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PART 11  (Translated freely: By Elias Bejjani) After the Lebanese Army was victorious at the Souk Al-Kareb battle, the USA, instead of condemning the new Syrian assault, its ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. John McCarthy, asked to meet with the Prime Minister, General Michel Aoun. The meeting that took place at the Baabda presidential Palace was stormy, as was apparent on Mr. MacCarthy's face on leaving the palace. He could not control his anger or conceal his reaction and assaulted the journalist, Samir Constantine who asked him about the outcome of his meeting with General Aoun. He uttered obscenities and behaved in a hostile manner far from a diplomatic ethic. During the Aoun - McCarthy meeting, Mr. McCarthy addressed Aoun with intimidation and advises to stop Lebanon's confrontation with Syria and in effect to accept the American plan. Aoun interrupted the Ambassador to ask where Lebanon falls on the priority list of the USA. Mr. McCarthy: Lebanon is not currently existing on our Middle East list of interest. General Aoun: But we exist and are defending our land and our rights to a free and decent life in spite of the divisions created and nurtured by foreign occupations. Mr. McCarthy: You do not have any role at the present time, because the mutual programs and interests do not include you. General Aoun: Have we even been on your agenda at any time? Mr. McCarthy: No, not as far as I know. General Aoun: Are we going to be among your interests in the future? Mr. McCarthy: I do not know, this depends on the circumstances and unfolding of events. General Aoun: Give us a guarantee for the continuity of Lebanon or even a period of time when Lebanon will be on your agenda of interests. Mr. McCarthy: I cannot do so. General Aoun: You have told many of those who met you that I am the obstacle, for not finding a solution to crisis. Mr. McCarthy: Yes I did. General Aoun: Mr. McCarthy, I am more than willing to abandon everything and leave, provided you choose witnesses and give me, in their presence, a guarantee, even a verbal one, that Lebanon is going to remain an independent and free country. Aoun added: At that time I shall publicly inform the Lebanese people that the USA's ambassador had given me guarantees that Lebanon will remain an independent, sovereign, free country and that my mission is over. When this is done, I will collect my personal belongings and leave the presidential palace immediately. Mr. McCarthy: I cannot do that. General Aoun: As long as in your opinion Lebanon has been cancelled, has no role and is not on Washington's agenda of interests, why then did you come to see me? Mr. McCarthy: I am trying to rescue you. General Aoun: No sir, you are trying to destroy us according to your timetable, but we have decided to die in the way we want and when we choose to do so. On the night of fourth of September, Mr. Jobran Tuiani and Mr. Masoud Ashkar came to the presidential palace and informed General Aoun of their intention to organize a demonstration the second day (the fifth) in front of the American embassy. Aoun said: The Americans are going to evacuate the embassy and leave Lebanon, so do not give them the justification to do so. They responded by saying that the aim of the demonstration is pressuring the USA to change its policy towards Lebanon. Aoun responded: You have the full freedom to demonstrate and express your opinion, but the Army will be there to protect the embassy and will facilitate everything you need. He added: you should know that the army has orders to abort any terrorist act and will interfere if any of the embassy's personnel are to be exposed to assaults or humiliation. To be continued next week. Long Live Free Lebanon |