ATVs stopped by Hezbollah in Jroud Zahle

I've just been told that Samir Geagea mentioned in today's press conference that some ATVs were stopped during a trip in Jroud Zahle. I've been meaning to post about this on this blog, but the personal life got in the way.

It is us that he was talking about. On Sunday 15 June 2008, I had a trip planned for my colleagues at work to go on ATV from Ouyoun el Simen to Zahleh through its deserted mountains, known as Jroud, have lunch in Zahle's Wadi Al Arayesh and come back. On our way, we were a convoy of about 10 ATVs, and in the middle of no where we were stopped by armed civil men, carrying AK47s. On the side there was a big white tent. On both sides, as far as 500 meters on each way, there was high deserted mountains. We were asked what we were doing there and where we were going. I gave the name of everyone with me, because I did not want them to stop every ATV and bother them. Luckily I gave them the right names, and all of them.
After they believed that we were only on an adventure trip and going to have lunch in Zahle, and been told never ever to pass by there again because it is a "military" region. They told us that we will not be bothered on our way back.

On our way back, we were stopped again, there was more armed men, and we can see them in far behind big rocks with their guns ready for any action. This time they wanted to search all males in the ATV convoy. The organizer of the trip insisted and persisted over and over again that we are a respected company and only here for adventure and he refused that any man amongst would be searched. After more than 20 minutes of negotiations, they told us that all males should show their IDs, and they compared it to the first list we had given them earlier that day. There was one missing name, but it was okay, because we told them that the guy stayed in Zahle. After they let us go, they were clear that this is a secure zone, a NO-ATV zone... and not to pass from there ever again.

We were just trying to have fun. That is the story.

Traffic Lights, Roads, Fuel.. this is just absurd

While driving today, I noticed how much Lebanese people do not look beyond their nose, it's an expression we use in here. Looking beyond their nose, meaning looking ahead in the future and not just taking decisions that would affect the current situation and current period.

However, the thing that doesn't make a lot of sense, is that Lebanese people are usually people who worry about the future a lot, because we do not have a lot of services offered to us by the government, retirement plans, security, hospitalization, free medication, etc... we do, but it isn't neither stable nor widespread. So we really have to rely on ourselves, when it comes to securing our future, the future of our family, the schools, the social security, the medication stuff, etc... In france for example, school tuitions are for free!

But no, when it comes to driving, if taking the left lane wins us two seconds while our direction is keep going straight, yet would block the road for those going to the left, knowing that the light for the straight direction is red, yet for those going to the left is green! But hey, we will win 2 seconds!

And finally, fuel prices are still flying... Shi bi tammin! I had this accident while not having enough money to fill my car's tank, because I was used to pay an amount, and now it is really much more... Funny day, I had to step down from my car and wash some cars, and fill gaz to other people! No, am kidding, I know the guy, and I brought him the rest of the money the next day.

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Only in Lebanon

Signs you'll only see in Lebanon!

In Lebanon we tend to translate political beliefs, idiocricy and silly propaganda into our billboards, billboards that are supposed to ambush us by telling us that a car with the current year model is only 10'000$, which contains beneath it in a very very small font "Excluding VAT, Excluding Registration, Excluding Gear, Excluding Wheels..."

Anyway, I got three signs for you! I was at the Housing thingie applying to get a loan for a house, and I saw a sign that said: "Please don't turn off your cigarettes on the floor". I thought I was reading it wrong expecting something like "Please don't smoke". I am so retro.

Another funny one coupled with "Sex, Unisex":



No comment really, it is all thanks to Aoun that "partnership" is back to Lebanon.

And finally, something that REALLY reminds me of the time when Emile Lahoud, the most hated guy in Lebanon for the past 9 years. New billboards Thanking General Michel Suleiman, our upcoming president.



It is just amazing how Lebanese forget, get so excited, so happy over anything slightly positive, clinging to an atom of hope, thinking that everything in just 2 days can make the country better. It does give this vibes, it really does, but we're just repeating history if we keep doing the same mistakes, the same reactions and the same way of thinking. Silly us.

Downtown Beirut Back to Life, sorta!

