Tuesday, July 26, 2005

On the Cusp of Freedom


Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea, who has been imprisoned for more than 11 years is effectively a free man at long last. The severity of his punishment in a prison cell 3 flights underground was politically motivated. He was the only militia commander who was imprisoned, and had to concede that of all the factions operating in Lebanon, only Hizballah, proponents of social feudalism, did not have to disarm, and remain armed.

It’s clear that Geagea’s release stems directly from two things: the reconciliation pursued in the absence of the Syrian boots on their neck, and the diminished ability of the Syrians to do what An-Nahar editor Gebran Tueni called "humiliation … and political and judicial blackmail" to the Lebanese isn’t what it used to be. It’s been firmly disallowed by the fire put to Syria’s feet. Subtle threats of war seem to have quite an effect on totalitarians.





BD by Stavro - sometimes sharp, sometimes tacky, but always a free spirit.

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