Kings And King-makers

Hello your excellency. I’m a Lebanese Christian leader and I’m here to offer you my services.

The simultaneity is almost comedic. As the Lebanese President hugged and kissed the king of Saudi Arabia, M.P Michel Aoun swiftly set off to cuddle the prince of Persia. Not to be outdone, the Egyptian president promptly summoned the L.F Leader Samir Geagea for his own share of the hug-a-Christian-Lebanese-Leader day.

You could almost hear the Syrian and Jordanian leaders scratching their heads and grumbling that “all the good ones are taken”, wondering whether to settle for second class leaders Like Mr. Frangieh or not.

It boggles your mind to think of who is playing whom. Since an outward conflict between Lebanese Sunnis and Shiaas became taboo (it leads to regional instability, we are told) Lebanese Christians became de-facto proxies, and by extension prized king-makers. Regional leaders have become so transparent you can read right into their heads as they back their horses: “If we tip Lebanese Christians to our side, we control the entire country”.

Of course, arch-rivals Aoun and Geagea are not complaining. A bone-crushing election is right around the corner and polls say Christian areas are very competitive. Campaign money (or worst, weapons as Mr. Aoun’s surrogates have suggested) could come in handy to both sides at this junction.

March 14 will protest that Mr. Suleimen, the ‘unity President’, should not be lumped with the rest of the players in this narrative. They say that Saudi Money is going straight to the coffers of the Lebanese State, not into the pockets of shady politicians. They may have a point, but they are unlikely to convince the opposition whose essential complain, remember, was that Mr. Hariri has a l’état c’est moi mentality…