"On the basis of the progress so far reported … it is envisaged that the Special Tribunal will commence functioning on 1 March 2009," Ban wrote in a report to the UN Security Council.” [NOW Lebanon]

Alongside the reconciliation [in theory only] trend, party leaders, the President, Prime Minister and now the Speaker of the House travel to countries in and out of the region. Probably they are doing it to secure some type of support, to open channels etc. Whatever the reason, the political leadership seems to be dead set in continuing the sales trips. Not that is something wrong with sales as a business area, but somehow this tendency in politics does not feel right.

Hizbullah's Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah in a televised address on Tuesday on the occasion of the party's “Martyr's Day” called for settling the much talked about defensive strategy in Lebanon “so that we may know how to build our forces in face of challenges.”

He called also for settling the issue of expanding the number of national dialogue participants,” because we are discussing a national issue that concerns all Lebanese.” He went on to wonder “why do you wish to exclude some Lebanese leaders from decisions of war and peace?”[Naharnet]

I realized yesterday [don't ask why so late!] that Lebanese politics are provincial.

You have the political figures and their allies, all day long in the media. If Hizballah has al Manar TV, Future movement has Future TV and Future News, AMAL has NBN [an old joke says NBN stands for: Nabih Berri News] and so on, so forth. The same event, speech etc will get different if not totally opposite comments depending on which newspaper you read, and which TV station you watch. Its not media is party propaganda. That is not to minimize the importance of being able to say or to curse whomever you want. That is crucial. I cannot imagine that a reporter, anchor and so on, being able to do what they do in Lebanon, in Gulf countries, Iran, Egypt. Or, you do it once and then land in prison or the state drags you through courts for years.

There are less bold accusations these days, but the core problems remain the same. Again, its not only Hizballah's weapons, though this is top of the list. Also this problem will not be solved anytime soon.

There is a post I wrote a while ago, and the details of the local political scene made me remember it. Then my friend said, "I wait to be represented as a Lebanese, not as a Muslim and not as a Shia.” I am not sure when or if that will happen at all.

Furthermore, politics is to a large extent a family business. Without being cynical, I seriously doubt any of the leaders really give a damn about the people and their needs. Its just an ongoing, bully type fight for power and money.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

…

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

…

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

…

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. [The Washington Post]

Difficult and interesting days ahead…

Hizbullah's General Conference ended speculations regarding keeping its Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in his current position, following a Fatwa (religious decree) by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei allowing him to maintain his top post.

The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai said that the conference is mulling naming senior Hizbullah commander Mustapha Shehadeh to succeed the late military leader Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated in Damascus last February. [Naharnet]

Now I can sleep well during the night. Sheikh Nasrallah still holds the top post. Is he the one in charge? I know the structure of the party, with the Shura Council and all, but even so, is he more than a poster boy these days? It might be true that some of his prerogatives were taken by someone else, but no one can deny the Sheikh is a charismatic figure. I suspect he is among the ones pro-Lebanon inside the party. Nonetheless, we have yet a lot to learn of Hizballah and their affairs. What we get is an image. Sometimes its nothing but propaganda, other times bits of information. I was actually surprised to discover years ago, that most are clueless when it comes to Hizballah. [You do remember the many scholars, experts etc that were ready to swear on the Bible that Imad Mugnyeh does not exist.] And I speak of those who have ties at some level with the party. We all get the rumours and the whispers, but very rarely verifiable information's from several sources.