[An Nahar] Speaker Nabih KnobbyBerri
Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, a member of AMAL, a not very subtle Hizbullah sock puppet...
noted on Wednesday that Leb may act as a center for dialogue in the region. He stressed before a consular delegation: "It is in the country's best interest to keep a distance from external affairs."
Knobby's in a tight spot here, isn't he? Assad's going down the tubes and everybody in Leb knows it. But the Iranian overlords are trying to stop it. If Amal supports Iran then it faces the likelihood that Syria's successor regime isn't going to be fond of it, meaning no support from that quarter, financial or clandestine operationally. If it supports the opposition then it's put itself on the other side in Leb politix, something you have to be Wally Jumblatt to do with any success.
"The region is witnessing a major conspiracy and a very dangerous operation called the 'new Middle East'," he remarked.
He added that this conspiracy is seeking to create ethnic and sectarian wars in the area.
"Leb has several options and it has so far distanced itself from dangers and God willing the conspiracy to create sectarian strife in the country will fail," said the speaker.
"Leb should not only protect its Christians and sects, but it can play a major role in obstructing attempts to create strife in the region and it can therefore serve as a center for dialogue for it," Berri noted.
"Despite all the developments, Leb has a rare opportunity to demonstrate its independence," he stated.
He continued: "Some sides criticized Leb's policy of keeping a distance from regional developments .... Had it become involved and should strife erupt in Syria, would that not affect Leb?"
"The majority of the foreign officials who have visited Leb have stated that it has chosen the wise option of distancing itself from regional affairs," added Berri.