Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (236956)	6/13/2005 9:48:57 AM
From: RetiredNow	Respond to of 1577229

Lebanon is a complicated mess. There are so many faction vying for power and most of them have been dealing with the Syrians for the last 15 years, that habits and fears are hard to break with. This new guy Aoun is a Christian, which seems to be good news that a Christian would get popular in Muslim ME, but in Lebanon, the Christians weren't necessarily the good guys. The Christians were trying to oppress the rest of the country to keep control during the 14 year civil war. Then there were the Sunnis, the Shiites, the Druse, the Palestinians trying to get their piece of the pie. Then there were the Israelis who invaded trying to wipe out the Palestinians and Arafat's relevance once and for all. Then the Americans and other peacekeeping forces came in on the back of a UN resolution to try to help restore order. Finally, the Syrians squashed them all and occupied the country for close to two decades. Hopefully, this time around, these Lebanese folks figure out that what Aoun is proposing, which is the secularization of the gov't, is an excellent idea. I hope they rewrite the constitution to make it purely electoral, instead of this enshrined power-sharing arrangement between Christians and Muslims. That is what brought the house down the last time. The only worry is whether Aoun will really implement a gov't like that? Or will he return to his strongman, militia roots once he's elected? However, if he means it and implements it, then Lebanon can be another beacon for the ME, since it would be truly a big feat to peacefully integrate so many different factions. But given his history, it's going to be hard to resist keeping the constitution as is and enjoying the spoils of victory for the Maronite Christians.