A PARLIAMENTARY MESS
CHRISTIAN,SUNNI,SHIITE
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
FOR TOMOROWS WAR ZONE
AS WE WAIT FOR ALL HORNS
TO ASSEMBLE A HUGE THORN
TO END DAY JEWS WERE BORN
May 26, 2008
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
If you want to be aware of the situation as it exists in Lebanon today, please read the two Excerpts which follow. The first is an excerpt from the Star Tribune, and the second is an excerpt from the AL LIBNAN. We now have a pro-Syrian, anti-Israel Lebanese President leading one of the horns of the Daniel 7 beast.
He is what I consider neutral toward Hizbullah as well as the majority and minority factions of the Lebanese Parliament.
Since Hizbullah has veto power it can block all majority decisions. So, in effect, the minority rules.
Begin Excerpt from the StarTribune.com
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota
Lebanon: Suleiman arrives at presidential palace on first day in office
By BASSEM MROUE , Associated Press
May 26, 2008
BEIRUT, Lebanon – Military bands and an honor guard salute greeted President Michel Suleiman on Monday as he entered Lebanon’s presidential palace to begin the monumental task of uniting a wounded nation and reconciling its rival political factions.
Suleiman, who was elected Sunday, was greeted by applauding staffers on a red carpet at the palace in hilly Baabda near Beirut, rather than by an outgoing president as is normally the custom. Lebanon has been without a head of state since November, when Emile Lahoud left office without a successor.
Suleiman’s election
is the first tangible step in the deal to end the political crisis which erupted this month into the worst violence since Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war.
Army cannons fired 21 shots to salute Suleiman, as a brass band played Lebanon’s national anthem. Dozens of his staff members erupted into applause.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said President Bush had called Suleiman to congratulate him and invite him to Washington “so the two leaders can meet to discuss issues of strategic importance to both the United States and Lebanon.”
Earlier Monday, Suleiman bid farewell at Beirut’s airport to the emir of Qatar, who brokered a deal among Lebanese politicians last week which led to the election. Parliament had failed to elect a new president 19 times over the past six months.
Suleiman is expected to begin consultations with legislators over the formation of a new government as early as Tuesday.
“I call on you all, people and politicians, for a new beginning,” Suleiman said after he was sworn in Sunday.
“Let us be united.”
He f aces
a daunting task. Under the terms of the agreement reached last week in Doha, a new national unity Cabinet will be formed in which Hezbollah and its allies have veto power.
Prime Minister Fuad Saniora’s Cabinet was considered dissolved upon Suleiman’s election Sunday. But the new president asked Saniora to stay on as caretaker until a new administration is formed.
Once parliamentary leaders name a new prime minister, that person would then present a Cabinet lineup for the president’s approval. The Cabinet then needs to draft a policy statement to present to parliament for a vote of confidence.
The majority is expected to choose the prime minister from its ranks.
Saniora or majority coalition leader Saad Hariri are among those mentioned in the media as candidates.
The president, who has limited powers, has no choice but to approve the choice of the majority of legislators he polls.
But the head of state can block a Cabinet’s formation if he doesn’t approve the lineup presented by the prime minister-designate.
Cabinet posts will be distributed according to the Doha agreement: 16 for the majority, 11 for the opposition and three for president, who heads the Cabinet.
The group must also respect an equal split between Christians and Muslims, as required under Lebanon’s power-sharing formula.
The agreement also calls for a new election law under which 2009 elections will be held.
The president serves a six-year term.
Suleiman also was expected to embark on a regional tour, after getting an invitation to visit Egypt from Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who attended Sunday’s election session.
Here is a brief Bio of Army chief General Michel Suleiman from the YA LIBNAN
Name — Michel Suleiman.
Age and date of Birth – 59; Nov. 21, 1948.
Education — Graduated from Lebanon’s military academy as second lieutenant, 1970; holds bachelor of arts degree in political and administrative sciences from Lebanese University.
Experience — Commander of armed forces, 1998-present; commander of 6th Infantry Brigade, 1996-98; commander of 11th Infantry Brigade, 1993-96; army staff secretary-general, 1991-93; chief of intelligence branch, 1990-91.
Accomplishments — Protected mass anti-Syria demonstrations and counter-protests; squashed sectarian violence; deployed army in Hezbollah strongholds of southern Lebanon for first time in decades; crushed rebellion by Islamic extremists in northern Lebanon.
Family — Married to Wafaa Suleiman; three children.
Comments about General Suleiman
Many March 14 supporters were disappointed with March 14 alliance for backing the election of the General for the following reasons:
1- General Suleiman was appo inted by the Syrians as commander of the Lebanese Army
in 1998.
2- General Suleiman was the head of the army when many Lebanese were tortured by the Army to “confess” whatever the army wanted
3- General Suleiman was the head of the army when many Lebanese were arrested based on orders from Syria on August 7, 2001
4- His brother in law, Gebran Kuriyyeh was the official spokesman of Hafez Assad, father of the current Syrian president Basher Assad.
5- General Suleiman defended Syrian connection with Fatah al Islam , claiming that the terrorist organization was part of Al Qaida, this is despite the confessions of the jailed Fatah al Islam terrorists about their links to Syria.
6- General Suleiman praised Hezbollah for their alleged victory during the summer war with Israel , despite the fact that Hezbollah criticized the army during the war which left Lebanon in ruins with over 1200 dead , mainly civilians .
On the other hand the March 14 supporters expressed preference for Suleiman over general Michel Aoun, who is generally despised by them for allying himself with Hezbollah . They also all credit Suleiman with the victory over the Fatah al Islam terrorists.
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