LF Defends Suleiman against March 8 'Assaults' and 'Insults'

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra defended on Tuesday President Michel Suleiman against a campaign launched by the March 8 alliance, accusing it of assaulting his authorities.

“The campaign against Suleiman is an assault on his powers,” Zahra said in a press conference.

“Talks that he (Suleiman) had heard an advice or was implementing the agenda of another country is an insult to the president and an assault on his dignity and role,” he said.

Zahra also accused the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp of preventing Suleiman from exercising his authorities by blocking his attempts to form a nonpartisan government along with Premier-designate Tammam Salam.

The lawmaker slammed Speaker Nabih Berri without naming him, saying creating a connection between the new cabinet and the presidency is a “heresy.”

Berri has warned that the formation of a so-called neutral government would prevent consensus in the presidential elections.

He along with the rest of the March 8 alliance's factions are calling for an all-embracing cabinet, which they refer to as a fait accompli government.

But the March 14 camp is holding onto its demand for a neutral government. It accuses its rivals of seeking a vacuum in the government and the presidency.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May.

Comments 41
Thumb cedre 07 January 2014, 12:14

let them insul, assault, threaten, they wont win...
No to a government with HA and M14, no to the weapons of the iranian militia...

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 January 2014, 12:22

hahahah yea, hero on a white horse comes out to defend the president against imaginary attacks. i bet he wants a reward for that. will 10 shekel do?

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 12:24

Shame on you for using Israeli currency!!!!!

Thumb cedre 07 January 2014, 12:25

u're right nobody called him a takfiri, a saudi puppet, etc...
Thats all imagination like the killings of M14 or bashar barrel bombing kids, thats all taqiya...

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 12:35

@mowaten: Your use of foul language on this site is no longer tolerable. We, the silent majority will not stand still anymore and take your insults. Respect is earned not demanded. Grow up and earn some.... Shame on you!

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 January 2014, 13:02

lol ice. the very fact you lie so freely confirms what you are. thanks for your constant efforts in proving me right.

Thumb smarty 07 January 2014, 15:42

@_mowaten_ : do they give you shekels on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis? how is your contract? can you read hebrew or did they type it in farsi or arabic for you?

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 January 2014, 16:05

why so interested? worried they're paying me more than you?

Thumb smarty 07 January 2014, 17:17

@_mowaten_

i would have loved to see what shekels look like. But I guess they pay you on your iranian savings account. How did you sign your contract? did you use one of Aoun's diplomatic bag? He's got contacts in israhell thanks to Fayez Karam. I want to read the crunchy details.

Thumb Mystic 07 January 2014, 12:36

Nobody is threatening our President. But it is time for him to go. He has been too spoiled by the politics. It's better for him to stop before he walks further down the Saudi path.

Thumb FlameCatcher 07 January 2014, 13:10

The people who brought us presidents like Lahoud have no say on the next president. Especially when they murder the first person to object (Hariri).

The people who take orders from Iran and Syria cannot accuse this president of such stupidities.

Again, look at yourself in the mirror before opening your mouth as spilling out your sewers of lies.

Thumb proudm14 07 January 2014, 14:41

that is a hard ask, FC, since M8 is essentially a permanently open sewer

Thumb mckinl 07 January 2014, 12:40

Suleiman needs all the friends he can get at this point. His total lack of courage and decisiveness, along with Salam, have left the door open to endless political bickering that has evolved into sectarian hatred.

If Suleiman and Salam had any courage what so ever they would have enacted a 9-9-6 or 8-8-8 cabinet by now. These configurations would have represented the political makeup of Lebanon and forced the start of dialog.

Suleiman is also in a tight spot now because of the Mustaqbal purge of secular, moderate and nationalistic Muslims and the escalation of the KSA Fatwa on the Shia. Both Salam and Suleiman have western ties as did Shatah ...

Suleiman's procrastination on producing an "all embracing cabinet" has opened the gates of Hell. The man is not fit to serve. On the other hand he has prolonged his safety because those that are seen to "collaborate" with HA or are too nationalistic have become political and terrorist targets.