As soon as the opposition dismantled their tents and removed every last trace of their presence that has been ongoing since December 1, 2006 in the purpose of overthrowing the Siniora Government back, due to the recent dialog that took place in Qatar and resulted in agreement between both factions, the opposition and the government, Sunday will be crowned (crowned??) by a new President for Lebanon, General Michel Suleiman and downtown Beirut is back to life, sort of!




I went to Downtown Beirut tonight, as our friends were there, and we thought we'd join them, as I heard yesterday that downtown is overbooming, and everybody's hanging out there again, so I thought, let me check out what the fuss is all about. Don't wanna sound hypocrit, downtown beirut used to be one of my favorite hang out places, even before it had so many restaurants and such.



Unfortunately, the central district of Beirut, even if it tried so hard to embrace the so many people visiting it and remeniscing the old times, the restaurants, the few of them that were still open and did not close during the past year, the few ones that still had staff and enough food to feed the hungry people.



Many places were still closed, so my friends and I went to our usual favorite restaurant, Roadster's Diner, but an unusual branch, the downtown one. It had only 5 staffs, and on average, you get your meal after 10 minutes of ordering it, but tonight, it took more than 40 minutes! Oh, it was not my first order, because they did not have food for first order. Fine, it's okay, I kept encouraging those hard working waiters.



Moreover, I saw a couple of Ferraris on the road tonight. And they say there is no money in this country!

Easy come, easy go

I have to be honest with you, the whole recent so-called positive event in Lebanon, the whole finally agreeing on something, the opposition and the government who have been dissing, offending, disrespecting and threatening each other for the past year and a half, this whole recent event only makes me worry.

I wonder, how can such deep, rooted, stereotypical thoughts, be ruled out in one Qatari Dialog? I just don't get it.

I heard that today, there were no available place in Beirut's Downtown's restaurants and that it is back to life. Yes, congratulations for that.

But the solution we have is superficial, our problem is not the president or the electoral law or the tents that were in Beirut since December 1, 2006 and up until yesterday night. Our problem is us.

Are you one of those who are happy? or in grief and mourning

Let's not forget, that while Lebanon is celebrating (I personally smell something fishy about it, I can't help but be "pessirealistic" here), others are mourning their lost ones.

Some people died in the mini-war that happened in the second week of May, what happens to them? What happens to their folks? Why did they put themselves in such a situation you might wonder, they may be right, they may not be right, nevertheless their lives were lost.

Either ways, alla yer7amkoun w yer7amna.

Rejoice, Lebanon`s savior is here

Now that the Doha agreement between the opposition and the government has took place, it appears to be a day of rejoice and celebration for the Lebanese. Because on Sunday, Lebanon will not be presidentless anymore. Both factions agreed on General Michel Suleiman as a president, and agreed on an electoral law, thanks to the opposition and their "sacrifice".

Tents are doing down, no more sit-in in Beirut Central District (Downtown). That's a good thing at least, this town is beautiful and hopefully some life will come back to it.

As we have gotten used to things by now, nothing is as simple as it appears, dialog has been called for since ever in Lebanon, they have had many attempts so far, 20 times the presidential elections has been postponed as well, and in 1 week, in Qatar, solution has been found. Is it a permanent solution or just a temporary one? On the regional scale, is something going to happen between Iran and Israel/US? We'll wait and see.

Dialog in Qatar and Berri in Pyjamas

Apparently, it's not going well. All I saw yesterday on the news was that Berri was in the Qatari tradiotional outfit, known as "Dishdesheh", I think. But that's not all, he was also wearing slippers. I am thinking he feels more comfortable in Qatar. Hopefully, others will join him, and they all stay there.

We are back to square zero, because even if both factions, the opposition and pro-government have agreed on a president, General Michel Suleiman, they still disagree on the electoral law that will be used in the next parliamentary elections. How will Beirut's district be divided? For those who don't know, it is a simple matter of math, each faction is giving the division that it will win for it more seats at the parliament. I have no idea, how they can actually find a solution for that. I am sure no faction will sacrifice for the other, because after all, it is not Lebanon that it matters for them, it apparently is their own benefits.



Today, an organization named KHALAS organized a gathering along the road of the airport to call for the leaders not to come back in case they don't agree. Talk about improbable things.

Not wanting to sound pessimistic, yet it seems like the day the opposition and the government agree will be when we won't have a Global Warming problem. At least there is hope.

