Scrambling To Save Aoun’s Face

Enemies and friends are Rushing to give the jilted General consolation prizes. Will that be enough to calm his sense of bitterness?

The first to make me smile will win…(photo source: Libération)

It can be argued that the person who lost most from the Doha accord was General Michel Aoun. According to March 14, the hapless General sold his soul for a Faustian bargain that stopped short of delivering the only thing that really mattered to him: The Lebanese Presidency.

It is not easy losing a lifelong dream, especially if you’re surrounded by gloating adversaries hurling “I-told-you-so”s. This is why Mr. Aoun has a strong sense of entitlement for whatever consolation prizes he could lay his hands on. How else could one explain his exorbitant demand for 6 ministers out of the 11 allotted to the opposition (which leaves 5 ministers for Amal and Hezbollah combined), or his demand for highly sensitive government portfolios? (The same government in which, in his words, he will act as an opposition)

Mr. Aoun is not the only one with an interest of saving his face. His allies in the opposition want him to be happy because without him there’s no veto power in the cabinet. His opponents in March 14 also want him to be happy because they see an opportunity to drive a wedge between him and his “backstabbing” allies.

In short everyone wants the general to be happy, and the best way to make Mr. Aoun happy is to make him feel like a President. This explains the Syrian president’s invitation for Mr. Aoun to visit Damascus, a visit expected to be very, uh, presidential.

This also explains Mr. Sarkozy’s unnamed surprise for Mr. Aoun. Something tells me it involves a certain presidential visit to a certain presidential Palais…