A Solution to Tsunami Aoun

Michel Aoun is a strange character. I have hard time telling if he's honest or full of lies. Probably a pathological liar but the support he is getting from many Christians makes you wonder. It's like believing in Jesus Christ just because so many people around you believe in this icon. Psychology of the masses.

Not only strange but Michel Aoun is also a problematic character. He is behind deep divisions between the Christians. If he were really concerned about the Christians he should move back to France and let the Christians heal their wounds and reunite (and Geagea could do the same to be fair). Assuming for a moment that he is highly capable and intelligent, he should know that Lebanon is full of other highly capable and intelligent people who can take over. Quite frankly we can do without his services and help. He is creating more problems for the Christians and all of Lebanon than he is solving.

Unfortunately, it will be near impossible to convince Michel Aoun to move back to France. He understands nothing to politics - he messed up already many times - and he is being led by smarter politicians. Quite a clown. His agenda is pure nonsense. All he can do is criticize the government day and night when he has no better alternative. Nothing constructive. A purely destructive force. Luckily he is no longer leading an army of tanks and canons. Cause beware when Michel is angry.

But there may be a solution to this tsunami called Aoun. Lately he sounds quite beaten. He obviously realizes that he is loosing at many levels, including some of his popularity. This is good news because it will force him to come down to Earth, calm down and accept to negotiate (not his favorite sport).

The solution must take into account the feelings of his followers as well as Hezbollah so that we start a healing process rather than deepen the wounds.

In my opinion, the right solution at the moment is to replace Emile Lahoud by Michel Aoun. This solves many problems at once and has the potential to start a true healing process in Lebanon. Setting Michel Aoun as the interim president is like curing the disease by the disease itself. A vaccine so to speak: insert a small quantity of the virus in the body in a controlled manner to boost the immune system and prevent a catastrophe.

If Michel Aoun excels at his dream job as the interim president, we will all cheer him up and officially elect him for the next round. But this is quite unlikely: he gives me the impression of an incompetent who can’t control his temper. So if he fails, the Christians current dilemma will automatically be solved! It’s a win-win situation.

If he turns out to be Lebanon’s De Gaulle, that will be fine with most of us. But more likely what will happen is that once confronted with real life problems, he will fail to achieve much, day after day the people will become disenchanted, and his charm will be forever tainted. Put the monkey on stage and watch the fun. The next election he will loose and retire (if he has any dignity) or continue his political career in ranting and cursing. Tsunami Aoun will be defeated.

Moreover, by placing Aoun in the presidency, both Emile Lahoud and Hassan Nasrallah will find themselves in an awkward position. Emile Lahoud will have no allies left and will be forced to quit. Aoun will have to make some decisions on the situation in the South (if he wants to appear at least 1% like De Gaulle) and that will put him at odds with Hassan Nasrallah.

Cure the disease by the disease itself. Let the bullies bully each other so that we can be done once and for all.