Adonis Diaries

August 6, 2006

The garrisons of the Palestinian Popular Front (The General Command) are being heavily targeted by the Israeli jets this morning in the Bekaa and at the town of Naamy in the Choueifat.  The Hezbollah missiles are still raining in Galilee and the town of Maalut.  The foreign minister of Syria, Walid Mualem, is in Beirut already and he might be the star of the Arab summit supposed to be held in Beirut tomorrow, as the Iranian Ahamadi Najad PM was for the Islamic summit in Malaysia two days ago and did not reach anything concrete for Lebanon’s cease fire. The Syrian position tomorrow will show where the needle of the World Community compass is pointing to in order to find the proper solution to our calamities.

The town of Ansar is under heavy Israeli bombardment.

The Lebanese Seniora PM government is becoming irrelevant because it was unable to manage our internal problems but mainly because it cannot deliver on anything it decided upon.  There are two military internal powers, Hezbollah resistance and the Lebanese army, and both cannot be ordered and directed by Seniora PM without a complete political agreement by all the Lebanese religious sects and political parties.  As one commentators and political analyst, Mohammad Salaam, said: “Seniora PM is like an auctioneer selling something that he has not; he is haranguing uno, dos and thres but there are no buyers”.  Even the US and Saudi Arabia who were supposed to be the main backers of the Mustakbal movement (of the Hariri family) failed to deliver anything to preserve the total destruction of Lebanon.

Hezbollah is not about to stop its attacks on the Israeli forces inside Lebanon as it did before when Israel held just the Shebaa Farms because it would be viewed as a strategic defeat for its primarily ideology.  Hezbollah is not about to lay down its arms as long as there is no united, strong and solid government constituted of all the main political parties that count on the ground.

The war might continue at a lower intensity for some time to come but reconstruction of Lebanon, socially, politically and economically is about to start.  The reconstruction would require the sorting out of the real winners and admitting that the main political powers are Hezbollah and the Tayyar movement of Michel Aoun that catered for the refugees in the Christian districts of Mount Lebanon and also seconded politically the resistance of Hezbollah against the Israeli onslaught.

August 5, 2006

Yesterday, Israel pounded Tyr and its surroundings for most of the day and then attempted a commando drop on Tyr that was contained by the Lebanese army and failed leaving one dead and 8 injured Israeli soldiers.  A Lebanese anti aircraft unit was hit and a soldier died.  The Hezbollah missiles targeted the main Israeli air force base in Khodayra, 10 miles north of Tel Aviv.  Everyday we are promised a cessation of military activities but the end is constantly being postponed.  The latest promises in by Monday or most probably by Wednesday though how the Arab summit of the foreign affairs ministers planning to meet in Beirut on Monday under fire is not yet clear. Former General Michel Aoun delivered a speech refusing any multinational force because they failed twice before when they were displayed in Lebanon and because if any confrontation between the Lebanese resistance and the UN forces then we will have no recourse for any third party to negotiate a cease fire.  What is required is that resolutions of the main causes for this war be fulfilled such as the return of the Lebanese prisoners in Israel, the withdrawal of Israel from all our territories including the Shebaa Farms, handing us the maps of the land mines left in Lebanon after Israel’s withdrawal in 2000, and the complete cessation of Israel constant incursions in our air spaces and maritime water.  We are the sole responsible for our independence, self autonomy and instituting a strong government and we do not need more troubles and problems from the international involvement in our internal affairs.

Israel is insisting on gaining a buffer zone in the south but has failed so far.

William is spending the better hours of the day almost naked and bare foot, doing yoga exercises, contemplating, laying out in the sun on the roof and sometimes reading metaphysical books.  He has to finish several incomplete projects but he seems oblivious to his requirements.

Joanna went to see Jean who is leaving to Dubai for a high school teaching contract via Syria using the old coastal road north since the main highway was out of order because four of its main bridges were destroyed yesterday by Israeli jets.

August 4, 2006

Last night I went to bed about 12:30 a.m. and then I heard two strong bangs that vibrated our windows and I figured out that they might be the super sonic effects of the Israeli jets.  We woke up with urgent news of Israel bombing all the main bridges on the main coastal highway between Beirut and Tripoli.  The bridges in Maameltein in Jounieh, the Casino of Lebanon that link Jounieh to the Kesrouan district, the Madfoun bridge that separate the Byblos district from the main highway and it is not the end yet.  We called Cedric not to go to work in Beirut because he had a barbecue at his friend close to Antelias and he slept over.  Joanna was summoned not to go to work at Ajaltoun.