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Let us at least stay Friends

This is a group that has been created on Facebook. Its main purpose is to tell the Lebanese people to stay friends despite what's going on.

At first you might think this is a ridiculous group, but let me tell you it actually is a pretty out of the box idea. It is because it's true. Luckily my friends and I already can forsee the consequences of talking politics, and that's why we just don't. Some might disagree and recommend communication, however that is precisely the problem here. The thing is, politics in Lebanon has become so intertwined with personal issues that we will definitely end up arguing, yelling at each other and possibly stop talking to each other, and it happened with some folks.

That is why, refrain from talking politics because:
1- You won't change anything
2- You will end up losing good friends of yours

Of course, when you decide to talk about the well being of your country and people, instead of talking about Aoun, Geagea, Jomblat, Nasrallah, Berri, Hariri, etc... Ideas vs People.... Just remember!

Arab Traffic Week

Drive carefully people!!

Now is the time

Quoting my brother: "Now is the time to close the airport" *


*All leaders are in Qatar

Recap on the past 3 days in Lebanon

The Arab Ministerial Committee's mission was a success. Their mission last wednesday was to calm things down, open the airport again, bring opposition and government closer, adopt the fact that the government retracted the May 5 decisions, and went on with the next step which is dialog.

This time, dialog is going to take place in Doha, Qatar.

No more signs of weapons on the streets, no more clashes, several airplanes landed in Beirut's airport yesterday, and several left our airport today.

In the past 3 to 4 days, some of the government's officials and pro-government political party leaders, such as Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora, Samir Geagea, etc... have toughed up their tones, while many thought that it only meant things were not going to get better even with the Arab Ministerial Committee's upcoming efforts.

But in my opinion, it was only a theatrical broadway show, orchestrated to make those pro-government people appear as they are pissed, because if they do show that they backed down so smoothly, the pro-government followers, and the big players who support this government were going to be extremely pissed.

In my opinion, the government did not lose per se, however it compromised for the sake of this country.

Brainwash, Extremism, Animals

Day after day I only realise how much difference there is between us and they, between the people who want this, and the people who want that.

It is not only about what we want and what they want, it's about how we look at things and how they look at things.

To be able to look at the other and trust them without being afraid, takes a lot of work and patience, and few of us are willing to invest time in shortening the distance of ignorance.

I received today a powerpoint presentation about Iran, sent by people who don't want to be terrorized by Hezbollah and Iran (according to them) and trying to raise awareness in their own way. Of course, it had pictures of executed men, hung from their necks and left to die for actions as silly as drinking booze, men being tortured and whipped and women being buried while alive and such. I don't know when was that, or where was that exactly, it might be Iran or not, but wherever it was, it is horrible, inhumane, unacceptable, existant and there should be something we can do about it.

It depends on which level you are looking at things, because today I can only see two poles when watching TV, reading the news websites and listening to the news on the radio. These two poles are as far from each other as they can be, and as close to each other as they shouldn't be, or maybe they should be that close?

It's very simple, I know many people, and I might be one of them, who are afraid of Hezbollah everthrowing the government, ruling Lebanon and making Lebanon a second Iran. How do we answer those fears? are they valid? do they make sense?

In its sacred and divine ideology, religion should be here to help, and not ruin and destroy. As smart and intelligent as a human being can be, as extremist and dangerous and stupid as "human being" can be. Brainwashing? That's another story. I will talk about it some other time.

Awaiting.... what?

Sunday 11th of May, 2008, the 5th day of the bloody demonstration gone wrong, of the strike gone war, of the genuine demands gone terrorizing.

The airport road, the port road and the Masnaa road (bordering with Syria) is still closed, and many other roads in Beirut are still closed. Lebanese army is widely spread in all Beirut, and there are no sign of armed men on the streets, even the Sukleen cleaners are on the roads cleaning. However the civil disobedience asked for by the Opposition leaders is still present until all their demands are met.

North Lebanon is calmer now, some sort of agreement on calming things down have been set.

Many foreigners are leaving Lebanon, and some have been advices by their own embassies to leave Lebanon.



The arab ministers will be in session soon, in order to discuss the current crisis in Lebanon. Should we expect much from them? I believe not, until now, they never really helped this much. Refraining from offending anyone, but we all know who the big regional players are, and at this point, all negotiations are done silently and discretly away from the crowds.