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 12:43

Let me summarize what you just said:

Suleiman.... courage.... lack of... 9-9-6..... or else..... 9-1-1.... gates.... targets.... resistance.... victory!

Thumb mckinl 07 January 2014, 13:00

@ ice man

Don't quit your night job ...

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 January 2014, 18:11

nice one samy, is that your favorite lunch at your favorite restaurant?

Missing coolmec 07 January 2014, 13:05

Mckinl
The question is not whether it is 9-9-6 or 98-8-8
The question is how much control M8 and more specifically will control out of any government in the making.
I personally think for example Mansour has been a disaster in our foreign policy submitting the country to a low level unseen before that is complying strictly to Syrian and Iranian agenda. In that case it is bad for the country

Thumb -phoenix1 07 January 2014, 14:33

(1). MC, Suleiman is not anyone's coward. before receiving his own fair share of M8 attacks, Suleiman was previously attacked as fiercely by M14, even going all the way of accusing him of being an M8 puppet. What does this prove at the end of the day. That Suleiman keeps threading that same line of impartiality is what is causing these attacks, so the problem is not really with our president, but rather with the constituent parties that routinely expect of the presidency total obedience, something both M8 or M14 will live never to see. Just like in the battle for Nahr El Bared, Suleiman then chief of staff was under extreme pressure, amongst others even from Sayed Hassan himself who directly drew out the red lines for the LAF in regards to that battle.

Thumb -phoenix1 07 January 2014, 14:34

(2). MC. Well, what ensued we all know, but what definitely needs to be noted, this time for everyone to know, Suleiman has given more than enough chances for everyone to understand that he cannot keep waiting forever. Unfortunately that is causing ripples, but that's as far as it will get, ripples, no Tsunami of any sorts. Suleiman has now set in motion his vision, and it so happens that most Lebanese support it unequivocally. Both Ms' may not like it, because it does shake their very foundations, but I am one who will accept to take the risks with a president who is growing in popularity by the day. Don't we just love it when a person pokes his fingers at the mighty? Suleiman, the people's man.

Thumb -phoenix1 07 January 2014, 13:28

It's clear when the LF make statements, some parties become acutely uncomfortable. But then, the LF is a legal political entity, and this despite the many, many attempts by the Syrian occupiers and their allies to bring about the LF's total demise and destruction, this framing its top cadres, to confiscating the LF's assets hence and so forth, now all to no avail. But today reality confirms that the LF is indeed a major political player and as is common for the LF and the Kataeb it stands firmly by the Lebanese Sate, its constitutional institutions, till that moment when La 7awla wala qouwwati, no one listens, then the LF assumes its responsibilities to serve and defend. Today the LF has again sounded its voice, yet it's apparent, everyone has heard its voices but some still prefer to accept its values.

Thumb -phoenix1 07 January 2014, 15:39

Outleb, there's not once where even remotely insulting the LF, nor ever deviated from my senses, walaw ya akhi, how could I? You may have gotten the wrong idea of me. I joined the kateb when I was very young, then continued to join the LF as Bachir Gemayel wanted to join all the Christian militias of the time. But Outleb, please try to understand that nothing in life remains as it is, we need to evolve, all the while retaining our principles. Since you remember Bachir, and since I was a close person to him, today I am not only espousing his patriotic values but actually living them as he would have wished. yes, at times I refuse to be swayed by anyone, so when I post, I s do so as times evolve. Maybe my being a centrist does not sit well with some, but to those who did not know Bachir well, he was despite it all, the One Centrist the Lebanese had. A true Lebanese centrist coming from solid bases.

Thumb lebinaus 08 January 2014, 04:57

-phoenix1 ....

I felt like I just read a summary of my life then!