There are indications that a cease fire might be declared on Monday, a long time for the Lebanese citizens who are bracing themselves for a complete destruction of the infrastructure so that Israel manages to get a foothold in the south.

Joanna called me from her work yesterday around 6 p.m. asking me to join her at the gym for a swim.  I bought a month membership and waited for her at the outdoor pool.  She arrived around 6:45 and said that she has been looking for me everywhere.  It turned out that the outdoor pool closes at 6.  Joanna asked me how she should swim so that she doesn’t go out of breath quickly.  She has the habit of swimming like frogs and exhaling totally before swimming because she tended to swim at the bottom of the pool. I told her to exhale in the water at brief intervals to conserve air in her lungs and then to exhale completely in the water before breathing again. She tried to reduce the number of stokes to reach the end of the pool from 12 to nine by extending further her arms and kicking more vigorously.  We swam for an hour; I was using my fins because they allow me for additional flexibilities in using my stomach muscles and much better flotation.  Then we joined the sauna at 80 degrees followed by the Jacuzzi at low jet pressure and warm water.  By the time we left after 9:30 p.m. the gym was already closed.

When I returned home Nasr Allah had already delivered his regular speech.  He offered Israel a deal:  Stop targeting our towns and civilians and our rockets will stop raining on your towns.  If you want war to continue then let it be among your army and our resistance fighters.  He lambasted the stupid Israeli Olmert PM, the very senile vice PM Shimon Peres and the crazy Bush.  He warned that if Israel decided to target Beirut then Hezbollah missiles will hit Tel Aviv.  He stated that every Lebanese who claims to love Lebanon has to share in the war effort.

The two tankers carrying oil and promised to land in Lebanon today have postponed their arrivals until further Israeli security confirmation.  Cars are lining up for gas even if their tanks are already almost full.

At 3 p.m. Joanna took Ashley to the gym for a swim.  Chelsea learned that our neighbor’s kids went to the gym also and insisted to join them.  It cost $7 to enter and Chelsea asked the totally broke William, who is out of work, to lend her the money.  She dumped the money in small change on the counter and the receptionist was touched; I then gave the receptionist  $4 and told her to give Chelsea back the account.   So all these kids wanted to play and harass us while swimming in the outdoor pool.  Joanna took her time and while waiting for her to finish swimming, Chelsea spent her money on French fries, juices, and ice cream.

Wajdi, the youngest son of my cousin Jihad, has also a membership but he goes in the morning for body lifting.  Body lifting is what young university students who immigrate to the US or Canada usually takes on first in order to measure up with the hulking Americans.

August 3rd, 2006

Last night, Israel claimed that by tonight it would have succeeded in securing a buffer zone in south Lebanon the size it had before the year 2000.  Hezbollah announced that 300 missiles were launched yesterday while Israel confirmed about 240. There is a climate that both sides in the conflict are exhausted or plainly disgusted from continuing this madness which is reflected in the big countries trying harder to reach an understanding this week.

The doorman at the Byblos bank told me: “Could you have imagined that Hezbollah was so powerful?  I am glad that former PM Michel Aoun has reached an understanding with Hezbollah, otherwise, the Christians would have been creamed in any civil war.”

Even Marwan Hamade, minister of communication and a staunch member of the political coalition of February 14 currently governing and having the majority in the Parliament, has affirmed that Hezbollah won the war regardless of the destruction and that any UN resolution has to take into account the positions of Hezbollah.

The “Al Balad” daily mentioned a rumor that 80% of the civilian cadres of Hezbollah are out of Lebanon, by order of their Secretary General Nasr Allah, to prepare the ground for the next confrontations.

The Egyptian, Jordanian, and EU foreign affairs ministers are in Beirut in an attempt to reaching a face saving consensus with Lebanese Seniora PM while publicly supporting his 7-point solution that he expounded in Rome at the end of the first week of the hostilities.

Since Lebanon is practically destroyed and we have not much to lose anymore, I would suggest to Hezbollah an effective strategy to reduce Israel to a state of exporting oranges instead of high tech software.  The plan is that every couple of months, Hezbollah would target the high tech industries and institutions of Israel forcing the investment of the international electronic nerds to dwindle to a trickle while pushing the Israelis electronic nerds to seek outside greener pastures.

