Aoun the Dissapointer

I like political competition. I like it because it forces politicians to say what we want them to say, and in some cases, nudges them to actually implement their promises. If there is any silver lining to the hate-filled and whining diatribe that is coming out of Aoun's mouth, it is this new sense of volatility that exists in our politics - this sense that not everything is going according to the plan of the most influential players.

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Aoun, the political amateur:

Other than that though, Aoun's return to Lebanon has been a big disappointment for me. His interviews with Marcel Ghanem that used to take place once every couple of months in Paris were interesting, if not entertaining. But this daily dose of Aoun-medicine courtesy of LBC's evening news is becoming unbearable.

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If anything, these past few weeks have proven that Aoun is a political featherweight! I'd even call him an amateur - a naive narcissist who can barely see beyond his own pride and ego. My doubts began to emerge when he made his famous declaration in Paris: "I want to bring those who were responsible for creating Lebanon's debt to justice?" After hearing that, I asked myself: does Aoun really think that he's going to be a serious contender in the Lebanese political landscape if he threatens almost every member of the country’s political elite?

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Today, when I think back and try to imagine the moment he decided to use those words as his campaign slogan, I ask myself whether he actually believed he would be able to carry out such a cataclysmic program. Or was it that he thought that people would flock to him under that banner? His behavior has forced me to even question whether the man has actually been living in Paris for all of these years. If he did actualy reside there, should it not have been clear to him that the Hariri family is fully supported by France? Most of us amateur news-watchers were even able to figure out that the family also has the support of the United States (never mind Saudi Arabia). Was it so difficult for Mr. Aoun to comprehend that?

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Aoun the reformer?

On top of his political clumsiness, it is beginning to appear that Aoun is not that much of a reformer either. As every day passes, it appears that he's just another Lebanese politician who above all else is simply power hungry! His discourse about programs and reforms has never evolved from his mere assertion that he wants reform, and that all Lebanese who want reform should vote for his movement. His daily ranting about how Jumblatt betrayed him, or how both he and Hariri are worse than Rustom Ghazali is, in my opinion, antagonizing voters rather than attracting them. Investing his energy and breath in talk about the specifics of his vaunted reform plan would have showed that he is truly an alternative, and may eventualy have led to a higher following among all sects. Today, however, he has personalized his politics and is looking more and more like a Maronite Za'im rather than a Secular reformer.

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My humble message to Aoun:

Mr. Aoun, even though everything you say may be true, that is not the kind of rhetoric that wins elections! No one likes to vote for whining losers! In fact, if you continue like this, no one except your core supporters will vote for you if you run for elections.

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Mr. Aoun, you try to sell yourself as the alternative. You tell everyone that their lives will be better if they elect you because you will "reform" the country. If you want people to believe you, then you'd better start acting and talking like a reformer! People watch you on television and say that you've definitely done the impossible! You've lowered the political discourse to a level that Rustom Ghazale's goons didn't reach!

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My Appeal to the Tayyar:

I call on members of the Tayyar. I call on all my friends who I met in AUB and in Washington DC. I know at least some of you guys are gonna be the ones who run the show behind the scenes! I also know you will be the ones who make the difference if anyone in the Tayyar is able to. Do something about Aoun! He's hurting your cause. Hire handlers who control his behavior in public occasions. Hire speech writers so that he sticks to the Tayyar message, rather than rant, whine and complain about traitors and corruption. Get him some political advisors, so that he doesn't drag the Tayyar down into the political abyss. Do all that or just get rid of him...

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Aoun might be a great guy. But, thus far, he has proven himself to be politically inept. He has cornered himself. Forced you to ally with parties like the SSNP, and has reverted to being a spoiler because he did not have the wherewithal to get a better position on the negotiating table. Time will show whether my assessments are wrong. However thus far, I can’t but repeat: I’m disappointed!