By Franklin Lamb, Beirut
"It appears that the Biden visit is part
of a US bid to supervise the electoral campaign of a Lebanese party, which
feels threatened politically, in light of the expected outcome of the
legislative vote. We call on all Lebanese, regardless of their political
views, to rise up against such meddling that represents a flagrant violation
of Lebanese sovereignty. Biden's visit is part of U.S. efforts to impose
its views on the government that will be set up after the elections. They
are tracing red lines for the future government but we will rise up to
this." - Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah, Friday morning 5/22/09 as Joe
Biden arrived in Beirut.
How not to win votes for the 'US team'
U.S.
Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Beirut with Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman aboard a U.S. military
helicopter at 11:50 am this morning. At 12:14 pm Biden arrived at Baabda Palace
and went straight to meet President Michel Suleiman ignoring media questions.
Biden was greeted at Beirut's airport by Hezbollah supporter Fawsi Salloukh,
Lebanon's Foreign Minister and one of the key back channels for US-Hezbollah
communications. Biden's Salloukh meeting is likely the extent of any dialogue
between Biden and Hezbollah this trip. Biden's first words, shouted to some
journalists outside the Baabda Presidential Palace were "I am happy to be in
Libya…I mean Lebanon this morning!"
If Biden was having a good morning, many Beirutis
we not. Many woke up furious as they learned they will be on "lockdown" from
11 am to 6:30 pm for Vice President Joe Biden's quick visit. It will be the 14th
visit by a US official over the past six months to assure the people of Lebanon
that the US will not interfere in the June 7 elections. In fact, US interference
has now reached a near fever pitch just sixteen days before the voting.
Some Lebanese newspapers sarcastically reported
Biden's visit this morning. Even some pro-US backed March 14 papers like the
Daily Star announced: "Biden to voice US determination 'to assist
Lebanon' VP will 'reject interference in polls.'
What has upset many in Lebanon's Capitol this
spring morning is that the US Embassy has demanded 'tight security including
the closure of Airport road-Hafez al-Assad avenue, Camille Chamoun avenue,
Salim Salam Street, Ahmad Mukhtar Beyhum Street, Fouad Shehab Avenue, Beirut
Port entrance, Charles Helou Avenue, Emile Lahoud Avenue, Sayyad Roundabout,
Presidential Palace Road, Alfred Nakkache Street, Tahwita Highway, Wafiq Sinno
Street, Mina al-Hosn Street, Paris Avenue, General Deguaulle Avenue, Ain al-Tineh,
Hrawi bridge, Saeb Salam Boulevard, Wegan Street, Al-Masaref road, Grand Serail
Road, Riad al-Solh Square, Mir Bashir Street, Cap center, Al-Risala school
bifurcation, Charles Malek Avenue, Kuliyat al-Qiyada wa al-Arkan bifurcation,
Shafiq Wazan Street, Port Road, Mir Majid Erslan road, and Fakhreddine Street."
These closures shut down all the main routes and much of Beirut's commerce. The
shutdowns will also prevent many from attending Friday noon prayers in more
than 50 mosques.
"This is getting too ridiculous. Why don't the
Americans just run a TV ad telling us what they have repeated so many times?
Nobody cares that Biden is coming here except that it affects our daily lives",
Abed, an AUB security guard fumed. "I had plans to go to the Bekaa for the
weekend after my shift ends and now I can't leave until tonight. For sure they
won't get my vote!"
It is hard not to feel empathy with US Ambassador
Michel Sison who has had to put together the Vice President's schedule. And one
understands her anguish at being treated as a pesky little sister by some tribal
Lebanese male politicians this week who inherited their positions via
primogeniture while she earned hers the hard way at school and by competence
(presumably her wonderful smile did not hurt).
The reason is that, quite separately, the
American ambassador and this observer have been working hard the past few days
on similar projects of setting up appointments for a visiting American
delegation. We both know only too well the time constraints, last minute
schedule changes, frustrations, unexpected 'pop up' events which sometimes mess
up best laid plans during fast moving back to back briefings.