Hezbollah rockets are still raining on northern Israel and beyond and the Israeli army was not able to retain any tangible piece of land in Lebanon though it claims to have 6,000 soldiers in Lebanon.

William and Ashley are working out a free lance contract offer for Sanita of a 3-D design of fishes.

August 2nd, 2006

We are really plagued by electricity shortage; I am under the impression that most of the days both the public utility and our private provider shut down from midnight till 6:30 a.m.  Yesterday, I woke up at 6 because I went to bed early because I got tired switching on and off the breaker between the two providers; my sister upstairs has installed an automatic breaker because she is paying for a 15 amperes instead of 5 that is sufficient for me.  How much amperes you signed up for is becoming irrelevant because the private provider is no longer able to support the extensive shut down of the public utility and we are ending with no electricity for 3 to 4 hours in a stretch during the critical times of needs as it appears.  To resume my story, I woke up at 6 with the intention of working on my diary but there was no electricity whatsoever. I read for an our in the daylight and then we had electricity for an hour and then by the time I was deeply involved on the piece that I was writing it shut down again for 12 hours.  Incidentally, I work in a specific room in the basement that is not connected to the private provider and thus I feel strongly for that double shortage than most.

Last night I kept vigil on the latest news break; the Israeli propaganda were working on my nerves:  the Israelis were claiming that they managed to get footholds on three sectors in the south and then they attempted a major air drop around Baalbak with the intention of killing or kidnapping either Nash Allah or a major military commander by the name Nakad who might be in the nearby hospital.  I went to bed with the news that the parachuting attempt on Baalbak failed.

I walk up with unusual brouhaha:  my mother picked up the ringing phone and listened uncomprehending to a short registered message ending with the statement “this message is from the Israeli Defense Forces”.  My father was greatly upset thinking that we were personally targeted and then I made him read a report in the daily newspaper which explained that Israel has invaded our airwaves and telephone links by routing its propaganda messages from private international routers not located in Lebanon but concentrated in Canada.

The news was that Israel managed to kidnap 3 civilians and killed 10 persons in its air drop last night.  So far, Israel has not occupied any town after 21 days of air and gun pounding while Hezbollah’s missiles are reaching farther inside Israel everyday such as Bissan closed to the West Bank and Afula, with higher devastating capabilities (Khibar One) of 100 kilo load, and more numerous (about 200 missiles).  The Israeli soldiers are starting to question the real purpose of their involvement in Lebanon. Every week, Israel demand from the US an extension of another couple of weeks for its military efforts in order to conquer a buffer zone of just 6 km. There is a promise from the International Community that a truce might be coming within two days, a promise that we have been hearing for so many times.

August 1^st, 2006

Today is the anniversary of the Lebanese army.  It is certainly not a cheerful event with so many soldiers being fire at like sitting ducks; Israel killed one soldier and injured 3 others by targeting an army barrack north of Tyr and then apologized!

Gas stations are opening a couple of hours and lines of cars await their turn to fill the limit of a gallon of gas while others who know how to bribe are filing Jeri cans. Private providers of electricity are shutting down most of the night.  Syria is supplying electricity to the North and the Bekkaa Valley.  Israel has bombed the Jiyeh utility facility that supplies a big part of Mount Lebanon.

The water utility collector showed up at our door demanding around $175 for the year in a lump sum for whatever little water we are receiving.  Faced by our outcry he asked us just to sign that he came so that he could be paid.

Israel has concentrated 30,000 soldiers on our southern border and is preparing for an invasion on a large scale.  It appears that this amount of force might at least be a warning to Syria not to intervene or at worst preparations to attack Syria if Israel manages to easily overrun Hezbollah after 20 days of constant shelling of a tiny area.  Today, Israel is trying hard to penetrate at a junction in the town of Adisee that is the shortest path to the Litany River, may be around 6 km.  The objective is more political than military because Israel might be able to claim that it reached the Litany River as it boasted, thus confusing its western allies with unfounded victories, when in fact it lost the war.

Israel destroyed 300 houses around Baalbak, very close to the Syrian borders.  Actually, in the last couple of days Israel has been attacking close to the Syrian borders sending tacit messages of retaliations if Hezbollah is not seriously diminished after this war. Have to disconnect because the electricity is off again.

