The Vacation of His Excellency the General!

By:Minister/ Brigadier,  Issam Abu Jamra
29/12/02

His Excellency General Lahoud is in Monaco on vacation. He is staying
at the Hotel de Paris (at the 7-room Rothschild Suite), the most
luxurious hotel in the world.
His Excellency will be spending there the New Year's, together with
his "court", at a cost to the Lebanese treasury of 100,000 Euros per
day.
This is His Excellency's second vacation this year, after a first
vacation this past summer he also spent in Monaco.
It so happens that the State, which His Excellency heads, is in a
deficit exceeding $30 billion. That State was begging, also this
summer at the Paris II Conference, and kissing the hands of
charitable countries to obtain a loan that will save it a significant
amount on the accumulating interests on the debt.
The Lebanese people of all social strata and from all walks of life
are meanwhile suffering from poor productivity and from very high
taxes imposed by the State to cover part of the interest on the debt.
Who is footing the bill for his Excellency's vacation?
Issam Fares or Rafic Hariri, from their own personal money?
Prince Talal Ibn Al-Walid? Or His Excellency himself out of his
inheritance from his mother's "gold box"?
The Lebanese State from the Presidential Palace's budget? Or from
somewhere else in the budget?
This is a crime that cannot be forgiven!!! Who among the Lebanese
people will feel happy and wish His Excellency a great vacation? Most
of them have left the country or were forced out of the country to
put food on their tables.
Which of the countries that granted Lebanon a loan hasn't already
regretted their generosity after reading this news about His
Excellency's vacation?
Which of the countries that were hesitant in granting Lebanon a loan
will in the future put their money at the disposal of the Lebanese
authorities after reading this news?
Which of the countries that declined to attend the Paris II
conference are now thanking their good fortunes for not committing
the crime of wasting their people's money on Lebanon? 
We say it loud and clear with the Lebanese proverb: When the head of
the house is a drummer, the other house occupants have no choice but
to dance.
May God Almighty help Lebanon and the Lebanese to endure the evil of
this nightmare.