Freedom's Truth

The levee breaks in the Levant:

The Lebanese opposition declared an "uprising for independence" Friday and called for the pro-Syrian regime to step down so that a new government can be formed to oversee a Syrian military pullout from Lebanon. "In response to the criminal and terrorist policy of the Lebanese and Syrian authorities, the Lebanese opposition declares the democratic and peaceful intifada (uprising) for independence," said leading opposition figure Samir Franjieh at a press conference held at Druze leader Walid Jumblat's house in Clemenceau.

One million Lebanese mourners, Christians, Druze and Moslems, showed up to pay respects and to also show opposition to Syrian overlord-ship of Lebanon. The patriotic Lebanese opposition to Syrian rule is unifying. And now Druze leader Jumblatt openly defies Syria and declares the occupation over:

"It's over and out. The relationship between Syria and Lebanon cannot continue in this manner. There must be a change, for Syria's sake before Lebanon's sake," said Druze leader Walid Jumblat, the spearhead of an opposition campaign sworn to terminate the current master-slave status.

In a late night interview aired by Hariri's Future-TV network, Jumblat said the assassination had slammed the door shut for any possible dialogue with either Syria or President Lahoud's regime, "which is a terrorist arm for Syria's secret service." "Please, please, please go away. Please leave us alone, unchain us," Jumblat pleaded with Assad, wondering "why did you make us hate you, why did you make the Lebanese hate Syria. Why?" ....

Jumblat said the opposition would stick to unarmed democratic means to break Syria's grip. "We have no weapons and we do not want any weapons, although whenever we object, politically mind you, they reply by assassinating us. Finish. The language of dialogue is over and out." He also ruled out a dialogue with the Lahoud regime, saying "how can we enter into a dialogue with a government of dummies controlled by Syria's intelligence service."

Time and again in the interview Jumblat asked President Assad "why did you make us hate you. The whole of the Lebanese nation now hates Syria. Why?" Jumblat said, addressing Assad, "there is absolutely no way to convince the Lebanese, not even a single one of them that Syria's Moukhabarat intelligence service hasn't murdered Hariri or is innocent of his blood."

We have seen this play before - in 1989, when the Governments of Fear in Eastern Europe no loner projected and created Fear, they were unmasked as pitiful, unpopular and useless. Lebanon has lost its fear of their Syrian masters. Elections in the Spring will either sweep the slate clean or, should there be any meddling, as was attempted in Ukraine and Belgrade, a swift popular response will prevent that.

For Assad and his Syrian baathist regime, their days in Lebanon are numbered.