From: nmouawad@waterloo.edu (Naji Mouawad)
Subject: Re: grandliban.gif:  INFO
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 01:20:51 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.024401.25245@news.clarkson.edu> saleham@cauchy.mcs.clarkson.edu.clarkson.edu (Anwar M. Saleh) writes:

   Naji:

   what makes you think that the phalangists can order Syrian troops
   in and out as they please?


   I repeat what I posted before, the phalangists used to say on their
   radio "lawlaa sooriyyaa lakafartu balarabi waluroobati walurbaan".

   alkataa`ib brought Syria into Lebanon to fight and kill fellow
Lebanese.  

   The problem with alkataa'ib is that they think they are smart and 
   intelegent while Syrians are stupid.

   If Lebanon is totaly different from Syria, then what make them
   think that Syria will fight for them and go?

   If Lebanon is part of Syria, then what makes them think that
   Syrians will go.  

   They tried to play it with Syria, Israel, Iraq, France
   and they never succeeded for one reason. They wanted to play it 
   against their own people. 

   Anwar Saleh



Anwar,
 

  I most certainly believe that the Phalange (or the Lebanese Forces
for that matter) do not represent the will of a majority of Lebanese
to which I belong. In no case can they or any other militia for that
matter lay claim to "calling in" or "calling out" a foreign army. I
suspect that the history of the Phalange as with that of most Lebanese
militias is more complex than what I am implying here. There was a
time when the Phalange was a party. Eventually a militia was added.

 The party is legitimate under the Lebanese constitution. The militia
is not. 

 I will not go into the long list of bloody events in which the
Phalange and later on the Lebanese Forces took part in. Suffices it to
say that they were a major internal force in the accelerated
fragementation of the Lebanese society and a major negative force
throughout the events. Even if one could lay claim to the fear that
many Christians feel when living in what is considered a hostile if
not threatening environemnts, the actions of the Phalange as with the
Lebanese Forces are certainly not in line with the teaching of The Son
of Man. 

 But I am digressing.

Having said that, no Syrian can speak for the Lebanese people. We may
have had a lot in common, but as of now this friendly state is on
hold. As long as Damascus is trying to impose its will on that of the
Lebanese people no one, I repeat, no one can possibly speak of common
identity. Identity is hard to define but easy to recognize. It does
not need to be forced down people's throat. It is up to the Lebanese
as one people, as one nation to decide whether a unity with Syria is
desirable. The Syrian regime and all his local and foreign
supporters are subduing the will of a nation to suit their interest.
Who, when treated in such a manner by his own brother would keep on
calling him a brother ? Wouldn't you denounce him, and even distance
yourself from him ? If Syria and Lebanon where ever a family, it must
have been before the Roman invasion. A long time indeed which none of
us could clearly remember.

naji.
--
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    | Naji Mouawad  |          nmouawad@watmath.waterloo.edu            |
    |  University   |---------------------------------------------------|
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