"My" delegation, which departed this morning for
Washington ( Al Hamdulila) after 18 days in the Middle East meeting officials
from Egypt to Gaza to Beirut via Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria was from
a remarkable advocacy group in Washington DC, the Council for the National
Interest (cnionline.org).
"Her" delegation, Vice-President Joe Biden and
entourage, arrived this morning after days of schedule preparation for a
Condi-Hilary style 'fly in'.
Some US political junkies are already
handicapping the 2012 and 2016 Hilary-Joe Presidential race divining the
political consequences of Biden adding hours to Hilary's 155 minute vist last
month. Some see the kernel of a future presidential campaign attack- ad by Joe
that Hilary was weak on foreign policy experience on Lebanon and advise their
clients about what it all means as they decide which presumed candidate to
hitch up to. One imagines that Joe will stay several hours given the ridicule
that greeted Hilary and Condi's 'quickie' visits.
Because CNI is well known in the Middle East, and
actually sometimes sought after during its twice yearly "political pilgrimages"
for dialogue, by both the Majority and the Hezbollah led Opposition, my job is
somewhat easier than Michelle Sison's even though she has a huge staff to assist
her. I rely on connected friends to assist. We have many well informed people
to choose from and the quality of the discussions are usually excellent with the
likes of Hezbollah's Naim Qassim, Nawaf, Ammar, or Ibrahim Mousawi, Grand
Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallh, Sheik Abed al Karem Obeid (15 years in
Israeli prisons), Michel Aoun, former President Lahoud, and many others from the
Opposition who Michele can't touch since they either remain on the US Political
Terrorism list or in Lahoud's and Aoun's case, the US unofficial persona non
grata list.
We in Beirut try to give CNI a balanced program
from the Majority and the Opposition and as red blooded Americans we would
never, never, ever forget to include a visit to the American Embassy for a
briefing with our Ambassador. That would probably be unpatriotic. Michele did a
good job on Wednesday briefing "My" delegation, taking time away from working on
"Her' delegation. All of us appreciated her cooperation and American values of
fair play.
So what do we do with Joe?
Michele's got it tough fixing a worthwhile
schedule in Lebanon. During her short tenure here she has had no fewer than a
dozen 'drop ins'. Her problem is much like the one which confronted the late
Saudi King's 7th, 8th and 9th wives on their wedding
nights. The Ambassador knows what she is supposed to do but she is not sure how
to make it special for Joe.
This is because Michele cannot 'book' many of
the most intelligent, interesting (except Walid Jumblatt who is sui generis), or
many of those likely to have key roles in Lebanon after the coming election.
Michele is severely limited since her strict orders from Foggy Bottom preclude
dialogue with so many in Lebanon and the wider Middle East.
One example for illustrative purposes. The
American delegation (cnionline.org)
met with Hizbullah's brilliant International Relations Officer Ammar Moussawi
who served in Parliament for eight years. We were followed the next day by the
European Union Ambassador Patrick Laurent (representing 27 European countries).
The two sides stressed the need to hold the parliamentary elections in a calm
and secure political atmosphere and discussed many other issues which aided
mutual understanding and no doubt increased respect between Europe and
Hezbollah. Neither Sison nor Biden can have such meetings but are mired in the'
same ol same ol' "winning team' cast of characters, visit after visit after
visit. According to US Embassy staffers it gets real boring. "We know
beforehand what everyone will say, what every question will be, and what every
answer will be. Some of us don't know why we even do this. There is no
substance to most of these visits", according to a good fellow in the Embassy
Consular section.
"My" delegation was treated to a rare insight
into "Her" delegation's schedule on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at exactly 7 pm. The
CNI members were all sitting with Walid Jumblatt and patting two of his big
beautiful orange gentle dogs and a cute puppy on his patio. We formed a small
circle of lawn chairs at Walid's Beirut Clemenseau neighborhood home which he
told us he bought 15 years ago.
The phone rings. Being polite Americans we try
hard not to eavesdrop but when Walid rolls his eyes (with a facial expression
that telegraphs to us: "why do my friends get me involved in these things when
all I really want to do is finish reading that article in Foreign Affairs" from
which Walid was taking notes when we arrived (British Journalist Robert Fisk
confirms that his friend Jumblatt is a voracious reader). Walid speaks English
to the person on the other end of the phone so we can't help over hearing:
"Please, no… let's do it at your place that will be better." Walid's mistress,
one fellow in the delegation later told me he was thinking at first.
