoun is very humble, does not speak about himself and never brags about what he has achieved. His speech is logical, analytical and down to earth, although he does not speak much." Aoun's cook, "Im Elias", said: " Aoun was never picky, he is a very humble and an ordinary man. He did not have any food preferences, he used to eat happily whatever I cooked, and most frequently one or two courses only." In this regard Mr. Al -Akhtar Al -Ibrahemy, the Arabic envoy, once said after meeting and having a meal with Aoun at the Baabda Palace: " I have had the poorest meal ever, but with the most honest man." Long Live Free Lebanon! (To be continued next week.) Australia, January 15/1999 |