The death toll has risen to more than 40, I don't have the exact number, but yesterday alone had 20 casualties. In particular, the victim during the Tarik Jadidah's funeral.

Siniora is not budging, the army is trying to compromise, the opposition is still firm, less firm than the beginning, nonetheless, it appears for the situation to get better, it needs a minimum of another 2, 3 days of tension.

Lebanese Army`s statement to the rescue

The Lebanese Army declared the following statement (not word by word):
- It has been decided to keep Chief Wafik Shoukeir in his position in the airport
- Demanded for all armed forces to be withdrawn from the streets, and to open all the streets

I believe that this statement, is not only the road for things to get better, but it is even better than we have asked for.

With the leadership of the army deciding to keep the Chief Shoukeir in his position in the airport, the first point of Nasrallah's demand is being met, and the first point of the government's demand is also applied.

By this, Hezbollah is bound to accept the 2nd point of the government which is electing General Michel Sleiman as president, as courtesy to his wise decisions in the past few days and especially in the Shoukeir one.

Moreover, this can lead everyone to the dialog again.

Prediction not for the near future, but for the slightly far one, there will be new elections soon.

Peace in Lebanon, or Hell on Earth

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." Albert Einstein (1979-1955)

This is actually the proverb that I have had as "Quote of the week" for the past year I think, and everytime I decide to put a new proverb, I just can't find anything that describes our needs in Lebanon better.

As simple and straight to the point this quote is, as perfect as it describes what's happening now.

While listening to Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the general secretary of Hezbollah political party, and military leader of the Lebanese Islamic resistence against any foreign insurgence, i.e. ISRAEL, I can't help but think how much this person is logical and convincing, nevertheless, this man's press conference had some flaws in it.

He did say, that anyone who tries to put his hands on Hezbollah's weapons, will be answered by the weapons, even if it is his dad. Hezbollah have a firm belief that Israel are their ennemies and are trying with the US to take over, more like, erase the Middle East. They strongly believe that they should and will react against their own brothers and sisters for the greater goal. I sometimes see where they are coming from, but I am also torn to think and ask myself: "Do I want to be terrorized by a very strong and powerful group". This is their beliefs, as we say in Lebanese "Yesteflo", this is their own war, and they are willing to kill and cause much distress, chaos and death in their own country just so they can achieve their own goal, which I don't necessarily believe is righteous myself. But if all your life you have been raised to think something, do you think anyone can come and change your mind? If anything, it is definitely not by weapons and stuborness.

The government knew better, and this is why for the past 26 years no one dared to criticize Hezbollah, not only the past 2 years or so, and this is when General Aoun signed on the Agreement form with Hezbollah. And FPMers wonder why some people went crazy over this step. Aoun did it because he felt that he was thrown out of the government, and Aoun, believing (maybe he does) of having a large audience in Lebanon who love him, wants to be a President. This is not the history of Lebanon, the history of Lebanon can have thousands of versions and stories and this is not what I intend to do. At this point, I am just trying to roughly see where each faction comes from and how it is IMPOSSIBLE for us Lebanese to ever agree on something.

Lebanese history cannot be written.

Is it wrong to not take Life to seriously spending all the time fighting for something, that most probably is not that important? What is life really, and what is our mission? Shouldn't just we live well and let others live well? Yes, naive thought.

I personally do not want to spend my life worried about people I know and love, thinking at any moment, they can be near an explosion, near a clash, and so on. Is this what Lebanon is? Will it ever be a normal country? This small country has so many differences, and what confuses me the most, is that politics aside, the majority wants to just lead a normal life in Lebanon. We all praise Lebanon, and how beautiful it is, a heaven on earth, sea near the mountains, partying and clubbing, activities, fun, music, great food.

Is it really? Most of the time it is, but the couple of months per year, in which we are blessed to have, a war with Israel, a war with Shaker el Absi and his crew, and now once again a war between each other! Only brings me back to feel like I am in Hell, and Lebanon is nothing but Hell on Earth.

There is no way, we will ever agree on something, if we do, it's only temporary.

Round up about the latest clashes in Beirut

While someone thinks they've seen it all in Lebanon, and in Beirut in particular, the day and night carries with them another type of attack, another type of distress and another form of disappointment.