Then we got the idea that whoever was on the line
was insisting—even bugging Walid-- to host an event of some kind. That's all we
knew at that point. Again, Walid says," no, it will be better at your
place. Please can't we do it there and there will be fewer political
complications".
Walid closes the phone and continues his
discussion of why the "land swapping" proposal of Netanyahu is a scam and should
be rejected immediately by the Palestinians. He also critizes some Druze in
Palestine who serve as border guards and in the Israeli army. As leader of the
Druze in Lebanon he is not happy about his people working for the occupation of
Palestine and according to an aide of his considers them as "uncle toms".
Walid, like all Lebanese politicians who briefed
CNI this week, spoke genuinely emotional words about the plight of the 400,000
plus Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon. He described the needless destruction at
Nahr al Bared Refugee Camp two summers ago, the sub-human conditions in
Lebanon's 12 camps, the essential, full and non-negotiable Right of Return, the
worthless Arab 'leaders' selling out Nasserism and the Palestinians, 'the
regional plots' against the Refugees and his own father's 25 year effort to end
Lebanon's Confessional system.
Half a million imported workers but no jobs
for Palestinians born in Lebanon
Walid also tried to answer one guests questions
about why Lebanon brings in more than half a million foreign workers from the
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Syria, Egypt and
other countries for jobs most Lebanese do not want (including underage sex
workers from Russia and Eastern Europe and Asia who are given special
considerations by Lebanese General Security) . Lebanon gives them all civil
rights, work permits, social security, educational opportunities but continues
to deny any of these same basic civil rights to Palestinian Refugees. By
Lebanese law.
We were a bit rough on Walid but he can take it.
Walid demurs and acknowledges it's a tough question to answer. Finally he does
one of his signature shoulder shrugs, leans forward in his chair, turns up his
palms, drops his jaw and opens wide his big Druze eyes.
When he receives follow up questions and we zero
in and squeeze him at bit more with statistics and enumeration of some of the
heinous Lebanese laws he appears surprised that we know a little about the
subject. Still, he offers no convincing answer other than "local Lebanese
sensitiveness". When we continue to press him Walid blurted out the probable
truth: "No confessional leaders like the Palestinians in Lebanon."
"Hi Walid, it's your little sister again"
The phone rings again. Walid holds his small
mobile phone in his right hand and extends his arm and moves his hand back and
forward until he can focus on the number of the caller. He grimaces before
answering and if this observer read his lips correctly he mouthed a four letter
expletive. "No, its not a good idea Michele. I don't want to do this. Better
to meet at your place" he repeats 'your place' , apparently not wanting to
identify what 'your place' meant on his no doubt multi tapped phone line.
Walid hangs up.
Clearly exasperated he explains to his guests,
"That was your ambassador wanting me to fix a meeting with Biden. They should do
it at your Embassy!" He explains how Biden's visit to Lebanon was all the
brain child of pro US Deputy Nayla Moawad (she has given up her safe seat to her
son Michel as a birthday present for the June election) to have Biden come to
Lebanon. Walid clearly communicates that he would rather not have any part of
the latest 'drop in' (as events turned out Walid rejected the charms of Michele
who he call's 'little sister' and Nayla Moawad will have to host Joe at her
home since the visit was her bright idea in the first place).
Has Joe dumped Zionism?
Quite by chance, on "my" delegation was Vice
President's Biden's Ophthalmologist from Wilmington, Deleware, a nice fellow
with a dynamite Palestinian wife named "Mike". (no, no, she's a real and
beautiful woman. "Mike" is a nickname for her real Arabic name which she never
bothered to mention) Joe's eye doctor explained to Walid that Biden had changed
from his "I'am a Zionist" campaign assurances to AIPAC.
"Well", Walid replies skeptically, "I have met
with Biden before. Why is he coming and can your government not understands that
such visits are not helpful to the Majority but only help Hezbollah?"
