Mr. Unity

Whether or not “unity” is what Lebanon needs today, the word is quickly becoming General Suleiman’s trademark.

Every politician who wants to make an impact on history wishes to be associated with a guiding principle, a word that can summarize his objectives and style of stewardship. Nassrallah likes “Resistance”, Hariri broadcasted “Development”, George Bush boasted “Compassionate conservatism” and Nicolas Sarkozy showcased “La Rupture” 

According to General Michel Suleiman, what Lebanon needs more than anything else today is “unity”. 

In all his recent speeches and communiqés, he made sure to advocate unity and warn of division. When Mr. Seniora called him to congratulate him for his Naher El Bared victory, the General replied: “Unity empowers the Army and consolidates its victory, while division is a danger for all of us”. In his victory directive (English), he started with the sentence: “In the name of national unity, you overthrew terrorism through your victory,”, he also praised what he called “the unity that dazzled the entire world”.

In Mr. Suleiman’s world view, unity is at the root of both “victories”, the one against Israel and the one against the terrorists. It was also the rallying cry that kept the Lebanese Army effective in the face of local upheavals since the Cedar Revolution first started.

Mr. Suleiman takes the concept even further, and in true professional PR fashion, showers everyone with praise. He exonerated the Syrians and thanked the Americans simultaneously. He then thanked the Lebanese, the Palestinians and the resistance for the bared victory. He also consistently avoids all kinds of criticism.

In Arabic we have a saying: “The friend of everyone has no true friends”. But Mr. Suleiman’s presidential campaign should not be dismissed as a simple attempt to fawn his way to the top. 

Mr. Suleiman, in fact, could be up to something.

In a heavily polarized country like Lebanon, one shouldn’t underestimate the appeal of a unifying figure, especially one who seems to be politically savvy and shrewd: As politicians attempted pettily to capitalize on yesterday’s victory and score political points, Mr. Suleiman, bathed in the limelights, elevated himself and dedicated it all to our martyred soldiers… More brownie points for him.

One thing is for sure: Don’t expect riots if he became President.