Aoun-Geagea Questionable demagogue deal/A narrative that doesn’t cut anymore…

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A narrative that doesn’t cut anymore…
Tom Harb/January 19/16

Over the years every time Lebanese Christian politicians or leaders wanted to cut a bad deal, start a retreat, or do something bad for the nation but good for their own advancement, they would start using an empty rhetoric and emotional narrative.

In 1985 Elias Hobeika told the Christians he is going to Damascus to defend their rights.

Samir Geagea removed him in 1986 stating that Hobeika was selling out. In 1989, Dr Geagea signed on the Taef agreement saying this was good for the Lebanese Christians.

General Aoun opposed Taef because it gave power to Assad and Hezbollah. Aoun was removed by the Syrians and Geagea and the last said he knew what he was doing was for the sake of the Christians.

In 2005 Lebanese Christian politicians allied with Hezbollah because this was as they said, good for the Christians.

In 2006 Aoun signed an agreement with Hezbollah saying this was in the interest of the Christians In 2008, all these politicians went to Doha and said this was in the interest of the Christians. Now Geagea is saying voting for Aoun is in the interest of the Christians.

 In past years this narrative used to work with simple good hearted citizens in Lebanon and the Diaspora. Not anymore today. The spokesmen and bloggers of the Lebanese Christians politicians are trying to impress the public by declaring that Geagea knows international politics very well and he is acting with intelligence.

What the public knows now, thanks to social media is that Geagea or Aoun do not understand international politics but try to position themselves, not their community, where they can survive and thrive, not their community to take advantage of the region’s changes. Now they are moving to hide under the umbrella of the Iran deal, a generous umbrella which they will stay under until they find out the next stage.

But people know more than ever before. The Aoun candidacy is not a unifying factor for the Lebanese Christians. And partnering with Hezbollah is contrary to the interest of the Lebanese Christians. Aoun and Geagea can maybe convince their own partisans, but not the majority of Lebanese.

Some politicians who are rushing to obtain slices from the big cake, are parroting the same arguments to calm the public. It is not working and it won’t work anymore. The Aoun Geagea partnership with Hezbollah cannot be hidden under words such as: we know better, trust us, let’s act in the interest of the nation.

We heard these words before and 25 years later, it led to disasters. We won’t allow a new disaster without exposing it. It won’t be an easy promenade for anyone who wants to fool the public anymore.