 |
| Art work by Tarek Chemaly |
There are in Lebanon two politicians of the identical identify, Farid El Khazen. Each hail from the identical village in Kesserwan. To differentiate them the locals name them “Farid Elias” and “Farid Haykal” after their respective fathers’ identify. The previous is initially an instructional, the second is constant his household’s political historical past. I shall focus this text on Dr. El Khazen and particularly his e book “Lebanon: The breakdown of the state 1967-1976” – 1976 being already a 12 months into the battle that may finish in 1990 or what we name “the good battle” as there have been many different mini-wars after it in Lebanon.
In 2005, I met with Dr. El Khazen in a social perform. On the time he was an MP in Lebanon representing the Free Patriotic Motion (please do look at his Wikipedia entry right here), and I requested him if we’re – once more – on the breakdown of the state. And he level clean answered “no”.
I want I can converse to him as soon as extra and ask him the identical query, as a result of at this stage, I do really feel his reply is perhaps totally different. Are we on the breakdown of the Lebanese state – once more? I imagine we’re. The general public sector is barely functioning, their salaries are a pittance. Nevertheless growing these salaries, would require printing more cash, and printing more cash will enhance the already through-the-roof inflation, which suggests their salaries will return to being a pittance as a result of items are too costly to purchase (and at this level am speaking fundamental items).
We now have at this level no president of the republic since Normal Aoun’s time period completed on the finish of final month, our caretaker authorities has been hanging by a thread (a brand new authorities ought to have been fashioned again in Might instantly after the brand new parliamentary elections however in Lebanon the method takes ages, and the federal government grew to become a de facto caretaker since then). The armed forces, like the remainder of the general public sector, at the moment are incomes barely something regardless of some “monetary reinforcements” that got here from the US sooner or later to encourage personnel to maintain attending their positions.
Oh and the “oil and fuel” factor? Nicely this years and years down the road. Proper now that is only a fallacy, a dream. The training system, which already was underneath immense strain – and right here I’m talking of the official instructional system with the Lebanese College included – is now in full tatters with the pandemic and all different components solely growing the stress on is fragile construction.
If I’m writing all of this it is as a result of I really feel all it is a repeat (as a tragedy or farce to return to the Karl Marx quote, I do know not) of the dreadful expertise that Dr. El Khazen has spoken of in his e book. The form of the Lebanon that can come from this expertise remains to be unknown. I discussed this quote prior (right here and right here as examples) however Russian author Alexander Heren did say “the departing world leaves behind it not an inheritor, however a pregnant widow”.
As I write these traces there may be nonetheless no anticipated supply date.
