AN INTERESTING MILITARY MAN!
December 2, 2007
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
The election of Michel Suleiman seems likely in the election to fill the vacated Lebanese Presidential Office.
There seems little doubt that time is on the side of Syria and Hizbullah in eventually taking control of the Lebanese government.
Appointment of Lebanese Military Chief General Michel Suleiman as the President of Lebanon, a man who relates very favorably to Hizbullah and Syria, considering them allies in the Islamic struggle against occupier Israel, can be a part of allowing them to take political control of the Lebanese Parliament. He wants all the military might of Lebanese forces pointed south against the common enemy of Lebanon, Syria, and Hizbullah, namely, the State of Israel.
Syrian political analyst and journalist Sami Moubayed had this to say about the appointment of Michel Suleiman as Lebanese President:
Begin Quote
…if the Syrians are able to get their way, they would opt for Michel Suleiman, the current army commander. Washington DC is not too enthusiastic about him because he is politically independent; too independent for Washington’s taste. He is committed to combating Israel, supporting Hizbullah, and friendship with Syria.
His one slogan has been “Israel is the enemy”, something that greatly pleases Damascus
but is frowned upon by 14 March. If elected, he would certainly work for a greater role for Hizbullah in the government, and might even turn a blind eye to their activities in south Lebanon, as did Elias Hrawi in the early 1990s, and Lahoud in 1998-2006. Also to the displeasure of 14 March was a recent remark by the army commander, “Fatah Al-Islam is linked to Al-Qaeda not Syria.”
End Quote
(“14 March” refers primarily to the majority pro-western Lebanese Parliament cabinet members)
Begin YNet News Excerpt
Hizbullah may support army commander for Lebanese Presidency
Lebanese army commander Michel Suleiman named organization’s favorite presidential candidate.
‘There is a major opportunity to reach an accord on presidential elections,’ reports Hizbullah television.
Associated Press
December 1, 2007
A senior Hizbullah official said Saturday that the militant group holds army commander Michel Suleiman in high regard, further improving his chances of becoming Lebanon’ s next pre
sident and averting a political crisis.
Hezbollah deputy leader Sheik Naim Kassem’s comments came two days after the group’s ally, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun, said he will back Suleiman as a compromise candidate for president.
The parliamentary majority also expressed its support for Suleiman this week, setting up a potential resolution to months of conflict with the Hezbollah-led opposition over choosing President Emile Lahoud’s successor.
“We, in Hezbollah have a positive view of General Michel Suleiman in addition to our appreciation of General Michel Aoun’s stance and consider this alternative as a serious one,” The white-turbaned cleric said on Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV.
‘A major opportunity’
“There is a major opportunity for discussion in order to reach an accord on presidential elections,” Kassem added.
Hezbollah officials have in recent days linked their support for any presidential candidate to Aoun’s stance. Now that has Aoun has publicly supported Suleiman, Kassem’s comments were viewed as implicit support for the army commander.
Parliament is scheduled to meet Friday to vote for a new president.
For Suleiman to be elected, the Parliament will have to amend the constitution, which prevents senior state employees, including army commanders, from running for the post while in office.
The army chief is seen as a neutral figure who can appeal to both the Western-supported majority and the pro-Syrian opposition, which is backed by Damascus.
The nation’s top post has been vacant since pro-Syrian Lahoud left office without a successor on Nov. 23 because the feuding groups could not agree on a compromise candidate.
Failure to elect a president left Lebanon with a leadership vacuum not seen since the civil war, when rival governments ran
the country in 1988-89.
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