 Syria is the enemy and will always be the enemy of the Lebanese people until it withdraws its rabble to its borders, and recognises Lebanon as an independent nation with the right of self determination. Syrian occupation was formalised by the Taef Accord, drawn up in a country and by a government where democracy is about as welcome as the electric car. It was subsequently implemented by Syrian military force on 13 October, 1990. Since then Hafez El Assad has made some conciliatory statements to soothe the collective conscience of the traitors who sold their country for a handful of silver. On the odd occasion, Assad has made some reference to Lebanon and Syria as two separate nations, but always qualifies his statement by adding that they are linked by one people. Exactly how many Lebanese believe that they and the Syrians are one people, I am sure can be counted on one finger. Yes, Syria is the enemy, but Hariri is a greater enemy. While Syria can occupy Lebanon through military aggression, it could never take the Lebanese people’s will and aspiration of freedom. It may be able to control the media, but it could not control what people think and feel. It could never control and suppress the hatred that burns within every true Lebanese. The entire world would see that it was outright military occupation and force. The danger from Hariri is his collusion. In the same way that the Viché government in occupied France gave Hitler’s occupation a veneer of legitimacy, so does Hariri and his cronies. Occupation of a country and a people is two fold. Firstly, there is occupation through an unwelcome military presence by aggression and, secondly, there is assimilation. Occupation through aggression must be quickly followed by assimilation if is to succeed, and this is why Hariri is the biggest threat to Lebanon. He is a Lebanese person implementing on behalf of the Syrian regime the practical aspects of assimilation in order to achieve the goal of a "Great Syria". Occupying a country is one thing, but assimilating it into the occupiers political, social and cultural system is another. In the former the occupier’s legitimacy rests on a continued military presence and aggression when necessary. However, the latter rests on shared political, social and cultural system, which makes annexation permanent. Belorussia and the Ukraine are two very good examples. The former Soviet Union’s policy of occupation and assimilation was particularly effective in these two countries. The Soviet regime flooded these countries with ethnic Russian and transposed Soviet political, economic, educational, social and cultural structure onto them. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, these countries were so integrated into the Russian system that they are independent in name only. Hariri is doing the same in Lebanon. Since he was put in place by Assad, Lebanon’s history has been one of a downward slope towards assimilation The process of assimilation is taking place on two levels: a political level and a practical level. On the political level, the following treaties and agreements have been signed : 1991 Treaty of Brotherhood and Co-operation 1993 Common Market Agenda 1994 Economic & Social Co-operation 1997 Promotion of Investments 1997 Prevention of Double Taxation 1998 Elimination of Custom Duties To look at these agreements, one would think that Lebanon is dealing with an economic superpower from which it will greatly benefit. But the reality is very different. These treaties are all for the benefit of Syria. They, in effect, remove any and all significant economic and political decision making powers from the hands of the Lebanese and pass them to Syria. In short, the only decision that Harire and his kangaroo parliament can take is whether to use black or blue ink to rubber stamp a Syrian decree. Practical assimilation can be seen in the fact that Hariri has issued warrants for the arrest of Prime Minister General Michel Aoun, forcing the only effective opposition to Syrian occupation into exile, while putting Jumblatt, a drugs trafficker, and Berri, a terrorist, in positions of power, and permitting the Syrian intelligence service and its Lebanese puppies to freely roam the streets like hoodlums, arresting any dissenting voices. Moreover, in March, 1994 Hariri and his puppet regime was instructed by his Syrian masters to close down all private newspaper publications, television and radio stations. According to the "government" spokesman, the reasoning behind this move was that such organisations operate along sectarian lines, causing deep rifts between various factions that continue to exist in the country and, therefore, are not conducive to the goal of "national unity". So according to Hariri’s warped logic, "national unity" is achieved by curbing the free press and suppressing any serious political opposition and a significant section of the Lebanese population. Forgive me if I am wrong, but is this not remarkably similar to the doctrine and practice of the Syrian regime. Hafez El Assad has a good ally in Rafik Hariri; the perfect stooge to carry out his dirty work. The process of assimilation has begun, but Hariri is a naïve and a misguided individual if he believes he can succeed. He would be wise to look at the history of the world, not just that of Lebanon before he goes too far. The Lebanese people, Muslim and Christian, will neither thank nor forgive him when they are once again free. Long Live Free Lebanon, Ibin Lubnan |