Thumb -phoenix1 07 January 2014, 13:29

**Still prefer NOT to accept its values....****

Missing cedars 07 January 2014, 13:45

We continue to witness who is holding the Lebanese state as a hostage and threatening its existence. It is either my way or the highway, one more time both parties won't learn from 30 years of war and to see it again.
Let me spell it for you, it would be neutral government even if it was useless so move on to the next subject because not the political assassinations worked or foreign alliance has helped.
There is one guy who opposed the baabda disassociation policy from day 1 and it is the long neck dude who told his Lebanese kissing hand visitors that Lebanon and Syria is one country and yes it is in your eyes but too big to swallow and will get stuck in your long neck. Now you know who undermines the state besides the mirkava, so in summary learn from the 30yrs war our southern and north/eastern neighbors are not our friends but prefer to dominate you because your are weak.
Wake up and smell the coffee m<20

Default-user-icon Antwan (Guest) 07 January 2014, 14:35

Please give the president his full powers,he is man of dignety and class.

Thumb zakblat 07 January 2014, 15:17

The Lebanese President should serve the interest of the Lebanese people.
March 8 represents 55% of the population. Meaning they represent the majority of the PEOPLE ( notice im not talking about MPs.)
Excluding them from cabinet essentialy means your denying the will of the people.

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 15:23

Wallah enta Zaki.

Missing coolmec 07 January 2014, 15:47

who told you M8 represents 55% of the people? May I remind you that M14 had the majority in the parliament. By switching sides Joumblatt effectively tipped the balance but in no way that means that M8 has a55% majority

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 16:03

leb_roar: Please, don't use insults on this very respected website.

Is gerrymandering a ride in a fun fair?

Thumb _mowaten_ 07 January 2014, 16:06

ice-boy, do we have to do your full education?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

Thumb ice-man 07 January 2014, 16:24

Oh my bad @_mowaten_ I thought it was similar to merry-go-round. My education is now complete!

Thumb zakblat 07 January 2014, 16:19

@Coolmec - These are the results of the 2009 Elections results.
The aggregate averages of voters in each district in Lebanon, shows that the 'losers' got 54.8% of the total votes (839,371 votes) and the 'winners' racked 45.2% of the votes (692,285 votes)- These results include Jumblatt as March 14. http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.ca/2009/06/aah-that-popular-vote.html

Missing ---karim_m3-- 07 January 2014, 16:31

Yalla a few more months and Suleiman leaves Baabda and goes back to Saudi Arabia.

Thumb cedre 07 January 2014, 17:05

when do u go back to qom ?

Thumb eli-g 07 January 2014, 17:15

when you counted your percentages did you count all the Lebanese in diaspora that did not have a chance and will not have a chance to vote?
are they not Lebanese?

Thumb smarty 07 January 2014, 17:31

agreed. I have lots of relatives who don't vote because of this. but they are a threat to Bashar/Aoun/Nasrallah because they are all open minded people and would tend to vote for western democratic values, hence M14.

Missing ---karim_m3-- 07 January 2014, 18:57

Then why dont they come back to Lebanon and vote? It is the people living in Lebanon that are affected by the votes, not anybody else.

Thumb eli-g 07 January 2014, 19:45

the people in Lebanon are also affected by the billions of dollars that flows from their relatives overseas. They are overseas so they can support the rest who are still in Lebanon. Its is very costly to come back to vote. That is why.

Missing people-power 07 January 2014, 21:39

After Taef, the total voting percentage of any political bloc doesn't mean squat, whether or not anyone agrees to a commentor's percentage numbers.

Seats in Parliament:

50% Christian: 64 seats
50% Muslim: 64 seats

Breakdown within Muslim:

Sunni 27 seats
Shiite 27 seats
Druze 8 seats
Alawite 2 seats

Bottom line on control of Parliament between March 14 versus March 8:

1. March 14 won the Christian vote, 37 Christian MP's for March 14, versus 31 Christian MP's for March 8.
2. The Sunni and Shiite MP's are equal in number, and cancel each other out.
3. The Druze, with 8 MP's, end up deciding which bloc controls Parliament. Last time they sided with M14, then switched sides after black shirt intimidation.

Missing people-power 07 January 2014, 22:46

Typo on #1..... I meant 33 Christian MP's for March 14, and 31 Christian MP's for March 8.

March 14 won the Christian vote in Parliament.

Default-user-icon MovingOn (Guest) 08 January 2014, 03:15

M14 making nice to the president out of fear of being sidelined like M8. Neutral cabinet all the way!!!! NO to M8 and M14.