Jumblat Issues Stern Warning to Lebanese Officials on Power Vacuum
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat warned that the recent car bomb blast in Beirut's southern suburbs was a clear message that similar attacks could take place elsewhere in Lebanon and that a vacuum in the army leadership would have a “destructive” effect.
In an interview with As Safir daily published on Thursday, Jumblat said: “The situation is not comforting. The message of the car bomb in Bir al-Abed should be a message to everyone in that what happened in the southern suburbs could happen elsewhere.”
The car bomb blast in Hizbullah's stronghold on Tuesday wounded at least 53 people. It was one of the biggest in the capital's southern suburbs since the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, and a major breach of a tightly controlled, high security area.
“If we haven't read that message … then we are fouls and irresponsible,” Jumblat said.
The Druze leader warned that any vacuum in the army leadership post would have a “destructive” effect, advising officials to take precautions to confront the “danger” before it “destroys us.”
Jumblat has backed an invitation by Speaker Nabih Berri for a parliamentary session on July 16 to study around 45 draft-laws, including the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term.
Qahwaji turns 60 this September, the retirement age for military leaders.
But caretaker Premier Najib Miqati rejects attending it for claiming there is no balance between a parliament with full powers and his resigned government.
The March 14 alliance also considers the draft-laws other than Qahwaji's term extension as unnecessary. The Change and Reform bloc on the other hand rejects the extension.
“I don't think it's time to create excuses or score goals between the speakership and the premiership,” Jumblat told As Safir.
“Let's get over it ... and meet Berri halfway by agreeing on around 20 or 30 rather than 45 draft-laws on the agenda,” he said.
Asked what would happen if the session wasn't held, Jumblat said: “We are heading simply towards vacuum, which is very dangerous.”
The PSP chief reiterated that he continued to hold onto his demand for a national unity cabinet.
He criticized the March 8 and 14 alliances for putting “crippling conditions” on Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.
Citing a series of economic problems and unemployment, Jumblat called for the swift formation of the cabinet.
“Let them give up the issue of sizes,” he said about the request of March 8 blocs to be represented in the government in accordance with their parliamentary weights.
11 July 2013, 08:53
27
Unfortunately mr jumblat you and all the other politicians (no exception( are a smart mafia, and the the rest of Lebanese people "again with no exception" are the stupid cause they keep following all of you. All respect, and hat down to the the great Egyptians.
11 July 2013, 13:25
26
I think the current political landscape in Lebanon is similar but un-identical to that prevailing prior to the civil war. The PLO was then seen by many, specially the Christians of Lebanon, to be a foreign invading entity who eroded the State and its Institutions. Today, HA is seen by many as the PLO of prior years albeit under a lebanese cover. Yasser Arafat used to appoint the Prime Minister, and Nassralah is now doing the same. Moslems (Chia and Sunni) felt marginalized pre civil war and Sunnis and many Christians feel the exact same thing today. The PLO check-points were asking Lebanese for Id cards and today HA check points verify Lebanese ID's. PLO weapons were used to intimidate people and arm surrogate supportive groups such as Mourabitoun, and today HA weapons intimidate the lebanese and arm Jabal Mohsen and other surrogates such as the resistance brigades in Saida.
11 July 2013, 17:47
22
A few days ago i posted a smile like this " :)))))" without any comments, and my post was deleted!!!
11 July 2013, 18:53
22
and what did you do to deserve a thumb down for your comment above?:))))))
12 July 2013, 02:39
00
Somme times people vote the person not the comment ........ unfortunate but that is what we have.
11 July 2013, 20:48
32
@phoenix. Its the people. Lebanese politics is like capitalism, it runs on the theory of supply and demand. The people are the source of demand and the politicians are the suppliers. The people demand payment for their allegiance -- the politicians procure the money needed to purchase allegiance. In order to secure the money, the politician gives the foreigner who is the source of the money a say in state affairs. The end result is that the foreigner is given priority over the people.
The good news is that since the people are the cause of this sorry situation, the people are the solution. Make different demands on the politicans and they will stop going to foreigners to procure what the people demand. Namely, Competence, integrity, honesty, loyalty to the Nation. You can't get that from foreign governments or their money
11 July 2013, 20:56
32
@phoenix, I always liked that you chose the picture of Bachir Gemayel on your blog. Bachir was honest. In the short time that he was president elect, the Lebanese bureuocracy was never so clean as he had put out the word that anyone taking bribes would be cut off directly.
He was once given a blank check by the King of Saudi Arabia and told to fill it out for what ever he wanted. Bachir filled out the check with "10480 square kilometers" and gave it back to the king that way.
A leader like Bachir could change a nation, but one has not surfaced since September 14, 1982.
12 July 2013, 02:43
00
So true beiruti on both counts.
Regarding the second post, even when someone like Bashir shows up, the enemies of Lebanon (and they are so many inside our borders) will make sure he is eliminated by all means. The day when each one of us becomes a Bashir, then Lebanon will be saved as they can not assassinate all of us.
12 July 2013, 02:35
10
the1phoenix ........ the people are to blame because they enable the Mafia and vote them in.
As long as there are people using the words za3eem, Istez, Sayyed, Sheikh, Beik, wa hallumma jarran that means we are not grown and independent people.
As long as we see the Mafia figures as salvation for groups and sects, we are to blame.
As long as we support arms outside the LAF and ISF, we are to blame.
As long as we do not punish the sell-outs to foreign rulers we are to blame.
As long as we in this forum are busy attacking each other to defend the Mafia figures, we are to blame.
