Peoples Peoples Everywhere

Hariri has done the right thing by warning Hezbollah from forcefully attempting to change the government. But like Samir Geagea before him, he has chosen the wrong podium for his message.

“We, the people of Tayyar al Mustaqbal, the people of Rafic el Hariri, are warning those who think they can change the current government using non-democratic or peaceful means. Street demonstrations and mob behavior will be only be countered by similar actions, and those who start can only blame themselves. (wil bedi azlam)”

Thus Saad Hariri completes the trilogy of reactions to Hassan Nassrallah’s “victory speech”. Hariri, like Jumblat and Geagea before him, is making it clear to Nassrallah that he is not intimidated by Hezbollah’s fire breathing, and that he is committed to establishing the rule of the central government on all the Lebanese territory.

The problem with the speeches of Hariri and Geagea is not their content. They are both well crafted, forceful and confident. The problem is the context in which both leaders chose to send their messages.

Mr. Geagea addressed thousands of Christians on a Sunday morning next to a historic cathedral in the heart of Christian mount Lebanon. Similarly, Mr. Hariri addressed “Beiruti families” whom he invited to a Ramadan Iftar in his Qoraitem residential. On one of the tables were seated P.M. Seniora and, yes, you guessed it, the Sunni mufti.

It is sad that Hariri, Geagea and Jumblat chose to have separate events with their chore sectarian constituencies in sectarian strongholds instead of pooling their “resources” into one major event in a place that carries nothing but Lebanese symbolism.

The March 14 protagonists have allowed Hassan Nassrallah to appear to have an upper moral hand. Nassrallah at least tried to pretend his rally wasn’t confessional and he cautioned the Lebanese from portraying political differences as sectarian differences.

So perhaps next time, “the people” of Hariri and “the people” of Geagea and “the people” of Jumblat should stand together under the banner of the people of Lebanon.