Yesterday, 6 institutions of media have been closed, and not just had their doors closed, in fact they're doors are wide open, but everything inside is either burned or broken to pieces. These institutions belong to the Future TV, Radio and Newspaper, and their variety of offices. The whole TV building has been burned by members belonging to the opposition factions.



This is a video of Sahar Al Khatib, a reporter from Future TV talking with a genuine voice about what happened to Future insitutions, on Kalam Al Nas show with Marcel Ghanem on LBCI.

Journalists and media personnel gathered at the Bourj Al-Ghazal Tower in Tabaris to express their rejection of yesterday’s forced closure of media institutions by opposition factions.

Yesterday's images have been scary, empty roads of residential areas with armed men walking and shooting in the air, scaring off anyone who thinks of going out to the balcony and checking out the weather. People were not able to get to Beirut or Leave to Beirut. Schools and Educational institutes, shops, banks, everything is closed in Beirut. Beirut is under siege.

Today, all locations that have been "occupied" by our own Lebanese brothers, have been handed over to the Lebanese army.



Moreover, the clashes and gunfire reached out to Aley, a druze region in majority. All in all, clashes, blocades and victims were not only in Beirut, but some parts of Bekaa, both Lebanese-Syrain borders, Masnaa and North Lebanon, Aley, Shouweyfat, Saida, Khaldeh, etc...

Below is a video about a real and spontenaous reaction for a kid and woman to gunfire near them in Beirut, this was broadcasted on Al-Arabia TV.



After Moorab's meeting yesterday for March 14, its outcome according to Lebanese-Forces leader Samir Geagea, that the recent events led by the opposition is an armed manner to overthrow the government. Read more about it here.

In the last three days and according to the Media, the toll is 18 casualties.

The most recent clashes are in Halba - Akkar, and word that there are 2 victims so far. For minute to minute news, check Tayyar.org, LebanonFiles.com and NowLebanon.com for more opinions and coverage.

Hariri threw back the ball to Hezbollah`s court

In summary, the speech that Hariri gave tonight at 8:10 pm, in response to Nasrallah's press conference this afternoon, concluded in 4 main points which Hariri believes if Nasrallah complies by them, then he does mean well.
1- Within the army regime, there will be ones assigned to investigate the Chief Shoukair issue
2- Reopen the road to the airport and free Beirut from its siege
3- Elect General Michel Sleiman as President
4- Sit together and try to talk things thru led by the newly elected president.

Hariri also highly insisted that he does not want a war and turmoil erupting between sunnist and chiite, and their sole enemy is Israel, and that the airport will not become a base for CIA, FBI and Mossad, and the issue with the communication was not a problem if it is about 3, 4 or 5000 lines, but when it reached 99000 and 999000 then it is a threatening issue for the government and they need to maintain national security.

Now, this kinds of seems like the government is willing to give and take, they did not exactly answer Nasrallah's two demands to make things better, but I believe this is how negotiations go.

Let's cross our fingers.

Nasrallah threw the ball in the government`s court

Or at least, this is how he made it appear. No one denies the power of convincing this man has, but there were a lot of flaws in his press conference. I will get into them later.

But in a summary, he spoke about 3 main points:
1- The private communications central
2- The airport and Chief Wafik Shoukair
3- The crisis

The major points were the following:
1- Sheik Nasrallah explained that a major part of a resistance or army's weapons are the communications, and they need a safe one as unwired and mobile phones are breached and will allow Israel to know their tactics.
2- He called this government to be Walid Jumblat's government, whom is an employee working for Condoleeza Rice
3- The airport step, is to prevent from any clashes in the future with the army and national security, because Hezbollah has no desire in clashing with the army, showing much respect to them
4- Nasrallah threatened anyone who approaches their weapons, will get his hand cut off. Even though he promised before that Hezbollah's weapons won't be used inside Lebanon, he said when the government crossed the line and declared war by taking the decision that Hezbolla's communications are illegal and a national threat
5- Narallah said that they have no interest in taking over the country, the government or any political stand.
6- The don't want Chief Wafik Shoukair to be removed, because they don't want the airport to become an FBI, CIA and Mossad base, which is near their homes.
7- Nasrallah told others to stop using the "Civil war erupting between sunnist and chiite" anymore, as it will not happen!
8- He finally said that there are two things the government can do that will solve the recent issues in Lebanon, which is taking back the decisions in confiscating Hezbolla's communication (which is a big part of their weapons), and answering Berri's call for dialog.

