Thursday, September 15, 2005

Washington I and the Shining Light

I'm looking forward to the donor meeting that is going to be held here in Washington during November. So this will be called for sure, Washington I. I know, I know, it would have been nicer if it went down in history as Beirut I, but what is important is despite all the criticism of the majority in Lebanon (some calling it a "Wahhabi hydra" which is pathetic at best), PM Seniora has been working diligently to move this important and crucial meeting forward.

And this time around, it will be different--the promises we'll make for political, bureaucratic, economic, and judicial reforms we will have to abide by. And I must say, this is all making me extremely optimistic about Lebanon.

The new surge of funds and international confidence in Lebanon is the crux of our development, is the shining light--minus the darkness of a dead security regime and a Syrian tutelage that has robbed our country of any form of well-being.

Yesterday, I saw Ghassan Salame talk from New York about the upcoming Washington I, about all the preparation work done by the Lebanese side (in silence--I guess that's how Seniora works...) and Seniora's full agenda for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, building up to an important meeting on Monday with the donors in New York.

And let me tell you, when I see Ghassan Salame talk, I feel that Lebanon is still vibrant and alive, that I can be proud to be Lebanese. That's how I felt yesterday--so much waiting for Washington I.

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."

3 comments:

Mustapha said...

I share your optimism Doha.
Let's just hope that the black hands don't turn it into a: "look, the moslem Sanyoura is getting all the attention and the christian Lahhoud is being ignored"

Anonymous said...

Mustapha

With any luck, Lahoud just might not be there! There was a rumor that they took loads of clothes and other stuff to New York and did not plan to return to Lebanon. Regardless I don''t think he will complete his "elected" (haha) term in office.

If he still is in office and goes to Washington, then it is more than possible that Bush will defer to Signiora, which would be a snub to Lahoud.

And to me, 'black hand' implies the Sicilian precurser to the mafia, and I don't think you meant that. Who did you mean to imply? (sm)

And about your conflict statement, Doha, I feel it is more of a struggle between good and evil!

barn

JoseyWales said...

No big fan of Paris VI, Washington I, or Tizi-Ouzou III here.

Why do God forsaken places like Lebanon, Syria, all of the Arab world and many more, need the West and the IMF and the UN etc...to tell them the obvious:

Democracy/rights Good
corruption Baaad!
Privatization efficient.

Then we have the gall to run around saying, oh we are smart civilized people.

OK, Bad mood today. (/rant)