No sooner than this observer returned to his
apartment exhausted from three days of back to back briefings than the phone
rang. It was from Issam, a friend and neighbor of Jumblatt's from Ain Kani in
the Chouf. Issam said Walid enjoyed the CNI visit and he invited me to brunch
on Sunday and a tour of the Mukhtara area in the Chouf. I took the opportunity
while on the phone to confirm what I thought Walid meant about Biden coming to
Lebanon and his apparent preference that he not show up. Issam did confirm
Walid's thinking which in fact in common knowledge in Lebanon, as follows:
Michele is increasingly confined to the Embassy
as is her staff. One of the reasons is all these US officials coming to Lebanon
to explain that the US is not interfering in their June 7 election whereas every
8 year old here knows the opposite is true. Lebanese are very sophisticated
politically and increasingly feel they are being 'played' Recently, every time
it is announced that the American Ambassador is making a stop somewhere outside
Hariri areas the likelihood increases that Michele will be met with Lebanese
shaking their shoes at her a la the Iraqi journalist and Bush. This happened
last week in South Lebanon and Michele was forced again to cancel a visit.
To ruin her day more, yesterday morning Michele
was accused by Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad of playing a key role in the formation
of March 14 coalition's electoral tickets. Since every communication to and from
the US Embassy is monitored by Hezbollah, the Embassy did not reply to media
inquires, while technicians from Washington continue (since May 2008) to attempt
to 'fix the Embassy bugging problem'.
According to Hezbollah's Raad: "The majority
team has trouble in forming its lists. It cannot form them unless U.S.
Ambassador Michele Sison interferes in the process of choosing" candidates, he
told a gathering in Nabatiyeh on Thursday May 21. "This is what is happening in
Kesrouan, Beirut 1, Zahle, Jbeil and what happened in Metn," he said.
Issam continued to explain that the Lebanese are
no longer much impressed with US officials coming and reciting, sometimes word
for word, the pro-Israel, anti-Resistance mantra of 'free and independent
"democratic Lebanon, without armed militias et cetera." If Hezbollah wins the
election one reason will be these "demeaning visits", Issam concludes.
It's not about the Bomb
"The Bush administration fought the battle of
capabilities with Iran and lost. No countries but Israel and US puppets are
terribly worried about Iran getting a nuclear device. In fact probably a
majority in the Middle East would welcome an Iranian nuclear deterrent to
Israel's serial aggressions" Issam stated.
Walid Jumblatt explained to CNI, "When, not if,
Iran acquires a nuclear bomb, Iran won't use it. Only the Americans did that
during World War II".
Again, Issam elaborated: "The reason Israel is
trying to scare the American public is to draw the focus away from Israeli
crimes in Gaza and Occupied Palestine. What Israel knows is that once it is
stalemated by Iran a whole world of anti-Zionists and human rights supporters
will rise up and join the growing rejection of Apartheid Israel. Many will join
the Resistance. Not just in Palestine but worldwide. Including in America where
it may be fierce and Zionism will likely fracture and crumble and some of the
more rabid Zionists may be asked to declare, like Israeli Foreign Minister
Liberman did to Arabs in Israel, where their loyalties really are. We believe
here that the American public lives in fear that Zionists will accuse them of
anti-Semitism and try to ruin their lives if they speak their real feelings and
that support for Israel, while still wide in America is getting very thin. We
appreciate regular American delegations coming here because we get to see real
American and they are good decent people. From Lebanon it appears that pressure
is building inside America to confront the Israel lobby even though 76 US
Senators signed a pro-Israel, anti-Iran letter this week to your President. It
this true from your understanding? Will the American people finally put America
first?"
Meanwhile, after meeting with Defense Minister
Murr to photo-op some more military equipment for the Lebanese army, 'smokin
Joe' will blast 'up and outa' Lebanon en route to Washington.
The Levant's 'fateful'
election: 16 days and counting. It's getting interesting here in Lebanon. May
the best team win.
About the author:
Franklin Lamb works with the Sabra-Shatila Foundation in Beirut. He is
reachable at
fplamb@sabra-shatila.org.
... Payvand News - 05/22/09 ... --
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