Jumblat Appeals for End to Internal Disputes amid Syria Strike Threat

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Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has appealed for unity, urging politicians to end their differences amid critical developments in the region.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published on Sunday, Jumblat said: “The stage that Lebanon and the region are passing through require an end to internal disputes and skirmishes.”

His words echoed similar remarks he made on Friday when he urged the bickering officials “not to fall in the trap of the wager on radical changes in Syria.”

“They must also end their involvement in the fighting in Syria and avoid returning to a new round of issuing accusations of treason against each other at a time when the Lebanese people have lost faith in their country,” he said in his statement.

Jumblat's repeated appeals come as U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday asked Congress to authorize military action against Syria.

The move lifted the threat of immediate strikes on President Bashar Assad's regime. But the fears that the attack would trigger a wider war through a Hizbullah attack on Israel remain.

Iran and Hizbullah are strong allies of the Assad regime.

Comments 7
Missing phillipo 01 September 2013, 12:04

Wishful thinking.
Why doesn't someone take the heads of all the parties and factions, stick them in a room, like the Vatican conclave and not let them out until either - they have killed one another, or they have reached an agreement.
Whichever will be advantageous for Lebanon.

Missing coolmec 01 September 2013, 13:14

Phillipo
I have a better idea:
why don't take all our leading politicians and hang them so we can get rid of them forever? They are the source of our ills. Hanging them would enable us to get rid of them forever and hopefully preventing them from passing on their leadership to their sons

Missing phillipo 01 September 2013, 13:49

That's up to you.
On the other hand, there is the old saying "Better the devil you know than the one you don't know".

Missing coolmec 01 September 2013, 14:30

so true phillipo
Basically my suggestion reflects simply my frustration at our politicians' failure to get together and address the country's chronic problems and alleviate the citizens' hardship

Thumb beiruti 01 September 2013, 17:39

This attack on the Syrian Regime to punish and deter it from using chemical weapons is coming, with a Congressional mandate as well. Obama is like Woodrow Wilson 100 years ago. He too ran for president on the policy of "he kept us out of war". With defense to WWII that started in August1914. Well, we got in the war in 1917 to vindicate the principle of freedom of the seas. Now is the same.

We can expect that Iran will order a rocket attack on Israel and Tel Aviv, and we can expect a counter attack of the IDF on Hezbollah I. Lebanon, which will finish off Hezbollah. A weakened or demolished Hezbollah will tip the out come of the Syrian War against the Regime. So there will be boots on the ground, but will be Israeli boots on Lebanese ground. The Trigger will come from Iran, and Lebanon will be made to pay.

Thumb benzona 01 September 2013, 17:55

Not red thumb from me but be green one either.

Walid beyk is obsolete.... He DISHONOURED his father by playing with our lives the way he did it.

Thumb beiruti 01 September 2013, 17:55

This being a very probable consequence of the initial US attack, gaming theory would question whether Iran will pull the trigger and order Hezbollah to attack Israel, knowing that the tactical gain will be trumped by a strategic loss of the Hezbollah brigades in Lebanon. Iran may refrain from ordering Hezbollah to attack, leaving Hezbollah on the ground would be the better means of survival of the Iranian sphere of influence in what used to be Syria.