Re: shooting the messenger...


In article <60c6e81b-a11b-4673-bb94-7ea174401ee1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
JosephMo <josephmouhanna@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

There isn't going to be a solution in Lebanon until a winner-loser is
established, preferably through peaceful negotiations. Nothing else
will work, and it will continue to be a free for all.

Joseph, I agree with this notion but we have to be careful here lest
winning and losing is mistaken to be the outcome bloody contest.
I would nuance this notion by designating the need for winning and
losing democratically. In other words, people go to the polls; they
elect - which in our system is a parliament; one side wins the contest;
the winning side governs because the side has support of the majority in
the parliament.

So, until we learn to play the game in this fashion, I agree that
nothing else will work and (as you say) it will continue to be a
free for all

Playing this game could mean that next time Hizbollah could win
majority - which means bringing the Syrian regime from the window
after it has been kicked out of the door. We could also find
ourselves in the same position after Hamas won the election
with the non-recognition and violence that followed or the FIS/
Algeria model where a military junta overturned elections won
by Islamic fundamentalists.

Lebanese have to go to the next election with understanding
that the winner will govern and end consensus business.
The current majority is governing already on this basis:
we're majority - take a hike. Will the current majority
continue to believe in this principle if it becomes minority
after the next election?

If I were advising the majority I'd tell them to government as a
majority now and promise to abide by the outcome of the election
if they lose majority in the next election. Electoral fairness
needs to be guaranteed through a new and fair election law.
In the end, the situation may not be as bleak as it currently
seems. Through this difficult birth, maybe something good will
come out.

bassem
.

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