Yemen President Abdallah Saleh volunteered a number of 28,000 as the number of the Hezbollah fighters.  It is such a shame that many Arab regimes would like to see Hezbollah weakened without even offering a token of political support to Hezbollah.

We went, Victor, my mother, Chelsea and I, to the “Locanda Corsini” to pick up Ashley who waits on tables there.  This small hotel charges $175 per night and serves exclusively Italian dishes and is located in Naas, an area close to Bikfayya.  We stopped at Yamine’s in Beit Chebab for ice cream because Chelsea wanted pressed ice cream: there was no electricity and we all ate regular ice cream on cones.  We dropped my mother at her sister Montaha.

News flash at 8:30 p.m.: Israel retreated from Adisee leaving behind 35 soldiers dead and injured.

Joanna paid $30 for one month membership at our local gym center with both an indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The outdoor swimming pool is not heated but she can suffer cold water and the inside pool has a disgusting yellow color. She could not get a shower because the center did not receive the promised 2 water tanks that replenish its water deficit.  The manager has told me that they are charging $7 specifically for the water shortages which the kids do not know how to economize on.  Joanna was asked by an older man whether she is a foreigner because the stomachs of the Lebanese women do not exhibit the six partitioned stomach muscles. I have got to disconnect because the power is off.

July 30, 2006

Israel promised Condoleezza to stop air strikes for 48 hours in order not to blunder again and commit further civilian massacres like the one in Qana; probably Israel needed a break to maintain its jets after thousands of sorties but it did use them to target the road to Damascus in Masnaa.  The Red Cross was allowed to visit Bint Jbeyl and it did retrieve 13 senile elder people from under the rubble and they located a dozen of dead people along the road, part of their body eaten by famished dogs.

The French Foreign Affair is in Beirut as well as the Iranian counterpart; just to fill time until the US decides on the appropriate timing for a cease fire.

Another Israeli Frigate of the type “Saar” was hit by a missile of the coast of Tyre; apparently the Israeli navy forgot that it is too dangerous to come close to our seashore.

The Cold War is over but the US and Saudi Arabia are still wiling to subsidize regional conflicts like between Israel and Lebanon for a devilish Grand Middle East strategy and laying the blame on Iran.  Saudi Arabia allowed for the war to drag on and in return is granting a couple of billions dollars to our treasury as a face saving gesture to calm the anger of the Arab and Islamic masses.

McDonald, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken might be common in Lebanon but Lebanon will never fall under the “Golden Arches” theory until the technologically advanced companies such as Intel, Cisco and Microsoft are permitted by the US administration to invest in Lebanon; the Middle East will have to wait until Israel gives the green light, which is never.

Thomas Friedman advanced this theory that no countries that opened up it market for McDonald franchises have suffered military conflicts after the fall of the Berlin walls and those leaders which ignored that fact will pay a dear price for their adventures. I suspect that he selected McDonald because he liked the “Golden Arch” title for his theory since it is of paramount importance to have a balanced basket of multinationals in selected markets as proof of serious US involvement in the peace and security of a country.  Well, Lebanon is flooded with every kind of US franchises in the food business but it was not speared complete destruction this time around.  Or maybe the theory is about right because these US multinationals are concentrated in Beirut which was spared on the basis of not weakening the Seniora PM government!  Amazing that this theory could be applied even selectively on specific cities within one country!  Maybe Hezbollah made a tactical mistake by not introducing a couple of US multinationals in its Security Square in South Beirut which might have saved this area the complete demolition it suffered?  Maybe the major cities in Syria should started wooing US multinationals to come and invest in them so that they might be saved brutal air strikes from Israel?

Maybe another reason the US invaded the rich and populated Iraq is because Saddam Hussein on the basis of the extensive economic embargo had to wall off his country on the US multinationals?

The German multinational Siemens has built a factory in Haifa with links to the Palestinian city of Rammallah which was devastated by Sharon during Arafat; unfortunately, Siemens is not a USA multinational.

Ashley was depressed most of the day because she was off and could not see her boyfriend because of the gas shortage.

I called up a friend of mine and he asked me to bring my swimming trunk for he has a small outdoor pool on his roof but we did not get around doing any swimming. We played ping pong instead and he had to go do some weight lifting at a nearby gym and I sat down with his wife and two elderly women, his mother and the mother of his wife, and played card.  My niece Chelsea was supposed to join me for the swim but she was caught up playing with her friends.