The television appearance by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last Saturday affirmed something about which there is no longer any doubt. Hezbollah controls judicial, military, security, political and diplomatic decisions; the remaining symbols of the Lebanese state are merely political cover for this state, which Nasrallah outlined for all Lebanese waiting to hear who holds power over the country's future. When the secretary general of Hezbollah said that if Saad Hariri or Fouad Siniora were prime minister today, neither would be able to arrest the men who were wanted, whether today or in 300 years, he was totally contradicting what Prime Minister Najib Mikati said about his government's cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as soon as Lebanon receives the court's indictments. Nasrallah asked the opposition, and his audience, to not hold the Mikati government responsible for something that it cannot carry out. Meanwhile, Nasrallah's comments meant this government was not committed to international resolutions and was violating the Lebanese Constitution, which says that Lebanon is a member of the United Nations and must respect all UN resolutions. In fact, no one in Lebanon expects that anyone who has been accused by the STL will be arrested; everyone knows that the Lebanese state is unable to even collect taxes or electricity bills in the southern suburbs of Beirut, much less arrest those who have been accused by the STL. On the surface, the government of "one color" serves as a type of political cover, with sectarian diversity, for the hegemonic influence of Hezbollah. In his speech, the party's secretary general outlined the depth of this influence. Nasrallah revealed to us that the Turkish and Qatari mediators brought with them the approval of Prime Minister Saad Hariri of a document for a political settlement, which preceded the downfall of Hariri's government, but that he rejected it. Nasrallah did not reveal to us that he was advised to reject this document by Syrian President Bashar Assad. For the record, and for those who do not know, Assad was the one who decided to bring down Hariri, and the telephone conversation between Assad and French President Nicolas Sarkozy should also be revealed. This call took place when Hariri was visiting Sarkozy, as the prime minister of Lebanon. Sarkozy told Assad that he was now receiving Saad Hariri at the Elysee Palace, and Assad responded, "You are free to receive the former prime minister." Certainly, Hezbollah is a valuable ally of Syria, as the party is effective in implementing the wishes of the Syrian regime. However, the influence of Hezbollah, as Nasrallah described it, has not weakened in Lebanon with the weakening of the Syrian regime. The party has used the strength of its weapons, which spoke during the events of 7 May 2008 in the streets of Beirut, control the state. Hezbollah and its allies shut down Parliament and the surrounding roads; they pitched tents and staged a sit-in, and blocked the work of the state, to take over true power in all institutions, under a government whose prime minister cannot carry out what he says. Nasrallah reassured the Lebanese and those wishing to visit the country that civil strife will not erupt. He has the power over war and peace, and civil strife, and we should be reassured, because no one wants civil strife. However, we are seeing Arab peoples struggle against repressive regimes; they have emerged victorious in Egypt, Tunisia, and perhaps Syria. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is hijacking democracy in Lebanon, under the cover of officials who head institutions that cannot carry out their international obligations. Thus, we should be content with Nasrallah's promise of civil peace, and that no civil strife is on the way. Thank God. Lebanon is just fine, as long as Nasrallah and his allies are protecting us, through Lebanon's coming isolation from the international community and its traditional friends. When Syria becomes a democratic country in the near future, will democracy in Lebanon continue to be hijacked? Predicting an answer to this question is difficult, since the Mikati government arose to take complete control over all state institutions. General Michel Aoun, who has warned against the use of harsh rhetoric, has promised to clean up these institutions and fill them with "honest and independent" people. Congratulations to Lebanon, for the democracy of Hezbollah and Aoun, because they will protect the country from strife, especially by allowing criminals who carry out assassinations to escape accountability and trials. Everyone knows that under such a government, and based on what Nasrallah said, Lebanon will not be able to finance the court. Prime Minister Mikati will not be able to overstep the decisions of Hezbollah and Aoun, whatever he says, because true influence today rests with Hezbollah, especially since we have not heard Arab voices saying anything about the matter.
