“You don’t have a leader,” Schenker shuffles the cards, and this is what he told the civilians he met

Al-Akhbar writes: “David Schenker, the US Under Secretary of State, can act as tough as he wants in Lebanon, who would dare put an end to it? In this country, all ‘colonial’ behavior seems acceptable to the ruling class. In this behavior, many preceded him, the last of whom was French President Emmanuel Macron two days ago. The US official “ accompanied ” the statement of his Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo the day before yesterday, supporting Macron’s initiative to form a new government that promises what he calls “ reforms ” to gain the support of the West. From the meetings on supporting the French initiative. But it seemed as if he was playing the role of “bad cop”, as opposed to the “good cop” role played by Macron. Therefore, it was not surprising that the US Undersecretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs intended to “delegitimize” the Presidents of the Republic and Parliament. And the government and politicians, and they spend two days in the country having coffee with “friends”. His visit was not the event, but the agenda associated with it, although in its context, it was dedicated to ordinary meetings with personalities and groups that failed to gain the “legitimacy of change.” The form, sent an American message that does not carry Confusion about the escalation before the traditional political forces and the pillars of the government, by not deliberately asking for dates to meet any of them. So why did you come to Lebanon while opposing your pact and all your government officials? The search for new internal “allies”. And because the “distinguished” US relationship with the leadership of the Lebanese army is not sufficient in this task alone, it is necessary to look for opposition groups and figures. In this context, it is recorded that the direct line that the US administration opens with the military leadership may be one of the rarities in the world. Visits, coordination and cooperation, in a “cascade”, out of sight of the Ministry of Defense.

For some time, Washington considered that the Lebanese political forces allied with them linked them to “understandings” with Hezbollah. After the banking sector, which had supported it, faltered in Lebanon, it no longer depended on anything other than the army, groups, associations, “civilian” personalities, and many media outlets. It gave its new “allies” all the capabilities to operate in the domestic sphere, “except that these groups did not produce leaders who agreed on the minimum number of directions,” say informed political sources, which the US official expressed in his meeting with ” civilians “using a video application. Via Internet. Schenker’s words to the groups seemed to some extent “repressed” and “disappointing” as well, sources familiar with the meeting said, noting that he assured those he met that his administration’s negative stance towards political forces represented in parliament did not necessarily means the existence of an alternative to them. In his view, “civil” groups cannot yet form an alternative authority. In his comments, Schenker called on these groups to “strengthen their ties.” The sources try to downplay Schenker’s meetings, “with whom he and other US officials originally continue to communicate with various groups via WhatsApp.” Sources noted that Schenker’s attendance “did not lift the morale of these groups, although it did not show support, for example, for early parliamentary elections.” On Wednesday, Schenker met with resigned MP Marawan Hamadeh, and with some of those the US embassy described in its statement as members of civil society (Waddah Al-Sadiq and Samir Saliba of the group “I am a red line” , Laurie Hatayan from the Progress Party, Hussein Al-Ashi from the “Menchurchin” group, Allen Germani, from the “Lebanon for a new” group and Carol Abu Joudeh from the “National March” group). Last night a meeting was organized for him in Bikfaya, brought together by the resigned MPs: Sami and Nadim Al-Gamil, Elias Hanash, Paula Yacoubian, Henri Helou and Neemat Ephrem. Yesterday he also met with the Commander of the Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun. He told MTV that there is coordination between the Americans and the French regarding the Macron initiative, emphasizing that “the Magnitsky Act sanctions will soon be imposed on Lebanese personalities.” He added to LBCI that US aid “will reach the Lebanese people through partnerships. We want to help the government, but we can’t do it if it doesn’t help itself. ” Read the full article Press here.