There has been heard some gun shooting as a joyful response to Nasrallah's press conference once it finished, which later led to armed clashes in the streets of Beirut, in principal in Kornishe Al Mazraa, Ras Al Nabaa, Aisha Bakkar, Karakol el Druze.



It has moved from just burning tires, throwing rocks, blocking roads and occasional gun fire in the air, it is now officially a battle between members from Hezbollah and members from the Future Movement, using AK47, RPGs, B7 and Bombs...

Some minutes pass by when it is relatively calm, and only after a couple of minutes to reintiate the gunfire between the two groups. Some persons are wearing masks, and hiding behind buildings, and stealing a moment every minute to shoot at the others, and at buildings. Smoke can be seen from as far as Mount Lebanon.

The party has just begun, Saad Hariri will have another press conference tonight, and now that the ball is in the government's court, I do not see any atom of hope that they will calm things down, as a matter of fact, there is a high probablity that they will only escalate things. Which will translate into the streets as more shootings, bombs and rockets.

The army at this point is not getting involved, I believe they cannot do anything right now, due to the fact that the leaders of both parties did not try to halt anything. The army gave a statement that things cannot be solved by guns, but only by dialog.

Armed clashes for now are between Sunni members and Shiite members, no christian existence yet. If by any shroud of bad luck, christians do get involve, there is a risk that the clashes will reach christian regions, which then officially declares a civil war in Lebanon.

We hope, by a miracle from God, that everything stops today.

For a minute to minute update, check Tayyar.org.
For Sheik Nasrallah's today's press conference in English, check this article on NowLebanon.com

Update: There is a fire in one of the residential areas, and they're shooting at the fire department so they do not put the fire down!

This is bad, very very bad

I've been meaning to sum up what happened starting yesterday and uptill now, but I just can't seem to focus. I can sincerly say, I am scared.

Now that its is being screamed from the top of the roofs that yesterday was a well orchestrated subordination. While the Labors Syndicate Union decided to halt their demonstration and postpone it to another time, the opposition continued their subordination!
The union said that the government was not ready to protect them. What the Union failed to mention was that the ones who closed their roads was the opposition. I believe, the army did a fine job considering the danegrous individuals they were dealing with.

The union, could've done a normal demonstration taking place in one sole location, holding some whiteboards with few slogans on them. But no, they decided to paralyze and open up the opportunity for others to paralyze the capital. Slogans and peaceful gathering were few yesterday. Yes, there were few innocent people really asking and demonstrating against the government for a better living.

After that, the opposition continued to close roads, and the infamously airport road. Many flights were cancelled, no flights departed from Lebanon except empty airplanes. The people who arrived yesterday waited and sat on the ground, some who insisted on leaving the airport had to cross on foot a couple of meters with the help of the army.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we the Lebanese, are being dissected and torn apart by two major evil forces, the Haririst and the Hezbollah!

The coming days will unveil the upcoming war, not necessarily a typical civil war which we are used to, but when RPGs, Snipers and bombs are used in a supposedly "peaceful" demonstration, then it is an ugly battle taking place to say the least.

Uuntil now, some of the Future movement members have closed the road in Saadneyil and also in Masnaa, which is the crossing border between Lebanon and Syria in response to the closing of the road to the airport by Hezbollah. The first, claimed that once the airport road is open, they will open the roads on their ends.

What is funny, is how Tayyar.org refers to Future movement members as "Militia" (which maybe they are), but fails to calls the Hezbollah ones (who are doing exactly the same thing, even though they started it, but it's irrelevant at this moment) militias as well.

Congratulations to propaganda, stupidity and cowardness of the Lebanese people.

Israel closed down our aiport in July 2006, and now Hezbollah closes down the same airport in May 2008.

P.S. When Hezbollah was accused of using spy cameras on the road to the airport, they said if anyone removes those cameras are spies for Israel! Seriously?
Moreover, I don't want to be terrorized into doing or believing something, and at this point Hezbollah is terrorizing the government and the people into succumbing into their own demands.

Kudos for all the political parties for ruining Lebanon just when I thought it couldn't get worse.