Nakkash to moqawama.org: The Opposition Resignation… A Slap in Face of American Policy

Interview in French By Fatima Ali

Local Translator

The resignation of ten Opposition ministers from the Lebanese Unity Government has put the March 14 bloc, particularly former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his political party in a delicate position. Al Intiqad interviewed the coordinator of the Strategic Studies Network "Amane" Mr Anis Nakkash to shed more light on this situation.

1. In your opinion, to what extent did the negative attitude of Saudi Arabia's allies in Lebanon hamper the Syrian-Saudi efforts?

I believe they committed a strategic mistake, because they weakened the Saudi role in the Arab world in first place, and in second place, the role of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who stands before the Lebanese as a puppet in US hands.

After speaking positively of the Syrian-Saudi initiative, Saad Hariri backed down on his words following his visit to Washington; which was in compliance to orders of (US President) Obama and (Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton who obstructed the efforts in order to create a crisis in Lebanon.

This of course, serves "Israel's" interest and aims at weakening Hizbullah and the resistance. But fortunately, their plan failed and they were surprised by the resignation of Lebanese ministers who brought down the government.

2. What will be the position of Saudi Arabia if the Lebanese opposition named an alternative to Saad Hariri?

They cannot oppose this because they were the ones who sold their positions in the United States. It is neither the Lebanese opposition, neither Hizbullah nor the resistance supporting front that has weakened Saudi Arabia. It is the Saudis who were unable to resist U.S. pressure and sold their position not only in Lebanon but also in the Middle East; especially that Lebanon has become an example for other countries.
Therefore, Saudi Arabia can not oppose any decision concerning Lebanon because it has reconciled.

3. Does the resignation of Opposition ministers challenge the Americans? And what will the attitude of Americans be?

This is not just a challenge to the US; it's a slap, a strong smack to American politics. This proves that the U.S. diplomacy and U.S. information is erroneous, the Americans do not know how to anticipate or calculate what would be the reaction of the resistance in Lebanon or the opposition.

Consequently, the resignation is a surprise to them (Americans). This shows that far from politics, they are incompetent people in the diplomatic and political calculations. They cannot read the situation, and if they proceed like this, they will lose on all fronts.

4. Has the attitude of major powers represented by America, France along with the United Nations demonstrated that these powers exert more effort on the STL rather than on inter-Lebanese agreement?

These people do not care about the inter-Lebanese agreement; all what interests them is to take on people who obey their orders that are designed to protect "Israel".

So with such a formula, the resistance cannot accept people who are partners in Lebanon and whose role is limited to implementing foreign orders and weaken the Lebanese resistance and power in face of "Israel". In fact, the opposite should be done. We must strengthen the Lebanese resistance in face of "Israel" because it is in our interest, and so must reinforce the unity of Lebanon.

5. In your opinion, what will happen to the indictment and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon after the collapse of the government?

It is extraneous because they will accuse the resistance; and this will not be a surprise to Lebanon since the STL's indictment has been the talk of the town for three months. Since I am absolutely sure that Hizbullah is innocent of this crime, I say it is impossible to present evidence condemning Hizbullah. You can create lies, but cannot create evidence and proofs.

Thus, the indictment will be very weak and the court will be put before the public who consider it as an international scheme aimed at weakening the resistance and sealing the identity of former PM Rafiq Hariri's assassin.

6. In case the indictment was issued, who will implement it? Would it be the Lebanese government, the United States, UNIFIL? Or will we see a new "Israeli" war on Lebanon?

The first step of the resignation proved that international forces do not have an impact on the Lebanese and cannot compel the Lebanese to accept their decisions.

Secondly, if the international court continues to cooperate with countries that support continuing these offensives, and not look for a compromise, they will get another slap on the political level at least, in Lebanon and the Middle East.

And if this policy continues, I believe their positions through UNIFIL, by international decisions and all systems of the United Nations will be ridiculed and undermined.

The Americans are threatening a war on Lebanon to facilitate "Israel's" task, but they cannot wage a war against the resistance in Lebanon. So they try to attain what they failed to achieve by waging a war through court. We do not want war, but if "Israel" wants to go back to that we are not afraid because we will win this war, too, causing the collapse of the "Israeli" army.

7. To what extent has this resignation managed to thwart the U.S. scheme in Lebanon?

The resignation did not only block this scheme, it thwarted it completely. This mass resignation demonstrates that the Lebanese opposition knows how to plan things and control the situation. On the other hand, it shows how the American diplomacy is totally blind and off beam. If they (Americans) continue in such manner, they will receive another hit and will be heaved out of the political game in the Middle East.

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